Identify what is added to iron to make the different properties of the steel?
Iron occurs naturally with some impurities like carbon, sulpher, phosphorous, manganese .etc.Each of these has its special effect on the final properties of the iron alloy.Therefore we actually make iron-carbon alloy with controlled ratios of carbon. Carbon gives the iron (alloy called steel) some softness and elasticity and reduces its hardness. Some additives are intensionally added to the alloy to aquire some needed properties, example :molybdenum, chromuim.etc
First, you have to be sure that the carbon content is within 0.2 to 0.5%. Alloying metals needed according to composition you need are ferro-chrome, ferro-manganese and ferro-silicon. Other alloys are molybdenum,and nickel.Phosphorous and sulfur may come in as impurities.
Steel is an alloy consisting mostly of iron, with a carbon content between 0.2 and 2.04% by weight, depending on grade. Carbon is the most cost-effective alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten.Carbon and other elements act as a hardening agent.
