Acciai

Acciai is the Italian term for steels, iron–carbon alloys whose carbon content ranges up to about 2.1% and that may include other alloying elements. The addition of carbon and other elements alters hardness, strength, ductility, and weldability compared with pure iron. The word acciai encompasses a broad family of materials used where a combination of strength and formability is required. In Italian, acciai is the plural of acciaio, meaning steel.

Steels are commonly classified by carbon content and alloying: carbon steels (low, medium, and high carbon); alloy steels containing elements such as chromium, nickel, vanadium, or molybdenum; and stainless steels whose chromium content provides corrosion resistance. Tool steels and weathering steels are specialized subclasses. Stainless steels are valued for their corrosion resistance, while carbon steels are typically cheaper but more prone to rust if not protected.

Modern acciai are produced mainly via two routes: Basic Oxygen Furnaces (BOF) using iron ore and coke, and Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF) using scrap steel. After melting, the liquid steel is cast and rolled into bars, plates, sheets, or other forms, with further processing including heat treatment and alloying to achieve target properties.

Properties and processing are closely linked: carbon content raises strength and hardness but lowers ductility, while alloying can enhance wear resistance or toughness. Heat treatments such as quenching and tempering fine-tune hardness and strength for specific applications.

Steels are used across construction, automotive, machinery, tools, piping, and consumer goods. They are highly recyclable, and industry practices emphasize energy efficiency and emissions reductions.