Adding carbon to steel makes it harder and stronger. Physical Constants Astro Constants Particle Data Unit Conversion Periodic Tables Materials Safety Nobel Info Exact Time Fund.
Question Adding carbon to steel makes it harder and stronger.
Carbon strengthens iron by distorting its crystal latice. This distortion is similar in effect to work hardening. The effectiveness of adding carbon to strengthen metal depends on the latice spacing, crystal structure and possible chemical effects between the metal and the carbon. Titanium and vanadium might be hardened by carbon, but might be made brittle or even softer by it. There are a variety of other ways to harden metals.