Glossary
Strengthening of steel Ferritic, pearlitic, bainitic and martensitic steels

ELC steel; ELC (Extra Low Carbon) Steels

Steel with very low carbon content (generally less than 100 ppm).

IF steel; IF (Interstitial Free) Steels

Very low-carbon steel with Ti and/or Nb addition trapping all carbon; the ferritic matrix can then be considered virtually free of residual carbon in solid solution.

HSLA steel; HSLA (High Steel Low Alloyed) Steels

Steel with low carbon and alloying element content; carburizing elements (Nb, Ti, V) are added to produce a fine, dispersed precipitation that contributes to steel hardening, either directly or by limiting grain size.

BH steel; BH (Bake Hardening) Steels

Very low-carbon steel in which a fraction of carbon is left in solution after continuous annealing. The carbon diffuses out during heat treatment of the paint after shaping, causing hardening by pinning of dislocations or precipitation of fine...