AISI 1020 Carbon Steel (UNS G10200)

AISI 1020 Carbon Steel (UNS G10200)

Written by AZoM

Jun 7 2013

Topics Covered
Introduction
Chemical Composition
Physical Properties
Mechanical Properties
Thermal Properties
Other Designations
Fabrication and Heat Treatment
Machinability
Forming
Welding
Heat Treatment
Forging
Hot Working
Cold Working
Annealing
Tempering
Hardening
Applications

Introduction
Carbon steels is a category of steel, which contains 0.12 to 2% carbon. This steel
category gains hardness and strength with heat treatment when the percentage of
carbon content increases but the ductility is reduced.
AISI 1020 carbon steel is a commonly used plain carbon steel. It has a good
combination of strength and ductility and can be hardened or carburized.
The following sections will discuss in detail about AISI 1020 carbon steel.

Chemical Composition

Saved from URL: http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=9145

/5

AISI 1020 Carbon Steel (UNS G10200)

The chemical composition of AISI 1020 carbon steel is outlined in the following table.
Element

Content (%)

Manganese, Mn

0.30-0.60

Carbon, C

0.18-0.23

Sulfur, S

0.05 (max)

Phosphorous, P

0.04 (max)

Iron, Fe

Balance

Physical Properties
The physical properties of AISI 1020 carbon steel are tabulated below.
Properties
Density

Metric
7.87

Imperial

g/cm3

0.284 lb/in3

Mechanical Properties
The following table shows mechanical properties of cold rolled AISI 1020 carbon steel.
Properties

Metric

Imperial

Tensile strength

420 MPa 60900 psi

Yield strength

350 MPa 50800 psi

Modulus of elasticity

205 GPa 29700 ksi

Shear modulus (typical for steel)

80 GPa 11600 ksi

Poissons ratio

0.29

0.29

Elongation at break (in 50 mm)

15%

15%

Hardness, Brinell

121

121

Hardness, Knoop (converted from Brinell hardness)

140

140

Hardness, Rockwell B (converted from Brinell hardness)

68

68

Hardness, Vickers (converted from Brinell hardness)

126

126

Machinability (based on AISI 1212 steel. as 100 machinability)

65

65

Thermal Properties
The thermal properties of cold rolled AISI 1018 carbon steel are given in the following
table.
Properties
Thermal conductivity

Saved from URL: http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=9145

Metric
51.9 W/mK

Imperial
360 BTU in/hr.ft2.
F

/5

AISI 1020 Carbon Steel (UNS G10200)

Thermal expansion co-efficient (@0.000-100C/32-

11.7 m/m

212F)

6.50 m/mC

Other Designations
Other designations that are equivalent to AISI 1018 carbon steel include the following.
SAE

ASTM A513 (MT

ASTM A512 (1020, MT

J1397

1020)

1020)

AMS 5054

AMS 5045C

AMS 5045

AMS 5032B SAE J412

AFNOR CC
20
SS 1450
DIN 1.0402
UNI C 20
MIL T-3520

AMS 5032 SAE J403

AMS 5046 SAE J414

MIL S-11310 (CS

1020)
ASTM A830

B.S. 070 M

ASTM

ASTM A787 (MT

20

A635

1020)

B.S. 040 A

ASTM

20

A827

ASTM A510

ASTM
A519

ASTM A29
MIL S-7952
MIL S-16788

ASTM A794

ASTM A108

ASTM A544

ASTM A575

ASTM A576 ASTM A659

Fabrication and Heat Treatment

Machinability
Machinability of AISI 1020 carbon steel is good at 65% compared to AISI 1112 carbon
steel.

Forming
It is easy to form AISI 1020 carbon steel using all the conventional methods as this
alloy is highly ductile.

Welding
AISI 1020 carbon steel can be welded easily using all of the traditional methods.

Heat Treatment
Saved from URL: http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=9145

/5

AISI 1020 Carbon Steel (UNS G10200)

AISI 1020 carbon steel can be hardened by heating between 815- 871C (1500 1600F), which should be followed by water quenching. Then it should be tempered.

Forging
AISI 1020 carbon steel should be forged at 1260C (2300F) down to 982C (1800F).

Hot Working
AISI 1020 carbon steel can be hot worked in the range of 482 to 649C (900 to
1200F).

Cold Working
Cold working AISI 1020 carbon steel is possible using all the conventional methods. In
case of prolonged cold working, it is recommended that stress relief annealing be
carried out.

Annealing
Complete annealing of this alloy can be achieved between 871-982C (1600 to
1800F) followed by slow furnace cooling. This will provide the alloy with a tensile
strength of about 65 ksi. A stress relief annealing can be performed if required at
538C (1000F).

Tempering
Tempering should be followed by heat treatment and quenching at 315 to 538C (600
to 1000F) based on the strength level required. For example 538C (1000F) temper
provides the alloy with a tensile strength of 90 ksi.

Hardening
AISI 1020 carbon steel can be hardened by cold working and by heat treatment,
quenching and tempering.

Applications

Saved from URL: http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=9145

/5

AISI 1020 Carbon Steel (UNS G10200)

AISI 1020 carbon steel is used for simple structural applications such as cold headed
bolts. It is commonly used in the case hardened condition.
The other applications of this alloy are as follows:
Pins
Shafts
Chains
Lightly stressed gears
Hard wearing surfaces
Case hardened components where core strength is not essential.

Saved from URL: http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=9145

/5