We are a business that is considered to be the leading ERW steel tube supplier West Midlands has. Clients respect and keep working with us for numerous reasons. For one thing, our merchandise is high quality every time. It also comes in a myriad of forms and sizes. In addition, we have a quick delivery service that aims to get everything to you as fast as possible. Overall, we stand out as a reliable supplier that can cater for most needs.
Steel and iron are two of the most common materials in the world. People use them to create all sorts of components and products, like tubing for instance. Steel and iron do look similar, and it is really easy to confuse the two. However, the fact is that both are unique substances. They have their own qualities and characteristics. In this post, we are going to dive into the differences.
Iron
We will start with iron. It is a ductile and lustrous metal with the atomic number 26. Iron is a really interesting material in terms of its colour. When it is pure it is silver-grey like chrome, with a mirror like finish that can reflect a substantial amount of light. However, it is highly reactive and can change colour. For this reason you can see iron in colours like red, orange, brown, and black.
Another fact about iron is that it is a ferromagnetic metal. What this means is that it is magnetic and is able to attract other metals from this category.
One important note to make is that iron is also an essential mineral. Similar to vitamins, these minerals are vital for sufficient nutrition. When you consume iron, it provides your body with the nutrients to create haemoglobin. This is important because it is one of the primary components of red blood cells. If your diet lacks iron, your body won’t have enough red blood cells. This will result in a medical condition known as iron deficiency anaemia.
Steel
As for steel, it is actually a ferrous alloy that mainly includes carbon and iron. Many individuals make the assumption that steel is a metal. This isn’t strictly true though. It does have similar characteristics to metals. However, we technically class it as an alloy. Metals naturally occur as elements. For example, you can find iron in the earth as ore. You won’t find steel in the wild though; it has to be man-made. Let us know if you wish to work with the leading ERW steel tube supplier West Midlands has.
All steel holds iron as well as carbon. Carbon’s addition is the key here. It leads to considerable physical changes in the alloy. For instance, steel is stronger and harder if you compare to pure iron. Plus, you can add further elements to the alloy to get even more diverse characteristics. For example adding chromium creates stainless steel. Moreover, it is not an essential mineral, meaning it doesn’t have to be part of your diet.
Choose the top ERW steel tube supplier in the West Midlands
At Union Steel Tubes, we work hard to provide first class products to each client. This involves the team testing every tube before we allow it to go out. What’s more, we have a specialist cutting service. Its purpose is to produce lengths to suit most requirements, including short, bespoke spans.
So, if you want to work with the greatest ERW steel tube supplier West Midlands has, contact us today. We can give you excellent products and lots of advice if you need help.
