Carbon steel

Carbon steels can be classified as follows (Table 4.3):
Low-carbon steel
Carbon-manganese steel
Micro-alloyed steel
Medium-carbon steel
High-carbon steel.
The properties of plain carbon steel are determined principally by carbon content and microstructure, but it may be modified by residual elements other than carbon,silicon,manganese,sulphur and phosphorus,which are already present. As the carbon content increases so does the strength and hardness, but at the expense of ductility and malleability.