Elements

Question 1

Carbon (C)

Answer 1

The most common element added for strength. Formability decreases with increasing carbon content. An interstitial strengthener.

Question 2

Manganese (Mn)

Answer 2

Second most common element added for strength. Increases the toughness of steel. In silicon heated steels, it helps deoxidize the steel. This is important as excess oxygen in the steel can lead to the oxidation of the components of steel such as C, Fe, and alloying elements resulting in blowholes and non-metallic inclusions entrapped within the cast steel structure. It does this by forming MnO2. Mn is a substitutional strengthener.

Question 3

Vanadium (V)