There are a number of key elements when it comes to making various grades of steel. While not every element is as essential as iron and carbon, the other elements – when added in various amounts – give different grades of steel specific properties such as hardness, corrosion resistance, weldability. Let’s take a look:

Iron

Smelted from iron ore, iron is the main ingredient in all steels, as well as the most abundant element on the planet.

Carbon

Carbon is what gives abrasion resistant steel its hardness, meaning that the more carbon is present, the harder the steel. But it’s important to note that the more carbon that is added, the more brittle the steel becomes, which is why other hardening elements are also included.

Manganese

At lower temperatures, manganese increases hardness and stabilizes the austenite structure of abrasion resistant steel steel.

Chromium

The hardest of all the elements, chromium assists the hardening of steel in the heat treatment process. It also increases steel’s resistance to corrosion and oxidation.

Sulfur

An impurity created in the furnace during the making process of steel, sulfur creates inclusions or voids that facilitate chipping and can reduce the ductility and toughness of abrasion resistant steel.

Phosphorus

Another impurity that creates voids, phosphorus can increase the strength of steel and, to some degree, its hardness. It can reduces ductility and although good for machining, it is generally undesirable.

Nickel

While nickel increases hardness, it also helps with the corrosion resistance, strength, and toughness of abrasion resistant steel.

Molybdenum

An essential trace mineral, molybdenum improves corrosion resistance, hardness, and the tensile strength of steel by lowering the required quench rate during the heat-treating process.

Titanium

Obtained from various ores that occur naturally on the earth, titanium reduces corrosion and helps to resist sliding abrasion.

Copper

While not used very often, copper helps steel resist corrosion at the expense of weldability.

Boron

Often added to low alloyed and unalloyed steel, boron improves strength and toughness by preventing the formation of pearlite and ferrite structures within the material. It also assists in the heat treatment process of steel.

ENDURA and ENDURA DUAL Are Exceptional Abrasion Resistant Steels

ENDURA and ENDURA DUAL with titanium carbides have all of these critical elements and very small amounts of sulfur and phosphorous, making them superior steels to resist impact and sliding abrasion.  Because they are easier to machine and can be welded with low hydrogen rod without pre or post heating, they are an outstanding choice to solve your wear problems and increase the life of your equipment by reducing downtime.

Contact us – your Wear & Impact Steel Specialists – to learn more about abrasion resistant steel and how it can suit your needs.