You use it on a daily basis with or without actually realizing it - the rails you hold onto when walking up the stairs, the train carts you ride on to and from work, the knife you slice butter with. Steel is all around us, and yet most people know only so little about the material. Here are five things that you never knew about steel, one of the most important catalysts of the industrial era.

<h3>1. Steel is 100 Percent Iron</h3>

Despite being a basic fact, there are still many people who believe that steel is a raw material in itself. It seems only right to clarify this common misconception by stating that all steel is made from iron. Every sheet of steel used to manufacture cars and trucks and every beam used to erect buildings is made of iron. In fact, the truth of the matter is, 90 percent of all refined metals used today consist of iron.

<h3>2. Majority of Steel is Recycled</h3>

The recycling efforts for steel is one that inspires complete awe. You'll be surprised to know that refined steel like Angle Iron has been done since the 18th century. Most steel-based items circulating in the market today consist of 25 to 100 percent recycled steel. Every year, over 75 million tons of steel are recycled in North America alone. And for every ton of recycled steel, thousands of pounds of raw materials including iron ore, coal, and limestone are conserved.

<h3>3. Steel Recycling is Cheaper Than You Think</h3>

Recycling certain materials are widely debated because of the cost-value they produce, but not for steel. Compared to plastic products, steel recycling is a more cost-effective way to keep up with consumer demand without necessarily flooding the market and endangering the ecosystem. In addition, recycling steel is also cheaper than it is to mine for raw materials that make up steel. Mining of steel only continues today to supplement the existing supply the world already has.

<h3>4. Steel is Used in a Wide Array of Products</h3>

Steel not only comprises beams that hold up houses and commercial buildings. It can also be found in the cans of food you stock in your kitchen cupboard, the internal and external frames that make up your car, and the fridge doors you open and close quietly while sneaking in food at night. In North America alone, there are around 1,500 cans of food brands lined up in aisles.

<h3>5. Steel is Freakishly Durable</h3>

Steel components and structures including decks, stairs, and rails that are properly designed and manufactured can offer long-term durability. Depending on how the steel sheets are fabricated and treated, it can withstand a variety of extreme temperatures and pressures. In fact, steel frames in real estate have been tested and proven to endure over 1,000 degrees Celsius of heat. Furthermore, full-magnitude earthquake simulations reveal that steel can maintain its structural integrity during such environmental cataclysms.

The more you know about the materials that make up this world, the better you'll be able to understand and use it to advance as a person and professional.

This is an Industry Insider post by Jessica Kane. Jessica Kane is a professional blogger who writes for Federal Steel Supply, Inc., a leading supplier of carbon, alloy and stainless steel pipe, tube, fittings and flanges. If you’re interested in becoming an Industry Insider and contributing to our blog, please get in touch with us at bhanley(AT)eiffeltradingcompany(DOT)com.

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