UNS Designation System

The Unified Numbering System (UNS) is an alphanumeric designation system consisting of a letter
followed by five numbers. This system represents only the chemical composition for an individual
metal or alloy and is not a metal standard or specification. For the most part, existing systems such
as the SAE designations, were incorporated into the UNS so that some familiarity was given to the
system where possible.
For example, the UNS prefix letter for carbon and alloy steels is "G," and the first four digits are the
SAE designation, for example, SAE 1040 is UNS G10400. The intermediate letters "B" and "L" of the
SAE system are replaced by making the fifth digit of the UNS designation 1 and 4, respectively,
while the prefix letter "E" for electric furnace steels is designated in UNS system by making the fifth
digit "6." The SAE steels, which have a hardenability requirement indicated by the suffix letter "H,"
are designated by the Hxxxxx series in the UNS system. Carbon and alloy steels not referred to in
the SAE system are categorized under the prefix letter "K.”