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Alloy steel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alloy steel is steel alloyed with other elements in Iron alloy phases
amounts of between 1 and 50% by weight to improve
Ferrite (α-iron, δ-iron; soft)
its mechanical properties. Alloy steels are broken Austenite (γ-iron; harder)
down into two groups: low alloy steels and high Spheroidite
alloy steels. The differentiation between the two is Pearlite (88% ferrite, 12% cementite)
somewhat arbitrary; Smith and Hashemi define the Bainite
difference at 4%, while Degarmo, et. al., define it at Martensite
Ledeburite (ferrite-cementite eutectic, 4.3% carbon)
8%.[1][2] However, most commonly alloy steel refers Cementite (iron carbide, Fe3C; hardest)
to low alloy steel. Steel classes
These steels have greater strength, hardness, hot Carbon steel (≤2.1% carbon; low alloy)
hardness, wear resistance, hardenability, or toughness Stainless steel (+chromium)
compared to carbon steel. However, they may require Maraging steel (+nickel)
heat treatment in order to achieve such properties. Alloy steel (hard)
Tool steel (harder)
Common alloying elements are molybdenum,
manganese, nickel, chromium, vanadium, silicon and Other iron-based materials
boron. Cast iron (>2.1% carbon)
Ductile iron
Contents Wrought iron (contains slag)
D6AC
300M
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Material science
Alloying elements are added to achieve certain properties in the material. As a guideline, alloying
elements are added in lower percentages (less than 5%) to increase strength or hardenability, or in
larger percentages (over 5%) to achieve special properties, such as corrosion resistance or extreme
temperature stability.[2]
Manganese, silicon, or aluminium are added during the steelmaking process to removed dissolved
oxygen from the melt. Manganese, silicon, nickel, and copper are added to increase strength by
forming solid solutions in ferrite. Chromium, vanadium, molybdenum, and tungsten increase
strength by forming second-phase carbides. Nickel and copper improve corrosion resistance in small
quantities. Molybdenum helps to resist embrittlement. Zirconium, cerium, and calcium increase
toughness by controlling the shape of inclusions. Manganese sulfide, lead, bismuth, selenium, and
tellurium increase machinability.[5]
The alloying elements tend to either form compounds or carbides. Nickel is very soluble in ferrite,
therefore it forms compounds, usually Ni3Al. Aluminium dissolves in the ferrite and forms the
compounds Al2O3 and AlN. Silicon is also very soluble and usually forms the compound
SiO2•MxOy. Manganese mostly dissolves in ferrite forming the compounds MnS, MnO•SiO2, but
will also form carbides in the form of (Fe,Mn)3C. Chromium forms partitions between the ferrite and
carbide phases in steel, forming (Fe,Cr3)C, Cr7C3, and Cr23C6. The type of carbide that chromium
forms depends on the amount of carbon and other types of alloying elements present. Tungsten and
molybdenum form carbides if there is enough carbon and an absence of stronger carbide forming
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elements (i.e. titanium & niobium), they form the carbides Mo2C and W2C, respectively. Vanadium,
titanium, and niobium are strong carbide forming elements, forming the carbides V3C3, TiC, and
NiC, respectively.[6]
Alloying elements also have an affect on the eutectoid temperature of the steel. Manganese and
nickel lower the eutectoid temperature and are known as austenite stabilizing elements. With enough
of these elements the austenitic structure may be obtained at room temperature. Carbide forming
elements raise the eutectoid temperature; these elements are known as ferrite stabilizing elements.[7]
See also
HSLA steel
Microalloyed steel
SAE steel grades
Reynolds 531
References
Notes
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Alloy steel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Page 4 of 4
1. ^ Smith, p. 393.
2. ^ a b Degarmo, p. 112.
3. ^ Classification of Carbon and Low-Alloy Steel, http://www.key-to-steel.com/Articles/Art62.htm,
retrieved on 25 September 2008.
4. ^ Smith, p. 394.
5. ^ Degarmo, p. 113.
6. ^ Smith, pp. 394-395.
7. ^ Smith, pp. 395-396
8. ^ Degarmo, p. 114.
Bibliography
Degarmo, E. Paul; Black, J T.; Kohser, Ronald A. (2003), Materials and Processes in
Manufacturing (9th ed.), Wiley, ISBN 0-471-65653-4.
Groover, M. P., 2007, p. 105-106, Fundamentals of Modern Manufacturing: Materials,
Processes and Systems, 3rd ed, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, ISBN-13 978-0-471-
74485-6.
Smith, William F.; Hashemi, Javad (2001), Foundations of Material Science and Engineering
(4th ed.), McGraw-Hill, p. 394, ISBN 0-07-295358-6
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