Mild steel refers to low carbon steel that is one of the most widely-used steels today thanks to its low carbon content. Mild steel is easily weldable, giving it a wide range of applications. This is one of the reasons why mild steel fabrication is being practiced in the industry for metal work services.

In this article, let's find out more about mild steel and its properties, uses and advantages as well as where to find a mild steel fabrication or metal work services provider.

Mild steel is not an alloy steel, and therefore does not contain large amounts of other elements besides iron. This makes it different from other steel types in a few ways:

• More ductile, machinable and weldable than high carbon and other steels
• Very little carbon and other alloying elements to block dislocations in crystal structure, which means higher tensile strength
• High amounts of iron and ferrite, making it magnetic
• Relatively affordable compared to other steels

Why Choose Mild Steel?

Mild steel is common and affordable, hence it is popularly used for a variety of applications. This type of steel can be cast into a wide variety of shapes. It can often be found in the following:

i) Steel Frame Buildings

Mild steel, with its unique properties not found in wood or anything else, is an inseparable partner when it comes to building construction. Mild steel is highly favoured as a building frame material thanks to its incredibly high strength. For construction use in particular, mild steel is also advantageous because it meets strict seismic or wind requirements, cannot be damaged by insects and is impervious to both rot and fire.

ii) Machinery Parts

Mild steel has the desired ratio of strength, ductility and hardness, which explains why this metal is so favoured for machine part manufacturing. Mild steel car parts are better suited to welding because they do not suffer the same molecular changes as forged pieces when they are reheated. Furthermore, they save countless hours of machining, forging and heat treatment as they require only the most minor of final shaping once cooled.

iii) Cookware And Kitchenware

While a lot of everyday cookware, particularly knives, is known for being more in the dominion of stainless steel, more and more in the culinary community are coming to love the lavish qualities of carbon steel cookware. For chefs and food scientists alike, there are many advantages in using mild steel fabrication, such as its ability to hold an edge and stay sharper longer, has a higher temperature limit and is essentially a non-stick material once seasoned. This is important in metal work services. 

iv) Pipelines

The exceptional ductility of mild steel tubes has made them popular for use as poles and pipes that can withstand the weather and other consequences of outdoors. Mild steel allows these pipes to be easily welded into place, but also lets it flex and avoid cracking and breaking under pressure. That's the advantage of using mild steel fabrication in metal work services. 

v) Visually Aesthetic Metal Gate, Fencing Design

In metal work services, metal gating and fencing has always required a strong balance between strength itself and a visually appealing design, and mild steel lends itself to both. It is strong and difficult to break, able to be painted, has a low maintenance decorative finish and it can be galvanized to prevent corrosion, all thanks to mild steel fabrication.

Difference Between Mild Steel And Stainless Steel

a) Corrosion-resistant

Mild steel is not resistant to corrosion. It rusts easily and rapidly. The iron present in mild steel reacts with moisture in the air to produce iron oxide, also called as rust.

Mild steel, therefore, requires further processing such as galvanizing or painting in order to give it a protective surface.

On the other hand, stainless steel does not rust easily. Its chromium prevents iron from oxidizing. This avoids rusting of stainless steel and gives it a corrosion-resistance property. This is important in metal work services. 

b) Ductility

Ductility is simply the ability of a material to undergo deformation without cracking and breaking.

Mild steel has a low carbon content, hence it is more ductile and that’s why it can be used in the production of pipes and pipe fitting.

On the other hand, stainless steel is noticeably much less ductile as compared to mild steel. This is key in metal work services. 

c) Fabrication

Mild steel can be easily cut, bent, twisted, punched, drilled, welded, forged, and rolled. Hence, mild steel is easier to work with compared to stainless steel.

On the flip side, stainless steel is not as easy to fabricate as mild steel. It is difficult to fabricate stainless steel without using high cost machines that can execute fabrication work, which can drive up the cost and difficulty of metal work services significantly. 

d) Magnetisation

In metal work services, the term magnetisation simply means how easily a material can exhibit magnetic property when subjected to a magnetic field.

Mild steel can be permanently magnetized as there is a high amount of iron present. Hence, it is ferromagnetic. In other words mild steel is easily attracted to a magnetic field.

In this case, stainless steel are not commonly magnetized.

e) Malleability

Malleability is the ability of a certain material to be hammered or pressed into shape without breaking and cracking. Hence, mild steel is much more malleable compared to stainless steel.

This is why mild steel fabrication is frequently used in a lot in general metal work services.

f) Cost

Cost is a major consideration in metal work services. Mild steel is less expensive as compared to stainless steel when working on a low budget.

This is because mild steel has been proven to be extremely economical compared to stainless steel.

Stainless steel is much more expensive as compared to mild steel. This can be attributed such as its different properties that make it harder to be customized, as well as the additional elements within stainless steel such as chromium.

Looking for metal work services or mild steel fabrication services? Try Choong Ngai Engineering

With Choong Ngai Engineering's veteran technicians and engineers, we can provide custom mild steel fabrication or metal work services regardless of which industry your business is in.

Most importantly, we'll work alongside you and your team to understand and define your exact requirements, and this process ensures that we provide the best solution to your unique maintenance requirements.

With our custom fabrication equipment and techniques, we've been servicing happy customers for over 20 years. Learn more about our services and previous projects on our website or contact us at choonngaiengworks@gmail.com