Carbon Steels 1020

Not applicable.

A full anneal is done at 1600 to 1800 F followed by slow furnace cooling. This will give a tensile strength of about 65 ksi. A stress relief anneal may be done at 1000 F.

1020 steel is used for simple structural application such as cold headed bolts. It is often used in the case hardened condition.

1020 steel is readily cold worked by all conventional methods. A stress relief anneal may be needed after extensive cold work.

Forge at 2300 down to 1800 F.

Formability is good by all conventional methods as the ductility of 1020 is good.

1020 steel hardens by cold working an by heat treatment, quenching and tempering.

1020 may be hardened by heating to 1500 - 1600 F and then water quenching. It should then be tempered. More often it is used as case hardened by carburizing . The cost of doing any heat treatment to such a low carbon steel often precludes doing so for the modest return in mechanical properties obtained.

Hot work in the range of 900 to 1200 F.

Machinability is good at 65% compared to 1112 carbon steel as 100% baseline.

1020 is one of the very commonly used plain carbon steels. It has a nominal carbon content of 0.20% with approximately 0.50% manganese. It is a good combination of strength and ductility and may be hardened or carburized.

Temper, following heat treatment and quenching, at 600 to 1000 F depending upon strength level desired. A 1000 F temper gives a tensile strength of 90 ksi.

Readily weldable by all of the standard methods.