Materials

Materials
Aim
To gain a basic initial understanding of various materials that are used in the
manufacture of lifting equipment.
The following slides and your course handouts will provide adequate information of
this subject.

Materials
Materials that are used in the manufacture of lifting equipment must have the
following characteristics: They must be strong
Capable of resisting shock loads
Be ductile and tough
Need to be hard to resist wear
Materials must be easily worked by one of the normal processes such as: Forging
Casting
Machining
The materials must also be weldable and the finished product must be able to resist
corrosion as far as is possible.

Materials
Ductility: Metal can be reduced in cross sectional area without fracture
Brittleness: Little resistance to failure once the elastic limit has been reached
Elasticity: Return to its original dimensions after the removal of the stress
Plasticity: Retain its new dimensions after the removal of the stress
Toughness: Rapidly distribute within itself stress and strain caused by a suddenly
applied load
Hardness: Resist cutting, abrasion or indentation
Corrosion Resistance: Resist oxide formation (rust)

Materials
Cast Iron
Limited use as it is brittle.
The material has very little shock resistance.
Cast iron is however very strong in compression.
Steel

Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon.

May contain other materials:
Impurities which the manufacturing process has been unable to remove
Elements added to the manufacturing process

Materials
Oxides in finished steel can produce a form of brittleness known as strain age
embrittlement
Increases tensile strength
Significantly reduces ductility and toughness
May become brittle if steel is over-strained
Silicon or aluminium can be added which attract oxygen
De-oxidises the steel and produce a steel known as killed steel
Not subject to strain age embrittlement
When steel sections are manufactured by casting and rolling defects are possible.
Cracks, laminations and slag inclusions and are caused by faulty casting,
rolling, or by rolling at the wrong temperature

Materials
Carbon Steel
Low carbon steels (Mild Steels)
Medium carbon steels (Higher Tensile Steels)
High carbon steels (High Tensile Steels)
The quantity of carbon present affects the tensile strength, the form and distribution
of the carbon affecting the mechanical properties.
Mild steel is considered unsuitable for lifting gear ie chain and fittings etc.
Higher tensile steel used to manufacture chain and fittings is 1/3 stronger than mild
steel and can be recognised by a grade mark, 4, 04 or M
Limited use in lifting equipment
Hard wearing properties make them suitable as drive shafts and sheave pins.

Materials
Alloy Steels
Varying carbon content, they obtain their properties from the addition of other
alloying elements
In addition to carbon, silicon and manganese, three additional elements, nickel,
chromium and molybdenum are added
Responds well to heat treatment
Produces chain and fittings one third stronger than higher tensile steel
Hard wearing with good resistance to corrosion

Materials
Non Ferrous Metals
Contain no iron, or, in some cases minute amounts either as an alloying
element or as an impurity.
Most non ferrous metals used are in fact alloys and the most common of
theses being copper alloys.

Copper and its Alloys

Limited use in lifting equipment.
Brass and Bronze are the main copper alloys.
Brass is essentially an alloy of copper and zinc.
Bronze is essentially an alloy of copper and tin.

Materials
Brasss and bronzes are largely used for bearings.
Where spark proof or explosion proof equipment is necessary it is not uncommon to use
these materials as hooks, shackles and trolley wheels.
They may also be found where resistance to corrosion is a consideration, eg load chain
pocket wheels and special equipment in chemical plants.
A small amount of phosphorous (1%) added to cast tin bronzes produces a material
termed phosphorus bronze.
Adding phosphorus increases tensile strength and corrosion resistance.

Materials
Aluminium
Silvery white in colour. Very light, malleable, and ductile with high heat and electrical
conductivity.
1/3 the weight of steel with good corrosion resistance against some chemicals and
acids but weak against other elements such as sea water.
Uses include jacks, tirfor frames, chain block frames, flat sling eyes and ferrules.
Polymers (Plastic)
Man-made chemical based materials.
Good toughness, very light and can be easily fabricated or cast.
Extremely corrosion resistant with selective resistance to chemicals.
Polymers used in lifting equipment are polyamide, polypropylene and polyester.

Any Questions