Steel 4140

Aging Procedure

Not applicable to this alloy.

Annealing Procedure

Annealing is done at 1600 F followed by slow furnace cooling.

Applications

4140 is used in a tremendous variety of applications, too numerous to mention here.

Cold Workability

The alloy readily cold works in the annealed condition by conventional methods.

Forgeability

4140 may be forged at 2200 F down to 1700 F.

Formability

As with all the low alloy steels forming may be done by conventional methods with the alloy in the annealed condition. These alloys have good ductility, but are tougher than plain carbon steel and thus usually require more force, or pressure, for forming.

Hardening Procedure

Hardens by cold working, or heating and quenching - also see "Heat Treatment" and "Tempering".

Heat Treatability

This alloy is hardened by heating to 1550 F and quenching in oil. It is best to normalize the alloy by heating at 1675 F for a long enough time to permit thorough heating, followed by air cooling, prior to the hardening treatment.

Hot Workability

Hot working, if required, may be done in the range of 1900 F to 1500 F.

Machinability

Machinability of this alloy is good in the annealed condition. In the heat treated and quenched condition machining is best limited to finish grinding.

Principle Design Features

This is one of the chromium, molybdenum, manganese low alloy steels noted for toughness, good torsional strength and good fatigue strength.

Tempering Procedure

Tempering temperatures range from 400 F to 1200 F depending upon the hardness level desired. The lower the tempering temperature the greater the hardness of the alloy. For example tempering at 600 F gives a tensile strength of 225 ksi while tempering at 1000 F will give 130 ksi.

Weldability

Weldable by all of the conventional methods. Note that welding with the alloy in the heat treated condition will affect the mechanical properties and a post weld heat treatment may be needed.