High Carbon Structural Steels
High carbon steels (HCS) are used in engineering components and applications in which high strength, dimensional stability, and wear resistance are important. They typically contain 0.60-1.00% carbon, 0.25-0.50% manganese, and 0.04-0.060% silicon. The balance is a low-alloy ferrous steel which is closely restricted to the required chemical elements and the recommended impurity contents. HCS steels are the most commonly used type of alloy steel in the manufacturing of components that are under severe operational, temperatures, pressures or corrosive conditions.
Characteristics
High Carbon Structural Steel generally has a higher carbon content than other steels (0.60-1.00%), giving it increased strength and hardness over low carbon steels. It also exhibits greater dimensional stability and improved wear resistance. Its increased carbon content also gives HCS steel greater strength than low carbon steel, but at a cost of ductility.
Applications
High Carbon Steels are often used in components producing parts or components that are exposed to severe working and environmental conditions such as automobile chassis parts, critical bolts and fasteners, gears, shafts and coupling rivets, turbines, cutting tools and springs. Other applications include structural components, connection rods and crankshafts, mining equipment, mining tools, blades and medical instruments.
Heat Treatment
High Carbon Steels can be heat-treated to improve their strength and toughness. The heat treatment regimes that are used depend on the application and desired properties of the steel. These may include austenitizing (heating to high temperatures and slow cooling), quenching, tempering, and other treatments such as strain hardening and spheroidizing. In some cases, additional treatments such as peening are used to further enhance the steel’s properties.
Advantages
High carbon steels give increased levels of strength and hardness, improved dimensional stability and improved wear resistance. These characteristics make them suitable for use in components that require high strength and wear resistance, such as components exposed to high operational temperatures, pressures and corrosive environments.
Disadvantages
High Carbon Steel has poor ductility and weldability when compared to low carbon steels, which makes them difficult to form and join. This can limit their use in certain applications where parts are exposed to high stresses or strain and require a certain level of ductility.
Conclusion
High carbon steel has increased strength and hardness over other steels and improved dimensional stability and wear resistance. However, due to its low ductility and weldability, they are limited in certain applications. When used in the right application, HCS steels can provide components with the highest levels of strength and durability.