1020 carbon steel 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. Formability is good by all conventional methods as the ductility of 1020 carbon steel is good.
AISI 1020 carbon steel has low hardenability properties and is a low tensile carbon steel with a Brinell hardness of 119 – 235, and a tensile strength of 410-790 MPa. It has high machinability, high strength, high ductility and good weldability. It is normally used in turned and polished or a cold drawn condition. Due to its low carbon content, it is resistant to induction hardening or flame hardening. Due to lack of alloying elements, it will not respond to nitriding.
The chemical composition of AISI 1020 carbon steel is outlined in the following table.
| Element | C | Mn | P | S | More |
| Min | 0.18 | 0.3 | - | - | ①②③④⑤ |
| Max | 0.23 | 0.6 | 0.04 | 0.05 |
① When carbon steel is required to specify the Si content, it is usually selected according to the following five grades: Si≤ 0.10%, 0.10%~0.20%, 0.15%~0.35%, 0.20%~0.40%, 0.30%~0.60%.
② When the content of copper and Cu is specified for carbon steel, Cu ≥ 0.2%.
③ When it is necessary to add lead Pb element to the standard steel, the specified range is 0.15%~0.35% (including 0.35%). Such steel is identified by inserting the letter L between the second and third digits of the grade name, for example 10L45. When lead Pb was added to the ladle, no thermal analysis was performed.
④ When boronization of killed steel is specified, the content of boron in the steel should reach 0.0005%~0.003%. Steel containing titanium is not allowed, and the upper limit of boron content can reach 0.005%.
⑤ When the supply and demand sides reach an agreement, bismuth, calcium, selenium or tellurium can be added to carbon steel.
ASTM AISI SAE 1020 carbon steel equivalent material to European EN (Germany DIN EN, British BSI, French NF…), Chinese GB and Japanese JIS standard. AISI 1020 Steel Equivalent Material
| High quality carbon structural steel | ||||||||||||
| China | Taiwan | Japan | Korea | USA | Germany | France | Russia | Sweden | UK | |||
| GB | ISC | CNS | JIS | KS | ASTM/AISI | UNS | DIN EN/DIN | W-Nr. | NF EN/NF | GOST | SS | BS EN/BS |
| 20 | U20202 | S20C | S20C | SM20C | 1020 | G10200 | C22E | 1.1151 | C22E | 20 | 1435 | C22E |
| Ck22 | XC18 | 070M20 | ||||||||||
| Diameter mm | Tensile Strength Mpa | Yield Strength Mpa | Elongation % | Reduction of area % | Condition |
| ≤ 16 | 500 - 650 | ≥ 340 | ≥20 | ≥50 | Quenched and tempered |
| >16 – 40 | 470 - 620 | ≥290 | ≥22 | ≥50 | |
| ≤ 16 | ≥430 | ≥240 | ≥24 | Normalised | |
| >16 – 100 | ≥410 | ≥3210 | ≥25 |
In the cold drawn or turned and polished condition, 1020 carbon steel has high machinability. Following the recommendations of machine manufacturers, 1020 carbon steel can be used for drilling, turning, milling and tapping operations using suitable feeds, tool type and speeds.
AISI 1020 carbon steel can be welded by performing the most common welding processes. In the cold drawn or turned and polished condition, it has better weldability. It has been suggested that the welding process should not be performed in heat treated or carburized condition.
1020 carbon steel is heated at 870°C - 910°C followed by a period of holding for a specific amount of time, until the temperature remains constant all over the section. It is then cooled in a furnace.
AISI 1020 is heated to between 880°C - 920°C in a suitable carburizing atmosphere followed by holding for a sufficient amount of time to produce the required carbon content and case depth. After this, refining/hardening and tempering processes are carried out to optimize the core and case properties.
1020 carbon steel is slowly cooled and re-heated at 870°C - 900°C followed by a period of holding until the temperature remains constant all over the section and is quenched in water, oil or brine.
After performing the core refining process, it is re-heated to 760°C - 780°C followed by a period of holding until the temperature is consistent all over the section. It is then quenched in water.
1020 carbon steel is re-heated at 150°C - 200°C followed by a period of holding for a certain time until the temperature remains constant throughout the section. It is soaked for 1 hour per 25 mm of section, and then cooled under normal atmosphere. By performing the tempering process, the toughness of the case will be improved and grinding cracks will be reduced.
1020 carbon steel is heated at 890°C - 940°C followed by a period of holding until the temperature remains constant throughout the section. It is soaked for 10 - 15 minutes and then cooled in still air.
1020 carbon steel is heated to 650°C - 700°C followed by holding until the temperature remains constant all over the section and soaking for 1 hour per 25 mm of section. It is then cooled in still air.
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