Carbon Steel in Various Finishes

Mild Steel

Mild steel is a cost-effective low-carbon structural material widely used for shims, spacers, backing plates, and general fabrication. We stock mild steel sheet and shim in bare, galvanised, zinc-aluminium, and zinc-plated finishes, giving our customers flexibility to match the coating to the service environment.

At a Glance

Temperature Range

Bare mild steel -40 °C to +400 °C continuous (oxide scale begins ~480 °C); hot-dip galvanised (Glv) and zinc-plated (ZnPl) limited to +200 °C continuous (zinc spalls and peels above ~250 °C); Zincalume / Galvalume AZ150 limited to +315 °C continuous

Thickness Range

0.05 mm to 3 mm (0.05–0.5 mm shim, 0.4–3 mm sheet)

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Technical Properties

Typical values across stocked grades. Specific grade data sheets available on request.

Typical GradesAISI 1008–1020 (chemistry); AS/NZS 1594 HA1/HA3/HA4 (hot-rolled formable shim); AS/NZS 1595 CA-series (cold-rolled commercial); AS/NZS 1594 HA250 (structural sheet)
Typical CompositionCarbon 0.05–0.25%; Manganese ≤0.60%; Sulphur ≤0.05%; Phosphorus ≤0.05%; Iron balance
Density7.85 g/cm³ (handbook nominal for plain-carbon steel)
Tensile Strength (UTS)270–450 MPa (grade dependent: AISI 1008 hot-rolled 303–358 MPa per ASTM A1011; AISI 1020 cold-drawn to ~450 MPa)
Yield Strength170–380 MPa (grade dependent: AISI 1008 hot-rolled ~170 MPa; AISI 1020 cold-drawn ~380 MPa)
Elongation at Break20–36% in 50 mm (ASTM E8)
Hardness95–140 HB (ASTM E10)
Melting Range1425–1540 °C
Thermal Conductivity51.9 W/m·K at 100 °C
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion11.7 µm/m· °C (20–100 °C)
Modulus of Elasticity200 GPa
MagneticYes (ferromagnetic)
Finishes AvailableBare (BF), Galvanised (Glv), Zinc-Aluminium (ZnAl), Zinc-Plated (ZnPl)

Standards & Certifications

Standards Compliance

AS/NZS 1594 (hot-rolled steel flat products: HA1, HA3, HA4, HA250 grades)AS/NZS 1595 (cold-rolled steel sheet and strip: CA-series commercial grades)AS 1397 (galvanised and Zincalume / Galvalume coated steel)ASTM A1011 (hot-rolled carbon steel sheet and strip — commercial grade)ASTM A1008 (cold-rolled carbon steel sheet — commercial grade)ASTM A36 (carbon structural steel)ASTM E8 (tension testing)ASTM E10 (Brinell hardness)EN 10130 (cold-rolled low-carbon steel flat products for cold forming)

Common Applications

  • Precision shims and spacers
  • Backing plates for soft gasket materials
  • Structural gaskets and mounting plates
  • Machinery alignment shims
  • Automotive body and chassis shims
  • Galvanised ductwork gaskets
  • General fabrication and prototyping
  • Wear plates and sacrificial liners
  • Fence and gate hardware gaskets
  • Agricultural equipment shims and spacers

Available Grades

Mild Steel, Bare Finish (BF)

Uncoated carbon steel sheet to AS/NZS 1594 (hot-rolled) or AS/NZS 1595 (cold-rolled). Must be coated, painted, or used in dry, controlled atmospheres only — bare mild steel rusts within 24–48 hours in any humid, wet, marine, or condensing environment. Service to +400 °C continuous.

Galvanised Mild Steel (Glv)

Hot-dip galvanised carbon steel to AS 1397, with a zinc coating for corrosion protection. Our most popular finish for outdoor and exposed applications. Service limited to +200 °C continuous (zinc coating spalls and peels above ~250 °C).

Zinc-Aluminium Mild Steel (ZnAl, Zincalume)

Zinc-aluminium alloy-coated carbon steel (Zincalume/Galvalume AZ150) to AS 1397, offering superior edge corrosion protection compared to standard galvanised finishes. Service to +315 °C continuous (per BlueScope datasheet).

Zinc-Plated Mild Steel (ZnPl)

Electroplated zinc finish providing a thinner, more uniform coating than hot-dip galvanising. Suited to shims and precision components where tight tolerances are required. Service limited to +200 °C continuous (zinc plating spalls above ~250 °C).

Mild Steel Shim (0.05–0.5 mm)

Precision-rolled thin-gauge carbon steel for shimming and tolerance adjustment. Available in bare and zinc-plated finishes.

Related Resources

Chemical Compatibility

Check metal resistance to specific chemicals and media.

Standard Dimensions

ASME and AS flange gasket dimensions.

Related Materials

304 Stainless Steel Aluminium

Need Mild Steel?

We supply mild steel in sheet, roll, and custom die-cut forms. Contact our team for pricing, data sheets, or technical assistance.

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Disclaimer

This resource is provided for general engineering reference only and does not constitute professional advice, specification, or guarantee of performance. Actual results depend on specific application conditions. Universal Gaskets Pty Ltd accepts no responsibility or liability for decisions made based on this information. For full terms, see our Terms & Conditions.