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Steel Castings

Revised by Malcolm Blair, Steel Founders' Society of America

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Classifications and Specifications

The steel castings discussed in this article are divided into four general groups according to composition:

Low-carbon steel castings Medium-carbon steel castings High-carbon steel castings Low-alloy steel castings
Other types of steel castings are discussed in separate articles on heat-resistant castings, stainless (corrosion-resistant) steel castings, and austenitic manganese steels in this Volume.
Carbon steels contain only carbon as the principal alloying element. Other elements are present in small quantities,

including those added for deoxidation. Silicon and manganese in cast carbon steels typically range from 0.25 to about 0.80% Si and 0.50 to about 1.00% Mn. Like wrought steels, carbon cast steels can be classified according to their carbon content into three broad groups:

Low-carbon steels: 0.20% C or less Medium-carbon steels: 0.20 to 0.50% C High-carbon steels: 0.50% C or more
Carbon content is a principal factor affecting the mechanical properties of these steels. The other important factor is the method of heat treatment. Figure 1 shows the basic trends of the mechanical properties of cast carbon steels as a function of carbon content for four different heat treatments. For a given heat treatment, a higher carbon content generally results in higher hardness and strength levels with lower ductility and toughness values. Further information on the properties of carbon cast steels is contained in subsequent sections of this article.

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Fig. 1 Properties of cast carbon steels as a function of carbon content and heat treatment. (a) Tensile strength and reduction of area. (b) Yield strength and elongation. (c) Brinell hardness. (d) Charpy V-notch impact energy
Low-alloy steels contain, in addition to carbon, alloying elements up to a total alloy content of 8%. Cast steels containing

more than the following amounts of a single alloying element are considered low-alloy cast steel:
Element Manganese Silicon Nickel Copper Chromium Molybdenum Vanadium Tungsten Amount, % 1.00 0.80 0.50 0.50 0.25 0.10 0.05 0.05

Aluminum, titanium, and zirconium are used for the deoxidation of low-alloy steels. Of these elements, aluminum is used most frequently because of its effectiveness and low cost.

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Numerous types of cast low-alloy steel grades exist to meet the specific requirements of the end-use, such as structural strength and resistance to wear, heat, and corrosion. The designations of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) have historically been used to identify the various types of steel by their principal alloy content. Cast steels, however, do not precisely follow the compositional ranges specified by AISI and SAE designations for wrought steels. In most cases, the cast steel grades contain 0.30 to 0.65% Si and 0.50 to 1.00% Mn, unless otherwise specified. The principal low-alloy cast steel designations, their AISI and SAE equivalents, and their alloy type are:
Nearest Cast steel wrought designation equivalent 1300 8000, 8400 80B00 2300 8600, 4300 9500 4100 1300 Manganese

Alloying elements

8000, 8400 Manganese, molybdenum 80B00 2300 Manganese, molybdenum, boron Nickel

8600, 4300 Nickel, chromium, molybdenum 9500 4100 Manganese, nickel, chromium, molybdenum Chromium, molybdenum

The 8000, 8400, 2300, and 9500 alloy types are used extensively as cast steels. There are additional alloy types that are infrequently specified as cast steels, that is, 3100 (nickel-chromium), 3300 (nickel-chromium), 4000 (molybdenum), 5100 (chromium), 6100 (chromium-vanadium), 4600 (nickel-molybdenum), and 9200 (silicon). Further information on the elements used in alloy steel castings is provided in the section "Low-Alloy Cast Steels" of this article.
Specifications. Steel castings are usually purchased to meet specified mechanical properties, with some restrictions on chemical composition. Tables 1 and 2 list the requirements given in various specifications of the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) and in SAE J435c. Table 1 primarily lists carbon steel castings (with some comparable low-alloy types), while Table 2 lists several low-alloy cast steels and some cast steels with chromium contents up to 10.0%.

Table 1 Summary of specification requirements for various carbon steel castings

Unless otherwise noted, all the grades listed in this table are restricted to a phosphorus content of 0.40% max and a sulfur content of 0.045% max.
Tensile strength(a) MPa ksi Minimum Minimum Chemical composition(b), Yield % strength(a) elongation reduction in 50 mm in MPa ksi (2 in.), % area, % C Mn Si

Class or grade

Other requirements

Condition or specific application

ASTM A 27: carbon steel castings for general applications N-1 N-2 U60-30 60-30 65-35 70-36 70-40 ... ... 415 415 450 485 485 ... ... 60 60 65 70 70 ... ... 205 205 240 250 275 ... ... 30 30 35 36 40 ... ... 22 24 24 22 22 ... ... 30 35 35 30 30 0.25(c) 0.35(c) 0.25(c) 0.30(c) 0.30(c) 0.35(c) 0.25(c) 0.75(c) 0.60(c) 0.75(c) 0.60(c) 0.70(c) 0.70(c) 1.20(c) 0.80 0.06% S, 0.05% P 0.80 0.06% S, 0.05% P 0.80 0.06% S, 0.05% P 0.80 0.06% S, 0.05% P 0.80 0.06% S, 0.05% P 0.80 0.06% S, 0.05% P 0.80 0.06% S, 0.05% P Chemical analysis only Heat treated but not mechanically tested Mechanically tested but not heat treated Heat treated and mechanically tested Heat treated and mechanically tested Heat treated and mechanically tested Heat treated and mechanically tested

ASTM A 148: carbon steel castings for structural applications(d) 80-40 550 80 275 40 18 30
(e) (e) (e)

0.06% S, 0.05% P 0.06% S, 0.05% P

Composition and heat treatment necessary to achieve specified mechanical properties Composition and heat treatment necessary to achieve specified mechanical properties

80-50

550

80

345

50

22

35

(e)

(e)

(e)

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90-60 620 90 415 60 20 40
(e) (e) (e)

0.06% S, 0.05% P 0.06% S, 0.05% P

Composition and heat treatment necessary to achieve specified mechanical properties Composition and heat treatment necessary to achieve specified mechanical properties

105-85

725

105

585

85

17

35

(e)

(e)

(e)

SAE J435c: see Table 2 for alloy steel castings specified in SAE J435c 0022 0025 0030 0050A 0050B 080 090 HA, HB, HC(f) ... 415 450 585 690 550 620 ... ... 60 65 85 100 80 90 ... ... 207 241 310 485 345 415 ... ... 30 35 45 70 50 60 ... ... 22 24 16 10 22 20 ... ... 30 35 24 15 35 40 ... 0.12-0.22 0.50-0.90 0.60 187 HB max 0.25(c) 0.30(c) 0.75(c) 0.70(c) 0.80 187 HB max 0.80 131-187 HB Low carbon steel suitable for carburizing Carbon steel welding grade Carbon steel welding grade Carbon steel medium-strength grade Carbon steel medium-strength grade Medium-strength low-alloy steel Medium-strength low-alloy steel Hardenability grades (Fig. 2)

0.40-0.50 0.50-0.90 0.80 170-229 HB 0.40-0.50 0.50-0.90 0.80 207-225 HB ... ... 0.25-0.34 ... ...
(f)

. . . 163-207 HB . . . 187-241 HB
(f)

See Fig. 2.

ASTM A 216: carbon steel castings suitable for fusion welding and high-temperature service WCA WCB WCC 415-585 60-85 485-655 70-95 485-655 70-95 205 250 275 30 36 40 24 22 22 35 35 35 0.25 0.30 0.25 0.70(c) 1.00(c) 1.20(c) 0.60 0.60 0.50
(g) (g) (g)

Pressure-containing parts Pressure-containing parts Pressure-containing parts

Other ASTM cast steel specifications with carbon steel grades(h) A 352-LCA A 352-LCB A 356-grade 1 A 757-A1Q 415-585 60-85 450-620 65-90 485 70 205 240 250 30 35 36 24 24 20 35 35 35 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.70(c) 1.00 0.70(c) 0.60 0.60
(g)(i)(j)

Low-temperature applications Low-temperature applications Castings for valve chests, throttle valves, and other heavy-walled components for steam turbines Castings for pressure-containing applications at low temperatures

(g) (j) (k)

0.60 0.035% P max, 0.030 S max 0.60

(j) (k) (l)

450

65

240

35

24

35

0.30

1.00

(a) Where a single value is shown, it is a minimum. (b) Where a single value is shown, it is a maximum. (c) For each reduction of 0.01% C below the maximum specified, an increase of 0.04% Mn above the maximum specified is permitted
up to the maximums given in the applicable ASTM specifications.

(d) Grades may also include low-alloy steels; see Table 2 for the stronger grades of ASTM A 148. (e) Unless specified by purchaser, the compositions of cast steels in ASTM A 148 are selected by the producer in order to achieve the
specified mechanical properties.

(f) Purchased on the basis of hardenability, with manganese and other elements added as required. (g) Specified residual elements include 0.30% Cu max, 0.50% Ni max, 0.50% Cr max, 0.20% Mo max, and 0.03% V max, with the total
residual elements not exceeding 1.00%.

(h) These ASTM specifications also include alloy steel castings for the general type of applications listed in the Table. (i) Testing temperature of -32 C (-25 F). (j) Charpy V-notch impact testing at the specified test temperature with an energy value of 18 J (13 ft lbf) min for two specimens and
an average of three.

(k) Testing temperature of -46 C (-50 F). (l) Specified residual elements of 0.03% V, 0.50% Cu, 0.50% Ni, 0.40% Cr, and 0.25% Mo, with total amount not exceeding 1.00%.
Sulfur and phosphorus content, each 0.025% max

Table 2 Summary of specification requirements for various alloy steel castings with chromium contents up to 10%

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Tensile strength(b) MPa ksi Minimum Yield strength(b) elongation Minimum in 50 mm reduction MPa ksi (2 in.), % in area, %
(d)

Material class(a)

Composition(c),% C Mn Si Cr Ni Mo Other

ASTM A 148: steel castings for structural applications 115-95 135-125 150-135 160-145 165-150 165-150L 210-180 210-180L 260-210 260-210L 795 930 1035 1105 1140 1140 1450 1450 1795 1795 115 135 150 160 165 165 210 210 260 260 655 860 930 95 125 135 14 9 7 6 5 5 4 4 3 3

30 22 18 12 20 20 15 15 6 6

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

(e) (e) (e) (e) (f) (f) (f) (f) (f) (f)

1000 145 1035 150 1035 150 1240 180 1240 180 1450 210 1450 210

SAE J435c: see Table 1 for the carbon steel castings specified in SAE J435c(g) 0105 0120 0150 0175 725 827 1035 1207 105 120 150 175 586 655 862 85 95 125 17 14 9 6 35 30 22 12 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
(h) (h) (h) (h)

1000 145

ASTM A 217: alloy steel castings for pressure-containing parts and high-temperature service WC1 WC4 WC5 WC6 WC9 WC11 C5 C12 450-620 485-655 485-655 485-655 485-655 550-725 620-795 620-795 65-90 70-95 70-95 70-95 70-95 80-105 90-115 90-115 240 275 275 275 275 345 415 415 35 40 40 40 40 50 60 60 24 20 20 20 20 18 18 18 35 35 35 35 35 45 35 35 0.25 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.18 0.50-0.80 0.50-0.80 0.40-0.70 0.50-0.80 0.40-0.70 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.35(i) 0.50-0.80 0.50-0.90 1.00-1.50 2.00-2.75 1.00-1.75 4.00-6.50 8.00-10.00 0.50(i) 0.45-0.65
(i)(j) (j) (k)

0.70-1.10 0.45-0.65 0.60-1.00 0.90-1.20 0.50 0.50

(i) (i)

, ,

(j) (k) (i) (j)

0.45-0.65 0.9-1.20 0.45-0.65 0.45-0.65 0.90-1.20

, , , , ,

(i) (j) (i) (l) (i) (j) (i) (j)

0.15-0.21 0.50-0.80 0.30-0.60 0.20 0.20 0.40-0.70 0.35-0.65 0.75 1.00

0.50(i) 0.50 0.50

(i) (i)

ASTM A 389: alloy steel castings (NT) suitable for fusion welding and pressure-containing parts at high temperatures C23 C24 485 550 70 80 275 345 40 50 18 15 35 35 0.20 0.20 0.30-0.80 0.30-0.80 0.60 0.60 1.00-1.50 1.00-1.25 ... ... 0.45-0.65 0.90-1.20
(h) (m)

, ,

(h) (m)

ASTM A 487: alloy steel castings (NT or QT) for pressure-containing parts at high temperatures 1A (NT) 2B (QT) 1C (NT or QT) 2A (NT) 2B (QT) 2C (NT or QT) 4A (NT or QT) 4B (QT) 4C (NT or QT) 4D (QT) 4E (QT) 585-760 620-795 620 585-760 620-795 620 620-795 85-110 90-115 90 85-110 90-115 90 90-115 380 450 450 365 450 450 415 55 65 65 53 65 65 60 85 60 75 95 22 22 22 22 22 22 20 17 20 17 15 40 45 45 35 40 40 40 35 40 35 35 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.10-1.40 1.10-1.40 1.10-1.40 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.35(n) 0.35 0.35
(n)

0.50(n) 0.50 0.50

(n)

0.25(n),
(o)

0.5Cu(h),
(n)

0.25 ,
(o)

(n)

0.5Cu(h),
(n)

(n)

(n)

0.25 ,
(o)

(n)

0.5Cu(h),
(n) (i) (p)

0.35

(i)

0.50

(i)

0.10-0.30 0.10-0.30 0.10-0.30

, , ,

0.35(i) 0.35
(i)

0.50(i) 0.50
(i)

(i) (p) (i) (p)

0.40-0.80 0.40-0.80 0.40-0.80 0.40-0.80 0.40-0.80

0.40-0.80 0.15-0.30 0.40-0.80 0.15-0.30 0.40-0.80 0.15-0.30 0.40-0.80 0.15-0.30 0.40-0.80 0.15-0.30

(k) (p)

, , , , ,

725-895 105-130 585 620 690 795 90 100 115 415 515 655

(k) (p) (k) (p)

(k) (p) (k) (p)

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6A (NT) 6B (QT) 7A (QT)(q) 8A (NT) 8B (QT) 8C (QT) 9A (NT or QT) 9B (QT) 9C (NT or QT) 9D (QT) 10A (NT) 10B (QT) 11A (NT) 11B (QT) 12A (NT) 12B (QT) 13A (NT) 13B (QT) 14A (QT) 16A (NT)(u) 795 825 795 585-760 725 690 620 725 620 690 690 860 485-655 115 120 115 85-110 105 100 90 105 90 100 100 125 70-95 550 655 690 380 585 515 415 585 415 515 485 690 275 80 95 100 55 85 75 60 85 60 75 70 100 40 85 40 85 60 85 95 40 18 15 15 20 17 17 18 16 18 17 18 15 20 17 20 17 18 17 14 22 30 35 30 35 30 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 30 35 0.38 0.38 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.33 0.33 1.30-1.70 1.30-1.70 0.60-1.00 0.50-0.90 0.50-0.90 0.50-0.90 0.60-1.00 0.60-1.00 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.40-0.80 0.40-0.80 0.40-0.80 2.00-2.75 2.00-2.75 2.00-2.75 0.75-1.10 0.75-1.10 0.40-0.80 0.30-0.40 0.40-0.80 0.30-0.40
(k) (p)

, ,

(k) (p)

0.70-1.00 0.40-0.60 (k), (p), (r) ... ... ... 0.50

(i)

0.90-1.10 0.90-1.10 0.90-1.10 0.15-0.30 0.15-0.30

(k) (p)

, , ,

(k) (p) (k) (p) (i) (p)

, ,

0.50(i)

(i) (p)

Composition same as 9A (NT or QT) but with a slightly higher tempering temperature 0.33 0.30 0.30 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.30 0.30 0.55 0.12(v) 0.60-1.00 0.60-1.00 0.60-1.00 0.50-0.80 0.50-0.80 0.40-0.70 0.40-0.70 0.80-1.10 0.80-1.10 0.80-1.10 2.10(v) 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.50 0.75-1.10 0.55-0.90 0.55-0.90 0.50-0.80 0.50-0.80 0.50-0.90 0.50-0.90 0.40(t) 0.40 0.40
(t) (t)

0.50(i)

0.15-0.30

(i) (p)

1.40-2.00 0.20-0.40 1.40-2.00 0.20-0.40 0.70-1.10 0.45-0.65 0.70-1.10 0.45-0.65 0.60-1.00 0.90-1.20 0.60-1.00 0.90-1.20 1.40-1.75 0.20-0.30 1.40-1.75 0.20-0.30 1.40-1.75 0.20-0.30 1.00-1.40 0.10(s)

(k) (p)

, ,

(k) (p) (p) (s)

, , , ,

725-895 105-130 585 485-655 70-95 275

(p) (s) (p) (s) (p) (s) (p) (t)

725-895 105-130 585 620-795 90-115 415

, , ,

725-895 105-130 585 825-1000 120-145 655 485-655 70-95 275

(p) (t) (p) (t) (s) (w)

0.20(s)

(a) NT, normalized and tempered; QT, quenched and tempered. (b) When a single value is shown, it is a minimum. (c) When a single value is shown, it is a maximum. (d) Unless specified by the purchaser, the compositions of cast steels in ASTM A 148 are selected by the producer and therefore may
include either carbon or alloy steels; see Table 1 for the lower-grade steels specified in ASTM A 148.

(e) 0.06% S (max), 0.05% P (max). (f) 0.020% S (max, 0.020% P (max). (g) Similar to the cast steel in ASTM A 148. (h) 0.045% S (max), 0.040% P (max). (i) When residual maximums are specified for copper, nickel, nickel, chromium, tungsten, and vanadium, their total content shall not
exceed 1.00%.

(j) 0.050% Cu (max), 0.10% W (max), 0.045% S(max), 0.04% P (max). (k) When residual maximums are specified for copper, nickel, chromium, tungsten, and vanadium, their total residual content shall not
exceed 0.60%.

(l) 0.35% Cu (max), 0.03% V (max), 0.015% S (max), 0.020% P (max). (m) 0.15-0.25% V. (n) The specified residuals of copper, nickel, chromium, and molybdenum (plus tungsten), shall not exceed a total content of 1.00%. (o) Includes the residual content of tungsten. (p) 0.50% Cu (max), 0.10% W (max), 0.03% V (max), 0.045% S (max), 0.04% P (max). (q) Material class 7A is a proprietary steel and has a maximum thickness of 63.5 mm (2 in.). (r) Specified elements include 0.15-0.50% Cu, 0.03-0.10% V, and 0.002-0.006% B. (s) When residual maximums are specified for copper, nickel, chromium, tungsten, molybdenum, and vanadium, their total content
shall not exceed 0.50%.

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(t) When residual maximums are specified for copper, nickel, chromium, tungsten, and vanadium, their total content shall not exceed
0.75%.

(u) Low-carbon grade with double austenitization. (v) For each reduction of 0.01% C below the maximum, an increase of 0.04% Mn is permitted up to a maximum of 2.30%. (w) 0.20% Cu (max), 0.10% W (max), 0.02% V (max), 0.02% S (max), 0.02% P (max)
In the low-strength ranges, some specifications limit carbon and manganese content, usually to ensure satisfactory weldability. In SAE J435c, carbon and manganese are specified to ensure that the minimum desired hardness and strength are obtained after heat treatment. For special applications, other elements may be specified either as maximum or minimum, depending on the characteristics desired. The ASTM specifications that include carbon and low-alloy grades of steel castings are A 216, A 217, A 352, A 356, A 389, A 487, and A 757. The ASTM specifications with grades of carbon steel castings are listed in Table 1. Table 2 lists the requirements for the low-alloy classes of steel castings given in some of the ASTM specifications mentioned above. In addition, ASTM specifications may address common requirements of all steel castings for a particular type of application. For example, ASTM A 703 specifies the general requirements of steel castings for pressure-containing parts. If only mechanical properties are specified, the chemical composition of castings for general engineering applications is usually left to the discretion of the casting supplier. For specific applications, however, certain chemical composition limits have been established to ensure the development of specified mechanical properties after proper heat treatment, as well as to facilitate welding, uniform response to heat treatment, or other requirements. Hardness is specified for most grades of SAE J435c to ensure machinability, ease of inspection for high production rate items, or certain characteristics pertaining to wear. SAE J435c includes three grades, HA, HB, and HC, with specified hardenability requirements. Figure 2 plots hardenability requirements, both minimum and maximum, for these steels. Hardenability is determined by the end-quench hardenability test described in the article "Hardenability of Carbon and Low-Alloy Steels" in this Volume. Other specifications require minimum hardness at one or two locations on the end-quench specimen. In general, hardenability is specified to ensure a predetermined degree of transformation from austenite to martensite during quenching, in the thickness required. This is important in critical parts requiring toughness and optimum resistance to fatigue.

Fig. 2 End-quench hardenability limits for the hardenability grades of cast steel specified in SAE J435c. The nominal carbon content of these steels is 0.30% C (see Table 1). Manganese and other alloying elements are added as required to produce castings that meet these limits.

Among the most commonly selected grades of steel castings are, first, a medium-carbon steel corresponding to ASTM A 27 65-35 or SAE 0030 and second, a higher-strength steel, often alloyed and fully heat treated, similar to ASTM A 148 105-85 or SAE 0105. Particularly when the purchaser heat treats a part after other processing, a casting will be ordered to compositional limits closely equivalent to the AISI-SAE wrought steel compositions, with somewhat higher silicon permitted. As in other steel castings, it is best not to specify a range of silicon, but to permit the foundry to utilize the silicon and manganese combination needed to achieve required soundness in the shape being cast. The silicon content is frequently higher in cast steels than for the same nominal composition in wrought steel. Silicon above 0.80% is considered an alloy addition because it contributes significantly to resistance to tempering. Railroad equipment manufacturers and other major users of steel castings may prefer their own or industry association specifications. Users of steel castings for extremely critical applications, such as aircraft, may use their own, industry association, or special-purpose military specifications. Foundries frequently make nonstandard grades for special applications or have their own specification system to meet the needs of the purchaser. Savings may be realized by using a grade that is standard with a foundry, especially for small quantities.
Copyright 2002 ASM International. All Rights Reserved.

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