Applications of 52100 Alloy Steel Tubing

General 52100 is a high-carbon chromium alloy steel, which, because of its versatility, is used in a variety of mechanical applications.  In the annealed condition this steel is comparatively easy to machine, yet very high hardness and abrasion resistance can be developed by heat treatment to make the steel particularly suitable for applications requiring extreme wear resistance.  In addition, 52100 alloy steel can be heat treated to high levels of tensile strenght and fatigue strength.    Applications Some of the typical applications of 52100 steel tubing are: -Sleeves -Guides -Slitting Rolls and Knives -Spindles -Precision Instrument Parts -Bushings -Collets -Stamping Tools -Gears -Seals -Dies -Gages -Molds   Comparison with Other Materials Tool Steels - Compared with tool steels in general, 52100 is less expensive and is much easier to handle.  It is easier to form and machine than most tool steels yet can, after simple heat treatment, develop many of the proporties of tool steels. Carburizing Grades - Compared with the carburizing grades of alloy steels, 52100 sacrifices some machinability but in return the user has a material with a much more simple and inexpensive heat treatment that minimizes distortion. -Forming Rolls -Pins -Collars -Spacers -Machine Tool parts -Pump Parts -Tools -Thrust Collars -Anti-Friction Bearings -Engine Parts -Rollers -Cylinder Liners -Hydrualic Parts -Clutch Faces -Disintegrater Rolls Steel Quality The steel from which 52100 tubing is produced is made in electric furnaces using special refining techniques, which insure maximum cleanliness and freedom from objectionable microscopic slag type inclusions.  This steel is made to conform to the stringent chemical and cleanliness requirements of ASTM Specification A 295. Basic Characteristiscs of 52100 Alloy Steel Tubing Three compositions of 52100 have been developed with a wide range of hardenabilities which are suitable for nearly any application requiring high hardness throughout medium to heavy sections.  These analyses are as follows in order of increasing hardenability: Analyses, % 52100 is recommended for through hardening by oil quenching in sections up to 0.5 inch.  For sections over 0.5 inch it may be necessary to water-quench for full hardness.  In order to eliminate the necessity of water-quenching and subsequent danger of distortion or cracking, two modifications have been developed for oil quenching, 52100 MOD #1 MOD #2 Carbon .93-1.05 .92-1.02 .87-.97 Manganese .25-.45 .95-1.25 1.40-1.70 Phosphorus .025 max .025 max .025 max Sulphur .025 max .025 max .025 max Silicon .20-.35 .50-.70 .60-.80 Chromium 1.30-1.60 .90-1.15 1.40-1.70 Condition 52100 alloy steel tubing is generally furnished in the spheroidized annealed condition with maximum Brinell Hardness Number 207 for hot-finished or turned tubing, and 250 for cold-drawn tubing; roto-rocked tubing may exhibit a Brinell Hardness Number as high as 320.  As furnished, each finish is in a condition for optimum machinability for its type, and for maximum uniformity after heat treatment. The long spheroidizing anneal may decarburize the OD and ID tube surfaces to the depth shown in Table I of ASTM Specification A 295. This shallow decarburized surface must be removed in machining. MOD #1, which is recommended for sections 0.5 to 0.75 inch, and MOD#2 for sections from 0.75 to 1.5 inch. Size Ranges These grades of tubing are furnished in the four size ranges of finishes shown below. Size Range, OD, inches Type OD Hot-finished Up to 12 Turned Up to 9 Cold-drawn Up to 9.125 Roto-Rocked Up to 3.125