Steel Standards Terminologies
Steel is one of the most widely used materials in the world, with many different uses ranging from construction to automotive to industrial. As a result, there are a large number of steel standards that have been created in order to specify and classify the different types, grades, sizes, and shapes of steel available on the market today.
In this article, we will provide a brief overview of the basic terminology used when discussing steel standards. It is important for buyers, sellers, and producers of steel to be familiar with these terms in order to have an effective understanding of the steel industry.
Steel Grades: Steel grades are used to designate the specific properties of steel. Generally, steel grades are defined according to their composition, mechanical properties, heat treatments, and production processes.
Steel Standards: Standards provide a uniform set of rules that govern the way in which a given product is manufactured, evaluated, and tested.
Standardization Organizations: Organizations such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) are responsible for creating and publishing standards for the steel industry.
Specifications: A specification is a document that provides a detailed description of the properties and requirements that must be met for a specific product.
Flanges: Flanges are steel components that are used to attach two pipes or tubes together.
Welding: Welding is a fabrication process that joins two pieces of metal by welding them together.
Pipe Fittings: Pipe fittings are components that are used to connect pieces of piping together.
Corrosion: Corrosion is the deterioration of metal due to the action of an agent such as air, water, or an acid.
Hardness: Hardness is a measure of the resistance to indentation of a given material.
Fabrication: Fabrication is the process of cutting, forming, and assembling metal components into a finished product.
Heat Treatments: Heat treatments are used to alter the properties of metal by subjecting it to high temperatures.
Dimensions: Dimensions are measurements of the physical size of a given object or material.
Tests: Tests are used to measure and determine the properties of a material or product.
Certification: Certification is a process that requires a product or material to meet certain standards in order to be considered acceptable for use.
Quality Control: Quality control is a process that ensures that all products meet the required specifications.
Metallurgy: Metallurgy is the science and technology of metal materials and processes.
Surface Finish: Surface finish refers to the appearance, texture, and smoothness of a material or product.
Annealing: Annealing is a heat treatment process that is used to soften metal alloys.
Plating: Plating is a process in which metal parts are coated with another metal in order to improve the appearance or provide a protective layer.
Heat Treatment: Heat treatment is a process that is used to induce certain physical and mechanical properties in metal alloys.
Stamping: Stamping is an industrialized metal forming process in which metal parts are cut and bent using a die and stamping press.
Forging: Forging is a process in which metal is subjected to stress, in order to alter its shape or properties.
Cold and Hot Working: Cold and hot working are processes that are used to alter the properties and form of metal.
Gauging: Gauging is the act of measuring sizes, shapes and other dimensions of different components in order to ensure consistency.
Machining: Machining is the process of cutting, drilling and shaping metal components to create desired shapes and sizes.
These are just a few of the many terms used when discussing steel standards. It is important for buyers, sellers, and producers of steel to be aware of these terms in order to facilitate communication and to ensure that the products sold and produced are of the highest quality.
