High-carbon steel refers to the steel that has a carbon content typically between 0.6% and 1.0%. The higher carbon content gives high-carbon steel considerably more hardness and strength than low- and medium-carbon steel. One downside to high-carbon steel is that it is more brittle; however, due to the higher carbon content, it does have excellent hardness and wear resistance, allowing it to really hold an edge.

Key Features:

• Hardness and Strength- The higher carbon content of high-carbon steel results in excellent hardness and wear resistance, which allows it to hold an edge or a sharpness.
• Lower Ductility- High-carbon steel is less ductile than low- or medium-carbon steel and should be heat treated to reduce brittleness and lower the chance of cracking if there is an impact.
• Application-  High-carbon steel is typically used for cutting tools, knives, blades, springs, saws, or other components that have high wear resistance and edge retention.

The use of high-carbon steel is primarily based on strength and the ability to maintain sharpness and work under demanding conditions. Proper heat treating, such as quenching and tempering, increases toughness and reduces brittleness, which is ideal for cutting or rapidly used parts. High-carbon steel is particularly valuable in industries such as construction, manufacturing, and automotive for producing durable components that may be subjected to friction or to repeated levels of stress. Most importantly, high-carbon steel continues to be one of the top materials to use when hardness and strength are necessary to produce efficient and durable tools and components.