Steels that contain specified amounts of alloying elements -- other than carbon and the commonly accepted amounts of manganese, copper, silicon, sulfur, and phosphorus -- are known as alloy steels.

Alloys are not just random combinations of elements; they are precisely engineered to enhance specific properties, such as strength, corrosion resistance, ductility, and conductivity. 1, 2 For example ...

In its purest form, iron is neither exceptionally strong nor hard - in fact, a block of pure iron could be cut with a knife. The addition of carbon and the removal of oxygen are what give iron-based ...