Heat Treating Alloy Steel
Quality Processing for Alloy Steel
At Paulo, we pride ourselves on our long history of heat treating the full spectrum of alloy steels—from engineering grades to specialty alloys and beyond. With a deep understanding of varying alloys and their intrinsic properties, we’re able to enhance the performance, resilience, and longevity of your components for virtually any application.
High Strength and Ductility
Alloy steels stand out for their exceptional high strength and ductility. This unique combination allows for the creation of components that can bear significant stress and strain, making them indispensable in structural components and heavy machinery where failure is not an option. With advanced metallurgical knowledge and data-driven heat treating processes we can ensure alloy steel components meet the rigorous demands of their intended applications.
Specialty & Engineering Alloys
Alloying makes steel one of the versatile materials in manufacturing today, and are commonly used for demanding applications that require reliable components. Additives like chromium and molybdenum contribute to the material’s hardenability and resistance to wear and corrosion, while nickel enhances toughness. These enhancements allow for the customization of steel properties to fit specific applications.
Alloy Steel Components We Process
- Bolts
- Brackets
- Fasteners
- Gears
- Nuts
- Pinions
- Shafts
- Springs
Related
View AllAlloys We Process
4140 (Chrome-Molly Steel)
Chrome-Molly steel is a chromium- and molybdenum-containing low alloy steel noted for its outstanding mechanical properties. It is particularly well-suited for gears, shafts, and other applications requiring toughness and resistance to fatigue. Hardness Ranges: 4140 is commonly heat treated in the 28-37 HRC range for bolts and 42-47 HRC for springs, but the full achievable range for this material is 24-52 HRC.
4130
Known for its remarkable strength and toughness after heat treatment, alongside its weldability. Ideal for automotive and aerospace components. Hardness Ranges: 4130 is commonly heat treated in the 30-36 HRC range for brackets and 42-48 HRC for moving components, but the full achievable range for this material is 22-48 HRC.
6150
A chromium-vanadium alloy known for its high fatigue strength and resistance to abrasion; perfect for shafts and gears. Hardness Ranges: 6150 is commonly heat treated in the 48-53 HRC range for springs, but the full achievable range for this material is 24-60 HRC.
52100
High carbon, chromium steel used in bearings and other high-wear applications. It offers high hardness and moderate corrosion resistance. Hardness Ranges: 52100 is commonly heat treated in the 58-64 HRC range for bearings, but the full achievable range for this material is 50-64 HRC.
Heat Treatment Processes for Alloy Steel
Through Hardening
The most common thermal process we apply to alloy steels is through hardening to help parts withstand heavy loads during service. One exception to this is carburizing grades like 8620, which sometimes require other processes. Alloy steels are often selected for applications that require fully hardened parts with a thickness greater than ¼”. Carbon steels generally will not fully harden when thickness exceeds ¼”.
Through Hardening
The most common thermal process we apply to alloy steels is through hardening to help parts withstand heavy loads during service. One exception to this is carburizing grades like 8620, which sometimes require other processes. Alloy steels are often selected for applications that require fully hardened parts with a thickness greater than ¼”. Carbon steels generally will not fully harden when thickness exceeds ¼”.
Metallurgy Support for Alloy Steel
Part of our commitment to excellence in alloy steel processing is our unparalleled metallurgy support. Our team of metallurgists and heat treaters work collaboratively to identify optimal solutions for every alloy we work with, tailoring heat treatment outcomes to specific application of the components we process. This collaborative approach ensures that our clients receive the highest quality, performance, and reliability from their alloy steel components.
Featured Resources
Technical Article
Annealing vs. Stress Relieving Heat Treatment: What’s the Difference?
Annealing and stress relieving are heat treatment processes that are both used as an intermediate step…
Read Article
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