AISI 4340 Steel

Introduction

We manufacture forging ingots, billets, and blooms in AISI 4340 Steel, a nickel-chromium-molybdenum low alloy steel renowned for its exceptional strength, toughness, hardenability, and fatigue resistance.

AISI 4340 is widely used in applications requiring high mechanical performance under heavy loads and cyclic stresses.

It is commonly used for manufacturing forged shafts, gears, crankshafts, axles, fasteners, connecting rods, pressure vessel components, and other critical engineering forgings for the aerospace, automotive, oil & gas, power generation, mining, and heavy engineering industries.

Chemical Composition

Element Content (%) Function / Effect
Carbon (C) 0.38 – 0.43 Provides strength and hardness
Manganese (Mn) 0.60 – 0.80 Improves toughness and hardenability
Silicon (Si) 0.15 – 0.35 Enhances strength and acts as a deoxidizer
Nickel (Ni) 1.65 – 2.00 Improves toughness, strength, and impact resistance
Chromium (Cr) 0.70 – 0.90 Enhances hardenability, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance
Molybdenum (Mo) 0.20 – 0.30 Improves high-temperature strength and hardenability
Phosphorus (P) Max. 0.035 Controlled impurity for improved toughness
Sulphur (S) Max. 0.040 Controlled impurity for better machinability
Iron (Fe) Balance Base metal

Mechanical Properties

(Properties may vary depending on section size and heat treatment conditions.)

  • Tensile Strength: 745 – 1080 MPa
  • Yield Strength: 470 – 930 MPa
  • Hardness: 217 – 302 HB (Annealed Condition)
  • Elongation: Minimum 12%
  • Impact Toughness: Excellent
  • Fatigue Resistance: Excellent
  • Wear Resistance: Excellent
  • Hardenability: Excellent

Heat Treatment

  • Annealing: Improves machinability and relieves internal stresses.
  • Normalizing: Refines the grain structure and improves mechanical properties.
  • Quenching and Tempering: Produces high strength, toughness, and wear resistance.
  • Stress Relieving: Recommended after machining or welding where required.
  • Heat treatment parameters can be adjusted according to component size and application requirements.

Key Features and Benefits

  • Excellent strength-to-toughness ratio
  • Outstanding hardenability
  • Excellent fatigue resistance
  • High impact strength
  • Good wear resistance
  • Good machinability in the annealed condition
  • Excellent response to heat treatment
  • Reliable performance under heavy loads
  • Long service life in demanding applications

Typical Applications

  • Forged Shafts
  • Gears
  • Pinions
  • Crankshafts
  • Axles
  • Connecting Rods
  • Fasteners
  • Pressure Vessel Components
  • Aircraft Components
  • Mining Equipment
  • Oil & Gas Equipment
  • Heavy Engineering Forgings

Equivalent Steel Grades

AISI 4340 is commonly referenced as:

  • SAE 4340
  • EN24
  • DIN 1.6582
  • 34CrNiMo6 (Approximate Equivalent)
  • JIS SNCM439

Why Choose AISI 4340 for Your Application?

AISI 4340 offers an exceptional combination of high strength, toughness, fatigue resistance, and hardenability. Its nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy composition provides excellent mechanical performance even under severe loading conditions. It is an ideal material for manufacturing critical forged components that require superior reliability, durability, and long service life in demanding industrial applications.

Comparison Table for Similar Grades

Grade Carbon (%) Nickel (%) Key Applications Comments
AISI 4140 0.38 – 0.43 Shafts, Gears, General Engineering Cr-Mo alloy steel
AISI 4340 0.38 – 0.43 1.65 – 2.00 Aircraft Components, Gears, Shafts Excellent toughness and fatigue strength
EN24 0.36 – 0.44 1.30 – 1.70 Heavy-Duty Shafts and Gears British equivalent
34CrNiMo6 0.30 – 0.38 1.30 – 1.70 Heavy Engineering Components DIN equivalent

Summary

AISI 4340 is a nickel-chromium-molybdenum low alloy steel offering exceptional strength, toughness, fatigue resistance, and hardenability. It is widely used for manufacturing forged shafts, gears, crankshafts, axles, fasteners, connecting rods, pressure vessel components, and other critical engineering forgings for the aerospace, automotive, oil & gas, power generation, mining, and heavy engineering industries.

Kesari Alloys manufactures forging ingots, billets, and blooms in AISI 4340 Steel to meet the demanding requirements of high-performance forging applications.