Steel

Common and Innovative Use

Interior designers use steel for beams, purlins, girders (supporting members) and other structural work. Steel in sheet form are also used for cladding for furniture, stainless steel countertops, or backsplashes. Steel is also commonly used for constructional use for brackets, screws, and other hardware. There are many different types of steel used in the industry such as mild steel or medium carbon steel. These types of steel are used the most for projects involving table legs, pedestals, furniture frames or wall framing. There are many cases where protective coating measures need to be taken to ensure the life of the product. However, stainless steel doesn’t require any coating and is used repeatedly in interiors, usually found in kitchens and/or bathrooms. One of the biggest uses of steel is in high-rise buildings where steel rebar is used with the concrete to create stronger and more flexible supports.

Stainless steel comes with different finishes as well such as mechanically polished and brushed. However, having the steel finished could cause a thinning in the product and will cut the surface to some degree.

Physical Property

Steel takes more time to become magnetized but retains the collected magnetism for a longer period of time . It has a low susceptibility, but is able to retain the magnetic force longer. Steel is fairly easy to work with and install using the right tools. Steel is very common because of it's strength, ease of fabrication, affordable cost, and is a recyclable product. The maintenance of steel is very low. They are stain resistant, which makes it easy to clean and an overall aesthetic appeal when used properly. If steel is not used in the proper location, it will corrode over time. Steel has a carbon content ranging from .2 to 1.5% so the flexibility and tensile strength makes steel far more useful than iron. Steel is more durable and holds a sharp edge better than the softer wrought iron, but it resists shock and tension better than the more brittle cast iron. Steel is iron with more carbon so it becomes much stronger and more flexible.

Unit Size, Supply Cost, Life Cycle Cost

Unit Size Units are sold in round and square bars, structural angles, wire mesh, reinforcing bars, I beams, H beams, and hollow structural steel. Round and square bars are usually produced out of stainless steel, carbon steel, and alloy steel, and are widely used for their strength, dimensional accuracy and corrosion resistance. I beams, also know as H beams, are a type of joist or girder made from structural steel which has the shape of "I" in cross section. They are widely used as major support trusses in buildings to ensure that the structure is physically sound. They can also be used in house renovations when they replace old structural supports.

Hollow Structural Sections (HSS), refers to high-strength welded steel tubing used as structural elements in buildings and other structures and a variety of manufactured products, and it is produced in round, square, and rectangular shapes and a broad range of sizes. Benefits of HSS include aesthetic appeal, high strength-to-weight ratios, uniform strength, cost effectiveness and recyclability.

Supply Cost Supply cost is the price paid to suppliers by shops and wholesalers. This cost is determined by a supply schedule.

Life Cycle Cost Steel can last forever in an indoor application, as long as it is properly maintained and kept away from damaging elements such as rain, snow, and sun. Metal is a durable and efficient material, especially for architectural use. It can be used in many different construction circumstances due to its incredible strength, long life span and high decomposition resistance.

Raw State and Harvesting

Steel is produced from iron. The raw state of iron is iron ore and it is the most common metal on earth. To create steel from steel scraps, pig iron, or sponge iron, the raw material is melted to produce crude steel. Crude steel is “Steel in the first solid state after melting, suitable for further processing or for sale.” To transform crude steel into finished steel, the Continuous Steel Casting process is used, where liquid steel is poured into moulds to create a variety of finished steel products.

History of Steel

The origin of steel first began in India, around 250 BC. In 1709, a replacement of coke from charcoal allowed the manufacturing of steel to be more efficient in producing a new method of fueling the smelting process. In the 19th century, the demand for steel had increased due to the increase in high-rise buildings in North America, making steel into one of the biggest industries in the world today.

Cultural Significance

Alloyed steel is the combination of iron and steel. Alloyed steel has the ability to support different temperature and pressure, making it a good material for different types of construction. It can be seen being used in construction. It is often the framework for storage buildings, parts of cars, or used to build ships. Stainless steel is a type of alloyed steel. Hospitals and kitchens are common places to find stainless steel because it has the ability to resist stains, corrosion, and rust. It is also used in cutleries, jewellery, surgical instruments, and in the aviation industry. Not only are stainless steel used in appliances, it can also be applied to architecture. Stainless steel can give a surface a sophisticated and clean look. For example, the Chrysler Building in New York City used stainless steel to create a sleek look.

Recycling

Steel is a very sustainable material. It can be recycled many times without losing any of its structural strength. Steel is the most recycled material in the world.For every ton of steel recycled, 2500 pounds of iron, 1400 pounds of coal, and 120 pounds of limestone can be saved. By using recycled metal, it only takes 4% of the total energy is required. Approximately 75% of all major appliances comprises of steel. In the United States of America, 100 million steel cans and more than 200 million aluminum beverage cans are used every day. There are enough cans thrown away every month to rebuild the American commercial air fleet. The average Canadian owns over 2000lbs of steel. The amount of steel recycled each year saves enough energy to power 2.7 million households.

A steel mill that uses recycled scrap metals it reduces water pollution, air pollution, and mining waste by about 70%. In Canada, the recycling rate for steel is over 66%. There are three main processes in the recycling method; collection, separation, and melting. Scrap metals are collected from disposed cars, appliances, consumers, and industrial products. The scrap metals are sent to agency where they are separated. After the sorted metals are sent to a recycling plant, they are inspected one more time then the melting process begins. A smelter heats the metals and when it is fully melted, it is placed into moulds called ingots. Steel can be easily separated from other recycled material because it is magnetic. A giant magnet is used to separate the steel. When the steel is collected, the same melting method is used to reproduce the steel.

In Canada, the Minerals and Metal sector under the Natural Resources Canada specializes in educating Canadians about recycling minerals and metal appliances. They are a source of knowledge to the government and promote sustainable development in Canada.

References

MBendi. "Ore Mining in Canada." MBendi Information Services. http://www.mbendi.com/indy/ming/iron/am/cn/p0005.htm#Companies. (accessed September 24 2010)

Mckay, John. "Iron and Steel Industry - The Canadian Encyclopedia." The Canadian Encyclopedia.

Navneet Agarwal. "Iron And Steel Manufacturing Processes ." Sunil Steel. http://www.sunilsteel.com/manufacturing_process.htm. (accessed 20 September 2010)

Spoerl, Joseph. "A Brief History of Iron and Steel Manufacture." Saint Anselm College Home Page : Saint Anselm College . http://www.anselm.edu/homepage/dbanach/h-carnegie-steel.htm (accessed September 21, 2010).

"50 Fun Facts About Steel." 2010:1. American Iron and Steel Institute. 22 Sept. 2010

"Metals - Science for Kids!." Kidipede - History and Science for Kids - Homework Help for Middle School. http://www.historyforkids.org/scienceforkids/chemistry/metals/index.htm (accessed September 21, 2010).

"Steel - History for Kids!." Kidipede - History and Science for Kids - Homework Help for Middle School. http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/science/steel.htm (accessed September 21, 2010).

"Steel Recycling." 2010, Feburary: 1. Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council. 22 Sept. 2010 <http://www.saskwastereduction.ca/resources/metal/steel.html>

"What is Alloy Steel?" 2003-2010: WiseGeek. 6 Oct, 2010.http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-alloy-steel.htm

Student Contributors

Lauren Cole, Drew Elliott, Jenn Fata, Alina Goriup, Stella Lee, Emily Tam, Montana Yates. October, 2010. Ryerson University.