Most iron produced is converted into steel, however there are many
alloys of steel which are all alloys of iron. Alloys (mixture of two
or more elements, at least one being metal) are made by mixing when
molten and allowed to cool to a uniform solid.
A steel contains mainly iron with, with typically, 0.3% or so of carbon
and small measured amounts of transition metals such as W, Nb, Ni, Mn,
Cr, V and Ti. These transition metals give steel each particularly useful
properties such as flexibility, rigidity, and ease of welding. Steel
used for car bodies contain moderate amounts of carbon. Lots of carbon is
used to make tools which give them their durability and strength. For high speed cutting machines etc, have tunsten in
the steel mixture which makes steel even harder and thefore more durable.
Titanium steel can withstand high temperatures therfore it used in spacecraft's.
Chromium and nickel is added to make stainless steel for cutlery, so it resists
corrosion well.
