Author: sunflag

When working with stainless steel, a mirror finish is important – not just because it looks good but because it also has other benefits. In this article, we understand how to get the perfect mirror finish on your stainless steel.

First, let us answer the main question: what is a mirror finish? As the name suggests, a mirror finish is highly smooth and reflective. It gives a scratch free appearance to the stainless steel. A mirror finish is also called a #8 finish.

Mirror finishes are usually used on those products that need to look aesthetically pleasing: for instance, artwork, architecture, or kitchen fittings. However, appearance is not the only thing that a mirror finish improves. This finish also makes the stainless steel highly resistant to corrosion. The procedure of polishing gets rid of the scratches that could possibly have any corrosive particles. Therefore, in architectural projects in coastal regions, mirror finishes become extremely important because there, the stainless steel is exposed to salt air.

In order to mirror polish your stainless steel, start by leveling or removing the weld. This can be done using a fiber disk. The weld can be leveled without distorting the steel in any way.

The next step is sanding. Leveling the weld removes all heavy marks of fabrication. Those areas can be brought up to the product finish of the base. Using a sanding disk, the areas where the fiber disk was used earlier can be sanded. First the fabricated areas will be sanded so as to bring it to the finish of the original sheet. Thereafter, the entire surface will be sanded. How much you need to sand will depend on how high you want your mirror finish to be.

After the sanding, we come to polishing. With a sander, a clean polishing mop, and some polishing compound of your choice, you can begin polishing by setting the sander to 2000-3000 RPM.

In order to ensure that the mirror finish is perfect, clean the surface of the steel before sanding. This ensures that particles don’t get rooted in the metal. It is also necessary to always use a clean mop for polishing. Even if using different polishes, use a clean mop for each type of polish.

Sunflag Iron and Steel Company Limited is BIS certified and the best place for all your steel needs. We have flats, rounds, round cornered squares, hexes, and coils for all your steel needs.

Steel is easily one of the most versatile alloys to ever be created. From jewelry to kitchenware, railroads and skyscrapers – it has an important use in multiple industries across the globe. Given this versatility, it is only natural that different types of steel be created depending on what their use is.

Of all the types of steel, carbon steel happens to be a very vast but important category. It is also the most common one. As the name suggests, carbon steel contains the element of carbon.

The different types of carbon steel are classified depending on the amount of carbon present in them. Low carbon steel, also known as mild steel, contains 0.04% to 0.3% of carbon. Medium carbon steel contains 0.31% to 0.6% of carbon. High carbon steel (also called carbon tool steel) has the highest composition of 0.61% to 1.50% of carbon.

The amount of carbon in carbon steel can greatly change its properties, and thus, determine its uses. The presence of carbon reduces the ductility of steel – that is, the ability of the steel to be bent and stretched without breaking. However, it increases the tensile strength and how effectively it hardens when exposed to high temperatures.

Low carbon steel is usually the most common group of carbon steel, and is very ductile. It is often used for steel sheets and beams. Depending on its exact use, it can be combined with aluminum or manganese to alter its properties. In comparison, medium carbon steel is slightly tougher. It is not the easiest form of steel to work this. More often, it is found in products that require high strength and resistance to wear and tear (such as railway tracks, machinery parts, or train wheels).

High carbon steel is the toughest of all three, with high carbon and manganese composition. It is often used in cutting tool components, or in high-strength wires.

Carbon steel is usually made from recycled steel (or a combination of recycled and virgin steel). Steel, in the beginning, has a much higher carbon composition than required. The carbon content is controlled by a process of decarburization to produce the right type of carbon steel. Carbon steel is one of the most versatile and commonly used forms of steel, and at Sunflag Steel we can ensure that it is produced to the highest quality, for long use and wearability.

With different types of steel out there, it is understandable that there would be confusion about what each one means. Not only are they vastly different in their uses and durability, they are also made in different ways with very different components. Knowing what components different steel is made with is a great way to determine how it is useful to your needs, and which one to choose. In this piece, we will look at the key differences between stainless steel and mild steel, in order to better understand them and their potential.

STAINLESS STEEL

Stainless steel is a steel alloy with a minimum chromium content of 11.5%. Unlike other steels, it is known for not corroding or rusting as easily. The chromium is what prevents it from staining – so, the higher the chromium, the more resistant it is to oxidizing. While not 100% rust proof, it is certainly much less likely to go through weather damage in comparison to regular steel.

MILD STEEL

Mild steel is a form of steel alloy that is also called “plain carbon steel”. It is one of the most common forms of steel, which is used in a variety of manners – particularly in the transport and construction industries. Carbon steel with less than 0.5% of carbon is referred to as mild, or low carbon steel. In comparison to steel with high carbon content, this is far more ductile. It can be made into many shapes, from sheets to beams, depending on its use.

HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT?

As the name suggests, stainless steel is more resistant to corrosion. Unlike mild steel, which needs to be galvanized to prevent corrosion, stainless steel merely requires polishing. This makes stainless steel highly sought after for uses that require aesthetic integrity. Examples include household items, as well as clothing and fashion industry (watch straps, belt buckles, shoe components). This is also because stainless steel is more lustrous in appearance to the dull, matte finish of mild steel. Stainless steel is also resistant to high impact because of the presence of chromium.

With different types of steel out there, it is understandable that there would be confusion about what each one means. Not only are they vastly different in their uses and durability, they are also made in different ways with very different components. Knowing what components different steel is made with is a great way to determine how it is useful to your needs, and which one to choose. In this piece, we will look at the key differences between stainless steel and mild steel, in order to better understand them and their potential.

STAINLESS STEEL

Stainless steel is a steel alloy with a minimum chromium content of 11.5%. Unlike other steels, it is known for not corroding or rusting as easily. The chromium is what prevents it from staining – so, the higher the chromium, the more resistant it is to oxidizing. While not 100% rust proof, it is certainly much less likely to go through weather damage in comparison to regular steel.

MILD STEEL

Mild steel is a form of steel alloy that is also called “plain carbon steel”. It is one of the most common forms of steel, which is used in a variety of manners – particularly in the transport and construction industries. Carbon steel with less than 0.5% of carbon is referred to as mild, or low carbon steel. In comparison to steel with high carbon content, this is far more ductile. It can be made into many shapes, from sheets to beams, depending on its use.

HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT?

As the name suggests, stainless steel is more resistant to corrosion. Unlike mild steel, which needs to be galvanized to prevent corrosion, stainless steel merely requires polishing. This makes stainless steel highly sought after for uses that require aesthetic integrity. Examples include household items, as well as clothing and fashion industry (watch straps, belt buckles, shoe components). This is also because stainless steel is more lustrous in appearance to the dull, matte finish of mild steel. Stainless steel is also resistant to high impact because of the presence of chromium.

However, this makes it less malleable. Mild steel is easier to produce and shape depending on its usage. For this reason, it is used in construction and electronic industries. Its ability to be stretched into sheets, beams, wires makes it an attractive option for non-aesthetic and versatile uses. It is the most common steel with a high volume of production. In places where a large amount of steel is used, it is convenient and more cost-effective to opt for mild steel.

Stainless steel is also fairly harder compared to mild steel. This is because stainless steel is resistant to water based corrosion. Unfortunately, this makes stainless steel less ductile. It is a lot more difficult to weld, unlike mild steel. Of course, mild steel can be easily hardened by introducing more carbon into it if the need is present. However, it’s lower hardness makes it more attractive for large-scale work.

These properties also make mild steel much lighter than stainless steel – another factor which boosts its use in construction. Unless construction work requires resistance from corrosion (like in building cladding, where stainless steel is used), using mild steel for internal structures is easier. It is also convenient to transport in large quantities for this reason.

Another difference is the cost of production. Stainless steel’s components make it expensive to produce, unlike regular carbon steel. This is not just because of the cost of raw ingredients, but also the manufacturing process. There are more steps involved, and highly skilled workers are required to produce stainless steel. So, if money-saving is your goal, then opting for mild carbon steel is much better on the wallet compared to stainless steel.

Which type of steel you opt for is dependent on your specific needs. At Sunflag Steel, we value competitive pricing along with high quality production so that you get the right kind of product for the right uses. If you are unsure about which steel works best for you, then getting a consultation from knowledgeable engineers helps in understanding how the difference will make an impact on the finished product.

Steel happens to be one of the most versatile alloys in production. Often made from recycled scrap metal, and combined with different metals to create different properties, it is used from structural strength to accessories.

But as helpful as steel is, it would be nothing without the ability to weld it into different shapes and forms. Welding is an integral part of any metallic or alloy creative process, and steel has its own set of rules for which processes to follow. What kind of welding is done depends on the material properties of the steel, its thickness, as well as the finish of the metal?

Deciding which procedure to use starts with knowing which type of joint you are aiming for. Different joints serve different purposes – and the end result will be determined by the material used, as well. You have to consider factors such as strength of material, heat resistance, and how accessible the joint will be upon completion.

The main types of joints are butt, corner, edge, lap, and tee. They can be used in multiple permutations and combinations for a certain desired effect. Once you know which type of joint/joints you are aiming for, you can then decide which process is best suited for your choice of materials.

Don’t fret! We have a helpful guide for you. Sunflag Steel has combined a list for you to understand what some of these procedures of steel welding are.

GAS TUNGSTEN ARC WELDING

Commonly also known as TIG Welding, this is one of the most used forms of welding for stainless steel. It offers a lot of longevity, as well as a high quality end product. Since the heat input level is fairly low, it is ideal for thinner sheets. The method uses argon, and other gases depending on what the intended final product is. These include nitrogen, helium, and hydrogen.

SPOT WELDING

Resistance welding, also known as Spot Welding, is considered to be an extremely cost-effective form of steel welding. It can be used for projects of different scales, making it flexible in its usage range. Resistance welding uses an electric current. The current produces heat, which is used to melt and seal the edges of frayed metal. It is useful for steels that have a lower melting point because it can also prevent warping of the raw material.

MIG WELDING

Gas Metal Arc Welding is also called MIG welding (Metal Inert Gas), because of the gas used in this process. It is a relatively semi-automatic process. Since the method uses an electric supply, it’s much preferred for very specific welding in spots where other methods can’t easily reach. Sometimes other gases are added to the mix to further stabilize the current.

PLASMA ARC WELDING

This process is actually derived from TIG welding. It involves a nozzle that produces a plasma arc. This arc penetrates the steel and allows it to fuse together. This method is frequently used in more mechanical welding processes, where there is need for high speed movement and high productivity.

SHIELDED METAL ARC WELDING

Shielded Metal Arc Welding might be one of the oldest welding processes for steel. It involves electrodes, and is a fairly manual process. The coating of the electrodes is decided based on what the use for the welding is – what is the composition of the steel being welded, and what are the desired characteristics in the electrode upon use.

FLUX CORED WELDING

Flux Cored Welding was developed as an alternative to Shielded Metal Arc Welding. It is derived from the MIG process, but instead of a solid wire, there is a flux or a metal powder used in the tube. There are two wires produced, and are used according to the demand of the procedure. The flux provides a higher degree of stabilization, shielding, and de-oxidization. There is also a massive reduction of fumes produced in this procedure. It is mostly used in construction projects.

ELECTRIC RESISTANCE WELDING

This form of steel welding is only used for mass production and welding of thinner material. It exists to prevent the crevice from detracting from corrosion resistance.

With Sunflag Steel we get you the best quality steel services for our customers with enhances capabilities.

Steel flanges are one of the most useful steel inventions in the world of machinery. Albeit only a connecting material, their design plays a massive role in how the entire machine functions. Flanges are metal rings – either forged or cast – which connect sections of pipes, or join the pipe to a pressure valve or another equipment piece. They are also used in sports equipment (such as skis) or in train wheels and tracks, for the smooth motion they provide

Flanges are considered an internal component, and make it very easy for machine maintenance to take place. Their structural integrity is dependent on the material they are made of, which in turn, is decided by how the machine itself will be used. They are most commonly made of carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, or steel heavy with titanium and nickel alloys.

One of the main advantages of flanges is that they allow for quick assembly and removal of different parts of a machine. This is crucial, not just for maintenance work, but also for versatility in the machine’s primary functions.

There are different kinds of steel flange, and the type defines the function. For instance:

1. Threaded flanges follow a screw-on mechanism, where the flange has threading inside and needs to be fixed to the pipe of the matching size. It helps to avoid welding in most cases.
2. Socket Weld flanges are great for small pipe diameters, and where the work is low-temperature, low pressure. They’re fairly simple to install, too.
3. Slip-on flanges are one of the most common ones. They’re found in a wide range of sizes and fittings, which makes them easy to use in multiple machinery. Although the installation requires some welding, finding the right size and fitting it on is a fairly easy task.
4. Lap joint flanges are a two-piece design. They need butt welding to be connected, but they are excellent for us in restrictive physical spaces. Given that they are in more than one piece, they are also very easy to dismantle.
5. Weld neck flanges also require butt welding when being installed. They have high integrity and are preferred in systems that involve high pressure or high temperature work.
6. Blind flanges are used to isolate pipe sections. They are blank disks, bolted into place to stop the flow, and act as a seal when installed correctly.

Stainless steel has a wide variety of applications. It is one of the most widely used steels, and happens to have a number of properties that make it preferable to carbon steel. It is corrosion resistance and impossible to rust, making it indispensable to the chemical, food, pharmaceutical and automobile industries. According to the industry needs, it can be processed into wires, tubes, bars, sheets or strips. There are many grades and types of stainless steel.

WHILE CHOOSING THE RIGHT MATERIAL FOR AN INDUSTRY, WE NEED TO KNOW THE BASIC FAMILIES OF STAINLESS STEEL. THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Ferritic Stainless Steel

This type is based on chromium with small quantities of carbon. With a structure similar to carbon and low alloy steels, ferritic stainless steel’s usage is usually limited to be used in thin sections, because it lacks toughness in welds. Plus, one cannot harden ferritic steel with heat treatment. But with an additional molybdenum, it can be used in sea water or other adverse conditions. Ferritic stainless steel also has some magnetic properties. Steel workers tend to choose ferritic stainless steel due to its resistance to stress corrosion cracking.

Austenitic Stainless Steel

Austenitic stainless steel happens to be one of the most common types of stainless steel. The microstructure includes nitrogen, nickel and manganese. It has the same structure as regular steel. At a much higher temperature, it is formable and easy to weld. It can be made corrosion resistant by adding chromium and molybdenum, but it cannot be hardened with heat. Austenitic stainless steel can retain a useful level of toughness and ductility, even when hardened to high strength. Austenitic stainless steel with higher nickel content than usual has increased resistance to stress corrosion cracking. Usually non-magnetic, austenitic stainless steel might exhibit some magnetic properties depending upon its composition.

Martensitic Stainless Steel

Martensitic stainless steel is based on chromium with high carbon levels. It can be tempered and hardened like carbon and low-alloy steels. Martensitic stainless steel is used where a moderate level of corrosion resistance but high strength is required. It is among the magnetic types of stainless steel, but it has low formability and weldability. In products where sheet and plate form is needed, this steel is used.

Duplex Stainless Steel

With a microstructure that is half austenitic and half ferritic, duplex stainless steel has higher strength than both these types of stainless steel. Additionally, it is also resistant to stress corrosion cracking. Besides, they are easy to weld, magnetic, and moderately formable.

So then how do you decide which steel is best for you. Given the variety of them, you have a number of factors to consider before making the right choice. Factors to consider while choosing the steel grade you want:

Corrosion Resistance

First and foremost, the surroundings in which the stainless-steel product will be used. This is the most essential factor in determining the right grade. This includes atmospheric conditions and presence of chemicals like acids.

Austenitic stainless-steel grade – 303 or 304 – are the most preferable in low corrosive surroundings. However, if you are going to be using them in more corrosive environments, especially acidic ones, chlorine or sea-water, 316 is preferred.

Mechanical Strength

For the requirements of corrosion resistance and strength at low or room temperatures, high-strength stainless steels in austenitic, duplex, and martensitic grades are available.

Heat Resistance

The surrounding temperature is a major factor in selecting the right grade as well. Excessively high temperatures (900 – 1175C) increase rate of corrosion and exert extra pressure on steels. Here heat resistant steels like grade 321 is required.

Magnetic Response

Stainless steels with higher nickel content, such as the 316 or 310 grades are non-magnetic in all situations. However, the ferritic and martensitic stainless steel grades of 400 series have high permeability and fall under the ferromagnetic category. Duplex grades of 2101 and 2205 are ferromagnetic as well.

Life Cycle Cost

This is a quite dependable factor. Stainless steel materials tend to be long-lasting and have an extended life; besides they are mostly recyclable. Therefore, better quality steels with higher costs last long once bought, and the prices are usually justified.

With a large number of steel grades available, Sunflag Steel aims to expand production with all grades of steel and venture into varied industries.

One of the most dominant iron alloys in the world is steel. The reasons for its dominance are its strength, affordability, and ease of production. Over the course of time steel has replaced other iron alloys but it has not stopped there. Steel is still evolving along with new technologies and necessities. Scientists are discovering new concepts and new ways to make steel better, lighter, and stronger. They are trying to achieve a steel with these qualities by alloying steel with Titanium, a metal mostly used in the aerospace industry. The reason for all this effort is that normal steel is heavy. It is not useful for the construction of aircrafts and while it has been used to make automobiles for a long time, the large mass of steel has its effects on the fuel efficiency. On the other hand, there are various light-weight alloys available which have metals like aluminum and Titanium in large quantities raising their costs, hence making them economically unfeasible to make mass consumer goods.

Few years ago, material scientists at Pohang University of Science and Technology in South Korea invented a new type of light-weight, flexible, and ultra-strong titanium steel. This new alloy has a strength to weight ratio comparable to other hardest tempered Titanium alloys and at the same time, its cost plunges to one-tenth of those hardest tempered Titanium alloys, because it has significantly less amount of Titanium. This new alloy can be used in a variety of industries like aerospace, automobile, construction, etc.

Development of this kind of new material, which is tough, flexible, and cheap was really necessary for most of the hardware industries but the task of development was not that easy. In order to develop this material, the researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology had to deal with a problem that had baffled material scientists for decades. In the 1970s, Soviet researchers had discovered that adding aluminum to steel, when making steel, makes the latter an incredibly lightweight and strong metal. But this new steel-aluminum alloy was very brittle. So, when the scientists would apply lots of pressure on this new alloy, it would break after a certain amount of pressure without bending. This brittleness occurs when aluminum and steel are alloyed together then many atoms in the two elements would fuse together and form a tough and crystalline structure that would break after a certain amount of pressure.The basic solution to the problem of brittle behavior can be solved if somehow, the crystalline structure, formed while alloying, doesn’t break by the application of a large amount of force. There are various trial and error methods used by researchers to overcome this problem. The methods include heat-treating and then thin rolling the aluminum steel to control when and where the crystals are forming. The team of few researchers also discovered that adding a small amount of nickel while making the alloy offered even more control over different properties of these crystalline structures. They also found that adding manganese to the alloy helps in reducing the brittleness, but not enough. Then, the researchers of the South Korean University claimed that adding Titanium to the original aluminum-steel alloy at high temperatures averts the formation of crystalline structures altogether. This breakthrough helped in making an alloy which would bend rather than break after an enormous amount of pressure is applied on top of it, thus solving the problem of the brittleness once and for all. The new found titanium super steel is also 13% less dense than normal steel, making it lighter and thus bestowing it with a higher strength to weight ratio than that of steel.But the red carpet walk of the new titanium steel doesn’t begin here. Before this new titanium steel can be mass produced, researchers have to solve a production level issue: most of the steelmakers use a silicate layer to cover and protect steel from oxidation. But the same silicate cannot be used in the mass production of titanium steel because silicate reacts with aluminum at lower temperatures. In future, if the researchers are able to solve this issue, we will certainly have this new titanium super steel all around us.

Steel is an extremely important material, used in construction and engineering industries all over the world. From the cars on the roads to the refrigerators in our houses, from the buildings we stay and work in to medical tools in hospitals, steel is visible in some form virtually everywhere. It is ubiquitous and indispensable. One of the common forms in which steel is used is plates.

Usage Of Steel Metal Plates

Steel metal plates, specifically, are also used in lots of modern technologies and constructions. For example, in making protection of cars from small caliber bullets, an imposition of a steel sheet of hardness 600 HB is used. In the printing office, a printing technology is not possible without the use of a steel metal sheet of 0.5mm thickness. Steel plates are also used in designing and manufacturing transformers. In this article, we attempt to explain what high-strength steel plate processing is.

High Strength Steel Plate Processing

Hot rolled steel can be cut into plates into 4mm thin sheets using plasma beam cutting. High tensile steel is highly brittle in nature due to high content of more than 45% silicon in it. That’s why it is very necessary to use plasma cutting to cut high tensile steel otherwise we can get uneven or wire edges which is definitely a bad quality of cutting output. Therefore, such steel costs less than cold-rolled steel. Hot rolled steel plate is heat treated only once after rolling and due to its low physical and chemical properties, it is usually not used for manufacturing enameled products. This happens because the crystals in the crystalline grid are arranged in random order leading to high diffusion of hydrogen and it also has a small filling factor. It’s very important to keep in mind that the cooling rate depends on the diameter. It is directly proportional to it. The greater the thickness of the steel, the more time it takes to cool down. Generally, the properties of hot-rolled steel are not as good as that of cold-rolled steel. It has higher chances of developing cracks and is gradually being used less and less in the process of production.

At Sunflag Steel, we provide the best quality steel services for our customers with enhanced capabilities. For all your steel needs, do contact us.

Steel is one of the most pervasive materials used around us. From large plants to a small screw, everything has steel in it. It is one of the most important materials required in industries like construction, manufacturing etc. Sunflag takes a chance to explain the difference between when free and semi-free steel is used.The advantages of steel are its tensile strength and that the cost of production is lower than many other materials. It largely comprises of carbon and iron. Over the years, technology has advanced and many breakthroughs have happened. Even in the steel industry, different kinds and grades of steel are being produced. Free cutting steel is one such kind of steel. Free cutting steel are those iron – carbon alloys that are easy to be worked upon during machining operation. Machinability is the main property required for this kind of steel. In more technical terms free cutting steel has more Sulphur content in it than the carbon content. Free cutting steel has a higher percentage of Sulphur and phosphorus which is different from steel that has a higher percentage of carbon. These steels are defined in standard EN10087. They are divided into steels not intended for heat treatment, for case hardening or for direct-hardening steels. The high Sulphur and phosphorus content in free cutting steel makes it easy to cut through this kind of steel. This property of Free cutting steel makes its application very important in the manufacturing industry. Furthermore, Free cutting steel is mixed with tellurium to make an alloy, and to make it strong and solid. This enhances the mechanical property of the free cutting steel. Some essential criteria for making free cutting steel are

1. Tool wear as low as possible during cutting times
2. Sufficient surface quality
3. Low cutting forces and temperature to allow for the application of sensitive cutting tools and machines.
4. Short, light breaking chips to ensure undisturbed chip removal

These properties make for better application of free cutting steel. Considering that free cutting steel has good machinability qualities, its use and application is suitable where good machinability is an important criterion. They are used for rapid production on single, or multiple spindle automatic lathe and capstan lathes of finely finished components which will not be subjected to high stress when in use. Some of these uses include light duty studs, cycle components, and many intricate parts for textile and printing machinery. The use and applications of free cutting steel varies with variation in grading. Bright Bars is a popular type of free cutting steel that has been in the market for some time. These are commonly used by many industries in production of some instruments.

Due to its machinability property, this type of steel forms chips when it is worked on. Hence, they can take up only an average amount of heavy duty items at a time.

The Bright bars are not given any heat treatment and they also involve a very limited amount of tempering so that the stress that forms during its production can be released. In the industry, these free cutting steel Bright bars are used for making nuts, bolts, spare parts for the automobile industries and for making some precision instruments or other kinds of instruments that are being used by several companies.There are different kinds of Bright Bars and they have their specific benefitsEN1A – This type of free cutting steel has two options. Leaded free cutting steel and non-leaded free cutting steel found in circular or hexagonal shaped bars in the market. Due to their make, they are fit for making nuts, bolts, and parts for some precision instruments.

EN1AL – The EN1AL are leaded free cutting steel bars. These are steel bars alloyed with lead for its finish and extensive mechanical properties. They have corrosion resistant properties and hence do not rust that easily. Due to these properties, they are used extensively in automobile parts production.
EN8M – This type of steel comprises of Sulphur with a small amount of carbon, are mostly round or hexagonal in shape, and are used for making shafts, gears, studs, pins gears.