Steel or Iron: Which Metal is Stronger?
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Not all metals are created equal. One will have to be stronger than the other and in different aspects, too. While the most common metal found on the earth’s crust is aluminum, Iron is even more so because the core of the Earth is made up largely of it. Steel on the other hand is an alloy or a combination of different metals, mostly iron. Metal has become a necessity in all aspects of life and society, from construction, technology, utensils and ornamental needs. Steel Aside from being associated with Superman, the metal is known for its strength and versatility. Since it is an alloy, it is mostly comprised of iron and carbon. Because of its reputation as a strong metal for construction, steel is used for building infrastructures as its skeleton. Moreover, its use spreads widely in the industrial area as it is known for its durability and non-corrosive quality. In addition to this, the metal is not so expensive, making it a top choice for land and industrial developers.
Steel is also known as a ductile material and is equally strong in tension and compression. Despite that being the case, steel is weak in fires. This explains its critical need for protection, especially in buildings. This is the main reason steel and cement are used together, as the latter has high-resistance to fire. Iron Like steel, Iron is widely used industrially. Aside from being abundant and useful in various aspects, it is also useful for the human body. Because of its popular use and inexpensiveness, it is also commonly used in manufacturing machine tools. The metal is best used when combined with other metals, as this makes an alloy strong enough or significant enough for different industries both for metallic and non-metallic uses. Iron on its own, however, cannot withstand rust. Without being made to create an alloy, it remains vulnerable to corrosion. The Debate Despite iron being an abundant metal, its purest form is not hard enough to be used on its own. While the metal is used for the making and building of stronger metals, it is clear that steel is stronger as an alloy of iron. Metals composed of high amounts of iron make it more corrosive, as the metal combines and reacts easily to oxygen or moist air; therefore making it more susceptible to rust formation.
Sources: http://www.usesof.net/uses-of-iron.html http://wasatchsteel.com/ http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Steel.html