Stainless Steel I-Beams. Photo Credit: stainlessshapes.net
Steel is the foundation of the modern structure, be it buildings, airplanes, or ships. Plain carbon steel is a simple mixture of carbon and iron in just the right proportion to provide excellent strength. As humans have taken to the sky lighter materials have been required. This has led to dominance of aluminum, titanium, and composite materials for weight savings. These materials are stronger per unit weight than steel but more expensive and less plentiful. Scientists have just recently discovered a new steel alloy that provides the strength to weight ratio of titanium using much more available materials. This could lead to a revolution in the structural steel world, but for now they need to find a way to manufacture it outside of a lab setting. Read more here: http://www.gizmag.com/steel-alloy-strong-light-titanium/35996/
