You might need to use different types of steel on your construction project. For example, you'll need structural steel for some parts of the build and other types for others. In some cases, alloy steels are a good option. What is an alloy steel, and what are the benefits of using one?

What Is an Alloy Steel?

Regular steel is a mix of iron and carbon. Alloy steels have this same mix; however they also contain one or more other elemental materials.

For example, an alloy steel might contain aluminium, chromium, lead, nickel or silicon in addition to its standard iron and carbon content. Each additional material adds something to the steel. It changes the way you can work with the metal and/or the way it reacts to factors such as load, pressure and weathering.

Alloy steels are typically classified as either low or high alloys. The class depends on the percentage of the additional material. So, if you add a small percentage to a mix, then you have a low-alloy steel; if the percentage is bigger, then you have a high-alloy steel.

What Are the Advantages of Alloy Steels?

While regular steel is strong and tough, it isn't always the best metal to use in some scenarios. An alloy steel simply gives you more flexibility. You can tailor its composition exactly to make it work for your needs. You can turn negatives into workable positives.

For example, regular steel  might not be strong enough to support extra-heavy loads. You might need to plan your build to use more steel than you want to get the structural support you need.

Or, you might run into problems if you need to weld some of the steel you use on site. The carbon content in regular steel doesn't work completely effectively with welded areas. Carbon is a brittle material. If you weld it, then your finished welds might also become too brittle and ineffective.

If you use an alloy steel, then you change the properties of the metal to better match your needs. For example, you can add vanadium to make the steel stronger. Or, you can reduce the carbon content of the steel and add manganese to the mix to make it more weldable. The manganese makes the steel less brittle and gives you a more effective welding finish.

To find out more about alloy steels and how to source the best mixes for your build, ask steelwork manufacturers for advice.