Metal Descriptions
from: http://www.metalexpress.net/cgi-bin/index.pl

Alloy Steel

Steel is iron that is combined with other elements such as carbon, manganese and silicon.
It falls into a number of families: Alloy, Carbon, Stainless, Tool, as well as plain Cast Iron.

Alloy steels contain added elements that cause the steel to exhibit enhanced properties when heat treated.

   Cold Rolled

• 4140 Annealed
  • Responds well to heat treatment;
  • Chromium content provides good hardness penetration;
  • Molybdenum imparts uniformity of hardness and high strength;
  • Properties:
    • Good wear resistance
    • Excellent toughness
    • Good ductility in the quenched and tempered condition.
  
  
• 41l40 Annealed
  • Like 4140;
  • Lead content increases machinability;
  • Excellent finish and good tool life.
  
  
• 4140/4142 Heat Treated
  • General purpose alloy, normally (.95%)chromium, (.20%)molybdenum;
  • Properties:
    • good hardness penetration, strength, toughness, and ductility
    • Rockwell 28/32C type. Heat Treat Condition 28/32c.
  
  
• 8620
  • 8620 is the most widely used carborizing alloy
  • Its nickel content imparts good toughness and ductility
  • The chromium and molybdenum increase hardness penetration and wear-ability
  • Permits hardening to produce a strong tough core and high case hardness
  • Good welding qualities.

   Hot Rolled

• 4130 annealed or heat treated
  
• 4140 annealed or heat treated
  
• 4150 heat treated
  
• 4340 heat treated

Carbon Steel

Carbon steels are basic steels which harden only with surface (case) treatments.

   Cold Rolled

• C1018
  • Low carbon steel with good case hardening properties;
  • Excellent for bending and cold forming;
  • Good brazing and welding properties;
  • Smooth - clean - cold drawn (rolled) surface;
  • Yield strengths are approx. 50000 PSI.
  
  
• C1045
  • Medium carbon steel;
  • Fair for heat treating (quenching and tempering);
  • Used extensively in induction hardening applications;
  • Poor/Fair machinability;
  • Fair for brazing and welding;
  • Good forging properties;
  • Common shafting steel in the medium carbon range.
  
  
• C1117
  • Resulpherized steel with good machinability and surface finish;
  • Suitable for cutting threading and automatic screw machine operations at moderate speeds and feeds;
  • It may be bent or formed where such cold working operations are not too severe;
  • Smooth - clean - cold drawn (rolled) surface;
  • Not good for welding due to sulphur content;
  • Yield strengths are approximately 55000 PSI.
  
  
• C11L17
  • Like C1117;
  • 15/35 lead content increases machinability;
  • Good finish and good tool life.
  
  
• C1141
  • Medium-carbon steel with high mechanical properties;
  • Fee machining properties;
  • Close finish tolerances and bright finish.
  
  
• C12L14
  • Lead-bearing cold drawn steel;
  • Inherent ductility combined with finer surface quality;
  • Can be bent, crimped, and riveted;
  • Extraordinary machinability, rated at 195% and 325 surface feet per minute;
  • Smooth cold finish (rolled) surface;
  • Yield strengths are approx. 60K psi.
  
  
• C1026 -- ASTM A-366 -- DOM Tubing
  • Drawn Over Mandrel, or D.O.M., is electric resistance welded tubing that has been finished by cold drawing through a die and over a mandrel to make Mechanical Seamless Tubing;
  • Close tolerances, cold drawn surface finish, and excellent wall uniformity;
  • Used in the manufacturing of hydraulic cylinders where concentricity, close tolerances and good or honed surfaces are of importance.

   Hot Rolled

• A36/1020 and Structural Tubing
  • Low carbon, hot rolled "mild steel" is suitable for general purpose applications;
  • Excellent welding and forming characteristics;
  
  
• 1018
  • Low carbon steel with a higher maganese content than Mild Steel.
  • Good for carburized parts, produces a harder and more uniform case;
  • Higher mechanical properties and better machinability than Mild Steel;
  • Suitable for applications involving forging, heat treating, cold drawing, machining, etc.
  
  
• 1045
  • Medium carbon steel;
  • Good for applications involving forging, heat treating, cold drawing and machining.
  • Greater strength than low carbon steels;
  • Used for axles, machine parts, pinions, forming dies, ordinary shafts, gears, tool shanks;
  • Not readily welded due to higher carbon content.
  
  
• 1117
  • Low carbon, high manganese and sulphur steel;
  • Excellent machinability;
  • Close tolerances with a smooth finish.
  • Good mechanical and carbarizing properties;
  • Because of high sulphur content this grade is not readily welded.
  
  
• 1141
  • Medium carbon, with manganese and sulphur;
  • Machinability is excellent, because of added sulphur.
  • Not readily welded due to high carbon, manganese, and sulphur content.

Stainless Steels

   Austenitic

• Highly corrosion resistant
• Have very good high and low temperature response
• Non-magnetic
• Not hardenable by heat treatment
• Easily work hardened
• Ductile and free machining
• Easily welded

• 303
  • Highly corrosion resistant to atmospheric exposures, sterilizing solutions, most organic and many inorganic chemicals, most dyes, nitric acid and foods;
  • Free machining with non-galling and non-seizing qualities;
  • Less easily welded, use ER312 rod;
  • Non-magnetic, can become slightly magnetic when cold worked.
  
  
• 304 or 18/8
  • Low (.3-.8%)carbon, (18-20%)chromium - (8-12%)nickel alloy;
  • Highly corrosion resistant;
  • Harder to machine than 303;
  • Easier to weld than type 303, use ER312 rod, minimizes carbide precipitation during welding;
  • Non-magnetic.
  
  
• 316
  • Low (.03-.08%)carbon, (16-18%)chromium - (10-14%)nickel - (2.3%)molybdenum alloy;
  • Best corrosion resistance of the standard stainless steels;
  • Resists pitting and most chemicals used in paper, textile and photographic industries;
  • Machine with low speeds and feeds to minimize work hardening;
  • Good weldability, use ER316 rod;
  • High temperature strength;
  • Non-magnetic.
  
  
• 630 (17-4Ph)
  • Superior corrosion resistance;
  • Good machinability in the annealed condition;
  • Good weldability using ER630 rod;
  • Can be heat treated to high strength levels with minimum distortion by aging at selected temperatures;
  • Non-magnetic.

   Ferritic

• Medium corrosion resistance
• Have good high and and poor low temperature response
• Magnetic
• Not hardenable by heat treatment
• Medium work hardening
• Have medium ductility and machinability
• Not easily welded

• 430F
  • Plain (10-18%)chromium alloy;
  • Free machining due to sulphur content;
  • Poor weldability due to sulphur content;
  • Minimal cold working;
  • Magnetic.
  
  
• 444
  • Plain (10-18%)chromium alloy;
  • Good weldability;
  • Magnetic.

   Martensitic

• Medium corrosion resistance
• Have poor high and and low temperature response
• Magnetic
• Hardenable by heat treatment, like carbon steels
• Medium work hardening
• Have low ductility and machinability
• Not easily welded

• 416
  • High carbon, (12%)chromium alloy;
  • Useful corrosion resistance to natural food acids, basic salts, water and most atmospheres;
  • Free machining due to sulphur content;
  • Not good for welding or cold working;
  • Heat treatable;
  • Magnetic.
  
  
• 440(A,B,C)
  • High carbon, (12%)chromium alloy;
  • Moderate corrosion resistance to natural food acids, basic salts, water and most atmospheres;
  • Poor machining and welding;
  • Best hardening by heat treatment;
  • Magnetic.

Tool Steels and Drill Rod

   High carbon and chromium steels for hardened tooling.

• A-2 Decarb Free
  • Air-hardening, fine grain, 5% chrome tool steel;
  • Excellent wear and abrasion resistant properties;
  • Good machinability when annealed;
  • Heat treating
    • Preheat at 1450 F
    • Increase to 1760 F and hold for 30 to 40 minutes
    • Air cool.
  • Tempering
    • Heat to 350 F for Rockwell C 62, to 1000 F for Rockwell C 56.
  • Annealing
    • Anneal at 1575 F and slow furnace cool at 40 F per hour, or less.
  
  
• D-2 Decarb Free
  • Fine quality, air hardening, electric furnace melt tool steel
  • Superior abrasion resistance and toughness;
  • Poor machinablilty;
  • Specified for the most demanding applications.
  • Heat treating
    • Preheat slowly to 1500 F
    • Increase to 1850 F and hold for 20 to 45 minutes
    • Air cool.
  • Tempering
    • Heat to 400 F for Rockwell C 61, to 1000 F for Rockwell C 54.
  • Annealing
    • Anneal at 1625 F and slow furnace cool at 40 F per hour, or less.
  
  
• O-1 Decarb Free
  • Oil-hardening tool steel with a full-spheroidized structure;
  • Non-shrinking general purpose tool steel;
  • Excellent abrasion resistance and toughness;
  • Excellent machinability when annealed;
  • Heat treating
    • Preheat slowly to 1200 F
    • Increase to 1475 F and hold for 10 to 30 minutes
    • Quench in oil.
  • Tempering
    • Heat to 350 F for Rockwell C 62, to 500 F for Rockwell C 57.
  • Annealing
    • Anneal at 1450 F and slow furnace cool at 40 F per hour, or less.
  
  
• S-7 Decarb Free
  • Excellent shock steel often used in hot work applications at 1000°F;
  • High strength and good ductility for cold and medium hot work applications.
  
  
• W-1 Decarb Free
  • High carbon, water hardening, less expensive;
  • May be used without heat treatment for many maintenance applications;
  • Often used for hand tools;
  • Good machinability;
  • Fully-spheroidized 100% decarb free condition.
  • Heat treating
    • Preheat slowly to 1100 F
    • Increase to 1500 F and hold for 10 to 30 minutes
    • Quench in water or brine.
  • Tempering
    • Heat to 350 F for Rockwell C 64, to 650 F for Rockwell C 50.
  • Annealing
    • Anneal at 1400 F and slow furnace cool at 40 F per hour, or less.

   High Speed Steels, high carbon and molybdenum steels for tooling.

• M2 (HSS)
  • Medium machinability when annealed;
  • Relatively poor grinding;
  • Heat treating
    • Preheat at 1450 F
    • Heat rapidly from 1450 F to 2200 F and hold for 3 to 5 minutes
    • Quench in oil, air or salt bath.
  • Tempering
    • Heat to 1050 F for a hardness of Rockwell C 60 to 65.
  • Annealing
    • Anneal at 1625 F and slow furnace cool at 40 F per hour, or less.
  
  
• M33, M34, M42, M43 (Cobalt HSS)
  • Increasing amounts of cobalt in alloy;
  • Very high hardness when treated;
  • Medium machinability when annealed;
  • Relatively poor grinding;
  • Heat treating
    • Preheat at 1600 F
    • Heat rapidly from 2200 F
    • Quench in salt bath.
  • Tempering
    • Heat to 1000 F and air cool, three times
  • Annealing
    • Anneal at 1600 F and slow furnace cool at 40 F per hour, or less.

   Carbide tooling (not iron based), for those hard to get places.

• C2 (C1-C4)
  • (94%)tungsten carbide, (6%)cobalt alloy
  • Rockwell 92;
  • High abrasion resistance and toughness;
  • Medium red hardness;
  • For cutting non-ferrous, cast iron, and milder steels;
  • Very hard on grinding wheels;
  
  
• C5 (C5-C8)
  • (73%)tungsten carbide, (8%)titanium carbide, (2%)tantalum carbide, (13%)cobalt alloy
  • Rockwell 90;
  • Medium abrasion resistance and toughness, vs C2;
  • High red hardness;
  • For cutting more difficult alloy and tool steels;
  • Very hard on grinding wheels;

Cast Iron

Also known as gray iron, this material features a close grain structure and moderately high strength. It has good machinability and responds well to fast heat treating. Excellent for valve bodies, bearing rings and seals, gears, spacers and bushings.

• Class 40
• Continuously cast, fine grain, uniform density and hardness, with a microstructure of finely distributed graphite flakes in an iron matrix;
• Easy to machine, hone, and polish;
• Will lap to within two light bands of uniform optical flatness and five RMS for smoothness;
• Can be flame or induction hardened to Rockwell C-50, as well as deep hardened;
• Tensile strength 40K psi, Compressive 150K psi, deflection 0.25-0.34".
• Brinell hardness range 183/285;

Aluminum

Aluminum alloys are strong, naturally soft, lightweight, ductile and malleable. Easy to machine, fabricate, join and work. Aluminum is non-toxic and electrically and thermally conductive.

• 2011
  • Most free-machining of the common alloys;
  • Excellent mechanical properties;
  • It may be resistance welded;
  • Good corrosion resistance;
  • Hardness and strength are excellent.
  
  
• 2024
  • Best known of high strength aluminum alloys;
  • High strength and excellent fatigue resistance;
  • Low corrosion resistance;
  • Easily machined to a high finish;
  • Good welding, but should be heat treated afterwards;
  • Easily formed when annealed
  • Heat treating
    • Heat to 920 F
    • For T6 temper, lower temp to 375 F for 10 hours then air cool
    • For T4 temper, quench in water after heating
    • Allow to age at room temperature
  • Annealing
    • Heat to 775 F for 2 hours and slow furnace cool.
  
  
• 6061
  • Extremely versatile;
  • Heat-treatable alloy,
  • Good weldability using 4043 filler;
  • High machinability in T4 and T6 tempers, low when annealed;
  • Easily cold worked when annealed;
  • High corrosion resistance;
  • Medium strength;
  • Tempered yield strength is up to 40K psi.
  • Hardness is 95 Brinell.
  • Melting range is 1080° to 1205° F.
  
  
• 6063
  • Commonly referred to as the architectural alloy for windows, doors, trim;
  • An extrusion alloy with relatively high tensile properties and excellent finishing characteristics;
  • Good weldability using 4043 filler;
  • Average machinability;
  • High degree of resistance to corrosion;
  • Best alloy for anodizing applications;
  • Tempered yield strength is 17K psi. Hardness is XX Brinell.
  • Melting range is x° F.

Sheet Aluminium 

• 5251 H22
• Medium strength alloy, work hardens rapidly. Resistant to marine atmosphere.
  
• 1050A
• Malleable. Good corrosion resistance.
  
• 5083"O"
• Readily welded, suitable for use in cryogenic applications e.g. storage & transportation of liquid gases & in shipbuilding. Used in general engineering for tooling, jigs & fixtures.
  
• 6082-T6
• The recommended alloy for structural purposes with good strength & general Corrosion resistance.
  Used for vehicles, bridges & cranes, general engineering & tooling plates.
• Not recommended for folding/forming.

Copper and Alloys

Copper is corrosion resistant and highly ductile. Great for electrical applications.

• Copper C110
  • Electrolytic Tough Pitch Copper has the highest degree of electrical conductivity of any metal except silver;
  • High ductility makes it a good choice for drawing, forming and spinning operations;
  • Can be cold-worked or hot-formed and has highly suitable characteristics for welding and soldering;
  • Excellent corrosion resistance;

   Brass

• C260
  • Cartridge brass, softer;
  • Normal composition: Copper 70% Zinc 30%;
  • Excellent cold working behavior;
  • Finishes well and is easily plated, soldered, and brazed.
  
  
• C360
  • Free Cutting brass, machinable;
  • Added lead gives it high machinability;
  • The standard of 100% machineability against which all nonferrous alloys are rated;
  • Corrosion resistant and rustproof;
  • Finishes well and is easily plated, soldered, and brazed.
  
  
• C464
  • Naval brass, stronger;
  • Added tin gives greater strength and rigidity;
  • High degree of corrosion resistance to sea water at even at high temperatures;
  • Excellent for hot-working;
  • Fair for cold-working;
  • Medium machinability;
  • Easily soldered, brazed, and welded;

   Bronze

• Aluminum Bronze -- C954 (C642, C624...)
  • (81%)Copper, (10%)Aluminium, (3%)Iron;
  • High strength and good ductility;
  • Good bushing qualities;
  • Resistance to wear, abrasion and fatigue, deformation, and corrosion;
  • Tensile 100K psi, Yield 40K psi, Elongation 12%;
  • Brinell hardness 170/180, Rockwell 80B.
  
  
• Bearing Bronze -- C932 (SAE660)
  • (81-85%)Copper, (6-7%)Tin, (6-8%)Lead, (2-4%)Zinc;
  • Used for general bearings;
  • Good wear resistance and lubrication;
  • Operating temperature 450 F;
  • Tensile 35K psi, Yield 20K psi, Elongation 10%;
  • Brinell Hardness 65.
  
  
• Phosphor Bronze -- C544
  • Free cutting, machineability rating of 85%;
  • Added lead and phosphorus;
  • High strength with excellent corrosion resistance and good fatigue properties;
  • Good soldering and brazing, poor weldability;
  • Uses include gears, valve parts, bushing, shafts and bearings. Also electrical instrument and meter parts.
  • Rockwell Hardness 80B;
  • Tensile 68K psi, Yield 57K psi, Elongation 20.
  
  
• Silicon Bronze -- C655
  • Moderate strength with good corrosion resistance;
  • High percentage of silicon;
  • Typically used for marine hardware;
  • Fair machinability rating of 30%;.
  • Excellent capacity for being cold worked and hot formed;
  • Good soldering, brazing, and weldability;
  • Rockwell Hardness 85B;
  • Tensile 78K psi, Yield 45K psi, Shear 52K psi, Elongation 35%.

Nickel Silver

• 792
  • Free cutting leaded nickel silver has a machinability rating of 60%;
  • High strength and corrosion resistance;
  • Used for optical goods, cameras, jewelry, dental parts, instruments and hardware.