Carbon steel, an alloy primarily composed of iron and carbon, typically contains carbon content ranging from 0.05% to 2.1%, along with small amounts of alloying elements such as silicon, manganese, phosphorus, and sulfur. Depending on the carbon content, carbon steel can be classified into low-carbon steel (C ≤ 0.25%), medium-carbon steel (0.25% < C ≤ 0.6%), and high-carbon steel (C > 0.6%). These different types of carbon steel each play unique roles in industrial applications.

The standout advantages of carbon steel include its high strength, particularly the tensile strength of high-carbon steel, which can exceed 500 MPa. Additionally, carbon steel is easy to process—whether casting, forging, or welding, it handles with ease, making it highly suitable for mass production. Lastly, its cost-effectiveness cannot be overlooked, as its price is only one-third that of stainless steel, earning it the title of "the king of cost-performance" in industrial steel.