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What sets Steel apart from normal steel is the inclusion of chromium in its alloys. All Steel chemical compositions contain at least 10.5% chromium. The inclusion of chromium makes these steels more corrosion resistant. The different grades of this material have various alloying elements that serve to further improve corrosion resistance, heat treatability, and machinability. It should be noted that heat treatment can significantly affect the metal’s mechanical properties.
Steels can be classified based on their crystalline structure. This includes Austenitic, ferritic, martensitic, and duplex:
Generally referred to as mild steel, 1018 is highly weldable and well suited to surface hardening processes such as carburizing. Once carburized, this material is typically used for gears, worms, and mold components.
Steel 1018 Properties
| Tensile Strength, Yield (MPa) | Fatigue Strength (MPa) | Elongation at Break (%) | Hardness (Brinell) | Density (g/cm^3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 369 | 78 | 16 | 126 | 7.79 |
This type is often known as alloy steel due to its increased levels of alloying elements when compared to normal mild steel. This alloy contains chromium and molybdenum as strengthening elements. These elements significantly improve its mechanical properties. Applications can include taps, drills, and aircraft engine mountings.
Steel 4130 Properties
| Tensile Strength, Yield (MPa) | Fatigue Strength (MPa) | Elongation at Break (%) | Hardness (Brinell) | Density (g/cm^3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 436 | 80 | 25.6 | 198 | 7.88 |
Steel 4140 is very similar to 4130 but has an increased carbon content. The bonus carbon improves its strength and allows for better hardening properties. Extra chromium is also added for corrosion resistance. Applications can include thin-walled pressure vessels, spindles, and high-strength bolts.
Steel 4140 Properties
| Tensile Strength, Yield (MPa) | Fatigue Strength (MPa) | Elongation at Break (%) | Hardness (Brinell) | Density (g/cm^3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 676 | 81 | 17.6 | 302 | 7.86 |
This grade of steel is a pre-hardened version of standard 4140 steel that exhibits excellent mechanical strength and hardness properties. Its pre-hardening eliminates the need for heat treatment after machining. This is ideal if the heat treatment will cause unacceptable distortion in the finished part. Typical applications include shafts, arbors, and molds.
Steel 4140 PH Properties
| Tensile Strength, Yield (MPa) | Fatigue Strength (MPa) | Elongation at Break (%) | Hardness (Brinell) | Density (g/cm^3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 685-897 | 81 | 14-18.9 | 272-300 | 7.88 |
This grade of steel is inexpensive and easy to weld, so it is a very common grade of low carbon steel. It is generally used in fabrication applications and structural supports.
Steel A36 Properties
| Tensile Strength, Yield (MPa) | Fatigue Strength (MPa) | Elongation at Break (%) | Hardness (Brinell) | Density (g/cm^3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 251 | 79.5 | 21 | 120 | 7.86 |
This grade of steel is considered a free machining steel due to its high sulfur content. However, the weldability of this material is poor. Typical applications can include studs, screws, pins, and, in general, components that require large amounts of machining.
Steel 1215 Properties
| Tensile Strength, Yield (MPa) | Fatigue Strength (MPa) | Elongation at Break (%) | Hardness (Brinell) | Density (g/cm^3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 415 | 81 | 10 | 166 | 7.89 |
This steel is a high-strength, low-alloy metal. It exhibits impressive toughness and strength and maintains these properties at relatively high temperatures. Typical applications can include gears, shafts, and other structural parts.
Steel 4340 Properties
| Tensile Strength, Yield (MPa) | Fatigue Strength (MPa) | Elongation at Break (%) | Hardness (Brinell) | Density (g/cm^3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 480 | 76 | 22 | 218 7.86 |
A2 steel is a type of air-hardening, cold-working steel. It has good wear resistance and experiences minimal distortion during heat treatment or hardening processes. Compared to other types of tool steel, A2 steel is relatively easy to machine. It is one of the most commonly used steel grades for making tools such as punches, trimming and forming dies, sheering blades, and molds.
A2 Tool Steel Properties
| Tensile Strength, Yield (MPa) | Fatigue Strength (MPa) | Elongation at Break (%) | Hardness (Brinell) | Density (g/cm^3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1275-1585 | 78 | 1-5 | 58-66 HRC | 7.88 |
O1 steel is an oil-hardening, cold-working steel. It is characterized by it’s strong wear resistance and ability to retain sharp edges. It is used in creating punching, cutting, and stamping tools, as well as in blades and other cutting tools.
O1 Tool Steel Properties
| Tensile Strength, Yield (MPa) | Fatigue Strength (MPa) | Elongation at Break (%) | Hardness (Brinell) | Density (g/cm^3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 400 | 73 | 22 | 63-65 HRC | 7.86 |
As machined (standard): This standard finish leaves the part in its original state after machining. FlagShip can achieve 125 Ra or better. Finishing passes can be performed to further refine the surface roughness. This is the most common surface finish for Steel.
Powder coating: Powder coating creates an excellent and robust surface finish. Steel is corrosion resistant to a wide array of chemicals, but some, like chlorides, still pose a challenge. Powder coating can be used to improve its anti-corrosion properties in these situations.
Bead blasting: This process creates a smooth and uniform matte finish by lightly blasting the surface. This surface finish is generally applied for cosmetic purposes.
