Editing Steel (section)

==Uses==
[[File:Steel-wool.jpg|thumb|A roll of [[steel wool]]]]
Iron and steel are used widely in the construction of roads, railways, other infrastructure, appliances, and buildings. Most large modern structures, such as [[stadium#The modern stadium|stadiums]] and skyscrapers, [[Steel bridge|bridges]], and airports, are supported by a steel skeleton. Even those with a concrete structure employ steel for reinforcing. It sees widespread use in [[major appliances]] and [[automobile|cars]]. Despite the growth in usage of [[aluminium]], steel is still the main material for car bodies. Steel is used in a variety of other construction materials, such as bolts, [[nail (engineering)|nails]] and [[screw]]s, and other household products and cooking utensils.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Ochshorn |first=Jonathan |title=Steel in 20th Century Architecture |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century Architecture |date=11 June 2002 |url= http://www.ochshorndesign.com/cornell/writings/steel.html |access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref>

Other common applications include [[shipbuilding]], [[pipeline transport|pipelines]], [[mining]], [[offshore construction]], [[aerospace]], [[white goods]] (e.g. [[washing machine]]s), [[heavy equipment]] such as bulldozers, office furniture, [[steel wool]], [[tool]], and [[armour]] in the form of personal vests or [[vehicle armour]] (better known as [[rolled homogeneous armour]] in this role).

===Historical===
[[File:Carbon steel knife.jpg|thumb|A carbon steel knife]]
Before the introduction of the [[Bessemer process]] and other modern production techniques, steel was expensive and was only used where no cheaper alternative existed, particularly for the cutting edge of [[knives]], [[razors]], [[sword]]s, and other items where a hard, sharp edge was needed. It was also used for [[spring (device)|springs]], including those used in [[clock|clocks and watches]].<ref name="britannicaironandsteel" />

With the advent of faster and cheaper production methods, steel has become easier to obtain and much cheaper. It has replaced wrought iron for a multitude of purposes. However, the availability of plastics in the latter part of the 20th century allowed these materials to replace steel in some applications due to their lower fabrication cost and weight.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Materials science |title=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |edition=online |date=2007 |chapter-url= https://www.britannica.com/technology/materials-science |last1=Venables |first1=John D. |last2=Girifalco |first2=Louis A. |last3=Patel |first3=C. Kumar N. |last4=McCullough |first4=R. L. |last5=Marchant |first5=Roger Eric |last6=Kukich |first6=Diane S.}}</ref> [[Carbon-fiber reinforced polymer|Carbon fibre]] is replacing steel in some cost-insensitive applications such as sports equipment and high-end automobiles.

===Long===
[[File:The viaduct La Polvorilla, Salta Argentina.jpg|thumb|A steel bridge]]
[[File:Steel tower.jpg|thumb|A steel pylon suspending [[overhead power line]]s]]
* As reinforcing bars and mesh in [[reinforced concrete]]
* [[Railroad tracks]]
* [[Structural steel]] in modern buildings and bridges
* [[Wire]]s
* Input to reforging applications

===Flat carbon===
* [[Major appliance]]s
* [[Magnetic core]]s
* The inside and outside body of automobiles, trains, and ships.

===Weathering (COR-TEN)===
{{Main|Weathering steel}}
* [[Intermodal container]]s
* Outdoor sculptures
* [[Architecture]]
* [[Highliner]] [[train car]]s

===Stainless===
{{Main|Stainless steel}}
[[File:Sauce boat.jpg|thumb|A stainless steel [[sauce boat|gravy boat]]]]
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* [[Cutlery]]
* [[Ruler]]s
* [[Surgical instrument]]s
* [[Watch]]es
* [[Gun]]s
* [[passenger car (rail)|Rail passenger vehicles]]
* [[Tablet computer|Tablets]]
* [[Waste container|Trash Cans]]
* [[Body piercing jewellery]]
* Inexpensive [[Ring (jewellery)|rings]]
* Components of [[spacecraft]] and [[space station]]s
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===Low-background===
{{Main|Low-background steel}}

Steel manufactured after [[World War II]] is [[radioactive contamination|contaminated]] with [[radionuclide]]s, because steel production uses air, and the atmosphere is contaminated with radioactive dust produced by [[nuclear weapons testing]]. Low-background steel, steel manufactured prior to 1945, is used for certain radiation-sensitive applications such as [[Geiger counter]]s and [[radiation shielding]].