Carbon: The higher the carbon content, the higher the hardness of the pipe, but the worse the plasticity and toughness.
Sulfur: It is a harmful impurity in steel pipes. If the sulphur content in steel is high, it tends to become brittle at high temperatures, often referred to as thermal embrittlement.
Phosphorus: It significantly reduces the plasticity and toughness of steel, especially at low temperatures. This phenomenon is known as cold embrittlement. In high quality steels, sulphur and phosphorus should be strictly controlled. But on the other hand, high levels of sulphur and phosphorus in low carbon steels can make them easy to cut and help to improve the cutting properties of the steel.
Manganese: It improves the strength of steel, weakens and eliminates the unfavourable effects of sulphur and improves the hardenability of steel. High alloy steel with manganese content (high manganese steel) has good wear resistance and other physical properties.
Silicon: It increases the hardness of steel, but plasticity and toughness decrease. However, silicon improves soft magnetic properties.
Tungsten: it increases the red hardness and hot strength of steel and improves the wear resistance of steel.
Chromium: It improves the hardenability, wear resistance, corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance of steel.
Vanadium: It refines the grain structure of steel and improves its strength, toughness and wear resistance. When it melts into austenite at high temperatures, it increases the hardenability of steel. Conversely, when it exists as carbides, its hardenability decreases.
