300+ [UPDATED] Steel Production Interview Questions

1. Differentiate Between Carbon Steel And Alloy Steel ?

Carbon steel is the combination of iron and carbon. It is easily rusted and malleable. It can be easily machined and magnetic. Alloy steel is the combination of iron, carbon and other alloying elements. It is rust proof and harder and tougher. It is hard for machining and non magnetic.

2. Why Is The Soldering Iron Bit Made Of Copper And Not Of Steel ?

Because copper is good conductor of heat and quickly transfer its heat to the metal at the joint than the steel.

3. Which Type Of Grains Formed After Hardening The Steel ?

Hardened steel have contains fine grains.

4. What Are The Commonly Found Iron Ores ?

Hematite, Magnetite, Limonite, Siderite and Iron pyrite are the main iron ores.

5. How Will You Identify Cast Iron, Mild Steel And High Carbon Steel ?

By spark:
When a metal is held against grinding wheel it gives sparks. Cast iron gives thick and short sparks. Mild steel gives medium and dense sparks and High carbon steel gives long and dense sparks. By hammering : When a blow of hammer is given with these metals there will be a deep spot on mild steel, less deep spot on high carbon steel and cast iron may break.

6. Why Is The Most Of Cutting Tools Made Out In H.s.s ?

Because it resist the heat on the cutting edge of tool and it smoothly work in high speed.

7. What Is Heat Treatment ?

Heat treatment is an operation involving heating and cooling of metals to change its properties.

8. Why Is It Not Possible To Harden Unalloyed Tool Steel Part Right Through Its Full Thickness ?

Because it requires very high cooling rate which is only possible for its outer surface.

9. Define Normalising ?

Normalising is a process to make the steel part to its normal stage.

The main purposes are

• To reduce grain size of steel.
• To achieve desired mechanical properties.
• To remove internal stresses caused by working.

10. Describe The Annealing Process?

The process for softening the steel part is called Annealing. Generally it is done for the following purposes,

1. To soften the steel for machining.
2. To refine the grain size in the steel.
3. To increase ductility in the steel.
4. To relieve internal stresses.
5. To change electrical and mechanical properties.

11. What Is Case Hardening ?

It is a process of making outer surfaces harder of the steel part. Generally it is done for the following purposes,

1. To make outer surface harder.
2. To bring the cost cheaper
3. To utilize low carbon steel.

12. What Are The Common Heat Treatment Processes Used In Industries ?

The following heat treatment processes are generally used in manufacturing :

• Hardening
• Tempering
• Annealing
• Normalising
• Case hardening

13. What Is Meant By Lower And Higher Critical Points ?

While heating a steel part, the temperature raises and it changes the structure of steel part .The temperature point at which the change starts is called lower critical point and the temperature at which the change ends is called higher critical point.

14. Why Heat Treatment Of Steel Is Necessary?

1. To improve machinability.
2. To obtain desired properties.
3. To increase resistance of corrosion.
4. To change electrical and magnetic properties.
5. To relieve the stresses after cold or hot working.
6. To refine the grain size.

15. What Are The Differences Between Brass And Bronze ?

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Generally brass contains 60% copper and 40% zinc. These are used for making bearings, pump fittings, bushes and utensils.

Bronze contains copper and tin. It is comparatively hard, surface wear is less, can be remolded into any shape like wires, sheets, rods etc.

16. What Are The Chemical Composition Of Gun Metal, German Silver And Duralumin ?

Gun metal is an alloy of 88% copper, 10% tin and 2% zinc. It is generally used for casting boiler fittings, bearings ,bushes etc.

German silver is an alloy of copper, nickel, tin and led. It is used for making utensils and resistances in electrical work.

Duralumin is the aluminium alloy contains 3.5­4.5% copper,0.4­0.7% magnesium,0.4­0.7% manganese and remaining aluminium .Mainly used for making bars, tubes, rivets, sheets ,forgings and stampings.

17. What Do You Mean By Stainless Steel ?

It is an alloy steel which contains mainly 8% Nickel and 18% Chromium. Stainless steel main applications in measuring and surgical instruments.

18. How Is Steel Classified ?

According to carbon percentage

1. Low carbon steel :
   Less than 0.25% carbon
2. Medium carbon steel:
   0.25%­0.7% carbon
3. High carbon steel:
   0.7%­1.5% carbon

According to percentage of alloying elements

1. Low alloy steel:
   Alloying element less than 8%
2. High alloy steel
   : Alloying element more than 8%

19. Why Are Machine Beds Made Of Cast Iron?

Because it has more compressive strength and negligible shrinkage. It can easily cast into any integral shape, wear resisting and can absorb vibrations.

20. How Does Carbon Affects The Properties Of Steel ?

If carbon content is higher the degree of hardness is more and the melting point is lower, If carbon percentage is lower it is easy to forging and forge welding.

21. Define Hardness Of The Metal ?

It is the property of the metal which makes a metal capable to resist surface penetration by other metals .Hard metals are High carbon steel and High speed steel.

22. What Is The Toughness Of Metal ?

Toughness is the property of metal due to which without fracture a metal is able to withstand bending or torsion. Mild steel and wrought iron are tough metals.

23. Define The Following Properties Of Metal : (a) Fusibility (b) Stiffness (c) Ductility

Fusibility:
 It is the property of metal due to which a metal becomes fluid when it is heated.

Stiffness:
 It is the property of metal due to which a metal is capable of resisting deflection due to an externally applied load.

Ductility:
 It is the property of metal due to which a metal can be drawn into the form of wires without rupture.

24. Why Are Cast Iron Seasoned Before Machining ?

For easy machining and saving the cutting edge of the tool.