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Latest News
03.Dec.2025
Material Knowledge
Major Alloying Elements in Steel and Their Effects
The performance of special steels isgreatly influenced by the types and amounts of alloying elements they contain.
To help our customers better understand the characteristics of the steels wesupply, we have summarized the roles and effects of the principal elements.
This information may serve as a reference when considering processingconditions and product applications.
| Element | Main Function | Explanation & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | Increases strength and hardness | Carbon is the most significant element affecting the hardness and strength of steel. Higher carbon content increases hardness and tensile strength, but generally reduces toughness. During quenching—rapid cooling after heating—austenite transforms into martensite, resulting in higher hardness. Therefore, material selection should ensure that the hardness meets the requirements of the intended application. |
| Manganese (Mn) | Strengthening ; enhances hardenability | Manganese increases the strength of steel and improves hardenability by allowing deeper hardness penetration during quenching. It also combines with sulfur to stabilize impurities and reduce the risk of hot shortness. |
| Chromium (Cr) | Improves wear resistance and hardenability | Chromium raises the achievable hardness after quenching and enhances resistance to wear. In alloy steels and stainless steels, chromium also contributes to improved corrosion resistance. |
| Nickel (Ni) | Enhances toughness and corrosion resistance | Nickel provides excellent toughness at low temperatures and improves overall corrosion resistance, helping retain performance under demanding environmental conditions. |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | Enhances hardenability and wear resistance | Molybdenum promotes hardening and helps maintain strength after heat treatment. It also improves high-temperature strength and resistance to wear. |
| Silicon (Si) | Strengthening ; deoxidizing element | Silicon contributes to increased strength and acts as a deoxidizer during steelmaking. It helps improve the stability of steel properties during processing and heat treatment. |
| Sulfur (S) | Improves machinability | Sulfur enhances machinability, especially in cutting operations. However, excessive sulfur may reduce toughness, so understanding the steel's characteristics is important. |
| Phosphorus (P) | Strengthening | Phosphorus increases the strength of steel. If present in excessive amounts, it may cause embrittlement, so attention to material characteristics is necessary. |
⚠️Notes
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The information above summarizes the general tendencies of each element's effect on steel.
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Actual material performance varies depending on interactions among elements and heat-treatment conditions.
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The steels supplied by our company are limited to specific grades.
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Please understand the characteristics of each element and use the material safely and appropriately.
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