Izikhonkwane zanamhlanje zenziwe ngentsimbi, zihlala zicwiliswa okanye zigqunywe ukunqanda ukubola kwiimeko ezinzima okanye ukuphucula ukunamathela.Izikhonkwane eziqhelekileyo zomthi zidla ngokuba yintsimbi ethambileyo, ephantsi kwekhabhoni okanye "ethambileyo" (malunga ne-0.1% yekhabhoni, enye intsimbi kwaye mhlawumbi i-silicon okanye i-manganese).Izikhonkwane zekhonkrithi zinzima, kunye ne-0.5-0.75% carbon.