Alloy Steel

An iron-based mixture is considered to be an alloy steel when manganese is greater than 1.65 percent, silicon over 0.06 percent, copper above 0.6 percent, or in which a definite range or definite minimum quantity of any of the following elements is specified: aluminum chromium up to 3.99 percent, cobalt, columbium (niobium), molybdenum, nickel, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, zirconium or any other element added to obtain a desired alloying effect. An enormous variety of distinct properties can be created for the steel by substituting these elements in the recipe to increase hardness, strength or chemical resistance. See Carbon Steel, Steel.