carbon content
What hardens steel
Carbon content is the proportion of carbon in a material, especially steel or iron.
The amount of carbon determines key properties—higher carbon content makes steel harder but more brittle, while lower carbon content produces softer, more ductile metal.
High-carbon steel holds a sharper edge but is prone to rust.
The term also appears in discussions of soil quality and environmental science.
- anthraciteHighest-grade coal variety
- soil organic matterDecomposed biological material in earth
- ligniteLow-rank sedimentary fuel
- pearliteLamellar iron-carbon phase
- steelCarbon-hardened iron alloy
coal · cast iron · wrought iron · pig iron · graphite · activated charcoal · carbide · petroleum · natural gas · coke · fossil fuel · organic compounds · bituminous · metallurgy · carbohydrates · alloy · cellulose · peat
carbon level
carbon contentcarbon-free
Producing no CO2
decarbonized · zero carbon · low-carbon · low carbon · purity