What is Alloy Steel: Types, Properties & Applications
Alloy steel is used for multiple applications. It is composed of various elements, each enhancing its properties. If you are starting a new project and want to know what is alloy steel and its types, read the guide below.
What is Alloy Steel?
Alloy steel is a combination of various elements. The alloying elements are added to the alloy steel to make it hard, tough, and resistant to wear. There are versatile applications of alloy steel that need strength-oriented parts.
Composition of Alloy Steel
Alloy steel has many elements, and some of these are as follows:
Manganese: The addition of manganese in the alloy steel makes it easy to hammer and even reduces the brittleness.
Vanadium: The quantity of vanadium is 0.15 percent, and it helps to improve its heat resistance and strength.
Nickel: The addition of nickel in the alloy steel is 5%, and it adds strength to the alloy steel and makes it corrosion-resistant.
Chromium: The addition of 0.5% to 2% makes the alloy steel hard, and when added more, it can make it corrosion-resistant.
Tungsten: Tungsten makes it heat resistant, and hence, the melting point of alloy steel is high.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Alloy Steel
Advantages
The advantages of alloy steel are as follows:
- Alloy steel offers enhanced durability and strength and is suitable for heavy industrial applications.
- Alloy steel has alloying elements, which make it more resilient; it can resist outdoor usage and extreme weather conditions.
- Alloy steel is highly weldable and offers efficient joining of components.
Disadvantages
The downsides of alloy steel are as follows:
- The cost of alloy steel is high.
- It is less malleable and cannot take varied shapes.
- The melting point of alloy steel is lower than carbon steel, and hence, the manufacturing processes are affected.
- Alloy steel has challenges in manufacturing as it has varied alloying elements.
Alloy Steel Manufacturing Processes
The alloy steel manufacturing process has the following stages:
- The first stage is choosing the raw materials, which you will have to alloy with iron; these may include manganese, molybdenum, chromium, or nickel.
- The raw materials are then melted in the blast furnace or using an electric arc furnace at a high temperature, which helps to mix the elements together.
- The process of refining is then done, which helps to improve the quality of steel as the impurities like phosphorus, sulfur, and carbon are removed.
- The alloying elements and molten steel are mixed so that they can have the required characteristics.
- The molten alloy is then poured into the molds to form slabs and billets. The steel is then formed through methods like forging, hot rolling, or cold rolling.
- The formed steel then undergoes the process of annealing, tempering, and quenching.
Properties of Alloy Steel
The alloy steel properties are given below:
Strength: Alloy steel offers high strength and is suitable for heavy-duty applications.
Corrosion Resistance: It has high corrosion resistance.
Toughness: It does not deform or break.
Heat Resistance: When subjected to high temperatures, it can retain its shape.
Magnetism: Some alloy steels possess magnetism and can be used in such applications where magnetic properties are needed.
Types of Alloy Steel
There are different types of alloy steel, and some of them are as follows:
Low-Alloy Steels
Low alloy steel is a type of alloy steel that has less than 8% of the total composition of other elements. In order to increase its strength, molybdenum can be added, and to make it have corrosion resistance, the addition of chromium or nickel is considered.
High-Strength Low-Alloy (HSLA) Steel
The high-strength low-alloy steel resists atmospheric corrosion and is strong. It is used for making wheels, seat brakes, and suspension systems.
High-Alloy Steel
High alloy steel has a high content of alloys, which makes it unique. It is expensive and tough. It is suitable for such applications that need corrosion resistance and strength.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is a very common type of alloy steel, which is also used for CNC machining. It is highly corrosion-resistant. It has nickel and molybdenum in high percentages.
Advanced High-Strength Steel (AHSS)
Advanced high-strength steel is mostly opted for in the automobile industry as it offers strength by reducing the weight of the car. It is easy to form and can be subjected to processes like sheet metal bending.
Maraging Steel
Maraging steel is a type of steel that has a low content of carbon, and it makes the steel tough, strong, and ductile. It is used in aerospace and can be subjected to the process of 3D printing for manufacturing.
Tool Steel
Tool steel is a type of steel that is suitable for applications that need wear-resistant and tough properties, like making tools.
Common Grades of Alloy Steel
There are many grades of alloy steel, and the ones that are commonly used are as follows:
4130 Alloy Steel
4130 alloy steel is used in aerospace applications and is a low-alloy steel.
4140 Alloy Steel
4140 alloy steel has chromium and molybdenum; it is used in making gears, turbines, and cranes.
4340 Alloy Steel
4340 alloy steel is used in making the parts of aircraft.
6150 Alloy Steel
6150 alloy steel is a combination of carbon, vanadium, and chromium. It is a commercial-grade alloy steel that is opted for its abrasion resistance and toughness.
8620 Alloy Steel
8620 alloy steel is a carburizing alloy steel that has medium strength; it is used in applications like chains, fasteners, gears, and camshafts.
Applications of Alloy Steel
Alloy steel is used in many industries due to its properties and electrical strength. Some of these applications are as follows:
Automobile
Alloy steel ensures that the components in the vehicles are not heavy, and hence, they help in reducing fuel consumption. Alloy steel is also wear-resistant, which makes these vehicles durable.
Construction
In the construction industry, alloy steel is used for bridges and pipelines, they have the ability to stay stable no matter what the conditions are in its surroundings.
Aerospace
The aerospace sector uses alloy steel in its missiles, satellites, and aircraft parts. These alloys are heat resistant and suitable for high-temperature conditions.
Start Your CNC Machining Alloy Steel Project at DEK
If you are looking to have alloy steel parts manufactured for your project, we at DEK can offer you CNC machining alloy steel. The parts we produce will consist of high durability, precision, and tight tolerance. So, contact us and share your specifications, and we will customize these parts for you.
Conclusion
The guide above has featured in detail everything about alloy steel. Reading this, you must have understood how it is used in various applications, the different types it has, and the grades. It must have given you a detailed insight that will help you choose it for your projects.
