ENGINEERING STEELS + ALLOYS

4140 High Tensile Steel

4140 is a 1% chromium - molybdenum medium hardenability general purpose high tensile steel - generally  supplied hardened and tempered in the tensile range of 850 - 1000 Mpa (condition T).4140 is now available with improved machinability, which greatly increases feeds and/or speeds, while also extending tool life without adversley affecting mechanical properties.

Pre hardened and tempered 4140 can be further surface hardened by flame or induction hardening and by nitriding.
4140 is used extensively in most industry sectors for a wide range of applications such as:
Adapters, Arbors, Axle Shafts, Bolts, Crankshafts, Connection Rods, Chuck Bodies, Collets, Conveyor Pins & Rolls, Ejector Pins, Forks, Gears, Guide Rods, Hydraulic Shafts & Parts,Lathe Spindles, Logging Parts, Milling Spindles, Motor Shafts, Nuts, Pinch Bars, Pins Various, Pinions, Pump Shafts, Rams, Sockets, Spindles, Sprockets, Studs, Tool Holders, Torsion Bars, Worms etc..
Colour Code Stocked Sizes
Dark Blue (Bar End)
Rounds 8 mm to 690 mm Diameter
Hexagons 19.05 mm to 65 mm A/F
Hollow Bar 63 mm to 250 mm OD
Square 32 mm to 130 mm
Bar Finish
Peeled, Cold Drawn, Turned and Polished, Centreless Ground. or Hot Rolled.
Related Specifications
Australia AS 1444-1996-4140
Germany DIN 17212 W.Nr 1.7223 Type 41CrMo4
DIN 17200-1654 W.Nr 1.7225 Type 42CrMo4
DIN 17200 W.Nr 1.7227 Type 42CrMoS4
Great Britain BS970-1955 EN19A
BS970 Part 3:1991 709M40
International ISO 683/II Type 3
ISO 683/IV Type 3a
ISO 683/IV Type 3b
Japan JIS G 4103 SNCM4
JIS G 4105 SCM4
JIS G 4105 SCM440
USA AISI 4140
ASTM A29/A29M-91 4140
ASTM A322 4140
ASTM A331 4140 (Cold Finish)
SAE 4140
Chemical Composition (Base Material)
Min. % Max %
Carbon 0.36 0.44
Silicon 0.10 0.40
Manganese 0.65 1.10
Chromium 0.75 1.20
Molybdenum 0.15 0.35
Phosphorous 0 0.04
Sulphur 0 0.04
Mechanical Property Requirements for Steels in the Heat-Treated Condition for Turned,
Peeled or Ground Finish to AS1444-1996 4140 and BS970 Part 3-1991 709M40
Mechanical Property Designation R S S *T U V W
Limited Ruling Section mm 250 250 150 100 63 30 20
Tensile Strength Mpa Min 700 770 770 850 930 1000 1080
Max 850 930 930 1000 1080 1150 1230
0.2% Proof Stress Mpa Min 480 540 570 655 740 835 925
Elongation on
5.65√S0 %
Min 15 13 15 13 12 12 12
Izod Impact J Min 34 27 54 54 47 47 40
Charpy Impact J Min 28 22 50 50 42 42 35
Hardness Brinell HB Min 201 233 233 248 269 293 311
Max 255 277 277 302 331 352 375
*Material stocked generally in condition T
Check test certificate if critical for end use.
Mechanical Property Requirements for Steels Heat-Treated, and then Cold Finished to
AS 1444 - 1996, and BS 970 Part 3 - 1991 709 M40
Mechanical Property Designation R S T U V
Limited Ruling Section 63 63 63 63 63
Tensile Strength Mpa Min 700 770 850 930 1000
Max 850 930 1000 1080 1150
0.20% Proof Stress Mpa Min 525 585 680 755 850
Elongation on 5.65√S0 % Min 12 11 9 9 9
Hardness Brinell HB Min 201 223 248 269 293
Max 255 277 302 331 352
*Material stocked generally in condition T
Check test certificate if critical for end use.
Forging
Heat to 1150 oC - 1200 oC maximum, hold until temperature is uniform throughout the section.
Do not forge below 850 oC.Following forging operation the work piece should be cooled as slowly as possible.
Heat Treatment
Annealing
Heat to 800 oC - 850 oC, hold until temperature is uniform throughout the section and cool in furnace.
Flame or Induction Hardening
4140 hardened and tempered bar can be further surface hardened by either the flame or induction hardening methods resulting in a case hardness in excess of Rc 50.Parts should be heated as quickly as possible to the austenitic temperature range (840 C - 870 C) and "required case depth followed by an immediate oil or water quench, depending upon hardness required, workpiece" size/shape and quenching arrangements.

Following quenching to hand warm, most components should be tempered between 150 C - 200 C to remove quenching stresses in the case. This will have little effect on case hardness and will reduce the risk of grinding cracks.
Hardening
Heat to 840 oC - 875 oC, hold until temperature is uniform throughout the section, soak for 10 - 15 minutes per 25 mm section, and quench in oil, water, or polymer as required.*Temper immediately while still hand warm.
Nitriding
4140 hardened and tempered bar can also be successfully nitrided, giving a surface hardness of up to Rc 60. Nitriding is carried out at 490 oC - 530 oC, followed by slow cooling (no quench) reducing the problem of distortion. Parts can therefore be machined to near final size, leaving a grinding allowance only. The tensile strength of the core is usually not affected since the nitriding temperature range is generally below the original tempering temperature employed.
Normalizing
Heat to 870 oC - 900 oC, hold until temperature is uniform throughout the section, soak for 10 - 15 minutes and cool in still air.
Stress Relieving
Heat to 680 oC - 700 oC, hold until temperature is uniform throughout the section, soak for 1 hour per 25 mm section, and cool in still air.
Tempering
Re-heat to 550 oC - 700 oC as required, hold until temperature is uniform throughout the section, soak for 1 hour per 25 mm of section, and cool in still air.
Notes on Heat Treatment
Heating temperatures, rate of heating and soaking times will vary due to factors such as work piece size/shape also furnace type employed, quenching medium and work piece transfer facilities etc..Please consult your heat treater for best results.
Machining
4140 in the hardened and tempered as supplied condition has good to very good machinability and operations such as sawing, turning, drilling, broaching, hobbing, milling and tapping can be carried out satisfactoraly using machine manufacturers recommendations for suitable tool type - feeds and speeds.
Welding
Welding of 4140 in the hardened and tempered condition (as normally supplied), is not recommended and should be avoided if at all possible, as the mechanical properties will be altered within the weld heat affected zone. It is preferred that welding be carried out on 4140 while in the annealed condition, and that the work piece, immediately on cooling to hand warm, is then stress relieved at 595 oC - 620 oC prior to hardening and tempering.If welding in the hardened and tempered condition is really necessary, then the work piece, immediately on cooling to hand warm, should be stress relieved at 15 oC below the original tempering temperature.
Welding Procedure
Welding of 4140 in whatever condition should always be carried out using low hydrogen electrodes - please consult your welding consumables supplier.
Suggested pre-heat temperature
Section 25mm 40mm 50mm 75mm 150mm +
oC 370 400 425 455 510
Post Welding
Maximum cooling rate 95 oC per hour down to 95 oC, follow by cooling in still air. N.B. No draught.It is recommended that the work piece if possible is wrapped in an heat resistant blanket or buried in sand etc..
Interlloy believes the information provided is accurate and reliable. However no warranty of accuracy, completeness or reliability is given, nor will any responsibility be taken for errors or omissions.