Portrait Of Male Worker In Industrial Production josh|February 11, 2020

How to Identify Low-quality Steel

Steel is one of the strongest materials used in the manufacturing and construction industry. Having the ability to withstand high impact and extreme temperatures on a regular basis, steel offers a great degree of performance and reliability that other types of materials would be unable to match. Along with having these qualities, steel is also very flexible and versatile, as they can be bent into different shapes to be used for different structural sections and industrial components.

Due to the strength and versatility of steel, it is important that their manufacturers produce them at the highest quality possible. With the increasing number of steel products being produced each year, there have been numerous instances of low quality steel being distributed. Over the years, these inferior products have caused numerous issues for a lot of industries, causing great amounts of damage that is worth billions of dollars.


How do you identify low-quality steel?

With the distribution of low-quality steel becoming more widespread than ever, it is important for a lot of companies and industries to find ways to identify them more easily than ever before. Having low-quality steel in any type of construction project or equipment will only cause more harm than good, and can even be the cause of structural failure that can lead to disaster. To help you scope out low-quality steel, here are some signs that you can identify.


Low-quality steel corrodes quickly

Texture Of Rusty Old Metal. Background From Dirty Iron Grunge Corrosion

Steel is designed to be resistant to various forms of wear and tear, which means that it would take a long time for the steel to experience any form of corrosion. High-quality steel tends to only experience corrosion after a significant amount of time, which means that steel that experiences corrosion more quickly than others is a sign that it is of lower quality.

Corrosion is known to cause a significant amount of damage, as it weakens the steel surface to a point that it becomes fragile, compromising structural integrity. Should you encounter steel sections that get corroded easily, it is best to have them replaced and removed from your steel supply.


Poor long-term durability

Along with getting corroded easily, low-quality steel tends to have poor long-term durability. High-quality steel is known for being able to last for a long period of time, allowing structures and facilities to stand for years on end before making any serious repairs and renovations. Low-quality steel tends to wear down more easily during this same time period, causing areas to weaken and get damaged more often.

This issue has become more evident in times of natural disasters such as storms and earthquakes, as structures made out of low-quality steel tend to break down more easily, causing damage to the surrounding area. Steel is made to last for a long time, and making use of low-quality steel defeats this purpose, compromising structures and facilities in the process.


Bends and Cracks Easily

The Burned Building Is Made Of Profiled Sheet. View Inside After The Fire

While steel is designed to be flexible and versatile, there are certain qualities that help it retain the same strength and quality. It would take a good amount of strength to bend steel, as it can withstand high impact and heavy weight without getting compromised. This is not evident on low-quality steel, as they tend to get bent more easily, and experience cracks on their surface. This is due to how they are manufactured, as they tend to be more brittle, making them unsuitable for any type of building project that requires heavy use of steel beams and sections.


Folding is present on the surface

Another common sign that can be seen on steel parts and sections is folding on the surface. Folding is a common manufacturing defect present in low-quality steel and can be seen in parts and sections like steel piping and beams. Any sign of folding present on the surface means that the steel is vulnerable to be bent or misshaped, and can get cracked on those same areas. This production defect causes steel to become weaken, which means that they must not be used in manufacturing or construction is any form or capacity.


Key Takeaway

Using high-quality steel allows you to create facilities and structures that can last for a long period of time due to their durability and strong resistance. Any use of low-quality steel will only compromise this, which is why it is best to identify all of the signs mentioned above to ensure that you are only using steel of the best quality.