EFFECT OF ALLOYING ON STRENGTH OF STEEL

Different elements are added as alloy in steel for improving its strength. For increasing the hardness
of steel the amount of carbon should be more as hardenability, toughness, strength is directly linked
with the carbon content but it decreases the ductility of steel so for increasing the hardness and
ductility both chromium is added as alloy. Chromium refine the grain structure so toughness and
hardness are increased as well as it increases the critical temperature range of steel. It resist the
corrosion and promote the oxidation. Maximum 30% chromium is added in steel ,it provides high
temperature strength and also increases lustre and durability of steel. Nickel is soluble in steel it
increses the hardness of steel while ductility remains same. By adding both chromium and nickel
toughness and hardness of steel increased. Maximum 50% of nickel is added in steel. Mainly boron is
used for increasing hardness instead of chromium ,nickel ,molybdenum etc for saving these rare
metal. Magnetic conductivity of steel is improved by hydrogen.
Manganese is added to steel to increase its working properties, tensile strength, machinability ,
toughness ,hardenability. Manganese by react with sulfur make manganese-sulphide and works as
protector for steel from the harmful effect of sulfur, manganese decreases manganese-steel critical
temperature. Sulfur is a impurity in steel it creates cracks in it so it is added in very few amount
(0.05%) for improving the machinability of steel. Weldability ,toughness , ductility of steel decreases
with the increase in sulfur content. Nitrogen increases yield strength, work hardening rate and also
improve fatigue life but decreases hardness and ductility of the steel , while enhancing its cold
brittleness it reduces its weldability and toughness. Phosphorus is always used with sulfur as alloy in
steel to improve its machinability, in low allow steel it increases the tendency to cracking during
welding.
For making machine tool of steel -vanadium, tungsten, cobalt are used as alloy. Tungsten improve the
hardness and red hot strength of steel. tungsten is added with steel, acts as a molybdenum but amount
of tungsten is added more(maximum 21%) as compare to molybdenum for the same effect. In many
machine tool and springs vanadium is used with steel. In those machine tool which has very high
cutting speed or where high temperature is generated while working cobalt is used with steel
(maximum 12% cobalt is added).