From the perspective of composition, carbon steel plate is mainly composed of iron and carbon, the carbon content is usually between 0.0218% and 2.11%, in addition, it may also contain a small amount of silicon, manganese, phosphorus, sulfur and other elements. The stainless steel plate is on the basis of carbon steel, adding a certain amount of alloying elements, of which chromium is the most important alloying element, the content is generally not less than 10.5%, in addition may also contain nickel, molybdenum, titanium, niobium and other elements. The addition of these alloying elements gives stainless steel plates unique properties.

The performance difference is one of the most significant differences between carbon steel plate and stainless steel plate. In terms of corrosion resistance, stainless steel plates perform well. Due to the presence of chromium, a dense chromium oxide film can be formed on its surface, which is like a loyal guard, closely guarding the metal inside the steel plate, so that it is not easy to react with the outside oxygen, moisture and other corrosive media, so that it has excellent corrosion resistance. In contrast, the corrosion resistance of carbon steel plates is relatively weak. In the humid air, the iron atoms on the surface of the carbon steel plate are easy to react with oxygen to generate rust, which will gradually erode the steel plate over time, reducing its strength and service life.

In terms of strength and hardness, carbon steel plates have certain advantages. Under normal circumstances, the hardness of carbon steel plate is higher, can withstand greater pressure and impact, so in some areas with high strength requirements, such as building structure, machinery manufacturing, carbon steel plate has been widely used. However, the strength and hardness of stainless steel plates are not inferior. By reasonably adjusting the content of alloying elements and appropriate heat treatment, stainless steel plates can also obtain higher strength and hardness, and while maintaining a certain strength, it also has good toughness and is not easy to brittle fracture.

In appearance, carbon steel plate and stainless steel plate also have obvious differences. The surface of the carbon steel plate is usually black or dark gray, relatively rough, and the gloss is low. The surface of the stainless steel plate shows a bright silver white, high finish, with a good luster, giving a beautiful, high-grade feeling. This difference in appearance makes stainless steel plates favored in some areas with high appearance requirements, such as decoration and home appliance manufacturing.

In terms of price, because the stainless steel plate needs to add a large number of alloying elements in the production process, and the production process is relatively complex and the cost is high, its price is usually much more expensive than the carbon steel plate. This also limits the scope of application of stainless steel plates to a certain extent, making it difficult to compete with carbon steel plates in some cost-sensitive areas, such as ordinary construction, general machinery manufacturing, etc.

In the field of application, carbon steel plate with its high strength and hardness and relatively low price, widely used in building structures, bridge manufacturing, machining, automobile manufacturing and other fields. For example, in building structures, carbon steel plates are used to make steel beams, steel columns and other load-bearing components; In machining, carbon steel plates are processed into various mechanical parts, such as gears, shafts, etc. Stainless steel plate, because of its excellent corrosion resistance and beautiful appearance, plays an important role in food processing, medical equipment, chemical equipment, decoration and other fields. In the food processing industry, stainless steel plates are used to make food processing equipment, storage containers, etc., to ensure food safety and hygiene; In the field of medical devices, stainless steel plates are used to manufacture surgical instruments, medical equipment shells, etc., because they do not produce harmful substances to the human body, and are easy to disinfect and clean.

With the continuous progress of science and technology and people's increasing requirements for material performance, carbon steel plates and stainless steel plates are also constantly developing and innovating. In terms of carbon steel plates, through the development of new steelmaking processes and the addition of trace alloying elements, its strength, toughness and corrosion resistance are constantly improved to meet the needs of higher performance applications. In the field of stainless steel plates, researchers are committed to the development of new stainless steel materials, such as super stainless steel, duplex stainless steel, etc., these new stainless steel materials have better properties and can be used in more demanding environments.

There are obvious differences between carbon steel plate and stainless steel plate in terms of composition, performance, appearance and price, and they are suitable for different application fields. With the continuous changes in market demand and continuous innovation in technology, these two metal sheets will continue to shine in their respective fields and make greater contributions to promoting industrial development and improving people's lives.