Chemical Analysis
Effects of common alloying elements in steel
By definition, steel is a combination of iron and carbon. It is alloyed with various elements to improve physical properties and to produce special properties, such as resistance to corrosion or heat. Specific effects of the addition of such elements are outlined below:
Carbon (C) Although carbon is not usually considered an alloying element, it is the most important constituent of steel. Carbon raises tensile strength, hardness, resistance to wear and abrasion; it conversely lowers ductility, toughness, and machinability.
Manganese (Mn) A deoxidizer and degasifier, which reacts with sulfur to improve forgeability. It increases tensile strength, hardness, hardenability, and resistance to wear, while decreasing tendency toward soaling and distortion. Manganese raises the rate of carbon-penetration in carburizing.
Phosphorus (P) Increases strength and hardness and improves machinability, however, it adds marked brittleness or cold-shortness to steel.
Sulfur (S) Improves machinability in free-cutting steels, but without sufficient manganese it produces brittleness at red heat. Sulfur can also decrease weldability, impact toughness, and ductility.
Silicon (Si) A deoxidizer and degasifier, which increases tensile and yield strength, hardness, forgeability, and magnetic permeability.
Chromium (Cr) Increases a material’s tensile strength, hardness, hardenability, and toughness. Chromium also creates resistance to wear, abrasion, corrosion, and scaling at elevated temperatures.
Nickel (Ni) Stabilizes the austenitic structure enhancing mechanical properties and fabrication characteristics. Nickel increases strength and hardness without sacrificing ductility and toughness. It also increases resistance to corrosion and scaling at elevated temperatures when introduced in suitable quantities in high-chromium stainless steels.
Molybdenum (Mo) Increases strength, hardness, hardenability, and toughness, as well as creep resistance and strength at elevated temperatures. Molybdenum improves machinability, resistance to corrosion, and intensifies the effects of other alloying elements. In hot-work steels, it increases red-hardness properties.
Tungsten (W) Increases strength, hardness, and toughness. Tungsten steels have superior hot-working and greater cutting efficiency at elevated temperatures.
Vanadium (V) Increases strength, hardness, and resistance to shock impact. It retards grain growth permitting higher quenching temperatures. Vanadium also enhances the red hardness properties of high-speed metal cutting tools and intensifies the individual effects of other major elements.
Cobalt (Co) Increases strength and hardness and permits higher quenching temperatures. Cobalt also intensifies the individual effects of other major elements in more complex steels.
Aluminum (Al) A deoxidizer and degasifier, which retards grain growth and is used to control austenitic grain structure. In nitriding steels, aluminum aids in producing a uniformly hard and strong nitride base when used in amounts 1.00%-1.25%.
Titanium, Columbium or Niobium and Tantalum (Ti, Cb, or Nb, Ta) All used as stabilizing elements in stainless steels, each has a high affinity for carbon and forms carbides, which are uniformly dispersed throughout the steel. Thus, localized depletion of carbon at grain boundaries is prevented.
Lead (Pb) While not strictly an alloying element, lead is added to improve machining characteristics. It is almost completely insoluble in steel. Minute lead particles, well dispersed, reduce friction where the cutting edge contacts the work. The addition of lead also improves chip-breaking formations.
| Uns | Type | Carbon | Man- ganese |
Phos- phorus |
Sulfur | Silicon | Chrome | Nickel | Molyb- denum |
Copper | Others | M or NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S15500 | 15 – 5 PH® | .07 | 1. | .03 | .015 | 1. | 14. – 15.5 | 3.5 – 5.5 | .5 | 2.5 – 4.5 | Cb + Ta = 8xC Min – .45 Max | M |
| S15700 | 15-7 PH | .09 | 1. | .07 | .03 | 1. | 14. – 16. | 6.5 – 7.75 | 2. – 3. | Al .75 – 1.5 | M | |
| S17400 | 17-4 PH | .07 | 1. | .04 | .03 | 1. | 15. – 17.5 | 3. – 5. | 3. – 5. | Cb + Ta = .15 – .45 | M | |
| S20910 | XM-19 | .06 | 4.- 6. | .04 | .03 | 1. | 20.5 – 23.5 | 11.5 – 13.5 | 1.5 – 3. | N .2 – .4 CB .1 – .3 V .1 – .3 |
NM | |
| S21800 | 21800 | 1. | 7. – 9. | 3.5 – 4.5 | 16. – 18. | 8. – 9. | N .08 – .18 | NM | ||||
| S30200 | 302 | .15 | 2. | .045 | .03 | 1. | 17. – 19. | 8. – 10. | .5 | NM | ||
| S30215 | 302B | .15 | 2. | .045 | .03 | 2. – 3. | 17. – 19. | 8. – 10. | N .1 | NM | ||
| S30300 | 303S | .15 | 2. | .2 | 15 Min. | 1. | 17. – 19. | 8. – 10. | .6 | .5 | NM | |
| S30400 | 304 | .08 | 2. | .045 | .03 | 1. | 18. – 20. | 8. – 12. | .5 | .5 | NM | |
| S30400- S30403 |
304-304L DUAL CERTIFIED |
.03 | 2. | .045 | .03 | 1. | 18. – 20. | 8. – 12. | .5 | .5 | NM | |
| S30500 | 305 | .12 | 2. | .045 | .03 | 1. | 17. – 19. | 11. – 13. | NM | |||
| S30800 | 308 | .08 | 2. | .045 | .03 | 1. | 19. – 21. | 10. – 12. | NM | |||
| S30900 | 309 | .08 | 2. | .04 | .03 | 1. | 22. – 24. | 12. – 15. | .75 | .5 | NM | |
| S30908 | 309S | .08 | 2. | .045 | .03 | 1. | 22. – 24. | 12. – 15. | NM | |||
| S31000 | 310 | .08 | 2. | .045 | .03 | .3 – .8 | 24. – 26. | 19. – 22. | .5 | .5 | NM | |
| S31000- S31008 |
310-310S | .08 | 2. | .045 | .03 | 1.5 | 24. – 26. | 19. – 22. | NM | |||
| S31254 | 254 SMO® | .02 | 1. | .03 | .01 | .8 | 19.5 – 20.5 | 17.5 – 18.5 | 6. – 6.5 | .5 – 1. | N .18 – .22 Fe Balance |
INQUIRE |
| S31400 | 314 | .25 | 2. | .045 | .03 | 1.5 – 3. | 23. – 26. | 19. – 22. | NM | |||
| S31600 | 316 | .08 | 2. | .045 | .03 | 1. | 16. – 18. | 10. – 14. | 2. – 3. | .5 | NM | |
| S31600- S31603 |
316-316L DUAL CERTIFIED |
.03 | 1.25-2. | .04 | .03 | 1. | 16. – 18. | 10. – 14. | 2. – 3. | .5 | NM | |
| S31700 | 317 | .08 | 2. | .045 | .03 | 1. | 18. – 20. | 11. – 15. | 3. – 4. | NM | ||
| S31700- S31703 |
317-317L DUAL CERTIFIED |
.03 | 2. | .045 | .03 | 1. | 18. – 20. | 11. – 15. | 3. – 4. | NM | ||
| Uns | Type | Carbon | Man- ganese |
Phos phorus |
Sulfur | Silicon | Chrome | Nickel | Molyb- denum |
Copper | Others | M or NM |
| S31803 | DUPLEX | .03 | 2. | .03 | .02 | 1. | 21. – 23. | 4.5 – 6.5 | 2.5 – 3.5 | N .08 – .2 | INQUIRE | |
| S32750 | SUPER DUPLEX | .03 | 1.2 | .035 | .02 | .08 | 24. – 26. | 6. – .8 | 3. – 5. | .5 | N .24 – .32 | INQUIRE |
| S32100 | 321 | .08 | 2. | .045 | .03 | 1. | 17. – 19. | 9. – 12. | .5 | .5 | Ti 5xC Min. | NM |
| S34700 | 347 | .08 | 2. | .045 | .03 | 1. | 17. – 19. | 9. – 13. | .5 | .5 | Cb + Ta = 10xC Max. | NM |
| S34800 | 348 | .08 | 2. | .045 | .03 | 1. | 17. – 19. | 9. – 12. | Cb 10x C-1.10. Ta 0.1 Co 0.2 |
NM | ||
| S40300 | 403 | .15 | 1. | .04 | .03 | .5 | 11.5 – 13. | .75 | .5 | .5 | M | |
| S41000 | 410 | .15 | 1. | .04 | .03 | 1. | 11.5 – 13.5 | .75 | .5 | .5 | Al .05 Sn .05 N .08 |
M |
| S41400 | 414 | .15 | 1. | .04 | .03 | 1. | 11.5 – 13.5 | 1.25 – 2.5 | M | |||
| S41600 | 416 | .15 | 1.25 | .06 | .15 Min. | 1. | 12. – 14. | .5 | .6 | .5 | M | |
| S42000 | 420 | .15 Min. | 1. | .04 | .03 | 1. | 12. – 14. | .5 | .5 | .5 | M | |
| S42020 | 420F | .3 – .4 | 1.25 | .06 | .15 – .35 | 1. | 12. – 14. | .5 | .6 | M | ||
| S42023 | 420F Se | .15 | 1. | .04 | .03 | 1. | 13. | .6 | Fe 84. Se .15 | M | ||
| S42200 | 422 | .2 – .25 | 1. | .04 | .03 | 1. | 11. – 13.5 | .5 – 1. | .75 – 1.25 | V .2 – .5 W .75 – 1.25 Fe Balance |
M | |
| S43000 | 430 | .12 | 1. | .04 | .03 | 1. | 16. – 18. | .75 | .5 | .5 | M | |
| S43020 | 430F | .12 | 1.25 | .06 | .15 – .4 | 1. | 16. – 18. | .6 | M | |||
| S43100 | 431 | .2 | 1. | .04 | .03 | 1. | 15. – 17. | 1.25 – 2.5 | .5 | .5 | N .1 | M |
| S44002 | 440A | .6 – .75 | 1. | .04 | .03 | 1. | 16. – 18. | .75 | .75 | .5 | M | |
| S44003 | 440B | .75 – .95 | 1. | .04 | .03 | 1. | 16. – 18. | .75 | M | |||
| S44004 | 440C | .95 – 1.2 | 1. | .04 | .03 | 1. | 16. – 18. | .75 | .75 | .5 | M | |
| S44020 | 440F | .95 – 1.2 | 1.25 | .06 | .15 min | 1. | 16. – 18. | .5 | Cu .6 | M | ||
| S44023 | 440F Se | .95 – 1.2 | 1.25 | .04 | .03 | 1. | 16. – 18. | .75 | .4 – .6 | .5 | Sn .05 N .08 Se .15 – .25 |
M |
| S44660 | 446 | .2 | 1.5 | .04 | .03 | 1. | 23. – 27. | N .25 | M |
M = Magnetic NM = Non-magnetic
| Uns | Type | Carbon | Man- ganese |
Phos- phorus |
Sulfur | Silicon | Chrome | Nickel | Molyb- denum |
Copper | Others | M or NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N02200 | 200 | .15 | .35 | .01 | .35 | Ni + Co = 99. Min | .25 | Fe .4 | M | |||
| N04400 | 400 | .3 | 2. | .024 | .5 | Ni + Co = 63. – 70. | Balance | Fe .25 | INQUIRE | |||
| N04405 | 405 | .3 | 2. | .025-.06 | .5 | Ni + Co = 63. Min | 28. – 34. | Fe 2.5 | INQUIRE | |||
| N05500 | 500 | .25 | 1.5 | .01 | .05 | Ni + Co = 63. – 70. | Balance | Al 2.3 – 3.15 Ti .35 – .85 Fe 2. |
INQUIRE | |||
| N06600 | 600 | .15 | 1. | .15 | .5 | 14. – 17. | 72. Min | .5 | Al .35 Ti .5 Cb + Ta = 1. Co 1. Fe 6. – 10. |
NM | ||
| N06625 | 625 | .1 | .5 | .15 | .015 | .5 | 20. – 23. | Balance | 8. – 10. | Al .4 Ti .4 Co 1. Cb + Ta 3.15 – 4.15 Fe 5. |
NM | |
| N07718 | 718 | .08 | .35 | .015 | .015 | .35 | 17. – 21. | 50. – 55. | 2.8 – 3.3 | .3 | Co 1. Cb + Ta = 4.75 – 5.5 Ti .65 – 1.15 B .006 Al .2 – .8 |
NM |
| N08020 | ALLOY 20 | .07 | 2. | .045 | .035 | 1. | 19. – 21. | 32. – 38. | 2. – 3. | 3. – 4. | Co 1. Cb + Ta = 4.75 – 5.5 Ti .65 – 1.15 B .006 Al .2 – .8 |
NM |
| N10276 | C-276 | .08 | 1. | .04 | .03 | .08 | 14.5 – 16.5 | Balance | 15. – 17. | Co 2.5 W 3. – 4.5 V .35 |
NM |
M = Magnetic NM = Non-magnetic
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