Lecture 1

CLASSIFICATIONS
OF STEELS

By Prof.Dr. Galal Nassef

 Introduction
▪ Steel is hard, strong, metal alloy of iron with carbon and is one of the
most widely used construction material in the world.
▪ Steel has carbon content from 0.1 to 2 percent (by weight),
depending on the required properties that suit applications.
▪ The most important alloying component for iron is carbon but other
alloying elements i.e. manganese, silicon, chromium, vanadium and
tungsten and small amount of sulfur, phosphorus and oxygen are also
present.
 Introduction
▪ In steel carbon and other alloying material are used for creating hardening and
strength. Ductility ,hardness and tensile strength of steel depend on the amount and
type of alloying materials and their form of presence in iron .
▪ Hardening and strength or ductility of steel depend on carbon content present in
iron .The increased carbon content make the steel harden and strong but less
ductile.
▪ Steel is versatile, strong and resilient .It can be recycled over and over again without
losing its properties. Also, steel is major raw material which is used in construction,
infrastructure and bridges as well as used in household appliances.
▪ Steel industries are considered as the gauge of economic health due to its vital role
in economic development.
Manufacturing of Steel
(I)
Manufacturing of Steels
(II)
 Classification of Steels
According to Composition

▪ The most commercial steel can be classified

according to composition into two groups:
▪Carbon steel
▪Alloy steel
 Plain Carbon Steels
▪ This type of steel has less than 1% of carbon and traces of
manganese ,sulfur ,silicon ,phosphorus .
▪ The properties and characteristics of this type of steel depend
on the carbon content present in it and on treatments given to
steel during manufacturing.
▪ Plain carbon steel is subdivided into four groups:
▪ Low carbon steel
▪ Medium carbon steel
▪ High carbon steel
▪ Very high carbon steel
 Plain Carbon Steel Definitions
▪ Ingot iron - 0.03% maximum carbon, used for enameling, galvanizing,
deep drawing sheet and strip, excellent weldability.
▪ Low-carbon - 0.15% maximum carbon, used for electrodes, plate and
shapes, sheet, strip, excellent weldability.
▪ Mild steel - 0.15-0.30% maximum carbon, used for structural shapes,
plates and bars, good weldability.
▪ Medium carbon - 0.30-0.50% maximum carbon, used for machinery
parts, fair weldability - preheat and postheat may be needed.
▪ High carbon - 0.50-1.00% maximum carbon, used for springs, dies, rails,
poor weldability - difficult to weld without preheat and postheat.
 Designation System of Carbon Steels
▪ American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) together with Society of Automotive
Engineers (SAE) have established four-digit-designation system:
SAE 1XXX
▪ First digit indicates that either it is a carbon steel or alloy steel. 1 indicates
carbon steel as in above example and 2-9 are for alloy steel.
▪ Second digit indicates the modification of steel:
▪ 0 - Plain carbon, non-modified
▪ 1 - Resulfurized
▪ 2 - Resulfurized and rephosphorized
▪ 5 - Non-resulfurized, Mn over 1.0%
 Designation System of Carbon Steels
▪ Last two digits indicate carbon concentration in 0.01%.
Example: SAE 1045
▪ In which 1 indicates plain carbon (non modified) steel
and contains 0.45% carbon in this type of steel.
 Alloy Steels
▪ Alloy steel is a type of steel in which one or more elements
other than carbon have been intentionally added, to
produce a desired physical property or characteristic.
▪ Common elements that are added to make alloy steel are
molybdenum, manganese, nickel, silicon, boron, chromium ,
boron and vanadium.
▪ There are two types of alloy steel
▪ low alloy steels
▪ high alloy steels
 Low Alloy Steel
▪ In low alloy steel the carbon content is below 0.25 percent and often
0.15 percent for specially welding applications
▪ The common alloying materials are manganese, nickel, chromium,
molybdenum , silicon , vanadium and boron and the less common
alloying elements are aluminum, cobalt , copper , titanium , tungsten , tin
and zirconium .
▪ Mostly low alloy steel is used to achieve better hardenability and is
increased corrosion resistance in certain environment.
▪ Low alloy steel is difficult to weld.
 High Alloy Steel
▪ The type of steel in which there are alloying element more than 8% by
weight of total other than carbon and iron is classified as high alloy
steel.
▪ High alloy steel consists of at least two chemical elements and the
properties of this type of steel depend on the percentage of chemical
element present in it . If the percentage is high then its properties are
dependent on that chemical element with high percentage .
▪ High alloy steel is highly corrosion resistant with high reliability, and is
used extensively in petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and nuclear power
plants, heat exchangers, centrifugal separators, driers, pipelines,
couplings, valves, bolts, salt manufacturing, exhaust gas desulfurizers, and
semiconductor cleaning equipment.
 Designation System of Alloy Steel
▪ American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) together with Society of
Automotive Engineers (SAE) have established four-digit-designation
system: According to the four-digit classification SAE-AISI system:
▪ First digit indicates the class of the alloy steel:
▪ 2- Nickel steels
▪ 3- Nickel-chromium steels
▪ 4- Molybdenum steels
▪ 5- Chromium steels
▪ 6- Chromium-vanadium steels
▪ 7- Tungsten-chromium steels
▪ 9- Silicon-manganese steels
 Designation System of Alloy Steel
▪ Second digit:
▪ Second digit indicates concentration of the major element in
percents.
▪ If the 2nd element is 1 or 2 it means 1% and 2%
▪ Last two digits:
▪ Last two digits indicate carbon concentration in 0.01%.
▪ Example: SAE 6230
▪ This is alloy Chromium-vanadium steel, containing 2% of
chromium and 0.30% of carbon.
 Effect of Alloying Elements
▪ Carbon: is generally considered to be the most important alloying element in
steel and can be present up to 2% (although most welded steels have less than
0.5%). Increased amounts of carbon increase hardness and tensile strength, as well
as response to heat treatment (hardenability). Increased amounts of carbon will
reduce weldability.
▪ Sulfur: is usually an undesirable impurity in steel rather than an alloying element.
In amounts exceeding 0.05% it tends to cause brittleness and reduce weldability.
Alloying additions of sulfur in amounts from 0.10% to 0.30% will tend to improve
the machinability of a steel. Such types may be referred to as "resulfurized" or
"free-machining". Free-machining alloys are not intended for use where welding is
required
 Effect of Alloying Elements
▪ Phosphorus - is generally considered to be an undesirable impurity in steels. It is
normally found in amounts up to 0.04% in most carbon steels. In hardened steels,
it may tend to cause embrittlement. In low-alloy high-strength steels, phosphorus
may be added in amounts up to 0.10% to improve strength and corrosion
resistance.
▪ Silicon - Usually only small amounts (0.20%) are present in rolled steel when it is
used as a deoxidizer. However, in steel castings, 0.35 to 1.00% is commonly
present. Silicon dissolves in iron and tends to strengthen it. Weld metal usually
contains approximately 0.50% silicon as a deoxidizer. Some filler metals may
contain up to 1% to provide enhanced cleaning and deoxidation for welding on
contaminated surfaces. When these filler metals are used for welding on clean
surfaces, the resulting weld metal strength will be markedly increased. The
resulting decrease in ductility could resent cracking problems.
 Effect of Alloying Elements
▪ Manganese: Steels usually contain at least 0.30% manganese because it assists in
the deoxidation of the steel, prevents the formation of iron sulfide and inclusions,
and promotes greater strength by increasing the hardenability of the steel.
Amounts of up to 1.5% can be found in some carbon steels.
▪ Chromium: is a powerful alloying element in steel. It strongly increases the
hardenability of steel, and markedly improves the corrosion resistance of alloys in
oxidizing media. Its presence in some steels could cause excessive hardness and
cracking in and adjacent to welds. Stainless steels may contain in excess of 12%
chromium.
 Effect of Alloying Elements
▪ Molybdenum - This element is a strong carbide former and is
usually present in alloy steels in amounts less than 1%. It
increases hardenability and elevated temperature strength. In
austenitic stainless steels it improves pitting corrosion
resistance.
▪ Nickel - is added to steels to increase hardenability. It often
improves the toughness and ductility of the steel, even with the
increased strength and hardness it brings. It is frequently used
to improve toughness at low temperature.
 Effect of Alloying Elements
▪ Aluminum - is added to steel in very small amounts as a
deoxidizer. It also is a grain refiner for improved toughness;
steels with moderate aluminum additions have been made to a
"fine grain practice".
▪ Vanadium - The addition of vanadium will result in an increase
in the hardenability of a steel. It is very effective, so it is added
in minute amounts. At greater than 0.05%, there may be a
tendency for the steel to become embrittled during thermal
stress relief treatments.
Tool Steel
 Classification of Steels According to
Application

▪ According to application steel can be classified

into two types:
▪Stainless steel
▪Tool and die steel
 Stainless Steels
▪ This is a steel alloy with a minimum of 10% chromium content.
Stainless steel is more resistant to stains , corrosion ,and rust than
ordinary steel . it was discovered in 1913 by Harry Brearley of Sheffield
, England , but the discovery was not announced to the world until
1915.
▪ It is also called a corrosion resistance steel when the alloy type and
grade are not detailed, particularly in the aviation industry.
▪ Stainless steel is used where the properties of steel as well as the
resistance to corrosion is required ands there are about 150 grades
out of which 15 are most commonly used.
▪ Stainless steel is commonly used in table cutlery , jewelry , watch bands
, watches , handgun model , pistol , storage tanks , tankers ,food
processing plant ,surgical instruments as well as in the aviation industry.
 Designation System of Stainless Steel
▪ AISI has established three-digit system for the
stainless steels:
▪ 2XX series – chromium-nickel-manganese austenitic
stainless steels
▪ 3XX series – chromium-nickel austenitic stainless steels
▪ 4XX series – chromium martensitic stainless steels or
ferritic stainless steels
▪ 5XX series – low chromium martensitic stainless steels
 Tool and Die Steels
▪ Tool and die steels are high carbon steels (either carbon or alloy) possessing high
hardness, strength and wear resistance.

▪ With carbon content between 0.7% to 1.5%, tool steels are manufactured under
carefully controlled conditions to produce the required quality of steel.

▪ Tool steels are heat treatable. In order to increase hardness and wear resistance of
tool steels, alloying elements forming hard and stable carbides (chromium, tungsten,
vanadium, manganese, molybdenum) are added to the composition.

▪ Tool and die steels are used to shape other metals by cutting, forming , machining
and die casting. Also they are used to make chisels, forging dies, hummers, drills,
cutters, shear blades, drills, razors. drawing and forging dies, shear blades, highly
effective cutters ,cutting tools parts working at elevated temperatures, like
extrusion, casting and forging dies. molds for injection molding of plastics.
 Tool and Die Steels
▪ Tool and die steels can be classified on their use,
mechanical properties ,composition and method of heat
treatment.
▪ Tool steels are made to a number of grades for different
applications.
▪ Choice of grade depends on whether a keen cutting edge
is necessary or not, as in stamping dies, or whether the
tool has to withstand impact loading and service
conditions encountered with such hand tools as axes,
pickaxes, and quarrying implements or not.
 Designation System of Tool Steel
▪ American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) together with Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) have
established one-letter system in combination with a number for tool steel.

▪ The letter means:

▪ W- water hardened plain carbon tool steel
▪ O- oil hardening cold work alloy steel
▪ A- air hardening cold work alloy steel
▪ D- diffused hardening cold work alloy steel
▪ S- shock resistance low carbon tool steel
▪ T- high speed tungsten tool steel
▪ M- high speed molybdenum tool steel
▪ H- hot work tool steel
▪ P- plastic mold tool steel
 Classification of Steel According to De-
oxidation Practice
▪ De-oxidation of steel is a steel making technological operation, in
which concentration of oxygen dissolved in molten steel is reduced to
a required level.
▪ On de-oxidation degree base steel can be divided into four groups:
▪ 1. Rimmed steel
▪ 2. Killed steel
▪ 3. Semi-killed steel
▪ 4. Capped steel
 Rimmed Steel
▪ Rimmed steel is also known as drawing quality steel. Rimmed steels are low
carbon steel which are partially deoxidizes or non-oxidized. carbon content
is less than 0.25% and manganese content is less than 0.6% in rimmed steel.
▪ Rimmed steels evolve sufficient amount of carbon mono-oxide during
solidification. These steel are, therefore ideal for rolling, large number of
applications, and is adapted to cold-bending, cold-forming and cold header
applications.
▪ A wide variety of steels for deep drawing is made by the rimming process,
especially where ease of forming and surface finish are major considerations.
▪ This type of steel can be classified on the base of their good surface quality
and the amount of blowholes on their ingots.
 Killed Steel
▪ Killed steels are completely deoxidized steels and the
commonly used deoxidizing elements are silicon and aluminum.
▪ Their solidification does not cause formation of carbon
monoxide (CO).
▪ Ingots and castings of killed steel have homogeneous structure
and no gas porosity (blowholes)
▪ Killed steel, because of greater uniformity in chemical
composition and soundness is used for forging, carburizing, heat
treatment and other applications.
▪ Symbol K stands for killed steel.
 Semi - killed Steel
▪ Semi-killed steel are incompletely deoxidized steels.
▪ This type of steel has characteristics between rimmed and killed steel.
Structural steels containing 0.15 to 0.25% carbon are generally semi-
killed.
▪ Semi-killed steel containing some amount of excess oxygen, which
forms carbon monoxide during last stages of solidification.
▪ In semi-killed steel, the aim is to produce metal free from surface
blowhole and pipe.
▪ They are used for general structural applications. This type of steel is
suitable for drawing operation (except severe drawing).
 Capped Steel
▪ Capped steels are partially de-oxidized steels.
▪ Capped steel has characteristics similar to those of rimmed
steels but to a degree intermediate between those of rimmed
and semi-killed steels.
▪ The good surface and mechanical properties of capped steel
make it ideal for the production of sheet and strip products.
▪ The four basic forms of deoxidized steel in descending order of
oxygen removal are killed, semi-killed, capped, and rimmed
steels.
Important Notes

▪ The lectures, Labs , Tutorials, Assignments,

and Videos will be uploaded through
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Thank You