Slow, continuous deformation under high temperature (above 0.4x melting point). Solution: Use molybdenum-alloyed steels (P11, P22) or austenitic stainless (304H).
| Process | Description | Effect | |---------|-------------|--------| | Annealing | Slow cooling from high temp | Softens, improves ductility | | Normalizing | Air cooling from high temp | Refines grain, uniform structure | | Quenching | Rapid cooling (water/oil) | Forms martensite (hardness) | | Tempering | Reheating quenched steel | Reduces brittleness, improves toughness | Slow, continuous deformation under high temperature (above 0
High carbon + vanadium, tungsten, or molybdenum (e.g., D2, H13, O1). Used for dies, punches, and injection molds. High carbon + vanadium, tungsten, or molybdenum (e
If you are scanning a PDF, look for a classification table similar to this: If you are scanning a PDF
| Steel Category | Carbon Content | Key Property | Common Specifications | Typical Applications | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Low Carbon (Mild) | 0.05% – 0.25% | Ductile, Weldable | ASTM A36, AISI 1018 | Construction, Bridges, Car Bodies | | Medium Carbon | 0.25% – 0.60% | Strong, Wear Resistant | AISI 1045, 4140 | Railway tracks, Gears, Crankshafts | | High Carbon | 0.60% – 1.50% | Very Hard, Brittle | AISI 1080, 1095 | Springs, Knives, High-tensile wire | | Stainless | Low C + High Cr | Corrosion Resistant | AISI 304, 316 | Cutlery, Surgical tools, Chemical tanks | | Tool Steel | Varies | Extreme Hardness | ASTM A2, D2, O1 | Drills, Dies, Cutting tools |
A vital chapter in any metallurgy PDF describes how to change the properties of a single piece of steel through thermal processing: