Coloring of High Quality Steel
High quality steel is a durable material which is critical in many industries that are essential to the functioning of modern society. Despite its usefulness and wide applications, however, nothing is as important in the production and use of steel, as the proper coloring of the material so that designations and specifications can be easily identified and recognized. The use of proper color marking not only allows the steel producer and their customers to quickly and accurately identify the grade of steel being used, but also provides assurance that the requirements of both party have been met.
Coloring of high quality steel typically starts with the steel being either cold worked or hot worked. Cold worked pieces are typically heated to a temperature range between 800°F and 1550°F and then quenched in water or oil. When steel is hot worked, it is heated to a high temperature and then also quenched. The type of quenching liquid used, water or oil, will depend on the type of steel being used and is important to ensure that the proper cooling rate is achieved to keep the steel from becoming too brittle.
Once the steel has been quenched, it is then heat treated to the desired level of hardness. This process involves heating the steel to a temperature of between 1200°F and 1550°F, and then cooling it at a rate that will allow the desired level of hardness to be achieved.
The coloring process itself is the final step and the one that allows easy identification of the type of steel being used. Generally speaking, different hardness levels are associated with different colors, which makes it easy to see at a glance the type of steel being used. Common colors used for high quality steel are red and gold for mild steel, blue for medium carbon steel, yellow and white for high-carbon steel and green for stainless steel. However, there is some variation between steel producers so it is important for the color coding to be clearly and explicitly specified in any order for high quality steel.
Nevertheless, the best way to ensure that the correct color codes are applied to steel is to purchase from a reputable steel producer. The experienced personnel of such companies understand the importance of proper color coding and will make sure that all orders are coded with the correct colors, allowing customers to rest assured that they are being supplied with high quality steel.
