How is steel used in different industries?
- Construction
- Automotive
- Energy
- Domestic
You are probably sitting inside a steel-reinforced building while reading this. If not, there is a chance that you are commuting to work on a vehicle made from steel. Or maybe you are eating a snack using a stainless steel fork. Steel is a metal product that is commonly used in our world today. It is flexible, malleable, durable, and recyclable. It can be manufactured in different forms and sizes to fit the requirements. Because of these qualities, major industries patronize the use of steel. What are the types of steel that are used in different industries? Read on to learn more!
Construction
The construction industry encompasses many projects like houses, buildings, roads, bridges, and many other structures. These projects require many types of steel products to reinforce, protect, and design a structure.
Some common types are reinforcing bars, steel sheets, pipes, furring, and nails. Reinforced bars, from the word reinforced, are used to strengthen the foundation of a building. These bars ensure that the cement can withstand tension. When you pass by a construction site, you can see these bars are being cemented by the workers. Sheets, which are flat sheet products, are commonly used on roofs, floors, and gutters. Pipes are useful for controlling water distribution. It can be used to connect water to kitchens and toilets, or used in sewer or rainwater management. Metal furring are used in supporting other building materials, such as insulation on the ceilings. Lastly, nails may be small but these items are used to fix other building materials into place.
Automotive
If you have a bicycle or car, you probably notice that it is partly made of steel. Steel is also useful in the transport industry. It is tough enough to be used in the mobility of cars, public transportation such as trains, and flying vehicles such as helicopters and airplanes. Although the steel used in a car comprises half of its weight, steel can still allow movement. Especially in vehicles that go through flight, like airplanes. Imagine if airplanes used heavy metals, would it be able to take flight?
Steel is also used in mechanical vehicles used in specialized work. These include trucks, forklifts, and bulldozers. It can withstand heavy loads and also be tough enough to be used as power tools. Imagine a specialized vehicle with a drill. The drill is made of alloyed high-speed steel (HSS) that can withstand high temperatures to penetrate hard materials. Carmakers are also making high-strength steels used to meet the demand for lighter vehicles.
Energy
Energy is essential to support other industries. Energy is required to power so many things. This includes our homes, our cars, to the factory processing of different products we use in our daily lives.
The energy industry is composed of different sectors. Steel is used in the management of electricity, oil, gas, and other power generators. This metal is manufactured to contain energy or manage its flow. It is used primarily in tanks, pipes, and drills. In electricity, steel is used in the magnetic cores of transformers to absorb energy. In oil and gas plants, carbon steel is used because it has a higher resistance to rust.
Domestic
Steel can also be seen in our homes, from the smallest tools such as nail cutters to big appliances such as refrigerators. If you look around your house, you will see that most of the durable items you have been made, even partly, with steel. The benefits of steel in the home is its ability to be durable, easy to clean, and hygienic. Utensils and appliances are used almost every day, so they need to be durable. Imagine if your spoon and fork are made of wood. It would bring an aftertaste and also not last for a long time. Steel is also easy to clean because it doesn’t absorb moisture and has a smooth surface that will not easily stain.
Stainless steel is commonly used in the kitchen. This can be found in utensils, and as coating or finishing for refrigerators, dishwashers, and ovens. It is also used in food storage! Just look at your pantry and you will find canned goods. It is safe to use because steel doesn’t interact with food like other metals.
Key Takeaway
There are so many types of steel that are used in our world today. Why? Because different applications require different forms, composition, shape, and size of steel. This proves that steel is a flexible material that can be modified to fit different needs. If you think about it, it’s amazing how far the steel industry has come. There are so many uses of steel, whether for construction, automotive, energy, or domestic. It is commonly used for its durability and resistance to rust. Steel surrounds us wherever we go. And what’s good about it is that steel is recyclable so it is good for the environment.