A Closer Look at Low Carbon Steel

Fastener Materials: A Closer Look at Low Carbon Steel

When taking the first step into finding fastening solutions, your biggest consideration will be what type of material will be required for the application. The main options you have for steel are Low Carbon Steel, Medium Carbon Steel, Alloy Steel, Stainless Steel, or Austenitic Stainless Steel. Performance of each type will be dictated by the requirements of the application.

Carbon Steel
Carbon Steel is inexpensive and it has a broad range of capabilities. That is why the majority of fasteners use carbon steel.

The mechanical properties of these fasteners are based on the amount of carbon in the fastener; that is why these fasteners are classified into one of three groups: low carbon steel, medium carbon steel or alloy steel. Let’s take a closer look at Low Carbon Steel.

Low Carbon Steel
Low carbon steel contains less than 0.25% carbon. It is very ductile, easily machined and can be welded. The low percentage of carbon lends itself to lower strength. Tensile strength typically will range from 60,000 psi to 80,000 psi (410 MPa to 550 MPa).

SAE Grade 2 (metric class 4.6, 4.8, 5.8) is usually made from low carbon steel with AISI grades 1006, 1010, 1016, 1018, 1022 and 1035.

Low Carbon Steel is a common material to use in fasteners. There are many advantages to using it. However, there are also other options for fastener materials. Deciding on the perfect fastener can be a challenge, but we’re here to help! Contact us at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com if you have any questions about finding the right fastener for your project.