Role of Manganese in Steel The effectiveness of Manganese in increasing mechanical properties depends on and is proportional to the carbon content

t of the steel. Manganese also plays an important role in decreasing the critical cooling rate during hardening. This means that manganese helps to increase the steels hardenability. Its effect on hardenability is greater than that of any of the other commonly used alloying elements. Manganese is also an active deoxidizer, and is less likely to segregate than other elements. Manganese improves machinability, by combining with sulfur to form an soft inclusion in the steel that promotes a steady built up edge and a place for the chip to break. Managanese forms MnS (Manganese Sulfide). When there is insufficient manganese the sulphur combines with iron to form a low melting point sulfide, which melts at hot rolling temperatures, causing a surface cracking phenomenon known as hot shortness. Manganese improves yield at the steel mill by combining with the sulfur in the steel, minimizing the formation of iron pyrite (iron sulfide) which can cause the steel to crack and tear during high temperature rolling. Too high manganese can cause manganese embrittlement.