Mild Steel vs Carbon Steel, Which is better?

Steels are usually known as carbon steel as carbon is a standard component. However, among steels, Mild steel is referred to as low-carbon steel. The use of mild steel is vast in different industries.

Undoubtedly, it becomes very important for one to know about the different types and applications of steel. You can easily get confused by the similarities between mild steel and other carbon steel. And it can result in you to wrong selection of materials for your work.

Therefore, you need to know the comparison between mild steel and carbon steel to make the best purchase. Accordingly, we have made a comparative study in the article to answer all your query about the mentioned steels.

Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

Mild Steel vs Carbon Steel

Carbon is the fundamental component of steel. Similarly, the ratio of carbon defines the different types of steel. Again, Mild steel is a carbon steel type with a lower carbon ratio. As a result, you can say that mild steel is a type of carbon steel that contains a lower amount of carbon.

Well, there are dissimilarities between mild steel and other carbon steel. Before going to the differences first, let us see what mild steel and carbon steel are.

Carbon Steel

The main properties of Carbon steel are described on the basis of how much carbon amount it holds. Moreover, these specific types of steels have some other alloying elements such as manganese, tungsten, chromium, etc.

Not to mention, carbon steels are four types depending on the carbon amount. Usually, you will find carbon steels that have a carbon weight percent of about 0.05-1.70%.

The carbon amount differs in different types of steel. For instance, lower carbon steel, like mild steel, has less carbon ratio and high carbon steel holds a higher ratio of carbon in the structure.

Low carbon and high carbon steel differ in different applications such as heat treatment, welding, machining, etc. Besides, the different price range is seen in high and low carbon steel.

Mild Steel

Mild steel is also known as low-carbon steel because it holds less carbon than other steel. Also, the alloy can have other components such as manganese, phosphorus, and silicon. You will find mild steel widely in the U.S as most of the steel products here are made of mild steel (85%).

Likewise, it has properties like ductility, good strength, and lower pricing, making it a popular choice for manufacturers.

Difference between Carbon Steel and Mild Steel

You have already come to know that mild steel is a type of carbon still. Though it is a type of steel, mild steel is different from other carbon steel. In fact, mild steel gives some significant benefits over other carbon steels. The differences between mild steel and carbon steel are as follows-

Mild steel has a lower carbon percentage than Carbon Steel.
You will find mild steel cheaper than carbon steel in most cases.
Carbon steels are stronger than mild steel. But, due to greater brittleness, carbon steel tends to break more easily than mild steel.
You can weld mild steel easily due to its thermal conductivity, whereas welding carbon steel is quite an impossible task.
Heat treatment can be done in carbon steel successfully, but mild steel cannot go through heat treatment.
Mild steel is highly ductile and also malleable. On the contrary, Carbon steel has low ductility.

Mild Steel vs Carbon Steel price

The price of different types of steel varies depending on the carbon percentage, steel qualities, and other factors. Additionally, mild steel is more cost-effective than other higher carbon steels.

The pricing of steel basically depends on the manufacturing cost. You will find that lower carbon steel is easier to manufacture than other higher carbon steel. This result in the low price of low carbon steel.

Adding to this, low-carbon steel, like mild steel, are softer in nature and easy to weld and machine. Thus, Mild steel is cheaper in price than Carbon steel.

Which is better Mild steel or Carbon steel

It is very much essential for you to know which one will work better for you, Mild steel or Carbon Steel.

If you are the person who wants to work with more rigid steel, then you should choose carbon steel for the case, and a similar selection can be made for heat treatment also.

On the other side, hard steel is brittle in nature, and considering carbon steel will make you face problems as it may break often. Opposite to this, low-carbon steel may be less hard in nature but will give you better strength and minimizes the risk of easy breaking.

Also, mild steel gives a greater advantage as it is ductile and malleable in nature. Considering different aspects, Mild steel will give you the best balance between ductility, hardness, and malleability than most other steels.

Thus, Mild steel is better steel than Carbon steel and an ideal choice for mass applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Carbon Steel and Mild Steel?

The primary difference is that carbon steel has more carbon percentage than mild steel. The other properties like ductility, hardness, weldability, etc., differ between them.

High Carbon Steel vs Mild Steel

The major comparison is made based on the carbon percentage. Mild steel has low carbon ratio than high carbon steel. Besides, it is less costly than carbon steel.

Conclusion

Mild steel is lower carbon steel that has its unique qualities. Furthermore, Mild steel gives better ductility and malleability than other steel. This is why mild steel is mainly considered for various types of applications.

You will find mild steel less costly than other carbon steel. From the comparison of mild steel and carbon steel, it can be concluded that most manufacturers consider Mild steel as the best choice for the balance it provides in different characteristics.