Mild steel is a very common type of carbon steel that has a low amount of carbon by weight. However, we may sometimes need additional coatings or prevention methods. Moreover, we can use black steel in climates or ground conditions that are available in changing or accelerating corrosion. Typically, some long-distance piping systems use this steel which can prevent rusting quickly. This is because black steel has a low cost of production, and it can also easily be welded using simple, common methods. This thin oxide layer forms at a high temperature, so the iron does not require any coating.īlack steel is commonly used for gas or water utility piping. The oxide layer can act as a barrier to keep oxygen from the iron layer that lies below. An important advantage of black steel is its natural anti-corrosion property, which comes from black iron oxide coating. Therefore, the surface of iron is often coated to prevent surface rust formation. This rust formation can cause the failure of some parts of iron. This reaction creates iron oxide, commonly called rust. Typically, iron tends to react easily with oxygen in the air. This oxidized iron layer is created on the outer surface of the steel. Typically, black steel is made during the production process of steel, where a high temperature can create a thin layer of iron that is oxidized. The addition of carbon to pure iron can increase the strength of the metal, and most carbon steel types contain 1-2% of carbon. Generally, pure iron is soft even though we can melt it and shape it into desired shapes.

Summary – Black Steel vs Mild Steel What is Black Steel?īlack steel or black carbon steel is a metal alloy or a mixture of iron and carbon along with some other metals in small quantities. Black Steel vs Mild Steel in Tabular Formĥ. In addition, it is useful for the production of tools for construction as well. This is the most common material for building infrastructure. The most important properties of this alloy are high tensile strength and low cost. The carbon content in this alloy ranges up to 2% by weight.

Steel is an alloy of iron, carbon, and some other chemical elements. However, black iron pipe is more widely available than steel, which also makes it more convenient.The key difference between black steel and mild steel is that black steel has a dark blue and oily surface, whereas mild steel has a silvery gray and non-oily surface. Its durability and cost are part of the reasons that use of steel pipes for large industrial jobs has grown in the United States. Steel pipe will usually cost about 20 percent more than black iron pipe, but it does a better job of saving resources in the long run by being more energy efficient. However, it is more expensive than black iron pipes or PVC. Steel pipes do not have that problem because it is most often welded. It requires a lot of work to fix these leaks, which is why many people no longer use black iron pipes. The main problem with black iron pipe-especially in the home-is leakage at connector spots. However, both can be heated very easily and will burn the user's hand. Black iron pipe will also flake if it is handled a lot. Black iron pipe is course and grainy and will feel the same at room temperature. It won't scratch as easily as black iron pipe, but that doesn't meant it can't be damaged by a wrench or hammer while working around it. Steel pipe will have a very fine feel to it and almost be cool to the touch. Black steel pipe is manufactured as seamless which makes it a better type for gas transportation and fire sprinkler systems since it can prevent fire better than galvanized pipe. Steel pipe is more often used in industrial applications and it needs to be welded.īlack iron pipe is used to transport natural and propane gas in residential applications.

Black iron pipes will have seams that allow the user to connect them easily to other pieces of pipe using connector valves. However, water does corrode this type of pipe fairly easily in comparison to steel.Ĭonstruction is the main difference between the two products. It is a form of steel pipe, but made from more malleable products.īlck Iron Pipe,It is actually a form of steel pipe, but it's made with a slightly different composition of materials to make it a little more malleable. Most homes built before the 1960s have black iron pipe for things such as water and gas lines. Iron pipes are called black iron pipes before galvanizing, and white iron pipes after galvanizing, also known as water gas pipes. Since it has a dark color surface that is form by iron oxide during the manufacturing process, it is called black steel pipe.īlack iron pipes are ordinary iron pipes without any treatment on the surface. Its name comes from the scaly, dark-colored iron oxide coating on its surface. Black steel is made of steel that has not been galvanized.