Carbon Steels

Carbon Steels

In accordance with the definition of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) the term carbon steel (aka plain carbon steel) is applicable to material:

- when no minimum content is specified or required for chromium, cobalt, columbium [niobium], molybdenum, nickel, titanium, tungsten, vanadium or zirconium, or any other element to be added to obtain a desired alloying effect, or

- when the specified minimum for copper does not exceed 0.40 percent, or

- when the maximum content specified for any of the following elements does not exceed the percentages noted: manganese 1.65, silicon 0.60, copper 0.60.

The Carbon Steel grades are derived by difference in the content in the material composition. These differences influence the Carbon Steel density. The density involves the weight, tensile strength and some other mechanical properties of the material. The addition of the elements in the right quantities to the carbon steel composition enhance strength, reduce brittleness  and makes carbon steel grades suitable for different applications such as ship building, wire construction, vehicle bodies, fencing, gates and railings. 

As a group, carbon steels are by far the most frequently used steels accounting for around 90% of total steel production. Their producers offer different grades of Carbon Steel materials with variations in prices.

There are four major types of carbon steel outlined below.

Low Carbon Steel (aka mild steel)Low-carbon steels contain up to 0.30% of carbon (C). Typical composition consists of 0.04%  up to 0.25% C. Depending on the required properties, certain elements can be added or increased. (e.g. in structural steel, carbon and manganese content is higher.) The largest category of this class of steel is flat-rolled products (sheet or strip), usually in the cold-rolled and annealed condition. The carbon content for these high-formability steels is very low, less than 0.10% C, with up to 0.4% Mn. Typical uses are in automobile body panels, tin plate, and wire products. For rolled steel structural plates and sections, the carbon content may be increased to approximately 0.30%, with higher manganese content up to 1.5%. These materials may be used for stampings, forgings, seamless tubes, and boiler plate. Grades: SAE AISI(*) 1010 (G10100**), 1018 (G10180),1020 (G10200), 1022 (G10220).

Medium Carbon SteelMedium-carbon steels are similar to low-carbon steels except that the carbon ranges from 0.30 to 0.60%  (sometimes reaching 0.84%) and the manganese from 0.60 to 1.65%. Stronger than low carbon steel, but harder to weld, form, or cut. Increasing the carbon content to approximately 0.5% with an accompanying increase in manganese allows medium carbon steels to be used in the quenched and tempered condition. Medium-carbon steels are used for gears, rails, railway wheels and rail axles, axle shafts, pipelines, fridges, cars couplings and structural support beams. Grades: SAE AISI(*) 1030 (G10300**), 1040 (G10400),1045 (G10450), 1060 (G10600).

High Carbon SteelCommonly known as “carbon tool steel”High-carbon steels contain from 0.60 to 1.5% C with manganese contents ranging from 0.30 to 0.90%.  Very difficult to bend, weld, or cut. Once heat-treated, it becomes quite hard and brittle. High-carbon steels are used for spring materials and high-strength wires.

Very High or Ultra Carbon SteelUltrahigh-carbon steels are experimental alloys containing 1.25 to 2.0% C. Extremely strong metal used in larger machine parts, industrial casting, metal cutting tools, hot water radiators and other high strength applications. This material is brittle and requires special handling. Through processing with alloys, ultra high-carbon steel becomes one of the most durable carbon steels on the market.

Carbon steel products in different forms (pipes/tubes, sheets/plates, bars/rods and others) are offered as part of our own branded (AVIATIONEU NEW ERA) product lines in different dimensions and round, square or rectangular cross sections (in the case of tubing or bars/rods) to meet project requirements. Depending on the producer they can be furnished in different conditions, sizes & pre-cut or Cut to Order (CTO) lengths in Imperial (Inch) or Metric systems. Metric round tubes are available in different outer diameters and wall thicknesses in mm and cut to order lengths in meters or centimeters. Those in inch system are available in outer diameters and wall thicknesses in inches and pre cut or cut to order lengths in feet.

For additional information please refer to the individual product presentations.

(*) Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), American Iron & Steel Institute (AISI)

(**)  Unified Numbering System ( UNS) Number. UNS is an alloy designation system for Metals & Alloys providing a means of correlating many internationally used metal and alloy numbering systems administered by their producers, societies, trade associations, and individual users.

AVIATIONEU NEW ERA Carbon Steel Composition - Properties

Carbon Steels

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15CDV6 (1.7734) Low Carbon...

The 15CDV6 (1.7734) grade is a chromium-molybdenum-vanadium (CrMoV) heat treatable low carbon steel, a trully multifunctional material that excels in various areas such as mechanical strength, toughness, machinability, thermal stability, lightweight properties, and compatibility with a wide range of materials. Highly regarded & used in aerospace, motorsports and other industries due to its high tensile and compressive mechanical strength for structural components aimed to endure high stresses, its robustness and resistance to fracture or cracking under various load conditions for applications where safety cannot be compromised.Common uses in aerospace include aircraft chassis and fuselage structures, landing gear components (struts, wheel axles, and others) but also  for bolts, screws, and other fasteners like rivets. Also used for rocket engines, parts for electric motors, racing vehicle frames, pressure vessels, suspensions, or vital components in the nuclear and defense industries. 

The 15CDV6:

- combines a high yield strength (superior to SAE 4130) with good toughness and weldability with very little loss of its properties and without the need for further heat treatment. 

- is  low weight. For similar mechanical performance, it offers a more favorable strength-to-weight ratio than many other steels.

- has excellent machinability. Whether for cutting, forming, or welding, 15CDV6 suitability to various processing methods, results in ease of handling and reduces production costs.

- has excellent thermal stability making this alloy a material of choicel in aerospace, where components are subjected to extreme temperature ranges, from very cold to very hot, without compromising their performance.

- is compatible with other metals and composite materials frequently used in the aerospace industry. This compatibility facilitates its integration into complex systems, making it a preferred choice for engineers and aircraft designers. 

Metal products from 15CDV6 (1.7734) grade alloy steel are now offered in different forms/shapes (bars, sheets/plates, pipes/tubes, strips/coils, wires) for use in aerospace and industrial applications as part of OEM or our own labelled (AVIATIONEU NEW ERA) product lines. Depending on the selected product, they are available in different diameters, thicknesses, widths and pre-cut or cut-to order lengths in Metric system and specifications  (*)  to meet the application requirements. Priced per piece or unit weight (kg or ton for substantial quantities). Please refer to the supplied documentation or send us your RFQ for a quotation.

(*) Indicative Norms/Specifications: DIN WL 1.7734-1 (1982) Aerospace | 15CrMoV6 | AECMA FE-PL63 S / FE-PL1505 | AIR 9160C | LN 668 / MN 1013 (round bars) | ASNA 3108 / DIN 65389 / DIN 65390 (sheets and plates) | TE014 / LN 9369  (seamless tubes).

AVIATIONEU NEW ERA AISI...

SAE AISI(*) 1018 (G10180**) and 1020 (G10200**) mild/low carbon steel grades are very similar. Both SAE AISI 1018 steel and SAE AISI 1020 (see separate product presentation) carbon steels are iron alloys with their alloy composition being basically identical. Please refer to the supplied documentation for the comparison of SAE-AISI 1018/1020 steel properties. An overview of AISI/SAE 1018 Carbon Steel properties and fabrication processes is provided at the Product Description section. Technical data of supplied materials should be used ONLY FOR REFERENCE, NOT FOR DESIGN, and any decisions on their use remain entirely at the buyer discretion.

SAE AISI 1018 mild/low carbon steel has excellent weldability and produces a uniform and harder case and it is considered as the best steel for carburized parts. This alloy offers a good balance of toughness, strength and ductility. Provided with higher mechanical properties, AISI 1018 hot rolled steel also includes improved machining characteristics and Brinell hardness. Also used in bending, crimping and swaging processes, fixtures, mounting plates and spacers, applications that do not need high strength of alloy steels and high carbon or to improve drilling, machining, threading and punching processes and prevent cracking in severe bends.

Sourced from quality producers, SAE AISI 1018 and 1020  low carbon steel tubes  are offered as part of our own branded (AVIATIONEU NEW ERA) product lines in different forms (cross sections), round, square, rectangular, etc. and dimensions in inches or millimeters (depending on the supplier) to meet project requirements.  In the case of round tubes, they can be furnished Normalized, Annealed or other conditions, in different specifications in pre cut or cut to order lengths. For those in Metric system outer diameters and wall thicknesses are specified in mm and lengths in meters or centimeters. For those in inch system outer diameters and wall thicknesses are in inches and lenghts in inches or feet.  Appearing prices for pre cut tubes are per piece in indicated dimensions.

(*) American Iron & Steel Institute (AISI), Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).

(**)  Unified Numbering System ( UNS) Number. UNS is an alloy designation system for Metals & Alloys providing a means of correlating many internationally used metal and alloy numbering systems administered by their producers, societies, trade associations, and individual users.

AVIATIONEU NEW ERA AISI...

SAE AISI(*) 1018 (G10180**) (separately presented) & 1020 (G10200**) mild/low carbon steel grades are are iron alloys with basically identical composition. Please refer to the supplied documentation for the comparison of SAE AISI 1018/1020 steel properties and additional information provided at the Product Description section. Technical data of supplied materials should be used ONLY FOR REFERENCE, NOT FOR DESIGN, and any decisions on their use remain entirely at the buyer discretion.

SAE AISI 1020 steel, aka C1020 steel in cold worked condition, is one of the most commonly used plain carbon steels. It is a low hardness and tensile strength carbon steel alloy with Brinell hardness ranging between  119 - 235 and tensile strength between 410 - 790 MPa. It features high machinability, high strength, high ductility and good weldability by most welding processes supporting its use in all industrial sectors. Due to its low carbon content, it is resistant to induction hardening or flame hardening but carburization or carbon nitriding can be applied to achieve a hardness value of more than  Rc65.  Normally used in turned and polished or cold drawn conditions.

Sourced from quality producers, SAE AISI 1020 steel tubes are offered as part of our own branded (AVIATIONEU NEW ERA) product lines. They can be furnished Normalized, Annealed or in other conditions, in different specifications, different shapes (cross sections), round, square, rectangular, etc. and dimensions in inches or millimeters (depending on the supplier) to meet project requirements. In the case of Metric round tubes, they are cold drawn seamless tubes available in different outer diameters and wall thicknesses in mm and pre cut or cut to order lengths in meters or centimeters. Those in inch system  are offered as DOM (Drawn Over a Mandrel***), with outer diameters and wall thicknesses in inches and lenghts in inches or feet.  Although they are welded tubes, the weld line becomes nearly undetectable during the manufacturing process and they are often referred to as seamless. Appearing prices for pre cut tubes are per piece in indicated dimensions.

(*) American Iron & Steel Institute (AISI), Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).

(**)  Unified Numbering System ( UNS) Number, a designation system for Metals & Alloys.

(***) A process applied to tubing after its initial construction, allowing more exact ID/OD dimensions, a smoother finish, and a better alignment of the crystal lattice structure.