Chapter 5

Among the most useful of all metals

Contain iron as their base metal
Carbon and alloy steels
Stainless steels
Tool & die steels
Cast irons
Cast steels
Ferrous metals and
alloys
A ferrous alloy, as simple as a mixture of iron
and carbon, but also containing a number of
alloying elements to impart various
properties

TABLE 5.1 Applications for Selected Carbon and Alloy Steels

Sheet steel for automobiles, appliances, containers
Plates for boilers, ships, bridges
Structural steel such as I-beams, axles, bar products,
railroad ties, crankshafts
Tools, dies and molds
Rods and wire for fasteners such a s bolts, rivets,
nuts, and staples
The average US passenger vehicle contains about
2700 lb of steel (60% of its weight)
Examples of ferrous
alloy uses

AISI and SAE designate carbon and alloy steels using
4 digits.
The first two digits indicate the alloying elements
and their percentages
The last two digits indicate the carbon content by
weight
ASTM has another designation system
Designations for steel

Letter gives the general class of alloy
G- ANSI and SAE carbon steels
J- Cast steels
K-Miscellaneous steels and ferrous
alloys
S-stainless steels
T-tool steels
5 digit number gives chemical composition

UNS (Unified Numbering
System) is the present system


Classified by their proportion (by weight) of carbon
content
Low-carbon steel or mild steel (<.30% Carbon)
Medium-carbon steel (0.3%<Carbon<0.6%)
High-carbon steel(>0.6% Carbon)
Resulfurized carbon steels
Alloy steels steels containing significant amounts
of alloying elements
Carbon Steels

TABLE 5.2 Typical Mechanical Properties of Selected Carbon and Alloy
Steels

Corrosion resistance
High strength
High ductility
High chromium content
They are called STAINLESS because, in the
presence of oxygen (air), they develop a thin, hard,
adherent film of chromium oxide that protects the
metal from corrosion.

Stainless Steels

TABLE 5.5 Mechanical Properties and Typical Applications of Selected Annealed
Stainless Steels at Room Temperature

Specially alloyed steels designed for
High strength
Impact toughness
Wear resistance at room & elevated temperatures
Used in forming & machining metals
Tool and Die Steels

TABLE 5.6 Basic Types of Tool and Die Steels

TABLE 5.7 Processing and Service Characteristics of Common Tool and Die Steels
TABLE 5.8 Typical Tool and Die Materials for Metalworking Processes