All about Steel
Dear all,
Hi. There seems to be some confusion created by the video taken was shown in class. In the video, pig iron snapped at a force of 6 tons, while steel snapped at a force of 8 tons. What do these show?
Actually, we are measuring tensile strength, i.e. the maximum load in tension a material will withstand before fracturing, or the ability of a material to resist being pulled apart by opposing forces. Hence, I would infer that this property is related to brittleness.
From our notes on alloys (Para 5), it was said that 'brittleness increase as the carbon content increases'. This is exactly what is shown in the example above.
To clarify the terms used on metal, here's quite a good resource:
http://www.arcraftplasma.com/metalchar.htm
Actually, if you are seriously interested in finding out more about strength of steel, you could read this article. Basically, it seems to suggest that strength of steel depends not only on carbon content, but also a variety of other factors.
http://www.key-to-steel.com/default.aspx?ID=CheckArticle&NM=11
To find out more about the other factors, here's a link:
http://www.matter.org.uk/steelmatter/metallurgy/6_1.html
Lastly, there is this interesting article that is highly related to our study on Metal extraction and steel making. In summary, MIT is suggesting to make steel through electrolysis. But why are we not doing it? What are the benefits and disadvantages?
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/1996/steelmaking.html
Steel wire. Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel
Hi. There seems to be some confusion created by the video taken was shown in class. In the video, pig iron snapped at a force of 6 tons, while steel snapped at a force of 8 tons. What do these show?
Actually, we are measuring tensile strength, i.e. the maximum load in tension a material will withstand before fracturing, or the ability of a material to resist being pulled apart by opposing forces. Hence, I would infer that this property is related to brittleness.
From our notes on alloys (Para 5), it was said that 'brittleness increase as the carbon content increases'. This is exactly what is shown in the example above.
To clarify the terms used on metal, here's quite a good resource:
http://www.arcraftplasma.com/metalchar.htm
Actually, if you are seriously interested in finding out more about strength of steel, you could read this article. Basically, it seems to suggest that strength of steel depends not only on carbon content, but also a variety of other factors.
http://www.key-to-steel.com/default.aspx?ID=CheckArticle&NM=11
To find out more about the other factors, here's a link:
http://www.matter.org.uk/steelmatter/metallurgy/6_1.html
Lastly, there is this interesting article that is highly related to our study on Metal extraction and steel making. In summary, MIT is suggesting to make steel through electrolysis. But why are we not doing it? What are the benefits and disadvantages?
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/1996/steelmaking.html
Steel wire. Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel
Labels: Extension, Extra Notes, Metal Extraction, Steel
posted by Potassium Hydroxide | 11:24 PM
2 Comments:
"Brittleness. Brittleness is the property opposite of plasticity or ductility. A brittle metal is one than cannot be visibly deformed permanently, or one that lacks plasticity. "
so that means it can't be stretched but can crack and snap?
but if that's so why is steel more brittle?
and how can that be so if ductility is given as:
"Ductility. The ductility of a metal is that property which allows it to be stretched or otherwise changed in shape without breaking, and to retain the changed shape after the load has been removed. It is the ability of a material, such as copper, to be drawn or stretched permanently without fracture."
makes them sound like they're the same, but it also says they're opposites. confused :S
hi jot
i think steel is brittle due to the carbon content in it, however, it is less brittle than pig iron which has more carbon content.
*ithink* that pig iron is stronger but more brittle, coz in the video u can see that steel actually stretches - this accounts for the extra load.
rofl
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