Medium carbon steel contains carbon from 0.30% to 0.60%. It’s stronger and more durable than low-carbon steel, but still offers at least some ductility. Main properties of medium carbon steel are low hardenability, medium strength, ductility, and toughness.
Many automotive parts are made of medium-carbon steel. Popular applications include making shafts, axles, gears, crankshafts, couplings, forgings, rails, railway wheels, and rail axles.
This steel can be heat treated and quenched to further adjust the microstructure and mechanical properties.
BSS Spring Steel supplies medium carbon steel in following grades:
1038 steel
1038 steel is a medium-carbon steel with good strength and toughness. 1038 steel properties are similar to our EN8 steel with a compatible carbon content.
1040 carbon steel
1040 carbon steel, an unalloyed medium-carbon steel, is known for its balance of strength and ductility. Brinell 1040 steel hardness is ranging from 160 to 180 kgf/mm2. Having moderate strength and hardness, 1040 steel is suitable for gears, shafts, and structural components.
We supply EN8 steel as a 1040 steel equivalent.
1045 steel
1045 steel is a like 1038 and 1040 medium-carbon steel. AISI 1045 contains nominally 0.45% carbon.
1045 steel properties:
Good strength and impact resistance
Relatively easy to form
Moderate weldability
Can be heat treated
1045 steel applications: automotive, industrial machinery, construction, and toolmaking.
Properties of 1045 steel are similar to EN8 with a compatible carbon content.
1050 carbon steel
AISI 1050 is a medium carbon steel with a good tensile strength. 1050 steel also known for its hardness and wear resistance. It is commonly used in applications requiring higher toughness and moderate machinability. For example: gears, shafts, and cutting tools.
We supply EN43 steel as an alternative 1050 steel equivalent.
1055 carbon steel
AISI 1055 steel is a medium carbon steel with a carbon content about 55%.
1055 steel properties have advantages of both low carbon and high carbon steels. These properties include good toughness and moderate harness, making it resistance to breaking. On another scale, compare 1055 carbon steel vs 1095, wear resistance is lower. That is why cutting tools made of 1055 would need sharpening more often.
In summary, 1055 carbon steel is commonly used in applications that require durability and resistance to wear without excessive brittleness.
We supply EN9 steel as an alternative 1055 steel equivalent.
Our customers ask about our Medium Carbon Steel supply:
What is the composition of carbon in medium carbon steel?
At BSS we supply medium carbon steel that has a range of carbon from 35% (EN8 steel) up to 55% (EN45). Increasing the carbon content results in manganese increases. This allows medium carbon steel to be used in the quenched and tempered condition. We offer various medium carbon steels in either round or flat bar, coil, sheets, and precisely cut pieces and strips.
Is carbon steel corrosion resistant?
Short answer is no, carbon steel does rust. When carbon steels exposed to the moister, they can corrode and rust quickly. Carbon steels are not used in applications that expect humid environment.
What are medium carbon steel properties?
It’s stronger and more durable than low carbon steel but still offers at least some ductility compare with high carbon steel. Medium carbon steel may be heat-treated and then tempered to improve its mechanical properties.
