Dsa Steel

Dsa Steel

A Guide to Mechanical Properties of Cast Carbon and Low Alloy Steels
Alloy steels are considered to be those steels to which elements, other than carbon, are added deliberately so as to improve mechanical properties, physical properties and/or corrosion resistance. (Plastically deforming or breaking the material measures mechanical properties. Physical properties are those, the measurement of which does not require that the metal be plastically deformed). The American Iron and Steel Institute has defined alloy steels as containing one, or more, of the following elements in quantities as follows:

Manganese Silicon Copper Aluminum Chromium

above 1.65% above 0.60% above 0.60% up to 3.99% up to 3.99%

and cobalt, columbium, molybdenum, nickel, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, zirconium, and any other element added to obtain a desired alloying effect. The effectiveness of any alloying element is greatest when it is completely soluble in the steel. If a particular element forms, or tends to form, a compound with iron or another element present in the steel, the effectiveness of both elements is decreased. For example, if chromium is added to a carbon steel to increase hardenability, the austenitizing heat treatment must be at a temperature high enough to dissolve the chromium carbides, otherwise the presence of chromium carbides diminishes the effect of both chromium and carbon on increasing harden ability. MECHANICAL PROPERTIES For all alloy systems, the mechanical properties are controlled by the chemical composition and the microstructure of the alloy. With respect to the carbon and alloy steels, the influence of microstructure is so great as to overshadow that of chemical composition and, for cast steels, the only practical method for changing the microstructure is by heat treatment. With few exceptions, the mechanical properties of the cast carbon and low alloy steels are controlled by heat treatment. Among the exceptions are the effect of carbon on increasing...