1018 Steel | AISI 1018|1.0401|C15|080A15
AISI 1018 low carbon steel offers a good balance of toughness, strength and ductility which is the most commonly available grade around the world.Although its mechanical properties are not very unique, it still can be easily formed, machined, welded and fabricated.AISI 1018 steel has excellent weldability and produces a uniform and harder case,and it is considered as the best steel for carburized parts.It may be hardened by carburizing and by other surface-hardening methods.It can attain typical surface hardness to HRC 58 by carburise.
1018 Steel Supply Form & Size &Tolerance
| Form of Supply | Size(mm) | Length(mm) |
| Round bar | Φ6-Φ1000 | 3000-10000 |
| Square bar | 100 x 100-600×600 | 3000-6000 |
| Flat bar/Blcoks | Thickness :120-800 | 2000-6000 |
| Width:120-1500 |
| Surface Finish | Black-Forged | Black-Rolled | Rough Turned | Grinding | Polished | Peeled | Cold Drawn |
| Tolerance | (0，+5mm) | (0，+1mm) | (0，+3mm) | Best h9 | Best h11 | Best H11 | Best H11 |
Chemical Composition
The composition of 1018 steel ensures its excellent weldability and machinability:
| Element | Content (%) |
|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 0.15–0.20 |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.10–0.30 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.60–0.90 |
| Phosphorus (P) | ≤ 0.040 |
| Sulfur (S) | ≤ 0.050 |
This low carbon content limits hardenability but enhances ductility, making 1018 steel suitable for a wide range of applications.
Mechanical Properties
The mechanical properties of 1018 steel vary depending on its processing conditions:
| Property | Cold-Drawn | Hot-Rolled |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 440–480 MPa | 370–440 MPa |
| Yield Strength | 350–400 MPa | 220–320 MPa |
| Elongation at Break | 15–17% | 20–25% |
| Brinell Hardness (HB) | 120–150 | 105–130 |
Cold-drawn 1018 has superior mechanical properties compared to hot-rolled, making it ideal for precision components.
Key Features and Benefits
- Excellent Machinability:
- Highly machinable with smooth finishes, reducing tool wear and processing time.
- Good Weldability:
- Suitable for all standard welding methods without preheating.
- Ductility and Toughness:
- High ductility makes it ideal for cold-forming operations such as bending and stamping.
- Cost-Effectiveness:
- Affordable and versatile for applications not requiring high strength or wear resistance.
- Compatibility with Surface Hardening:
- Can be case-hardened for wear resistance while retaining a ductile core.
Applications of 1018 Steel
The versatility of 1018 steel makes it a preferred material across multiple industries:
- Automotive Components:
- Shafts, axles, and fasteners.
- General Engineering:
- Spindles, pins, and bushings.
- Construction:
- Structural reinforcements and low-stress components.
- Tooling Applications:
- Fixtures, jigs, and tool plates.
- Precision Parts:
- Ideal for small, machined components requiring high accuracy.
Heat Treatment of 1018 Steel
Heat treatment is often used to enhance specific properties of 1018 steel:
- Annealing:
- Heating to 870–910°C and slowly cooling to improve ductility and machinability.
- Case Hardening (Carburizing):
- Carbon is introduced at 870–925°C to harden the surface, improving wear resistance while maintaining a tough core.
- Stress Relieving:
- Performed at 540–680°C to reduce residual stresses after machining.
- Normalizing:
- Heating to 900–950°C followed by air cooling refines the grain structure and improves toughness.
Processing Techniques
- Machining:
- AISI 1018 is highly machinable in both annealed and cold-drawn conditions. Carbide or high-speed steel tools are recommended.
- Welding:
- Can be welded using MIG, TIG, or arc welding without the need for preheating.
- Cold Working:
- Easily bent, stamped, and drawn due to its high ductility.
- Hot Working:
- Forging is performed at 1,200–950°C, followed by slow cooling or annealing for improved machinability.
Comparisons with Similar Grades
| Steel Grade | AISI 1018 (1.0401) | AISI 1020 (1.0402) | AISI 1045 (1.1191) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon Content | 0.15–0.20% | 0.18–0.23% | 0.43–0.50% |
| Strength | Moderate | Slightly Higher | Significantly Higher |
| Weldability | Excellent | Excellent | Moderate |
| Applications | General-purpose | Slightly stronger parts | High-stress parts |
Certifications and Standards
AISI 1018 is manufactured to meet several international standards:
- ASTM A108: Specification for cold-finished carbon steel bars.
- SAE J403: Chemical compositions for carbon steels.
- DIN EN 10025: Technical delivery conditions for non-alloy steels.
1018 Steel Buying Guide
AISI 1018 steel is low-carbon mild steel with excellent compressive strength and toughness. It’s highly weldable and recognized as the best steel that can be carburized. Numerous companies are producing 1018 steel but the question is, how do we find the best quality 1018 steel from the best manufacturer?
It might interest you to know that not all 1018 steel has the same quality of components and that’s what this guide is all about. We are going to help you differentiate and find the most suitable 1018 steel to buy and from the best manufacturer, you can trust for quality when buying any type of steel.
What is the AISI in 1018 Steel?
For the American Iron and Steel Institute, the AISI is an acronym for a short term. The term AISI only helps to identify and differentiate particular steel from others and as well shows how steel is processed.
So when you talk about AISI 1018 steel you should remember that its a steel that is manufactured by its terms
What’s the Chemical Composition of 1018 Steel?
As I said earlier it’s important to know about 1018 steel before buying it to understand the real composite of AISI 1018 steel. It is made up of the following components:
-Manganese (Mn) – 0.60-0.90
-Carbon (C) – 0.15-0.20
-Sulfur (S) – 0.05 (max)
-Phosphorous (P) – 0.04 (max)
-Iron (Fe) – Balance
These are the components of AISI 1018 Steel and their composite materials.
Some variations will be noticeable since manufacturers place and combine them in different ways.
Knowing the components used in making 1018 steel is very important but you must as well know that companies combine the elements differently and that’s why you only need to buy from a trusted manufacturer.
What the 1018 Steel grading number represents
You might not understand why 1018 is attached to the name of this steel but it simply helps to identify a particular steel type and its elements. For instance, 1018 represents a type of carbon steel that has not been modified and contains 0.18 percent carbon.
There are different types of steel in the market and the grading numbers are used to differentiate different types of steel.
To go into details, A four-digit number is designated for carbon steels, the first number being the main alloying elements, the second digit indicating the elements tg (top grade), and the last two digits indicating carbon amount by weight in hundredths of a percentage point.
What are the Properties of 1018 Steel?
Just like every other steel, 1018 contains thermal, mechanical and physical properties. To make it easier for you to understand, we are going to explain each of the Thermal, mechanical and physical properties to help you understand more about AISI 1018 steel.
Thermal Properties
The AISI 1018 carbon steel thermal properties are presented in the table below.
| Properties | Metric | Imperial |
| Thermal conductivity | 51.9 W/mK | 360 BTU in/hr.ft2.°F |
Mechanical Properties
AISI 1018 carbon steel drawn in the cold is shown in the following table.
| Properties | Metric | Imperial |
| Tensile strength | 440 MPa | 63800 psi |
| Yield strength | 370 MPa | 53700 psi |
| Modulus of elasticity | 205 GPa | 29700 ksi |
| Shear modulus (typical for steel) | 80 GPa | 11600 ksi |
| Poisson’s ratio | 0.29 | 0.29 |
| Elongation at break (in 50 mm) | 15% | 15% |
| Hardness, Brinell | 126 | 126 |
| Hardness, Knoop (converted from Brinell hardness) | 145 | 145 |
| Hardness, Rockwell B (converted from Brinell hardness) | 71 | 71 |
| Hardness, Vickers (converted from Brinell hardness) | 131 | 131 |
| Machinability (based on AISI 1212 steel. as 100 machinabilities) | 70 | 70 |
Physical Properties
The AISI 1018 carbon steel’s physical properties are shown below
| Properties | Metric | Imperial |
| Density | 7.87 g/cm3 | 0.284 lb/in3 |
IS AISI 1018 Steel hard enough?
The question of whether 1018 is hard enough lies in what you intend to do with it. However, 1018 steel is mild low carbon steel recognized for its good mixture of strength, ductility, and hardness.
It can be welded easily compared to other harder steels and its regarded as the best steel for carburized components
The surface preparation, chemical composition, rolling and heating processes are subject to specific manufacturing controls.
All these processes are designed to produce an excellent quality product suitable for the production of welding, fodder, boiling, machining, cold drawing and heat treatment processes.
How Do Manufacturers Produce 1018 Steel?
The manufacturing process of 1018 steel requires the mixing of different elements together to form the base. The elements used are mostly carbon, iron and molybdenum. Also, other elements that can be added in the formation for 1018 steel are phosphorus, manganese, silicon and chromium.
However, other elements can be mixed to determine the hardness and weldability of 1018 steel. The type of element used to manufacture 1018 steel can be decided based on the application requirements.
Where is AISI 1018 Steel Used?
AISI 1018 steel is designed to be used for different applications. These are some of the most common uses for AISI 1018 steel.
-It is used in the processes of bending, crimping, and swaging.
-AISI 1018 mild/low carbon steel is used in carburized parts such as worms, gears, pins, dowels, non-critical components of tool and die sets, tool holders, pinions, machine parts, ratchets, dowels, and chain pins.
-It is widely used for fixtures, mounting plates and spacers
-It is appropriate for applications that do not require high alloy steel strength or high carbon content.
-It has a high strength surface that includes worms, dogs, drops, sticks, liner, special bolts, ratchets, chain pins, petroleum tool pins, crawling rods, anchor pins, stubble pins, and more.
-It is used for boiling, processing, threading and punching.
-It is used to prevent severe curves from cracking
Which 1018 Steel Manufacturer Should You Trust?
One of the biggest problems when buying AISI 1018 steel or any other type of steel is choosing the right manufacturer who doesn’t compromise quality.
However, since you’re already on this page you have nothing to be worried about. Waldun steel company is the best steel manufacturing company you can trust
About Waldun steel manufacturing company
In case you care to know Waldun steel is the most reliable 1018 steel wholesaler in China. Apart from dominating the Chinese steel market. We’re also in partnership with world-renowned companies.
Not only will you get the best AISI 1018 steel from Waldun Steel, but you will also be able to obtain the most suitable 1018 steel designed for different applications.
Interested to buy or enquire about 1018 steel?
It’s as simple as picking up the phone and dialing our phone number!
You can also send an email to us.
Hey, don’t panic about the price, our company gives free quotes and it’s a simple process, call our customer service department phone number, make a request of what you want and then receive the rates and price quote.
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Page Contents
- 1018 Steel Supply Form & Size &Tolerance
- Chemical Composition
- Mechanical Properties
- Key Features and Benefits
- Applications of 1018 Steel
- Heat Treatment of 1018 Steel
- Processing Techniques
- Comparisons with Similar Grades
- Certifications and Standards
- What is the AISI in 1018 Steel?
- What’s the Chemical Composition of 1018 Steel?
- What the 1018 Steel grading number represents
- What are the Properties of 1018 Steel?
- IS AISI 1018 Steel hard enough?
- How Do Manufacturers Produce 1018 Steel?
- Where is AISI 1018 Steel Used?
- Which 1018 Steel Manufacturer Should You Trust?
- About Waldun steel manufacturing company
- Interested to buy or enquire about 1018 steel?
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