Carbon steel vs. 4130 alloy steel
Carbon steel vs. 4130 alloy steel
(OP)
Both frames are made of 1.5 inch square tubes.
One is .120 inch thick 4130 steel alloy.
The other is .188 inch thick carbon steel.
Which type will create the stronger frame?
One is .120 inch thick 4130 steel alloy.
The other is .188 inch thick carbon steel.
Which type will create the stronger frame?






RE: Carbon steel vs. 4130 alloy steel
ZCP
www.phoenix-engineer.com
RE: Carbon steel vs. 4130 alloy steel
The dimensions of each frame will be identical, except for the wall thickness. There is no choice, it's either 0.188 carbon steel or 0.120 4130 alloy.
I don't know if 4130 alloy can either match or outperform carbon steel, considering it will be thinner.
RE: Carbon steel vs. 4130 alloy steel
MS Sfy = .388 x 36,000 = 14,000
So 4130 looks to be over twice as strong and 64% of the weight but has to be tig welded and is more $
RE: Carbon steel vs. 4130 alloy steel
RE: Carbon steel vs. 4130 alloy steel
MS Sfy = .388 x 36,000 = 14,000
I'm lost. Sorry. :(
RE: Carbon steel vs. 4130 alloy steel
RE: Carbon steel vs. 4130 alloy steel
RE: Carbon steel vs. 4130 alloy steel
which heat treat ... 4130 can be heat treated for Ftu from 125ksi up to 180 ksi ?
what's important to you ... the 4130 frame will be more flexible than the carbon steel, 'cause I will be smaller (and E the same). and 4130 will have a lower natural frequency, maybe important to a car design ? then, as other posters noted, there are different manufacturing considerations (which may not be an issue for a limited production run)
RE: Carbon steel vs. 4130 alloy steel
The price of 4130 was not the expected 25% more than carbon steel, as one source indicated. There aren't many 4130 small-order retailers, so competition is limited. That resulted in 270% price increase over the thicker carbon steel.
To me it seems that 4130 is no more economic to use than Titanium alloy, which is exactly what 4130 was not supposed to be.
RE: Carbon steel vs. 4130 alloy steel
RE: Carbon steel vs. 4130 alloy steel
RE: Carbon steel vs. 4130 alloy steel
Just for the sake of price comparison, I could not find any small order suppliers of Titanium 811, or any Titanium alloy for that matter.