Aço Carbono vs Alumínio: Qual Reina Supremo?

Carbon Steel vs Aluminum: Which Reigns Supreme?

Which is better, carbon steel or aluminum alloy? Carbon steel and aluminum alloy have their own advantages and disadvantages and are also used in different occasions.

Carbon steel is very common in construction materials because of its affordable price, good stability and strong toughness.

Aluminum alloy has better stability, no rust, higher hardness and light texture;

But its price is more expensive and its resistance is a little weak. It is often used in places where both light and hard materials are required.

High carbon steel, often called tool steel, with carbon content ranging from 0.60% to 1.70%, can be quenched and tempered.

Hammers, crowbars, etc. are made of steel with 0.75% carbon content; cutting tools such as drills, taps, reamers, etc. They are made of steel with a carbon content of 0.90% to 1.00%.

After heat treatment, high hardness (HRC60-65) and good wear resistance can be obtained.

The hardness is moderate under annealing conditions and has good machinability.

Aluminum alloy is the most widely used non-ferrous metal structural material in industry.

It has been widely used in aviation, aerospace, automobile, machinery manufacturing, shipbuilding and chemical industry.

With the rapid development of the industrial economy, the demand for aluminum alloy welded structural parts is increasing day by day, and the weldability research of aluminum alloy is also deepening.

Currently, aluminum alloy is the most used alloy.

Good thermal conductivity: Aluminum has high thermal conductivity, which is only three times that of iron, alongside silver, gold and copper in metals.

Advantages and disadvantages of high carbon steel and aluminum alloy:

Advantages of high carbon steel:

1. After heat treatment, high hardness (HRC60-65) and good wear resistance can be obtained.

2. The hardness is moderate under annealing conditions and has good machinability.

3. Raw materials are easily available and production costs are low.

Disadvantages of carbon steel:

1. Thermal hardness is low. When the working temperature of the tool is higher than 200℃, its hardness and wear resistance drop drastically.

2. Low hardenability.

The diameter of a fully hardened hole during water quenching is 15 to 18 mm;

The maximum diameter or thickness (95% martensite) of full quenching during oil quenching is only about 6mm, and it is easy to deform and crack.

Advantages and disadvantages of aluminum alloy:

Advantages of aluminum alloy:

Low density:

The density of aluminum is 2.7g/cm³, about 1/3 that of copper (8.9g/cm³) or steel (7.8g/cm³).

Low density is very beneficial for vehicles and buildings such as aerospace aircraft, ships and vehicles, and can also save handling and processing costs and reduce costs. It is most widely used in industry, construction, civil and other fields;

Good corrosion resistance:

Aluminum and aluminum alloys can form a hard and dense oxide film with good corrosion resistance in the atmosphere.

The corrosion resistance of aluminum can be further improved by surface treatment such as anodizing, electrophoretic painting, powder coating, etc;

Good decorative property:

Aluminum alloy has good plasticity and can process products of various specifications.

Through surface treatment, it can produce films of different properties and colors, with good decorative properties;

Disadvantages of aluminum alloy:

Aluminum alloy is a brittle material, with tensile strength close to the yield limit, low toughness, low hardness, wear resistance, large thermal conductivity, large thermal deformation, low thermal stability, and cannot improve the mechanical strength of the material through of heat treatment.

Recommended for you:

  • The Ultimate Guide to Stainless Steel Materials
  • The definitive guide to steel
  • Steel classification and types: the definitive guide
  • Special Foundry: Everything you need to know
  • What is steel plate?
  • Cutting Tool Materials: A Basic Guide to Choosing the Right One

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