Steel 1020

Aging Procedure

Not applicable.

Annealing Procedure

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.

Applications

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

Cold Workability

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

Forgeability

Forge at 2300 down to 1800 F.

Formability

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

Hardening Procedure

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

Heat Treatability

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 Workability

Hot work in the range of 900 to 1200 F.

Machinability

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

Principle Design Features

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.

Tempering Procedure

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.

Weldability

Readily weldable by all of the standard methods.