Mild Steel

Mild Steel FAQs

• What is mild steel?

  Mild steel is made from iron and carbon. It contains very little carbon - the amount typically ranges between 0.16% and 0.29%. It is a very commonly used steel, which is a result of its great weldability and machinability. Mild steel is cheaper in comparison to other steels, mainly because it doesn’t consist of many additional elements.To find out more about mild steel, read our in-depth What is Mild Steel? guide.

• What are the properties of mild steel?

  Mild steel comes with a number of both chemical and physical properties. The most notable are:

  Chemical properties:

  • Carbon content between 0.16% and 0.29% maximum
  • High melting point of between 1450°C to 1520°C
  • It has few elements included in its composition, so it has less tensile strength than other steels
  • However, some elements can be added to improve the chemical properties of mild steel. These include chromium, manganese, phosphorus, sulphur and cobalt

  Physical properties:

  • Low tensile strength - it is a ductile material so it will stretch a small amount and then shrink at the point where the stress is greatest
  • Good ductility - it can be deformed and shaped without losing its toughness
  • Great weldability - it is one of the most weldable metals
  • Magnetic - due to its high iron content
  • High resistance to breakage even when cold, due to its low carbon content - under high pressure, it will not break but instead deform or bend
  • Easily machinable - due to its low carbon content. It can be cut, machined and formed into different shapes without stress
  • Affordable - due to its lack of other elements
  • Poor corrosion resistance when exposed to oxygen and moisture

• What is mild steel used for?

  Mild steel is used for various purposes, including:

  • Steel frame buildings - its high strength makes it good for building framework
  • Structural steel - due to its consistent yield strength and ease of shaping
  • Machinery parts - its malleability is ideal for creating machinery components.
  • Metal gates and fencing - its strength and suitability to be worked into visually appealing gates and fences which can then be weatherproofed with suitable paints and surface treatments.
  • Pipelines - due to excellent ductility of mild steel tubes, the pipes will be easily weldable yet flexible enough to not break under pressure
  • Cookware - because of its ability to stay sharper for longer, its high temperature tolerance, and its transformation to a non-stick material when 'seasoned'

• Can mild steel be welded?

  Mild steel can certainly be welded. In fact, welding is ideal for mild steel because it is low carbon - the higher the carbon content, the more difficult steel is to weld. There are two types of welding processes most suitable for mild steel:

  • MIG welding - also known as gas metal arc welding (GMAW), an electrical arc forms between a wire electrode and the workpiece, with the addition of shielding gas,which heats the metals and causes them to melt and fuse together
  • Arc welding - a welding power supply is used to generate an arc between an electrode and the base material, this melts the metals at the point of contact, which solidifies when cooled to form a strong bond.

• Can mild steel be hardened?

  Due to its low carbon property, mild steel cannot be work hardened. It can, however, be case hardened. This is done by diffusing carbon into the outer layer of the steel at a high temperature, then heat treating the surface layer to its desired hardness.

• Can mild steel rust?

  Yes, mild steel rusts as the iron reacts with moisture in the air. This can be less likely if it is treated with a protective coating that can prevent the steel from corroding. Corrosion resistance can also be improved by introducing certain elements to mild steel, including molybdenum, titanium, and chromium.

• Can mild steel be extruded?

  Yes, mild steel can be extruded.This is achieved by heating a solid, cylindrical, mild steel billet which is then forced by a hydraulic press through a die to create a continuous profile with a uniform cross section.

• Can mild steel be powder coated?

  Yes, mild steel can be powder coated. This process consists of applying dry coating to it through an electrostatic process, and then baking it in a curing oven, resulting in a smooth coating.

• Can mild steel be die cast?

  Non-ferrous metals are most suitable for die casting. As mild steel contains iron, it is a ferrous metal, which means it has a likelihood of rusting. This makes it possible to be die casted, but is generally uncommon.