Steel Basics (201) 1

[JakeAdkins]

Does anyone have a good reference (on-line or in print) for Steel (other metals would also be too good, but I am looking specifically for steel) I have a BS in Mechanical Engineering so I know a the theoretical fundamentals (Modulus of Elasticity, basic chemical composition and structure, Stress, strain...bla bla bla)

I am looking for something to help me out with specific grades. If someone says AISI 4130 or 17-4PH H900 I know that one is a stainless but i couldn't tell you what the 4130 or the 17-4 means or what H900 condition is. I would like to be able to read a steel spec and know a little bit about what the spec means and what some of the properties are called out.

I guess this is more a 201 rather than a 101. I don’t need to know that steel is 97.3% Iron and about 0.25% carbon or see a stress strain curve or read about the elastic region. Thanks

 

[Twoballcane]

If you get in touch with Ryerson, they have a great book/reference on all types of metals. You may have to buy the book from them. Or, check this out:

http://www.ryerson.com/stocklist/StocklistServlet?COM=GetHome&REF=1

Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."

 

[hydtools]

Ryerson is a good source for material information.

You do need to know about the chemistry and stress-strain curves in order to select and specify material to use in your designs. You do need to know machineablility and heatreatabilty of materials in order to select and use materials.

You may become the person specifying AISI 4130 or 17-4PH H900 at some point in your career.

Ted

 

[unclesyd]

Here is course from ASM that you might want to take a look at. They also have DVDs and some books.

http://asmcommunity.asminternational.org/portal/site/

http://www/AsmStore/ProductDetails/?vgnextoid=b2762b41ce0f8110VgnVCM100000701e010aRCRD

 

[JakeAdkins]

hydtools,

Sorry for the confusion, I meant to say I don't need to read about those things. I said

"I don't need to know that steel is 97.3% Iron and about 0.25% carbon or see a stress strain curve or read about the elastic region"

because that is not the type of information I am looking for. Of course any engineer needs to understand the chemistry, structure, behavior and mechanical properties of the materials they specify. (I do have a firm grasp on all of those concepts)

To clarify my question, What doe the name of a material tell me? How can I decipher the information contained in the name of a specific steel?

 

[TVP]

To properly address your question, you need to review engineering standards from organizations like SAE, ASTM, ISO, etc. These groups decide the nomenclature for various steel grades. However, this information is widely available from a variety of sources, such as material suppliers and materials societies (ASM International). I suggest reviewing the following free links and then move on to standards and handbooks if these are not sufficient.

http://www.timken.com/en-us/Knowled...Practical_Data_Metallurgists(4023)-Sept06.pdf

http://www.macsteel.com/mdb/

http://www.aksteel.com/markets_products/stainless_precipitation.aspx

http://www.alleghenyludlum.com/pages/assistance/TechnicalData.asp

http://www.outokumpu.com/pages/iframefull____18710.aspx

http://www.ovako.com/applications/ovako_search_new/ovako_search/search/index.htm

http://www.matweb.com

 

[hydtools]

Is this what you are looking for?

http://www.jjjtrain.kanabco.com/vms/eng_metal_stds/eng_metal_stds_03.html

Ted

 

[hydtools]

Or this:

http://www.engineershandbook.com/Tables/carbonsteelalloys.htm

Or Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AISI_steel_grades#Stainless_steel

Ted

 

[sreid]

I think what the OP is looking for (and I have never found) is something that would tell me why I might select a particular metal for a certain application. I also believe that the "Go To" list for general purposes is quite small. For the OPs two materials

4130 is the "Original" high strength alloy steel commonly refered to as Chrome Moly. Readilly available in many forms, easily worked in the normalized (N) condition and can be heat treated to high strength levels (H900= Heat treat at 900 degrees with specific time and temperature).

17-4 PH is a Nickel-Chrome Stainless Steel and PH means Precipitation Hardening (usually refered to simply as 17-4). Easily worked in the normalized condition and heat treatable to high strength levels. Corrosion resistant and is known for not distorting much during heat treat.