Submarines therefore must be built using the best and strongest materials possible to be able to endure long, underwater missions, and deep sea exploration.

Any metal used to build a submarine must contain certain properties and attributes to adequately handle being submerged for long periods of time while incurring underwater pressure. The metal used to build a submarine must be dense, shape-forming, malleable, non-corrosive and lightweight.

Steel has the ability to withstand corrosion and avoid oxidizing reactions such as rust. It is also lightweight enough that it can be fast and effective in maneuvering underwater.

A Hull Lot of Steel

Submarines used for military activity have gone through many shape transformations since first being commissioned. Several designs were experimented with before settling on the recognizable hydrodynamic teardrop shape. The outer shell, or hull, of the submarine is commonly constructed of steel alloy.

Submarines can have either a double or single-hull construction, which affects speed or maneuverability depending on which type of hull is used. American submarines are typically made of a single-hulled steel plating layer that creates the optimized shape needed for advanced warfare capabilities.

Inside the outer hull is the pressure hull, which is responsible for allowing the submarines to reach depths of 250-350 meters. The pressure hull, one of the most important components of a submarine, is constructed of thick, high-strength steel that is divided into several compartments.

The pressure hull’s construction is a delicate process requiring high degrees of precision to build. If a hull contains any defects, it could jeopardize the integrity of the entire submarine.

With today’s modern nuclear submarines, the predominant material used in manufacturing is still mainly steel. In order to be able to carry delicate nuclear warheads, the submarine must be made strong and dependable. Steel is used to construct the inner hull that contains the vessel’s crew and inner mechanics, as well as the outer hull. The layer between the inner and outer hull is used as the submarine’s ballast tank system, which lets water in and out, enabling the submarine to rise and dive.

Setting Depth Records with Steel

On March 26, 2012, famed Hollywood director James Cameron and his DEEPSEA CHALLENGE expedition team set a world record with their submarine solo dive to the deepest known place on earth.

DEEPSEA CHALLENGE states that the historic expedition to the Mariana Trench’s lowest point, the Challenger Deep, which lies 6.83 miles (10.99 kilometers) below the ocean surface, was the first extensive scientific exploration in a manned submersible of the deepest spot on earth.

Several different types of materials were used to construct the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER submarine, however, the pilot’s sphere was built from steel.

According to DEEPSEA CHALLENGE, the steel orb was equipped to make sure the pilot gets oxygen, stays warm, and is shielded from the deep-sea pressure.

Engineers made the pilot’s chamber spherical because the shape can be both strong and light. They also made the steel 2.5 inches (6.4 centimeters) thick to withstand the crushing pressure of the deep.

The Ocean’s Steel Whales

As oceanic vessel technology advances, so too will the designs and materials used to build submarines. One aspect that will remain constant however, is the use of steel. Submarines will remain a vital part of national defense and further ocean exploration for many years to come. Designs will continue to improve submarines’ speed and maneuverability, as well as the depths they are capable of reaching.

Modern submarines, however, will continue to be made mostly of steel, proving that the metal is perfect for keeping the ocean’s steel whales swimming into the future.

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Just about everything – from the roof over your head to the device you’re reading this on – contains steel. It is one of the most commonly used materials in the world and has been for quite some time.

World crude steel production added up to about 1.662 billion tons in 2014, based on the 2014 World Crude Steel Production Performances reported by the World Steel Association (worldsteel). Yet despite these numbers, the outlook for the steel industry suggests slow growth for global steel demand, which is mostly a result of the deceleration in China and structural adjustments in most world economies.

Nevertheless, The World Steel Association’s Short Range Outlook (SRO) for 2015 and 2016 notes that even though the growth is expected to be slow, demand is still growing. They forecast that the apparent steel growth will increase by 0.5% in 2015 and 1.4% in 2016. Additionally, in developing and emerging nations, there is an increased optimism for growth, as the steel markets are beginning to exhibit the characteristics of mature markets.

For more information on The World Steel Association’s expected outcomes for 2015 and 2016, click here.

So, which countries claim the spots of the world’s top steel producers for now? Read on to find out and to learn some interesting steel-related facts about each.

5. South Korea

Crude Steel Production: 71 million tons

Interesting Fact:

Rising 270 meters above sea level, The Yi Sun-shin Bridge was opened in 2012 and links the cities of Gwangyang and Yeosu. It is the first suspension bridge to be made solely with Korean state-of-the-art technology and equipment, including 26,000 tons of steel rods and 24,000 tons of steel products. Extending 2,260 meters, it is the longest in Korea and the fourth longest in the world, surpassing even the Golden Gate Bridge. (Source: http://bit.ly/1crFdzx)

4. India

Crude Steel Production: 83.2 million tons

Interesting Fact:

The Lotus Temple, a Bahá’í House of Worship, is one of Delhi’s most iconic architectural feats and was designed in the form of a lotus flower to symbolize the religion’s cornerstones of purity and simplicity. The lotus has three sets of leaves or petals which are made out of thin concrete shells. At the top, a glass and steel roof provides protection from the elements and facilitates the entry of natural light. The temple also utilizes a number of steel reinforcements and structural steel staging. (Source: http://bit.ly/1zWQCTh)

3. United States

Crude Steel Production: 88.3 million tons

Interesting Fact:

In 1943, more than 1 billion pennies were made with steel because the United States was, at the time, engaged in World War II and copper was being rationed to make artillery. Steel pennies weigh 2.70 grams and are fairly lighter than traditional copper Lincoln pennies that weigh 3.11 grams. Today, these pennies are quite popular among coin collectors and are worth about 25-75 cents each. (Source: http://bit.ly/1cooLjx)

2. Japan

Crude Steel Production: 110.7 million tons

Interesting Fact:

Tokyo Tower, a communications and observation tower in Japan’s capital city, was built in 1958. It was constructed of steel, a third of which was scrap metal taken from 90 US tanks damaged in the Korean War. At 4,000 tons, it is significantly lighter than the Eiffel Tower, which weighs 7,000 tons, a result of exceptional advances in construction technology and steel manufacturing. (Source: http://bit.ly/1K3tHbS)

1. China

Crude Steel Production: 822.7 million tons

Interesting Fact:

The Chinese were the first people to combine carbon and iron to make steel. They’ve been making it since the first century BC in blast furnaces powered by the Asian monsoon winds. In recent years, they’ve become the world’s largest producer of steel, and consume twice as much steel as the US, Europe and Japan combined. (Source: http://bit.ly/1KzAKpG)

Production rates according to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) 2014 World Crude Steel Production Performances.