The popular image of steel is one of incredible strength and invincibility; steely looks, a will of steel, and the Man of Steel shows how much steel and strength are linked in popular and literary culture. In the world of industry, it's a little different. Steel is strong, but it can be weaker or stronger due to a number of changes and conditions that affect its chemical structure and physical integrity. If you've gotten items made of steel before that looked and felt similar but that had vastly different physical strengths, it's because there was something that changed its composition.
Alloy Materials
Most steel products you see have been modified by mixing the steel with other metals and materials to form an alloy. Carbon steel, for example, contains more carbon than plain steel, and that added carbon makes the carbon steel much stronger than the regular steel. Regular steel can corrode – rust is a major problem – but if the steel is mixed with chromium, nickel, and a couple of other elements, you get vastly more rust-resistant stainless steel.
Application of Unexpected Force
Steel will have its limits in terms of maintaining its physical form in the face of force applied. In other words, push against it with enough force, and you can make previously strong steel bend very easily. If you've seen steel components that should have remained straight, for example, become more and more bent over time, then there's likely some excessive force pressing against them. Whatever structure or machinery the components are in needs to be inspected and either modified (so there's no excessive force) itself, or the steel needs to be replaced with a stronger alloy.
Effects of Heat and Cold
This shouldn't be a surprise: heat and cold affect the strength of steel. Obviously, too much heat will melt steel, and too much cold can make it brittle, but the range of temperatures in between will have its own effects. Again, an alloy is a good solution as the different combinations help keep the steel very strong in the face of hotter or colder temperatures.
Steel products are strong in general, but if you've ever had a disappointing performance from a steel component that seemed too weak for your needs, that doesn't mean steel isn't appropriate. You may need a different alloy or need to take another look at the conditions in which the steel was being used. However, the steel itself is still a great basic material. Contact a company that makes steel products to learn more.
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