Steel in casket construction is best described as which of the following?

• A. A copper alloy used in interior trim.
• B. A zinc alloy used for exterior hardware.
• C. A stainless steel alloy.
• D. A metal alloy consisting mainly of iron and carbon; carbon content up to 1.7%.

Answer: (D)

Steel used in casket construction is an iron-based alloy with carbon added. The amount of carbon determines the classification: when the carbon content is up to about 1.7%, the material is considered steel; higher carbon levels push it toward cast iron, which is more brittle. This description fits the common carbon steel used for caskets, and it clearly distinguishes steel from copper or zinc alloys used for trim and hardware. Stainless steel is a related type of steel that includes chromium for corrosion resistance, but it remains part of the iron-and-carbon family, with the same fundamental idea that the carbon content (along with alloying elements) defines its basic category.