Generally regarded as an impurity in steel as it can have
detrimental effects on strength, ductility and weldability as
well as producing hot and cold shortness. Its content in
most steels is limited to a maximum of 0.050%. Sulphur is
beneficial to machining and is added to freecutting steels
in amounts up to 0.35% with the manganese content
increased to overcome any detrimental effects.