Carbon: The higher the carbon content, the higher the hardness of the steel pipe, but the worse the plasticity and toughness.
Sulfur: It is a harmful impurity in steel pipes. If the sulfur content in the steel is high, it will easily become brittle at high temperatures, often called hot embrittlement.
Phosphorus: It can significantly reduce the plasticity and toughness of steel, especially at low temperatures. This phenomenon is called cold brittleness. In high-quality steel, sulfur and phosphorus should be strictly controlled. But on the other hand, low carbon steel has high sulfur and phosphorus content, which makes it easy to cut and helps improve the cutting performance of the steel.
Manganese: It can improve the strength of steel, weaken and eliminate the adverse effects of sulfur, and improve the hardenability of steel. High-alloy steel containing manganese (high manganese steel) has good physical properties such as wear resistance.
Silicon: It can increase the hardness of steel, but the plasticity and toughness will be reduced. But silicon can improve soft magnetic properties.
Tungsten: It can improve the red hardness and thermal strength of steel and improve the wear resistance of steel.
Chromium: Improves the hardenability, wear resistance, corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance of steel.
Vanadium: It can refine the grain structure of steel and improve its strength, toughness and wear resistance. When it melts into austenite at high temperatures, it increases the hardenability of the steel. Conversely, when it exists in the form of carbides, its hardenability is reduced.
