The effect of cast steel chemical composition C, Si, Mn, S, P, Cr, Mo, Ni to

mechanical properties

The alloy composition of C, Si, Mn, S, P, Cr, Mo and Ni is very important for the mechanical
properties to carbon steel and alloy cast steel. Many steel casting buyers and manufacturers
hope to control these elements to the most reasonable range to improve the performance of
cast steel products. 

Herein, we briefly introduce the effect of these elements.

1. Carbon (C)

The carbon content will affect the hardness and welding property of the cast steel. 

Advantages:
Higher content will cause the higher hardness.

Disadvantages:
a. Higher content of C will cause worse welding property, in other words, more difficult for
welding, so most of welding part will require the mild carbon steel.
b. Moreover, higher content of C will cause worse plasticity and toughness.

2. Silicon (Si)

Advantages:
Silicon content also increases the hardness and wear resistance of cast steel.

Disadvantages:
High content of Si causes worse plasticity and toughness. 

3. Manganese (Mn)

Advantages:
a. Manganese can increase the tensile strength of cast steel.
b. Also could remove or improve the bad influence of Sulfur.
c. Mn could improve the hardening capacity of heat treatment. 
d. Moreover, higher Mn content could improve the abrasive resistance.

Disadvantages:
a. High content of Mn will cause worse welding capability.
b. High content will reduce the heat conductivity of steel, so easier to cause cracks.

4. Sulfur (S)

Disadvantages:
Normally, Sulfur is the harmful impurity of cast steel. Sulfur will cause fragile, especially
after quenching heat treatment, and during machining at high temperature. So lower Sulfur
will be better, normally less than 0.04%. 

5. Phosphorus (P)

Disadvantages:
Phosphorus will reduce the plasticity and toughness of cast steel, especially at low
temperature. So, it is better to control it less than 0.04%.

6. Chrome (Cr)

Advantages:
a. Chrome could improve the hardening capacity of heat treatment, and especially improve
the abrasive resistance.
b. In addition, high content of Cr could improve the corrosion resistance, so it is an
important alloy for stainless steel.

Disadvantages:
Chrome will reduce the plasticity of cast steel. 

7. Molybdenum (Mo)

Advantages:
a. Molybdenum could improve the hardening capacity, and heat-resisting strength of heat
treatment, so it could reduce the brittleness of quenching treatment. 
b. Mo alloy can also improve the surface abrasive resistance.
8. Nickel (Ni)

Advantages:
a. Nickel could improve the tensile strength and toughness of cast steel, improve the
hardening capacity of heat treatment. 
b. High content of Ni could improve the corrosion resistance and the properties of other
alloys. 

Although Cr, Mo, Ni alloys have many advantages, and almost zero disadvantages, but their
material costs are very high, so will cause the high prices to cast steel parts.

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BS970: 1955 EN19
BS970/PD970: 1970 onwards: 709M40
Related European grades: 42CrMo4
Werkstoff no.: 1.7225
US Grades: SAE (AISI): 4140

  High Peak Steels Colour coding – EN19/EN19T – 709M40 – Brown

EN19 also known as 709M40 is a high quality alloy steel, renowned for its good ductility and shock resistant and
its resistance to wear properties. It is suitable for gears, pinions, shafts, spindles,; it is now also widely used in the oil
and gas industry.

EN19 is normally supplied as high tensile grades EN19T (709M40T) or EN19U. EN19T has a tensile strength
of 850-1000 N/mm². For additional wear resistance EN19T can be nitrided.

A closely related grade to EN19 is 708M40. High Peak Steels can supply EN19 in bright and black bar from Stock

EN19 (709M40 ) Specification

Chemical composition

Carbon 0.36-0.44%

Silicon 0.10-0.40%

Manganese 0.70-1.00%

Sulphur 0.040 Max

Phosphorus 0.035 Max

Chromium 0.90-1.20%

Molybdenum 0.25-0.35%

Nickel –

EN19T (709M40T) – mechanical properties in “T” condition

Max Stress 850-1000 n/mm2

Yield Stress 700 N/mm2 Min

0.2% Proof Stress 680 N/mm2 Min  subject to ruling section

Elongation 9% Min

Impact KCV 55 Joules Min

Hardness 248-302 HB

EN19 can be supplied heat treated to the following conditions:

Condition Tensile Yield Stress Elongation Impact KCV J Hardness HB

2
Strength N/mm N/mm2

S 775-925 555 13 22 223-277

T 850-1000 680 13 50 248-302

U 925-1000 755 12 42  269-331

High Peak Steels is a stockist and supplier of EN19 and EN19T steel. We deliver locally and nationally. We
stockEN19 in black bar and EN19T in bright bar.