What Is 1018 Steel?

By Staff WriterLast Updated April 01, 2020

The metal 1018 steel has a carbon content of 0.18 percent. It is the most common of the cold-rolled steels. It combines the typical traits of steel, such as ease of machining, strength and some ductility for good weldability.

Steel is iron with carbon and other materials added. The number indicates what elements were included in the alloy. According to OnlineMetals.com, higher carbon content leads to greater strength, but makes welding and machining the metal more difficult; however, 1018 steel is a mild steel with low carbon and is available in a variety of shapes, such as bars, rods, sheets and strips.