Alloy steels

Alloy steels are defined

as carbon steels to which one or
more elements are added to obtain some positive
effects. The presence of alloying elements leads to improvement in
various properties of carbon steels.
Functions of alloying elements
Various alloying elements perform different functions depending up on
their amounts and subsequent heat treatments.
The effects of important allowing elements are
Alloying Range of Important functions
element percenta
ge
Sulphur <0.33 Improves machinability, reduces
weldability and ductility
Phosphorus <0.12 Improves machinability, reduces impact
strength at low temperature
Silicon 1.5 – 2.5 Removes oxygen from molten metal,
improves strength and toughness,
increases hardenability, magnetic
permeability
Alloying Range of Important functions
element percenta
ge
Manganese 0.5 - 2 Deoxidizer, Increases hardenability,
reduces adverse effect of sulphur
Nickel 1-5 Increases toughness, increases impact
strength at low temperature
Chromium 0.5 - 4 Improves resistance to oxidation and
corrosion. Increases high temperature
strength
Molybdenum 0.1 – 0.4 Improves hardenability, enhance the
effect of other alloying elements,
improves red hardness and wear
resistance.
Tungsten 2-3 Improves hardenability, improves red
hardness and wear resistance
Alloying Range of Important functions
element percentag
e
Vanadium 0.1 – 0.3 Improves hardenability, increases wear
and fatigue resistance.
Titanium <1 Improves strength and corrosion
resistance
Copper 0.15 – 0.25 Improves corrosion resistance,
increases strength and hardness
aluminium 0.01 – 0.06 Removes oxygen from molten metal
Boron 0.001 – 0.05 Increases hardenability
Lead <0.35 Improves machinability
Cobalt 5 - 10 Improves red hardness, improves wear
and corrosion resistance
Important alloy steels
Nickel Steels
Nickel is one of the most fundamental alloying
element in steel.

• Nickel increase
• strength,
• hardness and
• toughness.

It lowers critical temperature and decreases

coefficient of thermal expansion.
 Steels containing up to 6% nickel
and 0.1 – 0.55%C

Steel containing 20 -30% nickel

Nickel Steels and 0.4 – 0.5% C

Steels containing 36% nickel

and 0.5% C
Steels containing up to 6% nickel
and 0.1 – 0.55%C

Steels containing up to 6% nickel and 0.1 – 0.55%C are

used for parts subjected to
• alternate stresses,
• impacts and shocks.

They are used for automobile engine parts, crank

shafts, connecting rod etc.
Steel containing 20 -30% nickel
and 0.4 – 0.5% C
Steel containing 20 -30% nickel and 0.4 – 0.5% C are
• extremely tough and
• low coefficient of thermal expansion
• highly corrosion resistant .

They are used for

steam turbine blades, ic engine valves
Steels containing 36% nickel and
0.5% C
Steels containing 36% nickel and 0.5%
C is known as “INVAR STEEL” possess
nearly zero coefficient of thermal
expansion.

used for
• making pendulums,
• precision instruments etc.
Chromium steel

Compared to nickel chromium is a less

expensive alloying element and forms carbides
having high hardness and good wear
resistance. Chromium is added up to
30% in steel.
With more than 5% chromium,
high temperature properties
and corrosion resistance are
improved.
 steel contains
1 – 11%
chromium

Chromium steel

steels containing
14 – 30%
chromium
chromium steel contains 1 – 11%
chromium

The most common chromium

steel contains 1 – 11%
chromium and 0.15 – 0.5%
Carbon.
It is used for balls, rollers,
tappets, gears etc
steels containing 14 – 30%
chromium

High alloy chromium ie steels

containing 14 – 30%
chromium are also called
“FERRITIC STAINLESS STEEL”
Molybdenum steels
• Molybdenum is a relatively costlier alloying element.
• It is a strong carbide former.
• Molybdenum has a very good effect on hardenability
and increases high temperature hardness and
strength of steel.
• It is used along with chromium, nickel or both.

• This alloy steel is extensively used in the aircraft

industry.
High Speed Steel
maintains high hardness at
Steels which
temperature up to 550 C are called high
speed steel (HSS).

These can be used as cutting tools. Most of the

HSS contains tungsten as their chief alloying
element. Other elements like chromium,
molybdenum, cobalt and vanadium may be present
in some proportion.
18-4-1 High Speed Steel

Contains 18% tungsten, 4% chromium

and 1% vanadium with 0.72% carbon.

It is considered as one of the best all

purpose tool steel with greater abrasive
resistance. Used for drills, lathe shaper,
planner tools, dies and punches etc.
 Molybdenum
High Speed
Steel

High Speed Steel

Cobalt High
Speed Steel (
SUPER HIGH SPEED
STEEL)
Molybdenum High Speed Steel

Contains 6% molybdenum,
6% tungsten 4%chromium
and 2% vanadium with
0.85%carbon.

This steel has high

hardenability, improved
toughness and cutting ability.
Cobalt High Speed Steel ( SUPER
HIGH SPEED STEEL)
Contains 20% tungsten, 4%
chromium, 2%vanadium and
12% cobalt with 0.8% carbon.

It has increased red hardness,

wear resistance and is used for
heavy cutting operations at
elevated temperatures.
Effect of diff alloying elements in
HSS
Cobalt – improves red hardness
Vanadium – improves abrasion resistance and hardness
Chromium – increase hardness
Tungsten and molybdenum – resistance to softening at high
temperature.
Manganese – improves hardenability
Silicon – improves toughness
Other important alloy steels

• Free cutting steel

• Rail steel
• spring steel
• HSLA steel
• TMT steel
Free cutting steel
high sulphur steels

free cutting steels

leaded steels
• High sulphur steels contain 0.33 % sulphur and up to 0.12 %
phosphorous to improve machinability.

• The leaded steels contain lead up to 0.35 % which improves

machinability.

Higher machinability is the major feature of free cutting

steels. These steels are used where free machining is the primary
requirement. Components made of free cutting steels provide a
satisfactory surface finish even at high speeds.
Rail steel
The steels used for railway tracks should
possess a good combination of strength and
ductility along with high impact and fatigue
resistance.

Addition of manganese and chromium

up to 1.0 % improves these properties.
Medium carbon steels upon suitable heat
treatment can also be used for the purpose.
spring steel
Steels used for springs are usually subjected
to compression,
tension and
torsion.

They should possess high elastic limit, good

elongation and high fatigue resistance.
Manganese and silicon are used as the main
alloying elements in spring steels. Often
silicon is replaced by a combination of
chromium, nickel and vanadium.
TMT steel
Thermo mechanically treated (TMT)
steel, can be described as high strength
steel having superior properties such as
weldability, strength, toughness and
ductility.

A typical composition of the alloy is 0.17 to

0.24% carbon along with sulphur upto
0.05% and phosphorus upto 0.045%.

The TMT steel bars are widely used as a

structural material.
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