Common uses for alloy steel include:
Structural components: Beams, columns, and other framing components for buildings can use alloy steel for its strength and toughness.
Automotive engine parts: In order to handle high temperatures and high stresses, crankshafts, camshafts, and more may use chromium-molybdenum steels.
Gears and bearings: For similar reasons, gears and bearings that need to resist wear and prevent fatigue use tough alloy steel grades.
Aircraft frames: Aircraft undergo intense loads and stress, so their frames can’t be brittle — low alloy steels that are more ductile can be incorporated here.
Pipelines and oil storage tanks: Corrosive chemicals and high temperatures require resistant steels like those using high percentages of chromium and molybdenum.
Drilling tools: High speed alloys like M2 are incredibly valuable for parts that experience extreme friction heat and wear, adding elements like vanadium.
Railroad tracks: Another use that needs to resist continuous wear is infrastructure like rails, using manganese to prevent deterioration from decades of use.
Surgical instruments: Certain high-end stainless steels are used for scalpels and orthopedic implants like joint replacements because corrosion can lead to infection.
