Steel is often referred to as a commodity product. Although recognized as a material with a wide range of uses, the extent of different end uses is often not fully understood. In the following article, the author discusses some common uses of steel that reflect the various applications in which this material is commonly used.
Fair products
Within flat steel products, several different product groups can be distinguished. This includes:
Plate, commonly used in shipbuilding, for large diameter pipe production (eg for oil and gas transportation) and for military applications such as armored plate (tanks, personnel carriers).
Hot rolled carbon steel coil and sheet, where important uses may include low pressure tanks, heavy ducts and conduits, gas and water pipes, roll formed sections for construction use, engine parts, and some auto chassis parts.
Cold-rolled coil and sheet, including roofing products, enamelled kitchen utensils, packaging (including strapping), exposed elements of white goods such as refrigerators and freezers, brackets for construction and machinery.
Coated steel products – meaning mainly zinc and tin coated steel – where the main uses include motorway crash barriers, air conditioning ventilation shafts, lockers, cabinets, metal boxes, exposed parts of bodies, railway wagons, drums, vessels, roofing products, PVC window assemblies – and at the highest end of the quality spectrum for exposed vehicle body panels, white goods panels, sandwich panels for building applications; and tinplate for packaging use (food and beverage).
Long product
Within a long product, many different product groups can be distinguished.
This includes:
Heavy parts, often used in the construction of bridges, or as building elements (beams) as load-bearing structures in buildings. Railroad tracks are also an important use for heavy steel sections a36 cold rolled steel plate.
Light articles, which may include merchant bar products [ie round, square, hexagonal, rectangular, flat and other shapes used as support structures for building, construction and machinery], reinforcing bars (used to reinforce concrete – both horizontal and vertical) as well as engineering steel products (used to make crankshafts, gearbox gears, suspension arms, automotive springs and hydraulic components).
Wire products, used for tire string, mechanical springs (including bedding), steel rope, as well as fasteners (nuts, bolts, screws) as well as wire mesh, nails and products fence
Inside the tube, additional products can be identified. This includes:
Seamless tubing, where the thinnest applications include syringe needles and precision tubing; and larger diameters find uses in oil and gas exploration as well as high temperature and pressure applications including uses in highly corrosive environments.
Welded tube, including small, medium and large pipe, with uses from tools, gas and water pipes, as well as building elements. The largest diameter pipes are used for cross country, subsea as well as intercontinental oil and gas transport Cold Rolled Steel Coil and Sheet Prices .
Although it is often referred to as a commodity product, it is clear that the uses of steel are very diverse. Many applications of steel are also highly specialized – especially in:high speed steels, used for cutting metal.
tool steel, used to make tools (including stamping dies, shearing blades, and hand tools such as chucks and machine tool bit holders).
steel forging (which has very wide industrial applications including parts and machinery).
Certain subgroups of steel (such as stainless steel) have their own more unique set of applications (jewelry, surgical instruments, kitchen surfaces and utensils).
