Medium-alloy steels

Medium-alloy steels Contain 2.5-10% alloying elements, which impart the necessary physical and mechanical properties. These include strength, corrosion resistance, and the necessary ductility. Medium-alloy steels Alloying elements may include chromium, nickel, copper, vanadium, silicon and other additives, each of which performs its own function of influencing the alloy accordingly.

For example, chromium imparts increased hardness and corrosion resistance to steel; nickel, titanium, and molybdenum also enhance corrosion resistance; nickel improves strength and ductility; titanium enhances steel's toughness. Molybdenum allows the alloy to resist wear at elevated temperatures.

Medium-alloy steels They have good mechanical strength properties, thanks not only to alloying additives but also to heat treatment, after which these components impart special properties to the alloy. Having proven themselves with good properties, medium-alloy steelsThis material has found wide application. Various grades are successfully employed in mechanical engineering, chemical equipment, shipbuilding, and for the manufacture of high-strength structures in power engineering and other industries.

Medium alloy steel grade

Medium alloy steel grade Steels that contain letters and numbers in their designations differ significantly, so it's important to understand how these steels are marked. The marking principle is as follows: the letter indicates the alloying element in the steel, and the number indicates its average percentage content. For example, grades 9Kh5VF and 8Kh4V3M3F2 have high wear resistance and annealing temperatures. Medium alloy steel grade 9ХС, ХВГ, and ХВСГ are widely used for the manufacture of drills, broaches, and reamers. 30ХГСА and 30ХГСНА have a higher carbon content (0.35-0.5%), which imparts high strength. Medium-alloy steel grades 40ХС, 40ХФА, and 50ХВ are used for applications involving frequent friction, high pressure, and impact loads. The chromium they contain imparts exceptional hardness and wear resistance to abrasive impacts.

Properties of medium-alloy steels

Properties of medium-alloy steels The percentage of alloying elements can be adjusted, so certain metal characteristics are tailored to meet specific needs. Although the content of each additional element in the alloy may vary, the composition and ratios of these additives are regulated by GOST 4543-71, as well as specific technical specifications that every manufacturer must adhere to. In some cases, deviations from established standards are possible when special orders are placed by customers, and such alloys are produced on a case-by-case basis.

Main properties of medium-alloy steels The main advantages of this alloy are its mechanical strength and ease of processing. The tensile strength of this alloy is 60–200 kgf/mm². This value is significantly higher than that of structural carbon steels. Properties of medium-alloy steels allow them to be used as the best material for welded structures. Typically, grades of this type of steel are improved by hardening and subsequent high or low tempering. While maintaining their high strength characteristics, medium-alloy steels are not inferior low-carbon alloys, and often even surpass them in this indicator.

Another feature is that medium-alloy steels are resistant to brittleness, which is why they are widely used to create structures that operate under high or low temperatures, strong impact loads, and forces that change direction.