Alloying Elements and How They Effect the Steel

Carbon, the main alloying element of steel; Increases mechanical properties such as strength,
hardness, and mechanical resistance. But besides this increase, malleability, ductility, and toughness
decrease. In addition, the tensile strength can increase up to a point. The increase in the carbon
content in the steel composition reduces the ductility of the material, that is, it causes it to show
brittle properties. There is a risk of cracking in high carbon steels due to residual austenite that will
occur after the heat treatment is applied. It negatively affects the forging and weldability properties
of steel.
Chromium is the most commonly used alloying element in steel. The most important feature of the
steel is that it adds a stainless feature to the steel thanks to the bright oxide layer it forms on the
surface of the steel. There is approximately 12% chromium in the composition of stainless steel.
Chrome also increases the hardness thanks to the carbides it creates in the steel. While it increases
the tensile strength and heat resistance like carbon, it also decreases the ductility.
Nickel may be present in steel materials up to 5% by weight of the composition. Nickel improves the
hardness and strength properties of the material without decreasing the ductility and toughness,
unlike chromium and carbon. It is widely used in stainless steel.
Manganese improves the mechanical properties of steels. It increases the strength and decreases
ductility. It increases the malleability by reacting with the sulfur contained in the composition. When
viewed from a thermal point of view, it increases the quenching depth. Manganese’s ability to
increase hardness and strength also depends on the carbon composition of the material. It may also
cause an increase in the weldability of the material.
Sulfur is an undesirable alloying element other than free-cutting steel. Because it makes the steel
brittle. For this reason, the effect is minimized by reacting with manganese. It is desired to be in
composition as it facilitates machining in free-cutting steels.
Silicium is used as an oxygen and degassing agent during production. It also provides fluidity in
casting. It improves the magnetic properties of steel and increases its heat resistance. While it
increases the hardenability and wears resistance of the material, it adversely affects the surface
quality.
Molybdenum: It is used to prevent temper brittleness in steels containing molybdenum, low
chromium, and nickel. It increases the heat resistance of steel. Molybdenum has the effect of
increasing the effects of other alloying elements. For this reason, it is popular to be used not alone,
but with other alloying elements. Molybdenum combines with carbon to form carbide. Since
carbides increase the hardness, it is common to use tool steels.
Vanadium; increases the strength, hardness, and wear resistance of steels. Small amounts of added
vanadium can prevent grain coarsening. Tempering and softening processes after heat treatment do
not give any results. For this reason, it is widely used in tool steels.
Tungsten; increases the wear resistance, hardness, and toughness of steels. It provides hot working
and cutting efficiency to the material at high temperatures. For this reason, it is popular in tool steels
and high-speed steels. It is preferred to use in the structure of heat-resistant steels.
Cobalt slows the grain coarsening at high temperatures. Increases the heat resistance of the
material and strength at high temperatures. For this reason, it is preferred in tool steels.
Aluminum is used as a deoxidizer. It has a grain refinement feature, therefore it prevents the
growth of austenite grains. Increases aging resistance. For this reason, deep-drawn sheets contain
aluminum in their structure.
Phosphorus, like sulfur, turns steel into brittle. For this reason, phosphorus is also undesirable. It
increases the hardenability of the steel. But it causes a huge drop in ductility. This decrease is
observed more in high carbon steels.
Copper imparts corrosion resistance and hardness properties to steel. But at the same time, it
decreases ductility very much. For this reason, it is kept at a maximum of 0.5% in the composition.
Nitrogen increases its strength and hardness properties. It increases the hardness by forming
nitride in the structure of the steel. It facilitates the machining process. It increases fragility.
Reference
https://fractory.com/iron-carbon-phase-diagram/ (https://fractory.com/iron-carbon-phase-diagram/)
https://www.diehlsteel.com/technical-information/effects-of-common-alloying-elements-in-steel/
(https://www.diehlsteel.com/technical-information/effects-of-common-alloying-elements-in-steel/)
https://www.hascelik.com/en/teknik-bilgiler.aspx (https://www.hascelik.com/en/teknik-bilgiler.aspx)

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