Pennsylvania Steel Company Articles

How Is Steel Made?

Joseph Dombrowski January 11, 2024

Steel is a hard, tough, strong, and versatile metal used in commercial and residential projects. It comes in many forms, and how it’s made varies based on the application.

Let’s explore steel, how it’s made, and how you may be able to use it during your next project.

What Is Steel?

Steel refers to an alloy made up of carbon and iron, according to the World Steel Association (WSA). The alloy contains less than 2% carbon and 1% manganese. It has trace amounts of phosphorus, sulfur, oxygen, and silicon.

Globally, steel and iron represent 95% of all tonnage of metal produced every year, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) points out. This is due in part to the fact that both of these metals are some of the least expensive to produce. Additionally, they work well in applications like steel frames for buildings where only strong metals will suffice.

Types of Steel

There are four main types of steel:

Carbon: Consists primarily of carbon and iron, with small amounts of magnesium, chromium, and other elements.
Alloy: Contains chromium, copper, and other elements.
Stainless: Features at least 10.5% chromium.
Tool: Includes carbon and alloy varieties.

There are more than 3,500 steel grades, each with its own physical, chemical, and environmental properties.

Steel Properties

There are three subcategories of carbon:

Low: Less than 0.3% carbon
Medium: 0.3–0.6% carbon
High: Greater than 0.6% carbon

Low-carbon steel is more flexible and easier to handle than medium and high varieties. Meanwhile, high-carbon steel is the strongest of the three.

With alloy, how much of a particular element is incorporated into the steel impacts the metal’s heat resistance, hardness, ductility, and other properties.

Like carbon, there are three subcategories of stainless steel:

Austenitic: Contains 18% chromium, 8% nickel, and less than 0.8% carbon.
Ferritic: Consists of 10.5-27% chromium and less than 0.1% carbon.
Martensitic: Includes 11-17% chromium, less than 0.4% nickel, and less than 1.2% carbon.

Stainless steel is more stain and corrosion resistant than other varieties. It can also include a concentrated chromium coating that makes the material rust-proof.

Tool steel offers high hardness and resistance to abrasions. It tends to retain its shape better than other steel options.

Steel Use Cases

Construction companies and automakers commonly use carbon steel. Low-carbon steel products include nails, wires, chains, and pipes. Since high carbon is more durable than low and medium options, it’s often utilized to produce wrenches, hammers, coils, and springs.

Commercial equipment manufacturers tend to use alloy steel over other varieties. Examples of alloy steel products include power generators, transformers, and pipelines.

Stainless steel is used in construction, oil and gas, kitchenware, and many other industries. It has been incorporated into cars, cutlery, and other products.

Tool steel is utilized to produce surgical equipment, drills, dyes, bits, and other tools.

How Is Steel Made Exactly?

There are three main processes for how steel is made:

1. Blast Furnace-Basic Oxygen Furnace (BF-BOF)

The BF-BOF process originated in the 1950s in the Austrian cities of Linz and Donawitz. It typically involves using iron ore, coal, and recycled steel.

Here are the steps of the BF-BOF process:

Hot metal or pig iron, steel scrap, and flux (burnt lime) are loaded into a top- or bottom-blown furnace or a combination of the two.
A lancie (a water-cooled metal tube) blogs oxygen into the mixture.
The oxygen then reacts with the silicon and carbon. This causes the hot metal to dissolve. It also generates heat, carbon dioxide (CO₂), silicon dioxide (SiO₂), and other impurities.
CO₂ is expelled as gas, and SiO₂ and other impurities are absorbed into slag, aka waste matter.

A study shows that basic oxygen furnaces can reduce total cycle time to less than a tenth of open hearth furnace cycle time.

Approximately 70% of steel globally is produced via the BAF process, WSA notes.

2. Electric Arc Furnace (EAF)

The EAF process primarily uses recycled steel and electricity to produce steel. Along with these, direct-reduced iron (DRI), hot metal, or other sources of metallic iron can be utilized.

An electric arc furnace consists of three parts:

Spherical hearth (bottom)
Cylindrical shell
Swinging water-cooled dome-shaped roof

An EAF can produce batches of molten steel known as “heats,” the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) points out.

The furnace’s operating cycle consists of the following steps:

Furnace-Charging: The furnace’s roof and electrodes are raised and swung to the side, allowing a scrap-charging crane to move scrap into place over the furnace.
Melting: Electrical or chemical energy supplies energy to the furnace’s interior via graphite electrodes and is bore into the scrap.
Refining: Phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, aluminum, manganese, and carbon are removed from the steel.
De-Slagging: Impurities are removed from the furnace.
Tapping: After the optimal steel composition and temperature have been achieved in the furnace, a tap-hole is opened, the furnace is tilted on its side, and the steel is poured into a ladle so it can be transferred. Bulk alloys and de-oxidizers may be added to the steel during this time. The alloys are produced based on a bath analysis and the intended steel grade. De-oxidizers can be used to lower the steel’s oxygen content.
Furnace Turn-Around: The furnace’s electrodes and roof are raised, and its lining is inspected for damage. This period runs from the completion of tapping until the furnace is recharged.

EAFs are less costly to build and more flexible than basic oxygen furnaces, The National Iron & Steel Heritage Museum indicates. They can be used to create carbon and alloy steels.

According to research, roughly 25% of steel produced worldwide is made through the EAF process.

3. Open Hearth Furnace (OHF)

An open hearth furnace uses the heat from gaseous or liquid fuel combustion to transform recycled steel scrap and liquid blast-furnace iron into liquid steel.

The OHF process requires roughly equal amounts of iron and scrap. It involves the following steps:

Limestone and scrap are placed into the furnace.
The charge melts.
Molten or cold iron are added to the furnace.
The furnace continues to be heated, and carbon from the iron transforms into carbon monoxide (CO).
Impurities are separated from the mixture.
Molten steel forms and flows into a ladle where alloying materials can be added.

This process makes up about 0.4% of steel production worldwide, WSA says. It tends to require a lot of time and energy and can be expensive compared to the BF-BOF and EAF processes.

How Sustainability Impacts Steel Manufacturing

You can use recycled steel scrap as an input for each of these production processes. Most new steel includes recycled scrap.

Generally, steel products can be used for decades before they need to be recycled. This makes it difficult for steel companies to rely exclusively on EAF.

Steel companies often use BF-BOF and EAF to keep pace with the demand for steel products. They may also utilize OHF to minimize the loss of iron as slag since the process is slow and easy to control.

How Is Stainless Steel Made?

EAF can be used to create stainless steel. Here’s how the process works:

Carbon electrodes come into contact with recycled stainless scrap and chromium alloys.
A current moves through the electrode, and a temperature reaches a point where the alloys and scrap melt (around 2,200-2,500°F).
The molten material goes from the furnace into an argon oxygen decarburization (AOD) vessel, reduces carbon levels, and adds alloys.

Most stainless steels also get a final heat treatment that softens their structure (annealing) and acid wash (pickling), according to the Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA).

Get the Best Steel for Sale for Your Project

Pennsylvania Steel Company offers a range of steel types and grades for your next project. We provide steel products and services in many areas, including:

Bensalem, Whitehall, and York, Pennsylvania
Richmond, Virginia
Charlotte, North Carolina
Connecticut
Long Island
Cleveland and Alliance, Ohio

Contact Pennsylvania Steel Co. for steel near you.

How is Aluminum Made?

Joseph Dombrowski December 13, 2023

Although it’s the most abundant metallic element in the Earth’s crust, aluminum never occurs in its metallic form in nature. Its compounds, however, are present in nearly every form of vegetation, mineral, and animal. So, how is aluminum made?

When the silvery-white metal is isolated (first achieved in 1825), we wind up with the periodic element Aluminum (Al). Thanks to the modern method of producing aluminum, it surpassed copper in world production of nonferrous metals back in the 1960s. Today’s seamless process – electrolysis of purified alumina dissolved in cryolite – has allowed aluminum to remain widely used in several settings for decades. In this article, the aluminum distributors at Pennsylvania Steel Company break down everything you need to know about aluminum and its production process.

Basic Properties & Structure

What is aluminum?

Natural aluminum compounds are universally present in igneous rocks and various gemstones. Ancient Egyptians and Babylonians used organic clay for assorted projects, including pottery, medicines, and textiles. It wasn’t until the late 18th century that experts recognized aluminum for its application as a metal.

The versatility of this metal is due to its ability to be combined with other alloys (ex: magnesium or silicon) in small amounts to diversify its applications. Although pure aluminum is malleable and somewhat brittle, commercial aluminum is very strong while still relatively flexible.

What's the difference between aluminum and steel?

Steel is more rigid than traditional aluminum and is more durable because it’s more than twice as dense. Both steel and aluminum consist of a combination of two elements. Steel contains iron and carbon, while aluminum contains bauxite and cryolite.

Features & Manufacturing Process

How is aluminum made?

Stage 1: Finding the Ore

As previously mentioned, the metallic aluminum alloy doesn’t appear anywhere in nature. As a result, it can only be extracted from naturally occurring compounds.
Ore is the natural rock or sediment that contains one or more valuable minerals in the form of clay, slate, or granite sediments. The essential aluminum ore is bauxite. Bauxite is commonly found in deposits close to the Earth’s surface and contains about 52% aluminum oxide with iron oxide impurities.

Stage 2: Mining

Investigatory drilling allows geologists and researchers to determine the location of bauxite deposits for mining alumina. Once found, they extract the bauxite and remove the earth using various methods, including blasting, drilling, and ripping with specialized bulldozers. The resulting product is alumina: the raw, crystalline form of bauxite.
Four tons of high-quality bauxite will produce approximately two tons of alumina, from which producers can manufacture about a ton of pure aluminum.

Stage 3: Refining the Bauxite (Using the Bayer Process)

In the first step of the Bayer Process (Digestion), the bauxite is ground, mixed with caustic soda, and pressurized. This step separates unwanted impurities and forms what is known as sodium aluminate.
The second step (Clarification) involves reducing the pressure, removing the separated impurities, and cooling the clarified solution.
In step three (Precipitation), the addition of aluminum hydroxide seed crystals results in precipitation, causing the aluminum to become solid.
The fourth and final step (Calcination) entails a thermal treatment process using rotary kilns. This heating method removes remaining impurities, and the subsequent material is the alumina or aluminum oxide.

Stage 4: Smelting

The last stage of aluminum processing is called smelting, also referred to as the Hall-Héroult process, invented in 1886. Smelting, which takes place in steel reduction pots, extricates the aluminum from the alumina.
The resulting molten solution – 99.8% pure – is poured into molds and cast. Subsequently, it can be alloyed with other metals or refined to create super pure aluminum (99.99%).

Why choose aluminum metal for my project?

If you’re trying to determine the appropriate alloy for your construction project, you may consider multifaceted aluminum for its many benefits:

Lightweight
Flexible
Impermeable
Recyclable
Odorless
Corrosion Resistance
Ductility
Electrical and Thermal Conductivity

Applications & Sustainability

What is aluminum used for?

Since this alloy is so versatile, its applications span enterprises and industries of all types. Some of the most recognizable aluminum functions include aerospace construction, food-processing equipment, household appliances, and electrical conductors. Because of its high corrosion resistance and conductivity, aluminum is ideal for manufacturing various consumer and commercial products.

If you want to use aluminum in your next project, check out our tips for safe aluminum welding.

Is aluminum sustainable?

While the mining and electricity used to make new aluminum have an environmental impact, many consider aluminum to be a sustainable metal because of its ability to be recycled. Aluminum’s durability means it can be recycled over and over without a loss of quality. In fact, almost 75% of aluminum ever made is still being used today. Plus, aluminum is lighter than many other metals, meaning it’s more eco-friendly to ship than other metal choices.

Contact Pennsylvania Steel for Premium Aluminum

Are you looking for top-quality metal and alloy supplies near you? Pennsylvania Steel Company is the trusted manufacturer for premium metals all over the east coast and beyond – from Charlotte, North Carolina, and Long Island, New York to Cleveland, Ohio. The best aluminum supply company is your nearest PA Steel sales office, where our team is eager to provide you with superior materials for your next project. Contact our sales offices in Pennsylvania, New England/New York, the Southeast, or Ohio to receive fast, dependable customer support regarding local inquiries.

Closeup of a torch welding stainless steel

How to Weld Stainless Steel: Your Guide to Getting Started

Joseph Dombrowski November 6, 2023

Stainless steel is durable and strong, and some people choose to weld it during projects. There are many advantages to welding stainless steel. But if you’re not careful, you can make costly and time-intensive mistakes when you do.

At Pennsylvania Steel Company, we know all about the benefits of using stainless steel over other types of steel for certain projects. If you have concerns or questions about how to weld stainless steel, we’ve got you covered. Read on to learn about stainless steel welding.

Can You Weld Stainless Steel?

You can weld stainless steel — and the benefits of doing so can be significant. Some of the reasons why people choose to weld stainless steel include:

Corrosion Resistance: When choosing between carbon steel and stainless steel, people often prefer the latter since it has a chromium oxide layer that protects against damage from chemicals, salts, and other harmful elements.
Aesthetics: With its clean, shiny appearance, this type of steel is an attractive choice for countertops, backsplashes, and other kitchen components.
Fire and Heat Resistance: Stainless steel has a high melting point that helps the metal maintain its integrity, even when it’s exposed to fire or extreme heat.

Types of Stainless Steel Welding

There is no such thing as one-size-fits-all with the welding of stainless steel. There are several methods that steel distributors use for welding this type of steel, including:

Stick

Stick welding, also referred to as shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), involves the use of a rod electrode and workpiece. It is often used to construct pipelines.

Metal Inert Gas (MIG)

With MIG welding, you feed a continuous solid wire electrode through a welding gun and into a weld pool to join two materials. This type of welding is commonly used for fabrication and maintenance or repair work.

Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG)

Also referred to as gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), this type of welding requires an electric arc between a tungsten electrode and a workpiece. TIG welding is frequently used by automakers and aerospace professionals since it allows them to produce quality welds on thin materials.

Safety Precautions to Consider Before You Weld Stainless Steel

You don’t have to be a steel distributor to weld stainless steel. Regardless, there are hazards that you need to consider before you get started. These include:

Toxic Fumes

Welding stainless steel emits toxic fumes. Exposure to toxic fumes can lead to asthma, dermatitis, and other short- and long-term health problems.

You can use a fume extractor to eliminate toxic fumes when you’re welding. If you’re welding in a large area, you can install a filtration system that ensures clean air is filtered back into your workspace.

Electricity

Arc welding involves the use of electricity. Thus, you’re susceptible to electric shock when you weld.

To protect against electric shock, you should never rest your arms, legs, or any other body parts on your workpiece. Along with this, stand on plywood, a rubber mat, or other dry insulation when you’re welding. You should also wear dry gloves and never touch an electrode or metal parts of an electrode holder with your bare skin.

Injuries

Burns represent the most common welding injuries. Meanwhile, welders are also prone to eye and skin injuries.

Welding injuries often occur when welders choose not to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) or wear PPE that’s defective. Therefore, it is paramount to pick up high-quality gloves, a welding helmet, and other PPE before you start welding stainless steel. Wear your PPE any time you’re welding.

How to Weld Stainless Steel

When you’re ready, you can start welding. Doing so typically involves the following three-step process:

1. Prepare Your Steel

Remove paint, rust, oil, and other potential contaminants from your steel. Make sure that all of your steel pieces are lined up correctly and that there aren’t any joint gaps or variations. And if you have thick pieces, bevel or chamfer them as needed.

2. Weld Your Steel

Decide how you want to join your base metals. You can choose from any of the following types of joints:

Butt Joint
Corner Joint
Edge Joint
Lap Joint
Tee Joint

You can use one or more of these options when you’re welding stainless steel.

From here, select the welding process you want to use, the appropriate inert shielding gas, and the applicable filler metal. Next, determine the parameters for your work.

At this point, you’re good to get started. Apply a low level of heat initially — otherwise, if you set the amps for your heat too high, you may compromise your project. Weld slowly and cautiously.

3. Finish Your Welding

Don’t expect perfection the first time you weld stainless steel. For example, heat tint is common when welding this type of steel. Fortunately, heat tint solutions are readily available that you can use to address this issue.

Turn to a Trusted Steel Distributor

You can weld stainless steel on your own, but doing so may be more trouble than it’s actually worth. When you have a trusted steel distributor at your side, you can get the best stainless steel products and services — without ever having to worry about welding.

Pennsylvania Steel Company has been a leading provider of stainless steel products and services for over 50 years. Our team proudly serves customers with Pennsylvania, New England, the Southeast, and Ohio steel warehouses, and other parts of the United States. We can help you get the most value out of your stainless steel project.

Request a quote from the trusted steel distributors at Pennsylvania Steel Company for stainless steel for your next project.

The Top 6 Tips For Welding Aluminum

Joseph Dombrowski October 13, 2023

When it comes to welding, one method doesn’t fit all. Certain qualities can make welding aluminum a challenge. Leading East Coast steel company and metal manufacturer Pennsylvania Steel Co. provides insight into the processing and production of construction materials. Below, we offer professional advice for ensuring a safe and effective aluminum welding process.

Aluminum Characteristics

Commercial aluminum alloys offer impressive strength-to-weight ratios and corrosion resistance. These qualities make aluminum a desirable and practical engineering material.

Aluminum is available in numerous forms and grades. They differ in purity, hardness, ductility, thermal conductivity, and various other properties. In other words, aluminum exists in a vast range of types. Here are several commonly utilized grades:

1100 Aluminum (the purest form of aluminum commercially available)
3003 Aluminum (most frequently used in the industry, pure aluminum with an addition of manganese)
5052 Aluminum (excellent resistance against salt water corrosion)
6061 Aluminum (most commonly used aluminum alloy in construction)
6063 Aluminum (often referred to as the “architectural alloy” for its use in building structures)

The specific grade of aluminum speaks to its chemical composition and how aluminum is made. These attributes determine the material’s ultimate application and price point.

Can You Weld Aluminum?

You can weld aluminum, but standard welding methods can be unsafe and ineffective. Aluminum is highly sensitive, susceptible to impurities, and offers a small window of workability. Since pure aluminum is soft and malleable, adding various alloys creates its diversified range of types. Although the element naturally has a low melting point, the tough exterior oxide layer complicates the welding process.

Why is Welding Aluminum Difficult?

Specific metal properties can make them challenging to weld. For example:

Oxidation: the chemical reaction that occurs at the surface of a metal when exposed to oxygen.
Porousness: measurement of permeability and other energy absorption properties.
Impurities: the presence of trace amounts of other elements.
Thickness: the metal’s “gauge,” expressed in mm (millimeters).

Physical properties vary widely in terms of aluminum grades and often present obstacles when welding. The following characteristics can make aluminum difficult to weld:

High thermal conductivity (resulting in high dissipation of heat)
Hydrogen solubility (causing excessive porosity)
Oxide layer (requiring thorough cleaning/preparation)

Types of Aluminum Welding

When it comes to welding aluminum, there are a number of welding methods to choose from. The best one for each project depends on the specific use case.

GTAW/TIG Welding

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), commonly known as TIG welding, is a popular precision welding process for aluminum. It uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode and an inert gas to create a clean and controlled arc. It is ideal for welding thin aluminum sheets or intricate designs while producing minimal spatter.

GMAW/MIG Welding

During Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), or MIG welding, a welder feeds a continuous wire electrode through a welding gun with a shielding gas to protect the weld pool from contamination. This process is efficient for high-speed production and thicker aluminum sections, providing good weld penetration and strong, dependable results.

Laser Beam and Electron Beam Welding

Laser beam and electron beam welding are advanced processes that welders can use for aluminum. These methods use concentrated energy beams to melt and fuse the aluminum surfaces with pinpoint accuracy, making them suitable for applications where precision and minimal heat-affected zones are critical.

Resistance Welding

Resistance welding is a method used for aluminum, particularly in the automotive and aerospace industries. It passes an electrical current through the aluminum parts to cause the metals to fuse. With aluminum, the welder must be cautious of the high electrical and thermal conductivity.

Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)

Due to its limitations, SMAW, or stick welding, is not the primary choice for aluminum. It involves a consumable electrode covered with a flux coating, making it better suited for welding steel. However, welders use it for aluminum in specific applications with specialized electrodes and techniques.

Friction Welding

Friction welding bonds aluminum through a solid-state process. It involves rubbing the aluminum parts together to generate heat through friction and then applying pressure to join them. When welders require high-strength, reliable bonds, they may use friction welding.

6 Tips for Welding Aluminum

Pennsylvania Steel Co. specializes in metal processing services for commercial fabricators throughout the United States. We possess decades of expertise in the metal production industry. By sharing our expert knowledge, we strive to educate our valued clientele. Above all else, Pennsylvania Steel Co. values its partners’ and customers’ safety, loyalty, and trust. Properly and safely execute your next aluminum weld by following the expert advice we’ve provided below. We also have a guide on how to weld steel if you have a different material in mind.

1) Clean and prepare your material thoroughly.

Proper preparation of your aluminum alloy is essential to effective welding. Cleaning and degreasing the metal beforehand removes the outer oxide layer. Adequate removal of this tough layer exposes the raw aluminum material, which has a much lower melting point. For reference, pure aluminum melts at 1200ºF while the oxide layer melts at 3700ºF.

2) Correctly store your aluminum materials.

Adequately storing prepped aluminum prevents re-oxidation. As stated, the oxide layer is tough to remove. You want to avoid additional preparation and scrubbing.

3) Use a heat sink.

A heat sink is a supplemental component that absorbs or dissipates unwanted heat. The appropriate heat sink ensures optimized thermal transfer during the weld.

4) Tailor your technique for different building materials.

As previously mentioned, aluminum’s complex chemical structure can complicate welding as it’s highly sensitive. Before diving in, take the time to do your research, assess your materials, and refine your technique.

5) Always wear proper PPE.

Once again, we aim to educate and protect our clientele. As a result, we urge all of our fabricators to wear the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when processing or working with any metal. When welding aluminum, for example, we highly recommend wearing a respirator!

6) Be patient and don’t rush.

Speeding through the welding process is undoubtedly dangerous. No matter how much PPE you wear, the best protection is practiced knowledge!

Allow the Pros at Pennsylvania Steel to Simplify the Welding and Production Process

Our goal at Pennsylvania Steel Company is the success of our valued clientele. We’re advancing this sustainable industry by sharing our expertise, providing superior customer service, and supplying metal fabricators all over the eastern U.S. Beyond our Bensalem, PA facility, we have Pennsylvania, New York, Richmond, Virginia, North Carolina, and Ohio steel warehouse locations. We take pride in being a superior steel and pipe supplier and processor for manufacturing businesses throughout the U.S.

Our passion for advancing the steel trade stands over 50 years strong. Numerous industries – including the construction, defense, and technology sectors – rely on our experienced steel company as a vital source of premium metal production and processing services. We’re committed to facilitating growth – as a company, as an industry, and as a community. Request a quote or contact our metal specialists for inquiries regarding our product lines and services.

Carbon Steel vs Stainless Steel: Which is Better for Your Project?

Joseph Dombrowski September 5, 2023

Carbon vs stainless steel: which one is better? The answer depends on the project. If you know the difference between stainless and carbon steel, you can decide which one lines up with your project goals.

Pennsylvania Steel Co. is a leading choice for steel products and services in the eastern United States. We can teach you everything you need to know about the stainless steel vs carbon steel debate. Plus, we can show you when to use carbon steel vs stainless steel and vice versa. That way, you can make an informed decision about what type of steel is the best option for your next project.

What Is Stainless Steel?

Stainless steel is the world’s most popular metal — and it is easy to understand why. This type of steel consists of iron and carbon, along with chromium and other alloying elements that protect against corrosion. This helps protect against rust that commonly occurs with standard steel.

Along with corrosion resistance, stainless steel offers amazing strength and durability compared to other types of steel. It can also withstand high and low temperatures without deteriorating, is easy to clean, and maintains its appearance for a long time.

What Is Carbon Steel?

Like stainless steel, carbon steel contains carbon and iron. However, it contains less alloy than stainless steel. Also, the composition of carbon steel can be up to 2% carbon. And a high volume of carbon can strengthen a piece of carbon steel to the point where it becomes nearly impossible to bend.

Carbon steel is often used in knives and other tools since it will likely retain its shape over time. Of course, carbon steel can still be brittle. If this type of steel is exposed to a high amount of pressure, it is more likely to break than bend.

Carbon Steel vs Stainless Steel: Which One Is Right for You?

If you are unsure about when to use carbon steel vs stainless steel, you are not alone. Fortunately, we know the differences between carbon and stainless steel and are happy to share them with you.

Here’s a look at the key differences between these two types of steel.

1. Carbon Content

The basic ingredients of these steel options are identical. Yet, it is important to note that every steel is an alloy, but each one is not necessarily an alloy steel.

Stainless steel tends to have a carbon content of less than 1.2%. Comparatively, carbon steel has a carbon content of up to 2.5%, and the high level of carbon helps make this type of steel less prone to bending than its stainless counterpart.

2. Chromium Content

Carbon steel has less than 10.5% chromium content, while stainless is at or above this level. Chromium protects against moisture that can otherwise cause steel to rust. Therefore, stainless steel is less likely to rust than carbon.

3. Visual Appeal

You can probably tell the difference between stainless and carbon steel at first glance. Stainless is a shiny metal that continues to dazzle long after it’s produced. Meanwhile, carbon is strong but nowhere near as shiny as stainless.

When to Use Carbon Steel vs Stainless Steel

Low, medium, or high-carbon steel can be used in everything from food cans to high-strength steel wire. For example, an automaker may utilize low-carbon steel to build car parts. Medium carbon steel can be utilized in things like railways and gears. High-carbon steel is commonly used for knives and repair tools.

It is common for companies to choose carbon steel pipe options over other types of piping. This is due to the fact that carbon steel piping tends to be stronger and more durable than many comparable options.

Stainless steel is a top choice in the culinary industry. It is frequently used in kitchen pans, shelves, appliances, and utensils.

Along with the culinary sector, hospitals may invest in stainless steel shelves since they are simple to clean and maintain. To date, stainless steel piping systems have been used by companies in petrochemical, food processing, and other industries.

If you want to weld steel, check out our guide on how to weld steel to get started.

High-Quality Steel from Pennsylvania Steel Company

Pennsylvania Steel Co. offers carbon and stainless steel products and services to companies of all sizes and across all sectors. If you are weighing the pros and cons of carbon and stainless steel for your next project, we’re here to help you out.

Contact Pennsylvania Steel Co. for all of your steel needs with fast delivery options. Our Pennsylvania, Southeast, Northeast, and Ohio steel distribution centers make it easy to get what you need quickly. For more information or to request a free quote, please get in touch with us today.

Your Guide to Expanded Metal Sizing

Joseph Dombrowski July 10, 2023

Stainless steel expanded metal grating is commonly used for flooring, shelving, security screens, and barriers. Expanded metal grating is also considered one of the most economical materials for industrial, architectural, and commercial applications.

Pennsylvania Steel Co. offers a variety of stainless steel expanded metal and grating products. We can walk you through our expanded metal sizes and help you quickly and easily identify your project’s ideal expanded metal sizing.

What Are the Types of Expanded Metal?

Common types of expanded metal include:

1. Standard

Available in many gauges and open sizes, standard expanded metal features strands and bonds set at the same angle. This boosts the metal’s power and rigidity. At the same time, it improves the metal’s airflow.

2. Flattened

Flattened expanded metal is produced through cold rolling. It’s a great option if you want a smooth surface.

3. Hexagonal

Air, light, fire, sound, and liquid can seamlessly move through hexagonal expanded metal. At the same time, the hexagonal shape strengthens the metal.

4. Architectural

Architectural expanded metal features a diamond design with distinct aesthetic elements. For a terrific mix of style and function, go with architectural expanded metal.

5. Micro

This consists of a light gauge metal with small holes. It can also have flattened, regular, hexagonal, or square openings.

How to Measure Expanded Metal

To measure expanded metal, you first need to consider whether the metal is raised or flattened.

In its original form, expanded metal has a raised appearance in which angular strands incline from the plane of the sheet. You’ll want to account for the following measurements:

Longway Pitch: Horizontal measurement from center to center based on the size of the tool used during production
Shortway Pitch: Vertical measurement from center to center based on the expansion that occurs during production
Strand Width: Measurement of the width of the angular strand that forms during production
Strand Thickness: Measurement of expanded metal thickness

With flattened expanded metal, measure the longway and shortway aperture in addition to strand width and thickness. Longway aperture refers to the horizontal measurement from one internal aperture point to another. Shortway aperture is the vertical measurement from one internal aperture point to another.

What Do Expanded Metal Numbers Mean?

Expanded metal numbers denote the metal’s dimension and gauge. The first number indicates the metal’s nominal dimension or short way of design (SWOD), and the second number typically indicates the metal’s gauge or weight per 100 square feet.

How Do You Read Expanded Metal Sizes?

An expanded metal size chart is generally used to read expanded metal sizes. This chart includes the following columns:

Style: Based on a measurement of the edge of the expanded metal to the straight edge and may include a letter at the beginning to denote the material (for example: “A” for aluminum)
Weight: Measured in pounds per square foot
Opening Size (in inches): Denotes the metal’s SWOD and long way of design (the diagonal length of the long diamond)
Strand Size (in inches): Indicates the strand’s width and thickness
Approximate Open Area %: Represents the approximate area of an irregular region surrounded by curves

If you have more questions about expanded metal dimensions, the experienced team at PA Steel is happy to help.

Pennsylvania Steel Company Is Here for Your Metal Needs

We own and operate regional steel warehouses in Bensalem, Whitehall, and York, Pennsylvania, along with Richmond, Charlotte, New England, Long Island, Cleveland and many other locations across the northeast. If you want expanded metal services, we’ve got you covered.

For more information about our expanded metal services or to request an expanded metal project quote, please get in touch with us today.

PENNSYLVANIA STEEL ACQUIRES NIVERT METAL SUPPLY

Joseph Dombrowski October 25, 2022

Pennsylvania Steel Company, Inc. today announced that it will purchase certain assets of Nivert Metal Supply, Inc., a leading metals service center operating in Throop, Pa. The transaction is expected to close by the end of October.

The acquisition will allow Pennsylvania Steel to expand its geographic customer base while providing improved service for cut‐to‐size metals in the Northeast. All existing operations of Nivert Metal will continue in Throop, with Aaron Nivert ‐ son of President Louis Nivert ‐ leading the team as General Manager.

Nivert Metal President Louis Nivert said: “For more than 75 years, this family business has provided quality material and service to all our customers. But to continue to grow and thrive we need to be part of something bigger. We believe Pennsylvania Steel shares our values and commitment to customers and employees and are the right people to continue our legacy moving forward.”

“Nivert Metal joins our eight existing service centers and enhances our network of strategic locations. We are excited to welcome the Nivert Metal team to the Pennsylvania Steel family,” said Joseph Dombrowski, CEO and founder of Pennsylvania Steel. “Like Pennsylvania Steel, Nivert Metal has a great reputation in the metals industry and this acquisition enables us to continue our growth strategy, offering a wider range of products and processing capabilities across the Pennsylvania Steel footprint.”

Nivert Metal offers carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper and specialty metals for next‐ day delivery to customers in Northeast Pennsylvania, Southern New York and Eastern New Jersey, as well as a full range of value‐added processing services, including burning, shearing and saw cutting.

Pennsylvania Steel is a veteran owned privately held full line Metals Service center headquartered in Bensalem PA. Pennsylvania Steel provides raw materials to the metal manufacturing sector through eight Service Center locations. Core products include carbon and alloy Steels, aluminum, stainless, tool steel, and tubing products.

PDF version of this release can be viewed here.

Employee Spotlight: Jonathan Albert

Joseph Dombrowski June 10, 2022

We would like to welcome Jonathan Albert to Pennsylvania Steel. Jonathan has been promoted to General Manager of our York Division. Jonathan has been in the Service Center Industry since 2006 and has held numerous positions, including Business Development, Inside Sales, Manager of Business Operations and Contracts, and Regional Controller. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Clarion University, a master’s degree in Accounting from Mercer University, and earned his MBA from The University of Louisville. Welcome to the team!

What are the Different Types of Steel?

Joseph Dombrowski March 7, 2022

Since steel is so versatile in its uses, reliable steel companies like Pennsylvania Steel offer various types of steel for the multitude of projects our customers execute. The material’s type is determined by two main factors: the individual amounts of its alloy components (such as carbon and iron) and its production process.

The Four Main Types of Steel

Although there are technically over 3,500 types of steel available on the market with varying physical properties, we’re going to focus on the four primary types of steel:

Carbon steel
Alloy steel
Stainless steel
Tool steel

Learning the differences between these will help you understand which is the best for your project and why it’s the best for the job.

Carbon Steel

As the name suggests, carbon steel contains mainly carbon and iron, and a trace of other elements (such as magnesium or chromium). There are three main subcategories of carbon steel which include:

Low Carbon Steels (less than 0.3% carbon) – Most common on the market because it’s relatively inexpensive, easy to form, and highly ductile. Commonly used for pipes, domestic appliances, wires, medical equipment, etc.
Medium Carbon Steels (0.3% – 0.6% carbon) – It’s strong, but it is difficult to form due to low ductility and toughness. Commonly used in machinery parts, cranks, gears, etc.
High Carbon Steels (greater than 0.6% carbon) – Hardest and toughest variety, but is difficult to weld, cut, and form. Commonly used for railways, bars, spring steel, etc.

As we mentioned above, each type of carbon steel offers different levels of strength, ductility, and workability that make them suitable for different applications.

Generally, this type of steel is used in materials such as construction equipment and automotive components. In fact, carbon steel accounts for about 90% of total steel production in the entire industry because it’s inexpensive to produce and durable enough for use in large commercial projects.

Alloy Steel

The name “alloy steel” suggests a large mix of different elements in addition to the characteristic carbon and iron combination. Examples of common additives are:

Magnesium
Chromium
Nickel
Silicon
Molybdenum
Titanium
Copper

The percentages of these elements will determine the appropriate application for the material. Manipulating these proportions changes the steel’s properties, such as heat resistance, hardness, and ductility. Companies often utilize this type of steel to produce commercial equipment like aerospace and aircraft components, transformers, pipelines, and power generators.

Stainless Steel

Steel in this category contains 10-20% chromium, making it incredibly resistant to corrosion and staining. This concentrated chromium coating also makes this material rust-proof. Classified by their microscopic structures, there are three subsets of stainless steel:

TYPE OF STAINLESS STEEL	GRADE	PROPERTIES	% ALLOYING ELEMENTS	COMMON USES
Austenitic	300	non-magnetic and non-heat-treatable	18% chromium 8% nickel <0.8% carbon	kitchen and food processing equipment
Ferritic	400	magnetic	10.5-27% chromium <0.1% carbon	heat exchangers and furnaces, auto parts
Martensitic	400	magnetic and heat-treatable	11-17% chromium <0.4% nickel <1.2% carbon	cutting tools, dental and surgical equipment

Stainless steel is a highly versatile material due to its notable resistance to heat and discoloration. Its unique resilience makes it the best type of steel for a number of industries, ranging from culinary and catering to standard machinery and cars. Check out our guide on how to weld stainless steel to help your next project.

Tool Steel

A combination of carbon and alloy steel, tool steel generally offers high hardness and abrasion resistance. These features, along with its superior ability to retain its shape, make it the ideal material for composing various tools. Surgical equipment, drills, dyes, bits, molds, and punches are examples of instruments made using tool steel.

Manufacturing quality tools requires quality steel components. PA Steel produces a number of different tool steels, which consist of carbon and alloy steels. Tool steel offers advanced abrasion resistance and toughness. We stock many different tool steel grades, including:

Air Hardening (A-Grades)
High-Carbon High-Chromium (D-Grades)
Shock Resisting (S-Grades)
Mold Quality/Hot Work (H-Grades)
Oil Hardening (O-Grades)
Water Hardening (W-Grades)

To learn more about our tool steel inventory, grades, and their applications, check out our detailed Tool Steel Guide.

Choosing The Best Steel For Your Project

As previously mentioned, the selected steel’s type identifies its key properties, including ductility, hardness, weldability, and more. Naturally, these qualities will determine the applied uses of the chosen metal.

In other words, selecting the wrong metal can prove detrimental to the quality of your project. For example, high alloy or low carbon steels are most effective in extremely cold temperatures because they retain high tensile strength even in frigid conditions. Therefore, residential and commercial structures being built in freezing climates should use these types of metals in their structural designs.

If you’re unsure about what your metal project requires, feel free to contact the specialists at Pennsylvania Steel for further insight into your ideal metal for the job. We can help you confirm your choice and walk you through your potential options for a high-quality result!

Contact PA Steel For a Custom Quote

Regardless of the job you take on, PA Steel offers a wide stock of the different types and grades of steel to help you prepare for your next project. Our knowledgeable staff has years of expertise, so feel free to contact the steel warehouse closest to you with any questions or to receive an estimate. Contact our Pennsylvania, New York, New England, Virginia (Richmond), North Carolina (Charlotte), and Ohio steel supply warehouses.

Articles by Joseph Dombrowski

Joseph Dombrowski