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Carbon steel
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<p>Carbon steel is a <a href="/facts/Steel/aN6qWo4H">steel</a> with <a href="/facts/Carbon/ukrgQexo">carbon</a> content from about 0.05 up to 2.1 percent by weight. The definition of carbon steel from the <a href="/facts/American_Iron_and_Steel_Institute/UeHu5cDm">American Iron and Steel Institute</a> (AISI) states: </p> <ul><li>no minimum content is specified or required for <a href="/facts/Chromium/6sVk6Uu7">chromium</a>, <a href="/facts/Cobalt/gqhScEw4">cobalt</a>, <a href="/facts/Molybdenum/RX6vp2bF">molybdenum</a>, <a href="/facts/Nickel/KwMCHYRP">nickel</a>, <a href="/facts/Niobium/3zNI8AKp">niobium</a>, <a href="/facts/Titanium/53ArnDoy">titanium</a>, <a href="/facts/Tungsten/WYwbNDYX">tungsten</a>, <a href="/facts/Vanadium/UvKkKTSm">vanadium</a>, <a href="/facts/Zirconium/y7gsoQFz">zirconium</a>, or any other element to be added to obtain a desired alloying effect;</li> <li>the specified minimum for <a href="/facts/Copper/I8PEE8oX">copper</a> does not exceed 0.40%;</li> <li>or the specified maximum for any of the following elements does not exceed: <a href="/facts/Manganese/j9ELd1TL">manganese</a> 1.65%; <a href="/facts/Silicon/cgWx0hdr">silicon</a> 0.60%; and copper 0.60%.</li></ul> <p>As the carbon content percentage rises, steel has the ability to become <a href="/facts/Hardness/PtGn6E20">harder</a> and <a href="/facts/Strength_of_materials/CE77cUcB">stronger</a> through <a href="/facts/Heat_treating/xR2tVyTU">heat treating</a>; however, it becomes less <a href="/facts/Ductile/SBJsahEk">ductile</a>. Regardless of the heat treatment, a higher carbon content reduces <a href="/facts/Weldability/XUXsot6m">weldability</a>. In carbon steels, the higher carbon content lowers the melting point. </p><p>The term may be used to reference steel that is not <a href="/facts/Stainless_steel/IDdo8bEx">stainless steel</a>; in this use carbon steel may include <a href="/facts/Alloy_steel/DR2tGHEH">alloy steels</a>. </p><p>High-carbon steel has many uses, such as milling machines, cutting tools (such as <a href="/facts/Chisel/b3c4f1rH">chisels</a>) and high strength wires. These applications require a much finer microstructure, which improves toughness. </p>