Carbon Steel Selection Designation

7 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN
CHOOSING A CARBON STEEL

GRADE
Carbon steel is commonly used across many industries. It is affordable while still providing
excellent mechanical properties. Carbon steel is typically composed of 0.05% to about 2.0%
carbon measured by weight, along with iron and trace amounts of other elements. Since it is a
very common selection for a variety of purposes, it is important to know how to choose the right
carbon steel grade for your project.
7 Things to consider when choosing a Carbon Steel grade include:
1. Does the carbon steel need to be machined?

2. Does the carbon steel need to be welded?
3. What are the strength requirements of the carbon steel?
4. Does the carbon steel require good formability?
5. Does the carbon steel need to be heat-treatable?
6. Does the carbon steel need to have good corrosion resistance?
7. What applications do you need the carbon steel for?
1. Does the carbon steel need to be machined?

There are many types of carbon steel that can be easily machined, but there are also many that
may prove to be difficult. Grades of lower carbon steel such as C1010 and C1018 have
good machinability. Alternatively, carbon steel with higher amounts of carbon such
as C1141 and C1144 can also be machined without difficulty due to the sulfur that is added to
their chemical composition. C1045 has a higher carbon content but no additional elements to aid
in machining, making it a poor choice if machining is required.
2. Does the carbon steel need to be welded?

Certain types of carbon steel have very good weldability, however, there are several
considerations to take into account when selecting a carbon steel to be welded. First, grades such
as C1141 and C1144 that are great for machining are typically not weldable. The sulfur found in
these grades can cause weld solidification cracking to occur. Grades with low carbon such as
C1018 and A36 (or 44W in Canada) would be a better choice as they are readily welded. Higher
carbon grades such as C1045 can also work, but may require preheat or post weld heat treatment.
3. What are the strength requirements of the
carbon steel?
Low carbon steels tend to be lacking in terms of tensile strengths, comparative to other carbon
steels. These should be avoided if high strengths are required. Choosing a carbon steel grade
with a higher carbon content such as C1045 can provide more strength and hardness than a low
carbon grade like C1008. However, a low carbon alternative is high-strength low-alloy steel
(HSLA) which is a low carbon based steel specifically designed to possess higher strengths,
while retaining formability.
4. Does the carbon steel require good

formability?
Since carbon steel is such a broad category, many different combinations of mechanical
properties can be achieved. If ductility is desired, lower carbon grades such as C1008 and C1010
should be considered. If you require sheet, consider using a DQ or DQAK grade. As a rule of
thumb, lower carbon steels are much easier to form than higher carbon steels.
5. Does the carbon steel need to be heat-

treatable?
Carbon steels with amounts of carbon greater than 0.30% by weight, such as C1045 and C1141
can be heat-treated with ease. Another option could be steels that have a carbon content that is
just over 0.20% by weight. These carbon steels, such as A36, may have trace amounts of other
elements added to them to increase their hardenability. Low carbon steels, those having carbon
contents under 0.20%, are not capable of being easily heat treated. The lack of carbon does not
allow the steel crystalline structure martensite to form, which gives carbon steel higher hardness
and strength.
6. Does the carbon steel need to have good
corrosion resistance?
It is not common for carbon steels to be chosen for their ability to resist corrosion. They are
mostly composed of iron which can oxidize, forming rust. Without enough corrosion resistant
elements added to their chemical composition, such as chromium, nothing prevents the iron from
oxidizing. Choosing a galvanized or plated carbon steel is a viable option to prevent corrosion.
Alternatively, adding oil or paint to the surface of a carbon steel is a good way to help prevent
iron oxidation from occurring.
7. Applications
Knowing common applications of different grades of carbon steel can help you choose the right
grade for your project. Here are some typical uses:
 Grade A36 / 44W: automotive components, cams, fixtures, tanks, forgings and
structural applications such as buildings or bridges.
 Grades C1008, C1010, and C1018: machinery parts, tie rods, relatively low strength
structural applications, mounting plates and brackets.
 Grade C1045: bolts, gears, crank shafts, cylinder shafts, die forges, and applications
where more strength or higher hardness is required than that of C1008 or C1010.
 Grades C1141 and C1144: Pins, studs, bolts, shafts, tie rods and applications similar
to those of C1045 when machinability is very important.

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7 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN

CHOOSING A CARBON STEEL

7 Things to consider when choosing a Carbon Steel grade include:

1. Does the carbon steel need to be machined?

1. Does the carbon steel need to be machined?

2. Does the carbon steel need to be welded?

4. Does the carbon steel require good

5. Does the carbon steel need to be heat-

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