Medium carbon steel contains 0.3-0.6% carbon and 0.6-1.65% manganese, providing a balance of strength and ductility. Heat treatment methods include hardening and tempering, and carburizing for a tough exterior. Common uses are in heavy machinery and railroad industry.
Steel is a metal alloy consisting mainly of iron and contains 0.2 to 2.1% carbon. All steel contains carbon, but the term “carbon steel” specifically applies to steel that contains carbon as the major constituent of the alloy. Medium carbon steel is a carbon steel that contains between 0.30 and 0.60 percent carbon. It also has a manganese content between 0.6 and 1.65%. This type of steel provides a good balance of strength and ductility and is common in many types of steel parts.
Iron consists of a crystal lattice of iron atoms which allows the atoms to slide past each other, making pure iron relatively soft. The carbon in the steel reduces this tendency, making medium carbon steel harder than iron. Additional elements such as chromium, manganese, tungsten and vanadium can also act as hardening agents in the steel. The precise proportion of these elements determines the specific properties of the steel.
The additional carbon makes the steel harder but also more brittle, so making carbon steel requires a balance between hardness and ductility. The most common uses of medium carbon steel are in heavy machinery, such as axles, crankshafts, couplings and gears. Steel with a carbon content of 0.4 to 0.6 percent is commonly used in the railroad industry to make axles, rails, and wheels.
Heat treatment of medium carbon steel significantly changes the mechanical properties, such as ductility, hardness, and strength. The heat treatment of steel slightly affects other properties such as its ability to conduct heat and electricity. There are several methods of treating steel with heat.
The carbon and manganese content in medium carbon steels make hardening and tempering the most common method of heat treatment for this type of steel. This process generally involves repeatedly heating the steel to below 1.333°F (about 723°C) and rapidly cooling it by quenching it in a liquid such as oil or water. The temperature and time of this process allow the manufacturer to precisely control the final properties of the steel.
Carburizing is a steel hardening process that only affects the outside of the steel. This produces a tough, water resistant exterior with a more pliable interior. Carbon steel is often case-hardened because it is difficult to fully harden a thick carbon steel part. Steel with more alloying agents than that of medium carbon steels has a higher hardenability ability and may not need case hardening.
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