The alloys of iron are steel , manganese steel and stainless steel . Steel is a mixture of iron and carbon . Steel is cheap , strong and easily shaped . It is the main metal for construction , including bridges , buildings , ships and vehicles . Over half of the steel used each year in the UK is recycled .
Manganese steel is extremely hard and is used for railroad switches and dredging equipment .
It is used for cookware , cutlery and industrial chemical plant .