Six Facts You Didn't Know About Steel
Steel is an alloy composed mainly of iron, but it is 1,000 times more resistant (keep in mind that an alloy is made up of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal). There are more than 3,500 varieties of steel alloys, and to meet the demands of a world constantly moving forward, more varieties are created every year.
1. It is one thousand times more resistant than iron
Steel is composed primarily of iron and contains less than 2% of carbon and 1% of other materials.
2. Its melting point is 1,700 °C
Steel melts at over 1,700 °C, much hotter than the average 1,000 °C of volcanic lava.
3. There are more than 3,500 types of steel
In the last 20 years, 75% of the known varieties of steel have been further developed to be used for robotics in healthcare or the aerospace industry.
4. It is the most recycled material in the world
In the United States, 73 million metric tons of scrap from automobiles, buildings, appliances, and cans are processed annually.
5. It is cheaper than plastic
The average service life of a steel object is 40 years. However, in construction, steel's life cycle can exceed 100 years without losing any of its properties.
6. Its slag is an invaluable waste
For every ton of steel, between 170 and 400 kilos of slag are generated and then used in the manufacture of cement and construction materials.
Steel is one of the most used materials in the world, and Ternium is present from its extraction in the mines until it becomes a finished product.