Steel - the basics

Steel is a very special material. With the addition of tiny amounts of other elements, iron can be transformed into a versatile engineering metal capable of withstanding extreme gearbox pressures or the immense forces in a car crash.

In this section

The following pages illustrate some of the basic facts about carbon steel and how its versatility enables it to be used throughout automotive manufacturing and endlessly recycled into new products.

Steel in cars

Steel accounts for more than 50 per cent of the weight of an average passenger car. The major applications are shown here.

The multi-material car

Comparing steel’s physical properties with those of other materials used in the manufacture of a passenger car.

Steelmaking

Describing how steel is made using one of two main production methods, outlining the benefits of each.

Chemical compositions

Explaining how the chemical composition of steel affects its strength and other properties.

Characteristics

Describing how the different characteristics of steel are used to best advantage in automotive manufacturing.

Steel types

Explaining the differences between types of steel and what they mean for automotive manufacturing.

From steelworks to assembly line

Outlining the processes that transform steel into a myriad of automotive components.