The difference between carbon steel and stainless steel is mainly reflected in appearance, corrosion resistance, wear resistance and price.

1. The appearance difference between carbon steel and stainless steel:

The main components of stainless steel are metals such as chromium and nickel, so the appearance of stainless steel is mostly silver and bright, and its surface is smooth with a very strong metallic luster.

The main components of carbon steel are carbon and iron alloys, so the color of carbon steel is darker, and the surface is rougher than stainless steel.

2. The difference between carbon steel and stainless steel in terms of corrosion resistance:

Both carbon steel and stainless steel contain iron. Iron oxidizes when exposed to the environment, which creates rust. Chromium is added to stainless steel, and chromium is easier to combine with oxygen than iron.

When chromium attaches to oxygen, a layer of chromium oxide is formed, which protects the steel from degradation and corrosion. Carbon steel has a low chromium content, and a small amount of chromium cannot form this chromium oxide layer. Therefore, the corrosion resistance of stainless steel is stronger than that of carbon steel.

3. The difference between carbon steel and stainless steel in terms of wear resistance:

The hardness of carbon steel is much higher than that of stainless steel, but it is heavier and has lower plasticity. Specifically, in terms of wear resistance, carbon steel is more wear-resistant than stainless steel.

4. The price difference between carbon steel and stainless steel:

Because in the process of making stainless steel, a large amount of other alloys need to be added, while carbon steel does not need to add a large amount of other alloys, so the price of stainless steel is more expensive than carbon steel.