Unveil the superior characteristics of SAE AISI 1020 Steel, including its exceptional yield strength and comprehensive equivalents. Discover why this steel is a cornerstone in the industry.
ASTM SAE AISI 1020 Steel – The epitome of quality, reliability, and performance. Your go-to material for a multitude of applications.
AISI 1020 steel, also known as C1020 steel, is renowned for its versatility in cold worked conditions, such as cold rolled or cold drawn forms. This popular plain carbon steel boasts excellent machinability and weldability and can be hot rolled or cold drawn. Typically found in turned and polished or cold drawn conditions, its low carbon content makes it resistant to induction or flame hardening.
Explore the definitive guide to AISI SAE 1020 Steel Properties & Specifications, designed to meet your precise engineering needs.
The comprehensive data sheet below presents the full spectrum of SAE AISI 1020 steel properties, including chemical composition, physical and mechanical properties, and more.
Chemical Composition
Physical Properties
Outstanding Melting Point: 1515 °C (2760 °F)
Density of AISI 1020 Steel: 7.87 g/cm³ (0.0361 lbs/in³)
Thermal Expansion Notes
Coefficient: 10
× 10
-6
K
-1
(µm/m)/°C
Mechanical Properties of SAE AISI 1020 Mild Steel
The following dataset details the mechanical properties of AISI SAE 1020 steel, encompassing yield strength, tensile strength, elongation, section reduction, and hardness under various conditions.
SAE AISI 1020 Carbon Steel Young's Modulus (Modulus of Elasticity) in the as-received condition stands at a robust 186 GPa (27×10
6
psi).
Machinability
With a machinability rating of 65, AISI SAE 1020 carbon steel excels based on a 100% reference machinability rating for 1212 steel.
SAE AISI 1020 Steel Heat Treatment
The heat treatment process for SAE AISI 1020 mild steel includes normalizing, annealing, austenitizing, among others.
Normalizing of AISI 1020
Typical normalizing temperature for SAE AISI 1020 mild steel is set at 915 °C (1675 °F).
Annealing of AISI 1020
The recommended temperature and cooling cycle for full annealing of small carbon steel forgings (size ≤ 3 inches) are outlined as follows:
Annealing temperature ranges from 855-900 °C (1575-1650 °F). The cooling cycle starts at 855 °C (1575 °F) and goes down to 700 °C (1290 °F), with a furnace cooling speed of 28 °C/h (50 °F/h). The Brinell hardness achieved is between 111-149 HB.
Reheating (Austenitizing)
Reheating temperatures for hardening of SAE 1020 steel are between 760-790 °C (1400-1450 °F), with carburizing usually conducted at 900 to 925 °C (1650 to 1700 °F).
Case Hardening
The surface hardening carburization for 1020 carbon steel is conducted at temperatures ranging from 970-955 °C. This process is predominantly performed in a mixed gas environment of methane and carrier gas. For optimal hardening post-carburization, direct quenching from the carburizing temperature into water or brine is the preferred method.
Typical Heat Treatment for SAE 1020 Case Hardening
- Carbon Temperature: Maintain between 900-925 °C (1650-1700 °F). Cooling Method: Utilize water or caustic solutions.
- Reheat Temperature: Set at 790 °C (1450 °F). Cooling Method: Water or a 3% sodium hydroxide solution.
- Carbonitriding Temperature: Range of 790-900 °C (1450-1650 °F). Cooling Method: Employ oil for cooling.
- Temper Temperature: Between 120-205 °C (250-400 °F). This step, though optional, helps relieve stress and enhance resistance to cracking.
Typical Forging Temperature
The ideal forging temperature for AISI 1020 mild steel is approximately 1290 °C (2350 °F).
AISI 1020 Carbon Steel Welding
Recommended Preheat and Interpass Temperatures for AISI SAE C1020 Steel:
For thicknesses up to 50mm (2 in.), maintain a preheat and interpass temperature above -12 °C for low hydrogen applications, and 38 °C for other applications.
For thicknesses between 50mm and 100mm, the recommended preheat and interpass temperature is 93 °C for low hydrogen, and 150 °C for other applications.
Postweld heat treatment is optional. If performed, the temperature should be within the range of 590-675 °C (1100-1250 °F).
Application
ASTM AISI SAE 1020 steel is versatile with numerous semi-finished products such as square steel bars, flat steel bars, and round steel bars. These can be used in the manufacture of truck, automotive, and agricultural equipment parts including axles, mechanical components, cold head bolts, motor shafts, pump shafts, ratchets, light gears, gear drives, worm gears, spindles, seat brackets, crane-cable drums, and motor-brake wheels. Additionally, it is commonly formed into steel channels, angles, I-beams, and H-beams.
AISI SAE ASTM 1020 Steel Equivalent Material
SAE ASTM AISI 1020 carbon steel is equivalent to various international standards including European EN (Germany DIN EN, British BSI, French NF), Japanese JIS, and Chinese GB standards.
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