Alloy Steel Castings
Alloy steel is steel that is alloyed with a variety of elements in total amounts between 1.0% and 50% by weight to improve its mechanical properties. Alloy steels are broken down into two groups: low-alloy steels and high-alloy steels. Most commonly, the phrase “alloy steel” refers to low-alloy steels.
Common Alloyants In Alloy Steel
Strictly speaking, every steel is an alloy, but not all steels are called “alloy steels”. The simplest steels are iron (Fe) alloyed with carbon (C) (about 0.1% to 1%, depending on type). However, the term “alloy steel” is the standard term referring to steels with other alloying elements added deliberately in addition to the carbon. Common alloyants include manganese (the most common one),nickel, chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, silicon, and boron. Less common alloyants include aluminum, cobalt, copper, cerium,niobium, titanium, tungsten, tin, zinc, lead, and zirconium.
Alloying elements are added in alloy steel castings to achieve certain properties in the material. As a guideline, alloying elements are added in lower percentages (less than 5%) to increase strength or hardenability, or in larger percentages (over 5%) to achieve special properties, such as corrosion resistance or extreme temperature stability. Manganese, silicon, or aluminum are added during the steel making process to remove dissolved oxygen, sulfur and phosphorus from the melt.
The following is a range of improved properties in alloy steel castings (as compared to carbon steels): strength, hardness, toughness, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, hardenability, and hot hardness. To achieve some of these improved properties the metal may require heat treating.
Common Alloy Steel Grades for Casting
| C | Si | Mn | SP | Cr | Ni | Mo | Cu | |
| ZG40Mn | 0.35-0.45 | 0.30-0.45 | 1.20-1.50 | ≤0.030 | - | - | - | - |
| ZG40Mn2 | 0.35-0.45 | 0.20-0.40 | 1.60-1.80 | ≤0.030 | - | - | - | - |
| ZG50Mn2 | 0.45-0.55 | 0.20-0.40 | 1.50-1.80 | ≤0.030 | - | - | - | - |
| ZG20SiMn | ≤0.023 | ≤0.60 | 1.00-1.50 | ≤0.025 | ≤0.30 | ≤0.40 | ≤0.15 | - |
| ZG35SiMn | 0.30-0.40 | 0.60-0.80 | 1.10-1.40 | ≤0.030 | - | - | - | - |
| ZG35SiMnMo | 0.32-0.40 | 1.10-1.40 | 1.10-1.40 | ≤0.030 | ≤0.30 | ≤0.30 | 0.20-0.30 | ≤0.30 |
| ZG35CrMnSi | 0.30-0.40 | 0.50-0.75 | 0.90-1.20 | ≤0.030 | 0.50-0.80 | - | - | - |
| ZG20MnMo | 0.17-0.23 | 0.20-0.40 | 1.10-1.40 | ≤0.030 | ≤0.30 | ≤0.30 | 0.20-0.35 | ≤0.30 |
| ZG55CrMnMo | 0.50-0.60 | 0.25-0.60 | 1.20-1.60 | ≤0.030 | 0.60-0.90 | ≤0.30 | 0.20-0.30 | ≤0.30 |
| ZG40Cr | 0.35-0.45 | 0.20-0.40 | 0.50-0.80 | ≤0.030 | 0.80-1.10 | - | - | - |
| ZG34CrNiMo | 0.30-0.37 | 0.30-0.60 | 0.60-1.00 | ≤0.025 | 1.40-1.70 | 1.4-1.70 | 0.15-0.35 | - |
| ZG20CrMo | 0.17-0.25 | 0.20-0.45 | 0.50-0.80 | ≤0.030 | 0.50-0.80 | - | 0.40-0.60 | - |
| ZG35CrMo | 0.30-0.37 | 0.30-0.50 | 0.50-0.80 | ≤0.030 | 0.80-1.20 | - | 0.20-0.30 | - |
| ZG42CrMo | 0.38-0.45 | 0.30-0.60 | 0.60-1.00 | ≤0.025 | 0.8-1.20 | - | 0.20-0.30 | - |
