A Comprehensive Guide to AISI 1045 Medium Carbon Steel

AISI 1045 steel is known for its good welding, machining, features and high strength and impact resistance. It is utilized in tempering or induction hardening conditions to achieve surface hardness up to 60HRC. It is supplied in hot rolled and normalized conditions. This article covers valuable information about the mechanical properties, application and benefits and limitation of AISI 1045 steel.

What is 1045 Steel

1045 steel is famous for durability, yield strength and having a versatile nature. It is medium carbon steel with almost 0.45% C. It is mostly utilized in industries due to high machinability, weldability and tensile strength. AISI 1045 is manufactured by melting iron and carbon with other alloying agents. Then it is shaped into hot rolled or forging methods. It is also utilized in induction hardened states to get high hardness in desired applications.

Induction hardened 1045 steel

Induction hardening

Specifications: Relevant ASTM and other standards

The relevant ASTM standards and other designation of AISI 1045 steel is below:

What are Equivalent Materials to 1045 Carbon Steel?

AISI 1045 steel is a very demanding material in industries. but there are few materials that are equivalent to 1045 steel. these are 50E (CSN), 080M46 (BS), and C45E (ISO) due to likewise properties.

Advantages of Using 1045 Carbon Steel: Strengths and Benefits

The benefits associated with AISI 1045 steel is as:

• It has high tensile strength suitable for many industrial applications.
• 1045 steel yield strength is also outstanding due to amount of carbon present in the composition.
• Machinability of AISI 1045 steel is good and can be formed into any shape and forms makes the manufacturing process efficient.  
• Weldability of AISI 1045 steel is also good and can easily be joint by any welding method.
• 1045 steel hardness is high due to presence of carbide in its microstructure. It also increases the wear resistance and frictional properties of the alloy.  

Disadvantages of Using 1045 Carbon Steel: Limitations and Drawbacks

There are few drawbacks associated with the AISI 1045 steel. these are:

• Corrosion resistance properties of the alloy is not good for harsh conditions. additional protective methods must be adopted to increase the corrosion resistance.
• It is utilized in induction hardened state but still has a limited hardness increment as compared to other steel grades. Therefore, hardness applications can be limited in this alloy.
• Cracks and distortion in microstructure can occur if improper welding and heat treatment methods are applied.
• Cost of AISI 1045 steel is high as compared to other steels. Cost is dependent on many factors like market demand, availability, quality, quantity and special requirements if any project has.

Chemical Composition

It is a medium carbon steel of carbon up to 0.45%. Carbon is the main reason for 1045 steel hardness, strength, and durability. It has good balance of toughness and strength. Hardness can also be increases through induction hardening.  Other alloying agents are also added to have a balance of remarkable properties.

Physical Properties

Mechanical Properties

How Strong is 1045 Carbon Steel

AISI 1045 steel yield strength is high and is considered a strong alloy. The main reason in its carbon content. This creates a microstructure of ferrite and pearlite. This contributes to high toughness and impact strength when in hot rolled conditions.

Machining

AISI 1045 steel has a good carbon content. This improves its machinability and weldability. Optimum machining properties obtained by having at least 0.20% carbon. In the case of 1045 steel, this carbon content makes the machining rating up to 65%. This percentage of machinability categorizes it as having very good machining properties. To get further improvement in machining, this alloy undergoes heat treatment or induction hardened or cold working or hot rolled.

Cost

AISI 1045 steel is a costly alloy than other alloys like 4140. Normally, the price varies with the length of round bars. A bar of 72” has a cost of $107.89 and a bar of 144” of $204.

Welding

AISI 1045 steel gives results of welding if proper welding procedure is carried out. Low hydrogen electrodes are used for the welding to get better 1045 steel hardness. Induction hardened 1045 steel has better hardness, but it still is limited to a few applications.

Considerations for successful welding of 1045 steel

For successful welding, following procedure must be carried out:

• Workpiece must be heated preheated to 300℃
• It is important to maintain same temperature through the welding process
• Slow cooling is required to get optimum 1045 steel yield strength
• Stress relieving must be carried out at 660℃max to get optimum 1045 steel hardness

Heat Treatment

AISI 1045 can be forged, annealed, normalized, tempered, stress relieved and hardened. To ge optimum 1045 steel hardness, the process is below:

Hardening

Heating at 850°C, holding until the workpiece has uniform temperature. Soaking for 15 mins and then quenching in water or salt water is recommended.

Tempering

Heat it to 650°C and hold until the workpiece has uniform temperature. Soaking for 1hr and then air cooling is recommended.

Annealing

Heat it to 850°C and hold until the workpiece has uniform temperature. Furnace cooling is recommended.

Normalizing

Heat it to 650°C and hold until the workpiece has uniform temperature. Soaking for 15mins and then air cooling is recommended.

1045 Steel vs 1018

1018 is preferred if cost- effectiveness, machining and formability in alloy is required. While 1045 steel yield strength and hardness is higher.

1045 VS 4140 Steel

4101 has higher hardness and strength because of having good combination of alloying agents. 1045 steel has good welding and machining features.

What is 1045 Steel Used for

AISI 1045 steel is one of the most commonly used alloys in industries that needs high strength and wear resistance. 1045 steel yield strength is suitable for application of machinery pars, crankshafts, and gears. Other applications are, die forging, axles, bolts, pins stud, support plates, yokes, fasteners, hot upsetting, hubs, sockets, spindles, worms, ratchets, guide rods, connecting rods, hydraulic clamps etc.

is 1045 Carbon Steel Good for a Katana

AISI 1045 steel has minimum acceptable standards for Katana sword. the 1045 steel yield strength is very less than the requirements. This type of words has high hardness and if a long-lasting blade is required, it is required to additional procedure to increase the toughness. 1060 has better Katana sword properties than 1045 because it has high hardness and strength.

1045 steel yield strength

1. 1045 steel hardness
2. aisi 1045 steel
3. hot rolled
4. induction hardened