Steel Brand Representation
Steel is an essential element in the global economy due to its versatility, strength and durability. Steel is one of the most important industrial commodities and its production and consumption is closely followed. Steel is used in construction, automotive, shipbuilding, railways, pipelines, engineering and a multitude of other industries around the world. It is important that the steel used in any given industry is produced to the highest possible standard and that it meets the specific requirements of the application. To ensure this, it is necessary to have a standard of representation for steel brand names and grades.
Steel Representation
Steel brand representation is a universal system of organizing and recording the different varieties of steel available in the industry. It is a way of labeling and distinguishing one steel type from another. Steel brand representation is important as it helps those involved to quickly understand and accurately identify the type of material being used, the properties of that material, and its purpose and specification.
The most common form of steel brand representation is a four-character code. The first two characters identify the standard from which the steel is produced, and the last two characters identify the type of steel. For instance, A36 is an American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) code for a type of mild steel commonly used for structural purposes. The A is for American and the 36 is for the particular grade of steel. Other codes correspond to European and Japanese standards.
Grades of Steel
Steel grade is used to classifying and categorizing a steel’s chemical makeup, its strengths and weaknesses, and the applications for which it is best suited. Steel grades are standardized across countries to ensure smoother transportation of material around the world. Steel grades in the United States commonly start with one of four letters: A, C, D or E. The letter denotes the type of steel and the numbers following it denote the composition and properties of the steel. For example, A36 is an ASTM steel with a 0.3% carbon content and a tensile strength of 58,000 psi. C1045 is an ASTM steel with 0.45% carbon content, 0.3% silicon and 1.2% manganese which has a tensile strength of 78,000 psi.
Manufacturer Representation
Manufacturer representations are used to designate the origin of steel. Manufacturer representations generally describe the manufacturer, the heat of origin of the steel, the grade and the additional characteristics of the steel, such as yield strength and tensile strength. For example, SAE 5160 is a supplier designated representation for 5160 alloy steel from SAE International. The manufacturer representation also contains information about the date, time and place of the manufacture of the steel.
In Conclusion
Steel brand representation is a universal system of organizing and recording the different varieties of steel available in the industry. It is a way of labeling and distinguishing one steel type from another. Steel grade is used to classify and categorize a steel’s chemical makeup, its strengths and weaknesses, and the applications for which it is best suited. Manufacturer representations are used to designate the origin of steel. By understanding how to correctly interpret and use the information provided in brand and grade representations, the advantages of using steel can be maximized to its fullest potential.
