For many structural components and agricultural machinery parts, carbon steel offers unmatched strength and cost advantages. QD is a professional manufacturer and exporter of carbon steel castings. We will help you make better decisions in the design and procurement of carbon steel castings.
What is Carbon Steel?
Carbon steel is a basic form of steel. It is mainly made of iron and carbon. The carbon content usually ranges from 0.05% to 2.0%. This amount determines its mechanical properties. Carbon steel is known for its high strength, good plasticity, and weldability. It is widely used in industry.
Carbon steel is mainly classified by carbon content:
Low-carbon steel: Carbon content below 0.25%. Easy to form and weld. Often used for structural parts.
Medium-carbon steel: Carbon content between 0.25% and 0.60%. Balances strength and toughness. Suitable for mechanical components.
High-carbon steel: Carbon content above 0.60%. High hardness but more brittle. Mostly used for tools and wear-resistant parts.
The manufacturing process of carbon steel includes melting, casting, and heat treatment. This ensures its microstructure is uniform, improving overall performance. QD’s professional casting experience ensures the internal quality of carbon steel castings. It reduces defects and increases reliability.
Core Advantages of Carbon Steel
The main strengths of carbon steel castings are their excellent mechanical properties and cost efficiency. We explain this by comparing with stainless steel.
High Strength and Durability
Carbon steel often has higher tensile and yield strength than many stainless steel grades. For example, medium-carbon steel can reach over 350 MPa yield strength. Achieving similar strength with stainless steel may cost more for the same volume. Carbon steel’s toughness also allows it to handle heavy loads and impact, making it suitable for demanding environments.
Significant Cost Efficiency
Carbon steel is much cheaper than stainless steel. This comes mainly from lower raw material costs and simpler production. The table below shows key differences between carbon steel and stainless steel:
| Indicator | Carbon Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Raw Material Cost | Low (mainly iron and carbon) | High (contains chromium, nickel, etc.) |
| Strength Level | High. Easy to improve with heat treatment | Medium. Depends on alloy composition |
| Corrosion Resistance | Low. Requires surface protection | High. Self-passivating film |
| Machinability | Excellent. Easy to weld and machine | Good. But tends to work harden |
| Typical Application Cost | Economical. Suitable for mass production | Higher. Used in special environments |
As the table shows, in applications where high corrosion resistance is not required, carbon steel can provide equal or even higher strength at a lower cost. We further reduce the cost of carbon steel castings by optimizing our supply chain and production processes. This helps you save on your budget.
Machinability and Adaptability
Carbon steel is easy to cast, weld, and machine. This allows design flexibility and rapid prototyping. Carbon steel properties can also be adjusted through heat treatment, such as quenching and tempering, to meet different application needs.
Environmental Friendliness and Recyclability
Carbon steel is 100% recyclable, reducing resource waste. We use environmentally friendly processes and are committed to sustainable production, lowering our carbon footprint.
Applications
Carbon steel castings are widely used across many industries. They perform especially well in these areas:
Equipment Structural Frames: Such as machine tool bases and conveyor brackets. The high strength of carbon steel ensures stability.
Agricultural Machinery Parts: Examples include plowshares and harvester blades. Carbon steel’s wear resistance and cost-effectiveness suit agricultural environments well.
Gear Blanks and Transmission Components: Carbon steel can be heat-treated to achieve high surface hardness, extending service life.
Internal Mechanical Parts: Such as pump housings and valve bodies. Especially in enclosed systems not exposed to corrosive media.
Construction and Infrastructure: Used for support structures and connectors. Offers reliable performance at controlled costs.
QD customizes castings based on your needs to ensure dimensional accuracy and performance match.
Important Note: Carbon Steel Can Rust
The main weakness of carbon steel is that it rusts easily, especially in damp or corrosive conditions. However, this can be effectively managed with simple surface protection:
- Spray Painting and Brushing: Creates a physical barrier that blocks moisture and oxygen.
- Electroplating or Hot-Dip Galvanizing: Applies a metallic coating for better corrosion resistance.
- Rust-Preventive Oils or Coatings: Provides temporary protection for storage and shipping.
- Regular Maintenance: Inspects and repairs protective layers to extend service life.
We offer complete surface treatment services. We help you choose the right protection based on your application environment, ensuring long-term reliability for your carbon steel castings.
Our Common Carbon Steel Grades
QD keeps a stock of various carbon steel materials. This meets different strength and application needs. Below are our commonly used carbon steel grades and their features, these grades cover needs from general structures to high-load machinery:
| Grade | Carbon Content (%) | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Typical Applications | QD Custom Services |
| Q235 | 0.14-0.22 | 370-500 | Structural frames, brackets | Heat treatment optimization available |
| 45 Steel | 0.42-0.50 | 600-800 | Gears, shafts | Can improve toughness through quenching and tempering |
| ZG270-500 | 0.35-0.45 | 500-700 | Heavy machinery parts | Casting defect rate lower than industry standard |
| ASTM A36 | 0.25-0.29 | 400-550 | General structural components | Complies with international standards, export support available |
We use strict quality control, including spectral analysis and non-destructive testing. We also provide personalized solutions.
Contact Us
If your parts do not require the corrosion resistance of stainless steel, choosing carbon steel will save a significant part of your budget. Inquire about our carbon steel castings for highly competitive prices.
QD has years of experience and is committed to providing you with high-quality, low-cost casting solutions. Feel free to contact us for free technical advice and a quote.
FAQ
1. Do carbon steel castings rust?
Yes. Carbon steel rusts when exposed to damp conditions. But this can be easily prevented with surface protection like painting or galvanizing.
2. Which is stronger, carbon steel or stainless steel?
At the same cost, carbon steel is usually stronger. Stainless steel strength depends on its alloy content, but carbon steel is more economical.
3. What is the approximate cost of carbon steel castings?
Cost varies by size, grade, and quantity, but is generally 20%-50% lower than stainless steel. Please contact us for a specific quote.
4. Are carbon steel castings suitable for corrosive environments?
Not suitable for strong corrosive environments. But with surface protection, they can be used in mildly corrosive conditions. We can recommend suitable treatment solutions.
5. How to extend the service life of carbon steel castings?
Maintain protective coatings regularly, avoid long-term exposure to moisture, and select the appropriate grade. We provide lifespan assessment services.
6. Why choose QD’s carbon steel castings?
We use advanced casting technology and strict quality control. This ensures high strength and low defect rates. We also offer customization. Our cost-performance ratio leads the industry.