What Is Steel?

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: Some steel like the steel buildings can be dismantled and re-used .

Performance : Steel is a high performance, dimensionally accurate material, produced with modern computerised technology .

Weight: Some of the steels are light and some are heavy.

Strength: it is a very strong material.

Weather resistance: it is a great choice for structures exposed to high amounts of stress, such as water, heat, large amounts of applied force and constant usage.

Steel uses

steel is used widely in the construction of railways, roads, other infrastructure, appliances, and buildings. A lot large modern structures, including bridges and skyscrapers, stadiums, and airports, are supported by a steel skeleton. Even the one that has a concrete structure, utilize steel for reinforcing. In addition, it sees common use in major appliances and cars. Even that the usage of the aluminum has grown, it is still the main material for car bodies. Steel is used in a variety of other construction materials, such as nails, bolts, and screws and other household products and even cooking utensils.

Other uses:

Main producers

The steel industry is often considered an indicator of economic progress, because of the strength role played by steel in infrastructure and overall economic development. Each steel industry puts a vision to become the top leader in the world, but few of them who achieved that. here is a list of the top 3 largest steel producing companies of the world:

ArcelorMittal.

Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (NSSMC).

Hebei Iron and Steel Group.

Sustainability of steel

Sustainability or sustainable development is important to improve the quality of each one life, now and for generations to come. It includes economic, environmental , resources use and social dimensions. Steel is a very friendly to the environment , it’s completely recyclable, durable and reusable , these properties give the opportunity to generate many secondary environmental credits . For example the material capacity, the comparatively low weight, and the high recyclability of steel are directly linked to e.g. less use of energy, less use of resources , less waste, less emissions and less transports. The good functional durability means less re-construction and thereby an overall sustainability improvement.

Durability

Steel’s durability is an important key that makes steel a sustainable material, allowing for the reuse of countless products , including paper clips to automotive components and rail tracks. A wide range of steel products, like automotive engines and wind turbines, can be remanufactured for reuse, taking advantage of the durability of the steel components. Remanufacturing restores durable used steel to like-new condition. Both reuse and remanufacturing expand the overall product life and that way save valuable resources.

Recyclability

Recyclability is another key contributing to the steel being a sustainable material. Once steel is produced, its life cycle is conceivable endless because it is easy to recover with magnets and 100% recyclable without loss any of its quality. This makes it a lasting resource for society as long as it is recovered at the end of each product life cycle. 100% of scrap of steel production and downstream processing is collected and recycled directly into steel production. Post-consumer scrap has to be collected and prepared (for example by shredding and baling). Because the value of steel scrap is very high, there are economic rewards that help getting high recycling levels, in addition to environmental benefits.

The life cycle of the steel

Steel is the most reused material on the planet, with more than 650 Mt reused yearly, including pre-and post-purchaser scrap. Recycling represents huge vitality and crude material reserve funds: more than 1,400 kg of iron metal, 740 kg of coal, and 120 kg of limestone are saved for every tonne of steel scrap made into new steel.

Steel’s contribution to the environment, society and the economy

Technological development has enabled many improvements in energy capacity in steel producing. Improvements in energy capacity have led to decrease about 60% of the energy required to produce a tonne of steel since 1960 in most of the top steel producing countries. Even the used water has been recycled back into rivers and other sources are often cleaner than when extracted. Moreover, The steel industry pays special attention to the commitment of steel over the life cycle of products, especially in the use phase. For example, it provides safer, lighter, long-lasting and more intelligent structures for transport and construction. Furthermore, using the steel for the car bodies can reduces more than 35% and the total life cycle emissions of the vehicle by nearly 70%.

Steel has a strong linked to economic growth. There are numerous ways in which steel contributes to economies. One way is throughout the health and profitable steel industry, which generates added value through investments in advanced technologies and capital expense.

Conclusion

After all, recycling still the most effective way to reduce waste and save energy. We have to know what we are choosing, because our health depends on our choices. The steel is a good example of the healthy materials that is sustainable , recyclable, durable and a highly environmentally friendly process.