Before knowing which metal is the right fit for being alloyed with steel, it is important to know the effects of different metals on the properties of the resulting alloy.
Carbon
- Hardness ⬆️
- Strength ⬆️
- Ductility ⬇️
- Weldability ⬇️
- Machinability ⬇️
- Forgiability⬇️
Manganese
- Similar effect as of Carbon, but to a lesser degree/extent.
Chromium
- Hardness ⬆️
- Yield Strength ⬆️
- Strength ⬆️
Nickel
- Strength ⬆️
- Impact Strength ⬆️
- Toughness ⬆️
- Resistance to oxidation and corrosion ⬆️
Phosphorus
- Tensile Strength ⬆️
- Machinability ⬆️
- Brittleness ⬆️
Sulphur
- Wear Resistance ⬆️
- Machinability ⬆️
- Transverse Ductility ⬇️
- Impact Toughness ⬇️
Silicon
- Strength ⬆️
- Hardness ⬆️
- Ductility⬇️
- Removes Oxygen from molten iron metal.
Vanadium
- Refines the grain size
- Hardness ⬆️
- Fracture Toughness ⬆️
- Resistance to shock loading ⬆️
Molybdenum
- Strength at high temperatures ⬆️
- Corrosion resistance ⬆️
- Hardenability ⬆️
- Crip Strength⬆️
Cobalt
- Strength at high temperature ⬆️
- Magnetic Permeability ⬆️
Aluminium
- Helps in forming fine grains crystalline micro-structure and steel grades toughness.
Niobium
- Grain refining element
- Strong carbide former
Titanium
- Grain Size Growth ⬆️
- Toughness ⬆️
- Strength ⬆️
- Corrosion Resistance ⬆️
Adopted from the excerpts of the Material Science lectures by Dr. Sanjeet Kanungo.
Dr. Sanjeet Kanungo, India