PLAIN

CARBON
STEELS
1

Ferrous Metals
The IronCarbon System
Cooling transformation for a Steel
with a Eutectoid Composition
Cooling transformation for a Steel
with a Hypo-Eutectoid Composition
Cooling transformation for a Steel
with a Hyper-Eutectoid
Composition
Critical change points
The Effect of Carbon on the
properties of Plain Carbon Steels
Plain Carbon Steels

FERROUS
METALS
3

Ferrous Metals
Ferrous metals and alloys
are based upon the metallic
element iron.
Comes from the Latin
name of Iron, ferrum.
Iron is a soft, grey metal
and it is rarely found in the
pure state outside the
4

Name
Low Carbon Steel

Group
Plain Carbon Steel

Medium Carbon
Steel

Plain Carbon Steel

Carbon Content (%)

Some Uses
0.1-0.15
Sheet for pressing out
such shapes as motor
car body panels. Thin
wire, rod, and drawn
tubes
0.15-0.3
0.3.0.5
0.5-0.8
0.8-1.0
1.0-1.2

Plain Carbon Steel

High-carbon Steel

1.2-1.4
3.2-3.5

Plain Carbon Steel

Grey cast iron
Cast iron

General
purpose
workshop bars, boiler,
girders
Crankshaft forgings,
axles
Leaf Springs, cold
chisels
Coil springs, wood
chisels
Files, drills, tap and
die fine-edged tools
(knives, etc.)
Machine castings

Table 4.1 Ferrous Metals

It shows the relationship between the amount of the
carbon present and the resulting ferrous metals. 5

The IronCarbon System

6

RECALESCENCE
THE CHANGE FROM FACE-CENTERED TO
BODY CENTERED CRYSTALS RELEASES
LATENT HEAT ENERGY MORE RAPIDLY
THAT IT CAN BE DISSIPATED AND THE
TEMPERATURE OF ROD MOMENTARILY
RISES AND FOR A MOMENT, IT GLOWS
MORE BRIGHTLY.

4.2.1 Iron-carbon phase equilibrium diagram

8

4.2.2 Effect of lattice change in volume

a.
b.

Change in volume as crystal lattice rearranges them;

Method of demonstrating volume changes in temperature

4.2.3 Iron-carbon phase equilibrium diagram (Steel

Section)
10

Three Important
Phases

11

This is a weak
solution of
carbon in a
body-center
cubic crystals of
iron.
It is a very soft
ductile and of
relatively low
strength.

FERRITE
12

solid solution
of carbon in
iron that
ferrite.
It is form
when carbon
dissolves in
face-center
cubic crystals
of iron in
solid state.

Austenite
13

An excess of
carbon
combines
with iron to
form iron
carbide.

Cementite
14

Explanation of the Iron-phase

Diagram

15

Eutectoid
Composition
16

Eutectoid Point

THE POINT AT WHICH FERRITE

AND CEMENTITE (IRON
CARBIDE) PRECIPITATE OUT
FROM THE SOLID SOLUTION
AUSTENITE.
17

Cooling transformation for a

steel with a eutectoid
composition
The transformation which occurs
during the cooling of eutectoid
composition (0.83 percent
carbon).
18

EUTECTOID TRANSFORMATION

LAMELLAR PEARLITE

Fig. 4.3.1 a 0.83% carbon steel

19

Cooling transformation for a

steel with a hypo-eutectoid
composition
During this transformation, the steel
contains 0.5 percent carbon. Again, the
steel will commence to solidify at
temperature (T) and dendrites of bodycentered-cubic (BCC) crystals of x-phase
composition will begin to form.

20

HYPO-EUTECTOID
TRANSFORMATION (UPPER)

TYPICAL MICROSTRUCTURE
(LOWER)

Fig. 4.4.1 An annealed 0.5% carbon steel

21

Cooling transformation for a

steel with a hyper-eutectoid
composition

The transformation which occurs during the

cooling of a hyper-eutectoid steel of 1.2
percent carbon content. This time,
solidification commences at temperature (T)
and is complete by the time the steel has
cooled to temperature.

22

HYPER-EUTECTOID
TRANSFORMATION

TYPICAL MICROSTRUCTURE

Fig. 4.3.1 An annealed 12% carbon steel

23

Critical change
points
24

Critical change
points

THE CHANGE POINTS ARE OFTEN REFERRED

TO SIMPLISTICALLY, AS THE UPPER CRITICAL
TEMPERATURE (UCT) AND THE LOWER
CRITICAL TEMPERATURE (LCT).
25

Fig. 4.6 Critical change points for carbon steels

26

The effect of
carbon on the
properties of
plain carbon
steels
27

Fig. 4.7 properties of plain carbon steels

This shows the effect of the carbon content upon the
properties of plain carbon steels which have been cooled
slowly enough to enable them to achieve phase 28

Plain carbon
steels
29

This is an essential
constituent element
since it ensure the
sound ingot in from
blow holes.
It combines with
any Sulfur present
which would
otherwise weaken
the steel.

MANGANESE
30

This is an impurity
carried over form
the iron ore.
It forms compound
which made the
steel brittle, and
therefore, should
removed as far as
possible during the
refinement process.

Phosphorus
31

Its presence should

be limited between 0.1
to 0.3 in the steels
otherwise it can cause
breakdown in
cementite which would
result in weakness.
It has a little directly
effect upon the
mechanical properties
of plain carbon steels
providing the amount
present is limited to
the percentage quoted
above.

Silicon
32

This is an impurity
carried over from
fuel used in blast
furnace to extract
the iron from its
ore.
It tends to
combine with the
iron to form iron
sulphide which
greatly weakens the
steel.

Sulphur
33

Types of
Steels

British Standards

Composition (%)
C

Mn

BS
970.040
A10
BS 15

0.1

0.4

0.2

BS 968

0.2

1.5

Casting steel

BS
1504/161B

0.3

Mediumcarbon steel

BS
970.080M40

Low- carbon
steels

Condition

Properties

Applications

Yp
(Mpa)
-

UTS
(Mpa)
300

Elong.
(%)
28

Impact
(J)
-

240

450

25

As rolled

350

525

20

Annealed after
casting to refine
grain

265

500

18

20

0.4

0.8

500

700

20

55

BS
970.070M55

0.55

0.70

550

750

14

0.70

0.35

Toughed by
quenching from
850C , temper
at 600C
Harden by
quenching from
825C. Temper
at 600C
Quench harden
from 790/810C.
Temper at 150300C as
appropriate.

Process annealed
after cold rolling
As rolled

Hardness
(HB)
Car body panels
produced by drawing
and pressing.
General purpose
mild steel. Welding
quality, high tensile
mild steel for
building
construction, etc.

15 General purpose,
0 medium strength
casting for
machining.
20 Axles, crankshafts,
0 etc., under moderate
stress.
-

Gears and machine

parts subject to wear.

78 Hand chisels, cold

0 sets, screwdrivers,
blades, blacksmiths
tools, etc.

Table 4.8.1 some plain carbon steels

It gives the composition, properties and typical applications of some general purpose
of plain carbon steels, together with reference to their British Standard specifications.
34

BS 4659:
BW18

1.00

0.35

Quench
harden from
760/780 C
in water.
Temper at
150-300C
as
appropriate.

800

Taps,
screwing
dies, wood
drills, press
tools, hand
(fitting)
tools, files,
measuring
and
marking out
in
instruments,
etc.

BS 4659:
BW1C

1.20

0.35

Quench
harden from
760/780 C
In water or
oil. Temper
at 150300C as
appropriate.

820

Fine edge
tools,
knives,
files,
surgical
instruments.

35

BS 970: part 1
General inspection and general procedures and
specific requirements for carbon, carbon
manganese, alloys, and stainless steels.

36

BS 970: part 2
Requirement for steel for hot formed springs.

37

BS 970: part 3
Bright bars for general Engineering purposes.

38

BS 970: part 4
Valve steels

39

Steel types
(000-199) Carbon Manganese Steel (Number
shows Manganese content) (x100)
(200-240) Free Cutting Steel, the 2nd and 3rd
digit represents the sulphur content (x100)
(250-299) Silicon Manganese Steel
(300-499) Stainless Steels and Steels resistance
to heat
(500-999) Reserved for Alloy Steels

40

Letter code
A - The steel is supplied to a chemical
composition determined by chemical
analysis of batch sample.
H - The steel is supplied to a harden
ability specification.
M The steel is supplied to a mechanical
property specification.
S The material is a stainless steel.
41

BS 970 specification

Description

070M26

Plain carbon steel with composition of 0.26 % carbon and 0.70% manganese. The
letter 'M' indicates that the steel has to meet a prescribed mechanical property
specification

150M36

As above except that the composition for this steel is 0.36% carbon, 1.5% manganese.

220M07

A low-carbon free-cutting steel with a composition of 0.07% carbon and 0.20%

sulphur. Again the letter 'M' indicates that the steel has to meet a prescribed
mechanical property specification.

070A20

Low-carbon steel with a composition of 0.20% carbon 1 and 0.70% manganese. The
letter 'A' indicates that the steel has to meet a prescribed chemical composition
specification.

Table 4.8.2 application of the six symbol

code
First three codes are the steel type
The fourth code is the letter code.
The last two codes are the carbon content

42

Heat treatment condition symbol

Steel

P
Tensile strength: 550-700 Mpa Brinell hardness: 152-201
LRS

Re

Rp0.2

070M20

19

355

20

41

340

070M26

29

355

20

41

325

080M30

63

340

18

34

310

080M36

080M40

080M46

080M50

070M55

100

355

18

28

325

120M19

150

340

18

27

310

150M19

120M98

150M28

120M36

150M36

216M28

63

355

20

34

325

212M36

100

340

20

34

310

225M36

216M36

100

340

20

34

310

212M44

225M44

Table 4.8.3 carbon and carbon-manganese

steels (derived from BS 970)
43

Q
Tensile strength: 620-770 Mpa Brinell hardness: 179-229
LRS

Re

Rp0.2

13

415

16

34

400

19

415

16

34

400

29

400

16

34

370

63

385

16

34

355

100

370

16

340

29

450

16

47

415

63

430

16

54

400

100

415

16

41

385

150

400

16

47

370

100

415

18

41

385

150

400

18

47

370

19

430

18

41

415

63

400

17

47

370

63

400

18

34

370

63

400

17

34

370

100

400

18

34

370

44

R
Tensile strength: 690-850 Mpa Brinell hardness: 201-255
LRS

Re

Rp0.2

13

465

16

34

450

19

465

16

34

450

29

450

16

415

63

430

14

400

100

415

14

385

19

510

16

34

495

29

510

16

41

480

29

510

16

34

480

63

480

16

41

450

29

510

16

34

480

63

480

16

41

450

13

495

16

54

480

29

480

16

34

450

29

480

16

34

450

63

465

16

34

430

100

450

16

34

415

45

S
Tensile strength: 770-930 Mpa Brinell hardness: 223-277
LRS

Re

Rp0.2

13

525

14

510

29

495

14

465

63

480

14

450

13

510

16

34

555

19

570

14

34

555

23

555

14

41

525

13

540

14

27

525

29

525

14

27

495

46

T
Tensile strength: 850-1000 Mpa Brinell hardness: 248-302
LRS

Re

Rp0.2

13

570

12

555

19

570

12

555

13

635

12

34

620

13

600

Note: LRS = Limiting

ruling section, A =

Elongation (%), Rp0.2 =

0.2% proof stress

(Mpa), Re = Yield stress

(Mpa), I = Izod impact

Value (J)

12

27

585

47