STEEL TCB METALLURGY

Plain Carbon Steel

Definition
It is an steel alloy consist of iron with carbon of maximum percentage 1.7%C and adding with
them other element like Mn, P, S and silicon(Si) to improve the mechanical properties of the
alloy, practically carbon percentage don’t excess 1.4%C, it also usually called "steel " only.

Type
There are three major type of steel:
1- Low carbon steel: divided to three types:
I- Dead mild steel (0.05-0.1) %C: produce as hot or cold worked sheet, strip, rod, wire or tube,
it has excellent ductility but low strength, it is used for the manufacture of motor car bodies,
refrigerators and washing machines.
II-Carburizing steel (0.1-0.2) %C: it produce by Carburizing the steel to make a hard surface,
it will be wear resistance and high ductility which is difficult to machine.
III- Construction steel(0.2-0.3)%C: it has higher strength and low ductility than the
Carburizing steel, it has very good fabrication qualities so it use in hot rolling in make boilers,
ship, section of brides and building.
2- Medium carbon steel (0.3-0.6) %C: it used a Harding process by quenching and fully
tempered to have good strength with maximum toughness, this is useful in making shaft, gears
and connecting rods.
3- High carbon steel(0.6-1.4)%C: it used a Harding process by quenching and lightly
tempered to have high hardness with limited toughness, this is useful in making small cutting
tools ( razors, drills, hammers, knives, saws, files, axes), so it sometime called tool steel .
Limitation
Adding element to the steel change the mechanical properties:
1- Manganese (Mn): it is act as deoxidizer by combining with dissolved oxygen by added up
to 1% ; it is also increase the depth of Harding, yield strength and tensile strength and impact
resistance.
2- Sulphur(S):it can exit in steel as MnS or FeS which is soluble in liquid steel, it is brittle in
room temperature so Mn should added we making steel to produce MnS which is improve the
machinability of the steel, S content should not exceed 0.05% .
3- Silicon (Si): it is present in amount from 0.05%-0.3%, it has a little effect in the mechanical
properties and it is increase the solubility of the steel during melting.
4- Phosphorus (P): it is increase the Harding and if excess 0.005% it will have brittleness in
the steel alloy.
Alloy Steel
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Definition
Alloy steel is a type of steel to which one or more alloying elements have been added to give it
special properties that cannot be obtained in carbon steel.
Steel is considered to be alloy steel when the maximum of the range given for the content of
alloying elements exceeds one of the following limits 1.6%Mn, 0.6%Si, and 0.6% Cu.
Type
A-Constructional steels (0.3-0.4%C): which are generally used for machine parts highly
stressed in tension or compression, it divided according to the element percentage to:
1-Nickel steels: Nickel does not excess 6%Ni is used with low carbon steels for:
Increase strength of steel by dissolving in ferrite.
Increase toughness by limiting grain growth during heat treatment.
Does not combine with carbon which decomposes cementite and release free graphite.
2-Chromium steels: does not excess 2% Cr is used for:
Cr dissolves in ferrite which strengthens it.
Cr-carbide is increase hardness.
Cr increase grain growth during heat treatment which is disadvantage (brittleness).
Cr produces high hardness and wear- resistance.
3-Nickel-Chromium steels: Two parts of Ni and One part of Cr is used for:
Increase hard ability.
It suffers from a defect Known as temper-brittleness.
4-Ni-Cr-Mo steels:
Temper brittleness can be largely eliminated by adding about 0.3%Mo to the steel.
5-Mn steels: does not excess 13% Mn to :
Increase strength and toughness.
Increase depth of hardening.
Mn tends to stabilize austenite structure of iron at lower temperature.
B-Tools and dies steels(0.4-2%C): requiring great hardness and in some cases resistance to
softening by heat, this type of steel have one or more of the four main elements which form
hard carbides( Cr, W, Mo, V), for hot working dies steel, W and Mo are generally used with
using heat treatment to improve hard ability.
C-Special steels: for example stainless steel and heat resistance steels.
the main element contain the both steels is chromium (Cr) which produce the rust-resisting
(stainless) for the steel, it produces by coating the steel surface with thin film of chromium
oxide which effectively protects the surface from further attack, the most common stainless
steel types is 18%Cr and 8% Ni which have austenitic structure but not very hard, so it used in
chemical plant.
The heat resistance steel used in internal combustion engines, steam and gas turbines and other
high temperature places, so the chromium oxide is necessary to protect the surface from further
attack the addition of chromium (Cr) is between (10-30) %Cr, with small addition of Si or Ni.
Limitation
Alloying elements are added to steel for the following reasons:
1- Increase hardens ability.
2- Increase wear and corrosion resistance.
3- Improve mechanical properties at either high or low temperature.
4- Improve toughness and magnetic properties.
Alloying effects
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Definition
It is the ability of alloying elements to promote forming the steel to certain phase or to affect it
Type
Alloying elements can be divided into two main groups:
Group 1: Those which strengthen and toughen the steel by dissolving in the ferrite.
Group 2: Alloying elements which combine chemically with some of the carbon in the steel, to
form carbides which are much harder than iron carbide (cementite), these elements are used
mainly in tool steels, dais steels and the like.
The following table shows the effect of each element in the groups:
Group 1 Group2 Main functions
Ni Improve strength and toughness
Si Improve fluidity
Al Aids nit riding
Cu Improves corrosion resistance
Mn < Mn Improve harden ability
Cr < Cr Improves corrosion resistance, increase harden ability
W = W Give hard, abrasion resistance
Mo = Mo With S, reduce brittleness, Improve mach inability
V > V Improve harden ability
Ti > Ti Forms compounds with C to improve Cr-steel
Limitation
every metal or group of elements has a specific properties which is influence when it added to
the steel alloy by either forming a new compounded or improving the mechanical or physical
properties:
1-Austenite- forming elements:
The elements Ni and Mn are the most important elements in this group, the large amount of Ni
and Mn are forming austenite structure at room
temperature, an alloy containing 10% Ni becomes
wholly austenitic if heated to 700 0C.
2-Ferrite- forming elements:
The elements Cr, Si, Mo, W and Al are the most
important elements in this group , an alloy containing
more than 13% Cr has ferrite structure at all solid
state temperatures. 3-Carbide- forming elements:
Several ferrite formers also function as carbide formers
, elements Cr, W, Mo, V and Ti are the most
important elements in this group , these elements are
forming either double or complex carbide to increase
the hardness of the steel.
4-Nitride- forming elements:
Several carbide formers also function as nitride
formers, N2 may be introduced into the surface of the
steel by nit riding , the elements Cr, Ni, Mo ,V , Al
and Ti are the most important elements in this group,
these elements are increasing the hardness of the steel.
5- Ferrite hardness effect:

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All alloying elements that form solid solution in ferrite affect its hardness, Si and Mn are the
most important elements in this group while Cr gives the smallest hardness. Figure(1-8)
6- Grain growth effect:
Some elements accelerate grain growth while others decrease grain growth, the faster grain
growth leads to large grain structure and consequently to a degree of brittleness, the slower
grain growth leads to smaller grain size and so improvement in ductility, Cr accelerates grain
growth and thus care is needed in the heat treatment
of Cr-steels to avoid excessive grain growth, Ni
decrease grain growth, the elements Al, Ti and V in
small amounts from 0.03-0.1% this is because these
elements are highly dispersed carbides and nitride.
7-eutectoid point effect:
The temperature point of the eutectoid at 7230C
(A1) is lowered by the austenite-formers elements
like Al and Mn and raised by the ferrite –formers
elements like Ti and Mo. Figure (2-8)
8-Improve corrosion resistance:
Some elements promote the production of adherent
oxide layers on the surfaces of steel and so improve
its corrosion resistance, Cr is particularly useful in
this respect, and it is present in steel in excess of
12%Cr the steel is known as stainless steel because
of its corrosion resistance, Cu is also used to
promote corrosion resistance.

Figure (1-8)
Figure (2-8)
Steel Designation
Definition
It is the classification of thee steel used in industry to identified each steel from other types:
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Type
There are two main types to classify the steel:
1-AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute)
We could designation the steel by following series: 1XXX, 2XXX, 3XXX, 4XXX, 5XXX,
when the first two digits represent the alloy or alloys present, and the last two digits are
intended to indicate the approximate middle of the carbon range.
The first numbers present to the type of the alloying elements:
1=Mn, 2=Ni, 3=Ni and Cr, 4=Mo, 5=Cr.
Example
What is the mean of : AISI 1018
Solve
AISI= American Iron and Steel Institute
10XX= Plain Carbon Steel
XX18 = 0.18% C
2-DIN (Deutsche Institute for Numbering) : it is classified to they following type:
I-Alloy Steel : which is divided to :
A-Low Alloy Steel :where alloy elements added > 5% and the formula will be :
%C+ALLOY NAME+ %ALLOY where :
%C, Ce, N.P, S/100
%, Si, Ni, Mn, W, Cr, Co/4
% other/10
B-High Alloy Steel : where alloy elements added < 5% and the formula will be :
X+%C+ALLOY NAME+%ALLOY where %C/100 and % alloy/1
II-Un-Alloy Steel : which is divided to :
A-Carbon Steel : where carbon added > 0.2% and it divided to :
1-Tool Steel : where the formula will be :
C+%C+W where W= quality and %C/100
2-Heat Treatable Steel : where the formula will be :
C+%C where : %C/100
B-Structure Steel : where carbon added < 0.2% and the formula will be :
ST+ No. where : No.=U.T.S*10
Example
What is the mean of : DIN 20 Cr Ni 18 8
Solve
DIN= Deutsche Institute for Numbering
20=0.2% C
Cr & Ni= Name of Alloy Element Added
% Cr =18/ 4 = 4.5 %Cr
% Ni =8/ 4 = 2 % Ni

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STEEL TCB METALLURGY
Stainless Steel
Definition
it is a steel has a Chromium (Cr) in there structure where it has a big effect when added in large
amount to the steel alloy about (10-30) %Cr with a small amount of Nickel (Ni) in some cases.
Type
Stainless Steel can be classified into three general types based on stable or meta-stable phase:
1-Ferritic Stainless Steel: contain between (12-25) %Cr and less than 0.1% C, When the
alloy with this composition cooled from the liquid, there will be only one phase which is ferrite
(α-iron) structure.
They are used for car bodies, gas and electric stores, spoons and forks, nuts, bolts, screws
2-Austenitic Stainless Steel: contain between (16-26) % Cr and less than 0.1 % C about
6% Ni to give an austenitic phase in the room temperature, it can be quenched to minimize the
Chromium carbides which is reduction the corrosion resistance of the alloy
3-Martensitic Stainless Steel: contain between (12-18) %Cr and about (0.1-1.2) % C
When the alloy with this composition cooled from the liquid, there will be only one phase
which is austenite (γ-iron) structure, the steel can be quenched to give martensite structure
The result is higher tensile strength and hardness than in ferritic stainless steel.
Martensitic stainless steel is divided into:
A-Stainless Iron: contain (12-13) %Cr and 0.1%C, quenching from (900-1000) oC and
tempering at (660-750) oC to produced ferritic structure with dispersed carbides.
B-Stainless Steel: contain (11-13) %Cr and (0.25-0.3) %C, quenching from 850 oC to
produced martensitic structure with carbides.
C-High Cr Stainless Steel: contain (16-18) % Cr and (0.05-0.15) %C with addition
2 %Ni to produce austenite structure, quenching from 850 oC to produced martensitic structure.
Designation
According to AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute), St.St could be classified into five series:
Series Designation Groups
2XX Cr-Ni-Mn alloy, non-hardenable ,austenitic, non-magnetic
3XX Cr-Ni alloy, non-hardenable ,austenitic, non-magnetic
4XX Cr alloy, hardenable ,martensitic, magnetic, like: 410,420
4XX Cr alloy, non-hardenable ,ferritic, magnetic, like: 403,430
5XX Cr alloy, heat resistance
Example
What is the mean of : 1- AISI St.St 502 , 2- AISI St.St 304
Solve
1- AISI St.St 502
AISI= American Iron and Steel Institute
St.St= Stainless Steel
502= heat resistance steel
2- AISI St.St 304
AISI= American Iron and Steel Institute
St.St= Stainless Steel
3XX= Cr-Ni alloy, non-hardenable ,austenitic, non-magnetic
X04=0.04 %C

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