Effect of alloying elements on steel properties

Dr. Dmitri Kopeliovich Alloying is changing chemical composition of steel by adding elements with purpose to improve its properties as compared to the plane carbon steel. The properties, which may be improved

Stabilizing austenite increasing the temperature range, in which austenite exists.

The elements, having the same crystal structure as that of austenite (cubic face centered FCC), raise the ! point (the temperature of formation of austenite from li"uid phase) and decrease the # temperature. These elements are nic$el (%i), manganese (&n), cobalt (Co) and copper (Cu). 'xamples of austenitic steels( austenitic stainless steels, )adfield steel (*+C, *#+&n, *.,+Cr).

Stabilizing ferrite decreasing the temperature range, in which austenite exists.

The elements, having the same crystal structure as that of ferrite (cubic body centered -CC), lower the ! point and increase the # temperature. These elements lower the solubility of carbon in austenite, causing increase of amount of carbides in the steel. The following elements have ferrite stabili.ing effect( chromium (Cr), tungsten (/), &olybdenum (&o), vanadium (0), aluminum ( l) and silicon (1i). 'xamples of ferritic steels(transformer sheets steel (#+1i), F2Cr alloys.

Carbide forming elements forming hard carbides in steels.

The elements li$e chromium (Cr), tungsten (/), molybdenum (&o), vanadium (0), titanium (Ti), niobium (%b), tantalum (Ta), .irconium (3r) form hard (often complex) carbides, increasing steel hardness and strength. 'xamples of steels containing relatively high concentration of carbides( hot wor$ tool steels, high speed steels. Carbide forming elements also form nitrides reacting with %itrogen in steels.

Graphitizing decreasing stability of carbides, promoting their brea$ing and formation of free 4raphite.

The following elements have graphiti.ing effect( silicon (1i), nic$el (%i), cobalt (Co), aluminum ( l).

ecrease of the eutectoid concentration.

The following elements lower eutectoid concentration of carbon( titanium (Ti), molybdenum (&o), tungsten (/), silicon (1i), chromium (Cr), nic$el (%i).

!ncrease of corrosion resistance"

luminum ( l), silicon (1i), and chromium (Cr) form thin an strong oxide film on the steel surface, protecting it from chemical attac$s. Characteristics of alloying elements #anganese $#n% improves hardenability, ductility and wear resistance. &n eliminates formation of harmful iron sulfides, increasing strength at high temperatures. &ic'el $&i% increases strength, impact strength and toughness, impart corrosion resistance in combination with other elements. Chromium $Cr% improves hardenability, strength and wear resistance, sharply increases corrosion resistance at high concentrations (5 *,+). Tungsten $(% increases hardness particularly at elevated temperatures due to stable carbides, refines grain si.e. )anadium $)% increases strength, hardness, creep resistance and impact resistance due to formation of hard vanadium carbides, limits grain si.e. #olybdenum $#o% increases hardenability and strength particularly at high temperatures and under dynamic conditions. Silicon $Si% improves strength, elasticity, acid resistance and promotes large grain si.es, which cause increasing magnetic permeability. Titanium $Ti% improves strength and corrosion resistance, limits austenite grain si.e. Cobalt $Co% improves strength at high temperatures and magnetic permeability. *irconium $*r% increases strength and limits grain si.es. +oron $+% highly effective hardenability agent, improves deformability and machinability. Copper $Cu% improves corrosion resistance. Aluminum $Al% deoxidi.er, limits austenite grains growth.

Effects of Elements on Steel

Steels are among the most commonly used alloys. The complexity of steel alloys is fairly significant. Not all effects of the varying elements are included. The following text gives an overview of some of the effects of various alloying elements. Additional research should be performed prior to making any design or engineering conclusions.

Carbon has a major effect on steel properties. Carbon is the primary hardening element in steel. ardness and tensile strength increases as carbon content increases up to about !."#$ C as shown in the figure above. %uctility and weldability decrease with increasing carbon.
&anganese is generally beneficial to surface 'uality especially in resulfuri(ed steels. &anganese contributes to strength and hardness) but less than carbon. The increase in strength is dependent upon the carbon content. *ncreasing the manganese content decreases ductility and weldability) but less than carbon. &anganese has a significant effect on the hardenability of steel. +hosphorus increases strength and hardness and decreases ductility and notch impact toughness of steel. The adverse effects on ductility and toughness are greater in 'uenched and tempered higher,carbon steels. +hosphorous levels are normally controlled to low levels. igher phosphorus is specified in low,carbon free,machining steels to improve machinability. Sulfur decreases ductility and notch impact toughness especially in the transverse direction. -eldability decreases with increasing sulfur content. Sulfur is found primarily in the form of sulfide inclusions. Sulfur levels are normally controlled to low levels. The only exception is free, machining steels) where sulfur is added to improve machinability. Silicon is one of the principal deoxidi(ers used in steelmaking. Silicon is less effective than manganese in increasing as,rolled strength and hardness. *n low,carbon steels) silicon is generally detrimental to surface 'uality. Copper in significant amounts is detrimental to hot,working steels. Copper negatively affects forge welding) but does not seriously affect arc or oxyacetylene welding. Copper can be detrimental to surface 'uality. Copper is beneficial to atmospheric corrosion resistance when present in amounts exceeding !..!$. -eathering steels are sold having greater than !..!$ Copper. /ead is virtually insoluble in li'uid or solid steel. owever) lead is sometimes added to carbon and alloy steels by means of mechanical dispersion during pouring to improve the machinability. 0oron is added to fully killed steel to improve hardenability. 0oron,treated steels are produced to a range of !.!!!# to !.!!1$. -henever boron is substituted in part for other alloys) it should

be done only with hardenability in mind because the lowered alloy content may be harmful for some applications. 0oron is a potent alloying element in steel. A very small amount of boron 2about !.!!3$4 has a strong effect on hardenability. 0oron steels are generally produced within a range of !.!!!# to !.!!1$. 0oron is most effective in lower carbon steels. Chromium is commonly added to steel to increase corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance) to increase hardenability) or to improve high,temperature strength. As a hardening element) Chromium is fre'uently used with a toughening element such as nickel to produce superior mechanical properties. At higher temperatures) chromium contributes increased strength. Chromium is a strong carbide former. Complex chromium,iron carbides go into solution in austenite slowly5 therefore) sufficient heating time must be allowed for prior to 'uenching. Nickel is a ferrite strengthener. Nickel does not form carbides in steel. *t remains in solution in ferrite) strengthening and toughening the ferrite phase. Nickel increases the hardenability and impact strength of steels. &olybdenum increases the hardenability of steel. &olybdenum may produce secondary hardening during the tempering of 'uenched steels. *t enhances the creep strength of low,alloy steels at elevated temperatures. Aluminum is widely used as a deoxidi(er. Aluminum can control austenite grain growth in reheated steels and is therefore added to control grain si(e. Aluminum is the most effective alloy in controlling grain growth prior to 'uenching. Titanium) (irconium) and vanadium are also valuable grain growth inhibitors) but there carbides are difficult to dissolve into solution in austenite. 6irconium can be added to killed high,strength low,alloy steels to achieve improvements in inclusion characteristics. 6irconium causes sulfide inclusions to be globular rather than elongated thus improving toughness and ductility in transverse bending. Niobium 2Columbium4 increases the yield strength and) to a lesser degree) the tensile strength of carbon steel. The addition of small amounts of Niobium can significantly increase the yield strength of steels. Niobium can also have a moderate precipitation strengthening effect. *ts main contributions are to form precipitates above the transformation temperature) and to retard the recrystalli(ation of austenite) thus promoting a fine,grain microstructure having improved strength and toughness. Titanium is used to retard grain growth and thus improve toughness. Titanium is also used to achieve improvements in inclusion characteristics. Titanium causes sulfide inclusions to be globular rather than elongated thus improving toughness and ductility in transverse bending.

7anadium increases the yield strength and the tensile strength of carbon steel. The addition of small amounts of 7anadium can significantly increase the strength of steels. 7anadium is one of the primary contributors to precipitation strengthening in microalloyed steels. -hen thermomechanical processing is properly controlled the ferrite grain si(e is refined and there is a corresponding increase in toughness. The impact transition temperature also increases when vanadium is added. All microalloy steels contain small concentrations of one or more strong carbide and nitride forming elements. 7anadium) niobium) and titanium combine preferentially with carbon and8or nitrogen to form a fine dispersion of precipitated particles in the steel matrix.