A steel to which one or more alloying elements other than carbon have been deliberately added (e.g. chromium, nickel, molybdenum) to achieve a particular physical property.

The process of drawing hot rolled steel through a die to produce bright bar, scale free, with improved mechanical properties and closer dimensional accuracy. The product is known as bright steel. Cold drawing is used for the production of bright steel bar in round, square, hexagonal and flat section.

A method for removing the surface from a hot rolled bar by bringing the cutting edge into the bar while it is being rotated.

Steel whose properties are determined by the amount of carbon present. Apart from iron and carbon, manganese up to 1.5% may be present as well as residual amounts of alloying elements such as nickel, chromium, molybdenum etc.

The process of hardening the surface of steel whilst leaving the interior unchanged. Both carbon and alloy steels are suitable for case-hardening providing their carbon content is low, usually up to a maximum of 0.2%. Components subject to this process, particularly in the case of alloy steels, have a hard, wear-resistant surface with a tough core.

Steels that have had additions made to improve machinability. The most common additives are sulphur and lead, other elements used include tellurium, selenium and bismuth.

A machining process used to obtain a high degree of dimensional accuracy and surface finish on a bar or component.

The term indicates that the steel has been completely deoxidised by the addition of an agent such as silicon or aluminium, before casting, so that there is practically no evolution of gas during solidification. Killed steels are characterised by a high degree of chemical homogeneity and freedom from porosity.

Those forms of testing that do not result in permanent damage or deformation to the part being tested. Typical examples are magnetic crack detection, ultrasonic inspection, X-Ray inspection and gamma radiography

Steel to which sulphur has been added in controlled amounts after refining. The sulphur is added to improve machinability.

A low-carbon steel containing sufficient iron oxide to give a continuous evolution of gases whilst solidification is taking place, resulting in a case or rim of metal virtually free of voids.

A group of corrosion resisting steels containing a minimum 10% chromium and in which varying amounts of nickel, molybdenum, titanium, niobium as well as other elements may be present.

The maximum load applied in breaking a tensile test piece divided by the original cross-sectional area of the test piece. Normally now measured as Newtons/sq.mm. Also termed Maximum Stress and Ultimate Tensile Stress.