Carbon Steel
Material Introduction
Carbon steel is an iron-carbon alloy known for its balanced strength, toughness, and excellent machinability. In additive manufacturing, carbon steel offers a cost-effective solution for producing functional prototypes, durable tooling, and production-grade mechanical components. When processed through Neway AeroTech’s advanced carbon steel 3D printing, this material achieves high density, strong mechanical stability, and a reliable surface finish. Its versatility makes it suitable for gears, fixtures, brackets, structural supports, and engineering components operating under moderate mechanical loads. Carbon steel’s predictability in post-processing, including heat treatment and machining, allows engineers to achieve tailored hardness, toughness, and dimensional accuracy while benefiting from the geometric freedom that additive manufacturing provides.
International Names or Representative Grades
Region | Common Name | Representative Grades |
|---|---|---|
USA | Carbon Steel | 1018, 1045, 1060 |
Europe | Non-Alloy Steel | C15E, C45E |
Japan | Carbon Structural Steel | S15C, S45C |
China | Carbon Steel | Q235, 45# |
Industry Category | Low–Medium Carbon Steel | 0.1–0.6% C |
Alternative Material Options
For higher corrosion resistance requirements, stainless steels such as 304 or 316L are suitable alternatives. When higher mechanical strength is required, precipitation-hardening steels such as 17-4 PH or 15-5PH provide excellent strength-to-weight performance. For applications requiring maximum durability and high hardness, tool steel offers superior wear resistance. When weight reduction is a concern, titanium alloys such as Ti-6Al-4V offer strong mechanical properties at a lower density. For elevated temperature resistance, nickel-based alloys like Inconel 600 outperform carbon steel in harsh thermal environments.
Design Purpose
Carbon steel was designed to provide a balance of affordability, mechanical strength, and ease of processing. It serves as a versatile, widely applicable engineering material for structural components, machinery parts, and tooling across industrial sectors. In additive manufacturing, its purpose expands to enabling fast, cost-effective production of load-bearing prototypes, jigs, fixtures, and end-use components with optimized geometry. The ability to apply heat treatment and surface finishing after printing allows engineers to fine-tune hardness, fatigue resistance, and dimensional stability.
Chemical Composition (Typical Low–Medium Carbon Steel)
Element | Composition (%) |
|---|---|
Carbon (C) | 0.1–0.6 |
Manganese (Mn) | 0.3–1.0 |
Silicon (Si) | 0.1–0.4 |
Phosphorus (P) | ≤ 0.035 |
Sulfur (S) | ≤ 0.035 |
Iron (Fe) | Balance |
Physical Properties
Property | Value |
|---|---|
Density | ~7.85 g/cm³ |
Melting Point | 1450–1520°C |
Thermal Conductivity | 45–55 W/m·K |
Electrical Resistivity | ~0.15 μΩ·m |
Specific Heat | ~490 J/kg·K |
Mechanical Properties
Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
Tensile Strength | 400–700 MPa |
Yield Strength | 250–450 MPa |
Elongation | 15–30% |
Hardness | 150–250 HB (before heat treatment) |
Toughness | Good |
Key Material Characteristics
Strong balance of strength, ductility, and toughness suitable for functional prototypes
Cost-effective material option for high-volume or general-purpose applications
Good machinability and predictable response to cutting and finishing
Suitable for heat treatment to achieve higher hardness or surface strength
Stable microstructure providing consistent dimensional accuracy after printing
Reliable performance under moderate mechanical loads and repetitive stress
High thermal conductivity is beneficial for tooling and industrial components
Good compatibility with additive manufacturing for structural and mechanical parts
Strong fatigue resistance when properly heat-treated
Versatile for various automotive, machinery, and industrial use cases
Manufacturability in Different Processes
Additive manufacturing: Powder bed fusion supports precise fabrication of structural parts through Neway’s carbon steel 3D printing.
CNC machining: Easily machinable using advanced superalloy CNC machining for tight tolerances.
EDM: Complex internal geometries and hard sections can be processed through superalloy EDM.
Deep hole drilling: Compatible with precision deep hole drilling for bushings, shafts, or structural components.
Heat treatment: Carbon steel responds well to controlled hardening and tempering using superalloy heat treatment.
Welding: Weldable using standard industrial practices with support from superalloy welding.
Casting: Also available through industrial casting steel technologies.
Suitable Post-Processing Methods
Hardening and tempering for enhanced strength and wear resistance
Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) via HIP to reduce internal porosity
Precision machining for final tolerance control
Polishing and grinding to achieve smooth functional surfaces
Surface coatings or plating for corrosion protection
Carburizing or nitriding to increase surface hardness
Dimensional inspection and material testing for quality verification
EDM finishing for complex internal cavities
Common Industries and Applications
Automotive brackets, gears, housings, and mechanical parts
Industrial machinery components requiring moderate strength
Tools, fixtures, and structural supports for manufacturing lines
Robotics, mechanical arms, base plates, and hinge structures
Construction hardware requires durability and affordability
Agricultural machinery components and replacement parts
When to Choose This Material
When a cost-effective metal is needed for functional prototypes or production parts
When components require moderate strength with good machinability
When heat-treatable materials are preferred for tailored hardness or durability
When structural reliability is necessary without the cost of specialty alloys
When complex geometries must be produced faster than traditional machining
When wear resistance can be enhanced through post-treatment
When corrosion resistance is not the primary requirement
When large batches of industrial parts need affordable additive manufacturing
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