Ferrous Alloy Systems

Introduction
Carbon Steels
Low - High strength low alloy (HSLA)
Medium Ultra-high strength (UHS)
High Tool steels

Duplex Steels
Transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) Steels
Stainless Steels (SS)

Ferritic
Austenitic
Martensitic
Precipitation Hardened (PH)

Low Carbon Steels

Carbon content less than 0.3%
Alloying content from castings ( <0.1%)
Mn, Si, S, P, Cu, Sn, Ni

Alloying elements (Microalloyed steels)

Nb, V, Ti added to increase strength (<0.1%)

Typically known as plain carbon or commercial steels

Low Carbon - Properties and Applications

ASTM Grade

A36
A285 Grade C
A441
A515 Grade
70
A662 Grade A

Use

Yield Strength
(Mpa)

Tensile
Strength
(Mpa)

Elongation in
50mm (%)

Bridges and
buildings

310

450

28

Pressure
vessels

275

450

31

Bridges and
buildings

380

520

26

Pressure
vessels,
boilers

310

520

26

Pressure
vessels (LT)

345

450

27

High Strength Low Alloy (HSLA)

Low carbon steels with an appreciable amount of alloying, up
to 10%

Alloying elements include Mn, Si, Ni, Cr, Mo, V, Zr, B, Cu

Depending on the alloying elements and amounts will
determine the optimum use for the material.
Alloying with Ni will allow for very low temperature applications
Alloying with Cr and Mo will allow for high temperature creep
and corrosion resistance.

HSLA Properties and Applications

ASTM
Grade

Use

Yield
Strength
(Mpa)

Tensile
Strength
(Mpa)

Elongation in
50mm (%)

A533
Grade B

Nuclear vessels,
steam generation
equipment

415

620

25

A517
Grade F

Bridges and
building

760

860

21

A543
Class 1

Pressure vessels
and forgings

655

760

23

A542
Class 1

Chemical and
refinery pressure
vessels

655

760

22

A553
Type 1

Cryogenic tanks

655

760

25

Medium Carbon Steels

Carbon content ranging from 0.3% to 0.65%
Typically known as engineering alloy steels
Heat treatments can produce a tenfold increase in strength
Different heat treatments will produce different combinations
of strength and ductility
Follow American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and Society for
Automotive Engineers (SAE) designations

Alloy Designations
1040
Plain carbon steels noted by the initial number 10 followed by 40
designated for carbon content in the alloy (0.4%)

4340
The 43** designates a nickel-chromium alloy with a 0.4% carbon
content

5140
Chromium alloy steel with 0.4% carbon content

Ultra High Strength Steels - Properties

AISI

Use

Yield
Strength
(Mpa)

Tensile
Strength
(Mpa)

Elongation in
50mm (%)

4330V

Oil and gas tools and

drills, aerospace
bolting and air frames

1415

1620

12

4340

Aircraft landing gears,

power generation
shafts

1860

1980

11

300M

High strength bolts

and aircraft landing
gear

1670

1995

10

H11

Extrusion, piercing
and punching tools

1660

2035

6.6

D6AC

Axels, shafts and

landing gear

1725

1960

7.5

High Carbon Steels

Carbon content >0.6%
Maintains martensitic hardness (60HRC)

AISI-SAE Designation

W Water hardened
S Shock resisting tool steel
O Oil hardened cold-worked
A Air-hardened
D High-carbon High-Cr cold worked
H Chromium hot worked
H and T Tungsten hot-worked and high-speed
M Molybdenum high-speed

Typical Uses
W Wood working tools

S Chisels, hammers and rivet sets

O Cold forming dies and cutting tools
A Thread rolling and slitting dies
D Gages and long-run forming dies under 480C
H Hot shears, forging dies
T Original high speed cutting tools
M 85% of all cutting tools

Duplex Steels
Significant for industrial applications for high strength and
corrosion resistance

2-phase microstructure containing both austenite and ferrite

50-55% austenite and 45-50% ferrite

Mostly used to replace austenitic stainless steels that lack

adequate corrosion resistance or strength

Duplex Stainless Steel - Properties

AISI

Use

Yield
Strength
(Mpa)

Tensile
Strength
(Mpa)

Elongation in
50mm (%)

AISI 329

Seamless tubing and

pipes

485

620

15

2205

Heat exchangers,
tubing and flow-lines
in refineries

450

620

25

44LN

Condensers and heat

exchangers

450

690

25

Alloy 255

Heat exchangers and

desalination vessels

550

760

15

Seawater systems,
flue gas cleaning

550

795

15

2507

Transformation-Induced Plasticity (TRIP) Steels

Retained austenite embedded in a primary ferrite matrix
Within the retained austenite, martensite and bainite phases
are present
During deformation, dispersion of hard phases in soft ferrite
creates a very high work hardening rate
Retained austenite also transforms to martensite during
deformation increasing work-hardening rates

Exhibit high work hardening during crash deformation for

excellent crash energy absorption (Automobiles)

Ferritic Stainless Steels

Normally contain 12-30% Cr with carbon contents < 0.12%
Mainly used in general construction for their special corrosion
and heat resistance properties

Lower cost than nickel alloyed steels therefore more desirable

for design engineers
More restrictive uses because of the lack of ductility and poor
weldability

Ferritic - Mechanical Properties

AISI Type

Yield Strength
(Mpa)

Tensile Strength
(Mpa)

Elongation in 50mm
(%)

405

275

450

25

409

275

465

20

429

275

485

30

430

350

520

25

434

365

530

22

Martensitic Stainless Steels

Normally contain 12-17% Cr with sufficient mounts of carbon
to produce the martensitic structure

High strength and harness, poor corrosion resistance

Susceptibility to sensitization

Cutlery, aircraft fittings, ball bearings, valve parts, steam

turbine blades, fasteners, jet engine rings

Martensitic - Mechanical Properties

AISI Type

Yield Strength
(Mpa)

Tensile Strength
(Mpa)

Elongation in 50mm
(%)

403, 410

275

520

30

416

1030

1345

15

420

1380

1750

10

431

1070

1420

15

440C

1900

1970

Austenitic Stainless Steels

Normally contain 16-25% Cr and 7-20% Ni with carbon
contents <0.25%

Most widely used stainless steel

Applications include aircraft structures, heat exchangers, gas
turbine components, incinerators, cryogenic vessels, chemical
and food processing equipment.
High corrosion resistance and formability

Austenitic - Mechanical Properties

AISI Type

Yield Strength
(Mpa)

Tensile Strength
(Mpa)

Elongation in 50mm
(%)

302

275

620

50

304

290

580

55

310

310

655

45

316

290

590

50

321

240

620

45

Precipitation Hardened Stainless Steels

Semi-austenitic
Austenitic in the annealed condition but can be transformed to
martensite easily through thermo-mechanical heat treatments

Martensitic
Martensitic condition after being cooled to room temperature
due to the ferrite/austenite balance
Most used out of all PH steels

High strength, relatively good ductility, excellent corrosion

resistance

Used in aerospace industry and in spring components where

strength and corrosion resistance is required

Semi-Austenitic Properties
AISI Type

Yield Strength
(Mpa)

Tensile Strength
(Mpa)

Elongation in 50mm
(%)

17-7PH

1275

1380

PH 15-7Mo

1550

1655

PH 14-8Mo

1480

1590

AM 350

1210

1420

12

AM 355

1250

1520

13

Martensitic - Properties
AISI Type

Yield Strength
(Mpa)

Tensile Strength
(Mpa)

Elongation in 50mm
(%)

17-4PH

1210

1310

14

15-5PH

1210

1310

14

Stainless W

1245

1345

10

PH 13-8Mo

1450

1550

12

Custom 455

1625

1700

10