AISI 1045 Medium Carbon Steel

AISI 1045 Medium Carbon Steel

Written by AZoM

Jul 2 2012

Topics Covered
Introduction
Chemical Composition
Physical Properties
Mechanical Properties
Machining
Welding
Heat Treatment
Forging
Annealing
Normalizing
Stress Relieving
Hardening
Tempering
Applications

Introduction
AISI 1045 steel is a medium tensile steel supplied in the black hot rolled or normalized
condition. It has a tensile strength of 570 - 700 MPa and Brinell hardness ranging
between 170 and 210.
AISI 1045 steel is characterized by good weldability, good machinability, and high
strength and impact properties in either the normalized or hot rolled condition.
AISI 1045 steel has a low through-hardening capability with only sections of size
around 60 mm being recommended as suitable for tempering and through-hardening.
However, it can be efficiently flame or induction hardened in the normalized or hot
rolled condition to obtain surface hardnesses in the range of Rc 54 - Rc 60 based on
factors such as section size, type of set up, quenching medium used etc.
AISI 1045 steel lacks suitable alloying elements and hence does not respond to the
nitriding process.

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AISI 1045 Medium Carbon Steel

Chemical Composition
Element

Content

Carbon, C

0.420 - 0.50 %

Iron, Fe

98.51 - 98.98 %

Manganese, Mn

0.60 - 0.90 %

Phosphorous, P

0.040 %

Sulfur, S

0.050 %

Physical Properties
Physical Properties
Density

Metric

Imperial

7.87 g/cc

0.284 lb/in3

Mechanical Properties
Mechanical Properties

Metric

Imperial

Hardness, Brinell

163

163

Hardness, Knoop (Converted from Brinell hardness)

184

184

Hardness, Rockwell B (Converted from Brinell hardness)

84

84

Hardness, Vickers (Converted from Brinell hardness)

170

170

Tensile Strength, Ultimate

565 MPa 81900 psi

Tensile Strength, Yield

310 MPa 45000 psi

Elongation at Break (in 50 mm)

16.0 %

16.0 %

Reduction of Area

40.0 %

40.0 %

Modulus of Elasticity (Typical for steel)

200 GPa 29000 ksi

Bulk Modulus (Typical for steel)

140 GPa 20300 ksi

Poissons Ratio (Typical For Steel)

0.290

0.290

Shear Modulus (Typical for steel)

80 GPa

11600 ksi

Machining
AISI 1045 steel has good machinability in normalized as well as the hot rolled
condition. Based on the recommendations given by the machine manufacturers,
operations like tapping, milling, broaching, drilling, turning and sawing etc. can be
carried out on AISI 1045 steel using suitable feeds, tool type and speeds.

Welding
Certain facts about welding of AISI 1045 steel are:

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AISI 1045 Medium Carbon Steel

AISI 1045 steel is readily welded when correct procedure is followed.

Welding AISI 1045 steel in through-hardened, tempered and flame or induction
hardened condition is not recommended.
Low hydrogen electrodes are preferred for welding AISI 1045 steel.
The workpiece is
Pre-heated at 200C300C (392F - 572F)
Maintained at the same temperature during welding
Cooled slowly using sand, ashes etc and
Stress relieved at 550C - 660C (1022F - 1220F).

Heat Treatment
AISI 1045 is subjected to the following processes:
Forging
Annealing
Normalizing
Stress relieving
Hardening
Tempering

Forging
Heat to 850C - 1250C (1562F - 2282F)
Hold until the temperature is uniform
Cool in furnace

Annealing
Heat to 800C - 850C (1472F - 1562F)
Hold until the temperature is uniform
Cool in furnace.

Normalizing
Heat to 870C - 920C (1598F-1688F)
Hold until the temperature is uniform
Soak for 10 - 15 minutes
Cool in still air

Stress Relieving
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AISI 1045 Medium Carbon Steel

Heat to 550C - 660C (1022F - 1220F)

Hold until the temperature is uniform
Soak for 1 hour per 25mm of section
Cool in still air

Hardening
Heat to 820C - 850C (1508F - 1562F)
Hold until the temperature is uniform
Soak for 10 - 15 minutes per 25mm of section
Quench in water or brine

Tempering
Re-heat to 400C - 650C (752F - 1202F ) as required
Hold until the temperature is uniform
Soak for 1 hour per 25mm of section
Cool in still air

Applications
AISI 1045 is widely used for all industrial applications requiring more wear resistance
and strength. Typical applications of AISI 1045 are as follows:
Gears

Pins

Rams

Shafts

Rolls

Sockets

Axles

Spindles

Worms

Bolts

Ratchets

Light gears

Studs

Crankshafts

Guide rods

Connecting rods

Torsion bars

Hydraulic clamps

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