Carbon Steel Metal Products

Carbon steel, also called plain-carbon steel, is steel where the main interstitial alloying constituent is carbon. The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) defines carbon steel as: "Steel is considered to be carbon steel when no minimum content is specified or required for chromium, cobalt, molybdenum, nickel, niobium, titanium, tungsten, vanadium or zirconium, or any other element to be added to obtain a desired alloying effect; when the specified minimum for copper does not exceed 0.40 percent; or when the maximum content specified for any of the following elements does not exceed the percentages noted: manganese 1.65, silicon 0.60, copper 0.60."
Choose from our carbon steel metal supply below. If you are not sure which is the right carbon steel for your project, contact our carbon steel specialists. We can cut your carbon steel to size using your preferred metal processing method and deliver next day.

Carbon Steel Levels are Divided as Follows:

• low carbon = .06% to .25% carbon content (mild carbon steel)

• medium carbon = .25% to .55% carbon content (medium carbon steel)

• high carbon = >.55% to 1.00% carbon content (hard carbon steel)

Carbon Steel Grade Series:

• 10XX = non-resulpherized carbon steel, with manganese 1.00% maximum (example 1018, 1045 and 1050).

• 11XX = resulpherized carbon steel (for example 1117, 1141 and 1144).

• 12XX = rephosphorized and resulpherized carbon steel (for example 12L14 and 1215).

The second two numbers in AISI-SAE designations indicate the approximate carbon content for steel (for example, in 1018 the carbon range is .15% to .20%; .18% [shown as "18"] is the approximate carbon content).
The term "carbon steel" may also be used in reference to steel which is not stainless steel; in this use carbon steel may include alloy steels.
As the carbon content rises, steel has the ability to become harder and stronger through heat treating, but this also makes it less ductile. Regardless of the heat treatment, a higher carbon content reduces weldability. In carbon steels, the higher carbon content lowers the melting point.
 

What is Carbon Steel?

Steel is commonly considered carbon steel when no minimum content is specified for any alloying element (for example, aluminum, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, vanadium, etc.) or any other element added to obtain a desired alloy effect. The manganese does not exceed 1.65%, the specified minimum for copper does not fall below .40% or exceed .60% and silicon does not exceed .60%.
 
Carbon content within carbon steel bars alters the characteristics of steel, having higher tensile strength. Depending on its carbon content, the increase in carbon will raise carbon steel’s hardness and strength. Mild carbon steel can be bent, cut, and twisted to easily create desired shapes compared to other metals. A hard carbon steel bar is commonly used for knife blades or applications that need strength and hardness but not flexibility. For these reasons, carbon steel bar is ideal for many industrial products and applications where durability is essential. Check out our metals guide or request your MSDS/SDS today.
Alro offers Carbon Steel in a broad spectrum of products including bar, structural, pipe/tube, and sheet/plate.
 

Carbon Steel Supply

Alro is your metals supplier superstore stocking carbon steel and more. Our on-hand inventory of carbon steel supply is unmatched in the industry.
Contact us today or visit one of our locations for your carbon steel and metal needs.