Alloy Steel/319

4140, 4140H
Chemical Composition. 4140. AISI and UNS: 0.38 to 0.43 C, 0.75
to 1.00 Mn, 0.035 P max, 0.040 S max, 0.15 to 0.30 Si, 0.80 to 1.10 Cr, 0.15
to 0.25 Mo. 4140H. AISI and UNS: 0.37 to 0.44 C, 0.65 to 1.10 Mn, 0.035
P max, 0.040 S max, 0.15 to 0.30 si, 0.75 to 1.20 Cr, 0.15 to 0.25 Mo
Similar Steels (U.S. and/or Foreign). 4140. UNSG41400;AMS
6381,6382,6390,6395; ASTM A322, A331, A505, A519, A547, A646;
MIL SPEC MIL-S-16974; SAE J404, J412, 1770; (Ger.) DIN 1.7225; (Fr.)
AFNOR 40 CD 4, 42 CD 4; (ltal.) UNI 40 CrMo 4, G 40 CrMo 4, 38 CrMo
4 KB; (Jap.) rrs SCM 4 H, SCM 4; (Swed.) SS14 2244; (UK) B.S. 708 A
42,708 M 40, 709 M 40. 4140H. UNS H41400; ASTM A304; SAE J407;
(Ger.) DIN 1.7225; (Fr.) AFNOR40 CD 4, 42 CD 4; (ltal.) UN! G 40 CrMo
4,40 CrMo 4, 38 CrMo 4 KB; (Jap.) 1IS SCM 4 H, SCM 4; (Swed.) SS14
2244; (UK) B.S. 708 A42, 708 M 40,709 M 40
Characteristics. Among the most widely used medium-carbon alloy
steels. Relatively inexpensive considering the relatively high hardenability
4140H offers. Fully hardened 4140H ranges from about 54 to 59 HRC,
depending upon the exact carbon content. Forgeability is very good, but
machinability is only fair and weldability is poor, because of susceptibility
to weld cracking
Forging. Heat to 1230 C (2250 OF). Do not forge after temperature of
forging stock below approximately 870C (1600 oF)
Recommended Heat Treating Practice
Normalizing. Heat to 870 C (1600 oF). Cool in air
Annealing. For a predominately pearlitic structure, heat to 845C (1555
"F), cool fairly rapidly to 755 C (1390 OF), then cool from 755C (1390
"F) to 665 C (1230 "F), at a rate not to exceed 14C (25 "F) per h; or heat
to 845C (1555 "F), cool rapidly to 675C (1245 OF), and hold for 5 h. For
a predominately spheroidized structure, heat to 750C (1380 OF), cool to
665 C (1230 "F) at a rate not to exceed 6 C (10 OF) per h; or heat to 750
C (1380 OF), cool fairly rapidly to 675C (1245 "F), and hold for 9 h
Hardening. Austenitize at 855C (1570 OF), and quench in oil
Tempering. Reheat after quenching to obtain the required hardness
Nitriding. 4140H responds to the ammonia gas nitriding process, result-
ing in a thin, file hard case, the outer portion of which is composed of
epsilon nitride. This constituent not only provides an abrasion-resistant
surface, but also increases fatigue strength of components such as shafts by
as much as 30%. However, if nitriding is considered, the steel must be
pretreated (hardened and tempered), and nitriding must be done on fmished
parts because any fmishing operation will remove the most useful portion
of the case. A typical processing cycle that includes nitriding is:
Rough machine
Austenitize at 845C (1555 OF)
Oil quench
Temper at 620 C (1150 OF)
Finish machine
Nitride at 525C (975 OF) for 24 h, using an ammonia dissociation of
30%; or nitride at 525C (975 OF) for 5 h with an ammonia dissociation
of25%, then at 565C (1050 "F) for 20 h with an ammonia dissociation
of75 to 80%
Certain proprietary salt bath nitridingprocesses are also applicable for surface
hardening of 4140H
Recommended Processing Sequence
Forge
Normalize
Anneal
Rough machine
Austenitize
Quench
Temper
Finish machine
Nitride (optional)
4140: Isothermal Transformation Diagram. Composition: 0.37 C, 0.77 Mn, 0.98 Cr, 0.21 Mo. Austenitized at 845C (1555 OF) Grain size:
7to 8
29
29
29
20
61
44
37
10
S 102 2 S 103 2
Time, sec
10
LtenL
-
-
A"
=
--
- As - - -
V
V
I--'/ r;...
-
/ I
V
!
(
r.....
'-
I"- ...... I'---r-.
I
Austenite
+ ferrite
....... r-
.........
-
V Austenite +ferrite + I'-....
- -A
1.0-
carbide
V
(,/
I- .-
V Ferrite +carbide

-
-
\ /
1
60%\ (
-
_.
--f-
1-- M
s-
___L
-- -
\:
.- -
I--t-- M
so
,
I--I-- MgO

"
E1000
8-
E
t!
800
1200
600
400
10-
1
u.
o
1400
1600
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320 I Heat Treater's Guide
4140H: End-Quench Hardenability
Distance from Distance from
10
quenched Hardness, quenched Hardness,
surface HRC surface HRC
%6 in. mm max min %6 in. mm max min 60
---
o
r---
1 1.58 60 53 13 20.54 55 38
a:
r---
I
--
I--- 2 3.16 60 53 14 22.12 54 37
50
........
3 4.74 60 52 15 23.70 54 36
c:
<,
--
r---
4 6.32 59 51 16 25.28 53 35

<,
r-- I
5 7.90 59 51 18 28.44 52 34
6 9.48 58 50 20 31.60 51 33
40
'-- 7 11.06 58 48 22 34.76 49 33
--
8 12.64 57 47 24 37.92 48 32
9 14.22 57 44 26 41.08 47 32
30
8 12 16 20 24 28 32
0 4
10 15.80 56 42 28 44.24 46 31
Distance from quenched surface, 1/16 in.
u 17.38 56 40 30 47.40 45 31
12 18.96 55 39 32 50.56 44 30
4140: Cooling Transformation Diagram. Composition: 0.44 C, 1.04 Mn, 0.29 Si, 1.13 Cr, 0.15 Mo. Austenitized at 845C (1555 OF). Grain
size: 9. Ac
a
, 795C (1460 OF); AC
ll
750C (1380 OF). A: austenite, F: ferrite, P: pearlite, B: bainite, M: martensite. Source: Bethlehem Steel
1600,------.-------,------,---.--------,,------.-----,-------,-----,


300
200

600
LL. 1000
!? 0
,;
i
Z
:J

"
0. 0.

E
I-
800

200L-__--L -':-__-----' -7- 100
2
10
Cooling time, sec
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Alloy Steel I 321
4140: Effect of Microstructure on Tool Life
Feed was 0.010 in./rev (0.25 mm/rev) for all specimens; depth of cut was 0.100 in. (2.5 mm).
Microstructure constituent, %
Tempered Cutting speed
Steel condition Hardness, HB Pearlite Ferrite martensite ft/min mmls
Normalized 192 90 10 300 1520
Annealed 180 65 35 360 1830
Quenched. tempered 300 100 300 1520
4140: Hardness vs Tempering Temperature. Normalized at 870
C (1600 OF). Quenched from 845C (1555 OF) in oil and tem-
pered in 56C (100 OF) intervals in 13.716 mm (0.540 in.) rounds.
Tested in 12.827 mm (0.505 in.) rounds. Source: Republic Steel
1200
600
1000
500 400
Tempering temperature, c
Tempering temperature, OF
600 800
300
I I I I
-.

0
'"
0
1\
'\
-.
0 20
400
500
30
600
'" J:
40
<:

J:
4140: Effect of Mass. Composition: 0.38 to 0.43 C, 0.75 to 1.00
Mn, 0.040 P max, 0.040 S max, 0.20 to 0.35 Si, 0.80 to 1.10 Cr.
0.15 to 0.25 Mo. Approximate critical points: Ac
l
, 730C (1350 OF);
Ac
a
, 805C (1480 OF); Ar
a
745C (1370 OF); Ar
l
, 680C (1255 OF).
Recommended thermal treatment: forge at 1205 C (2200 OF)
maximum. anneal at 815 to 870C (1500 to 1600 OF) for a maxi-
mum hardness of 197 HB, normalize at 845 to 900C (1555 to
1650 OF) for an approximate hardness of 311 HB; quench from
830 to 855C (1525 to 1570 OF) in oil. Test specimens were nor-
malized at 870 C (1600 OF) in over-sized rounds, quenched from
845C (1555 OF) in oil in sizes shown, tempered at 540 C (1000
OF), tested on 12.827 mm (0.505 in.) rounds. Tests from 38.1 mm
(1.5 in.) diam bars and over are taken at half radius position.
Source: Republic Steel
Size round Hardness, HRC
in. mm Surface %radius Center
1;2 13 57 56 55
1 25 55 55 50
2 51 49 43 38
4 102 36 34.5 34
Source: Bethlehem Steel
4140: As-Quenched Hardness
Specimens quenched in oil
[T-
i--;
I I I
---
'-
30
'" 300
J:
i3 280
s:
260
J:
Diameter, mm
60 90 120 150
240
1 4
Diameter, in.
4140: Gas Nitriding. Oil quenched from 845C (1555 OF), tem-
pered at 595 C (1105 OF), and nitrided at 550C (1020 OF)
0.10 ,------.------.-----,--_______,,, 2.5
0.081-----t----t-----r--------=t 2.0
80 20 40
Duration of nitriding, hr
0.02 1--r-"7''''-i----;-------r-------=t 0.5
E
E
O.061-------t-----""do-=----r-------=-i 1 5 oi
D .
o 0
E. 0.04 1.0 E-
o 0
.s
0

00

<Dei

4140: Depth of Hardness. 31.75 mm (1.25 ln.) diam bars,
through hardened by induction
0
6
a:
J: 58
Ii
1! 56
"E
54
o 3 4 6 7 9 10
Distance below surface, 1116 in.
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322/ Heat Treater's Guide
I I I
I
t.....
--
t--
-
4140: Effect of Mass. Composition: 0.38 to 0.43 C, 0.75 to 1.00
Mn, 0.040 P max, 0.040 S max, 0.20 to 0.35 Si, 0.80 to 1.10 Cr,
0.15 to 0.25 Mo. Approximate critical points: Ac
1
, 730C (1350 OF);
Ac
3
, 805C (1480 OF); Ar
3
, 745C(1370 OF); Ar
ll
680 DC (1255 OF).
Recommended thermal treatment: forge at 1205 DC (2200 OF)
maximum, anneal at 815 to 870 DC (1500 to 1600 OF) for a maxi-
mum hardness of 197 HB, normalize at 845 to 900 DC (1555 to
1650 OF) for an approximate hardness of 311 HB; quench from
830 to 855 DC (1525 to 1570 OF) in oil. Test specimens were nor-
malized at 870 DC (1600 OF) in over-sized rounds, quenched from
845 DC (1555 OF) in sizes shown, tempered at 650 DC (1200 OF),
tested on 12.827 mm (0.505 in.) rounds. Tests from 38.1 mm (1.5
in.) diam bars and over are taken at half radius position. Source:
Republic Steel
4140: Variations in Hardness after Production Tempering. (a)
76.2 mm (3 in.) diam valve bonnets. Steel from one mill heat. Parts
heated at 870 DC (1600 OF), oil quenched, and tempered at 605 DC
(1125 OF) to a hardness of 255 to 302 HB. (b) Valve segments,
12.7t025.4 mm (0.5to 1 in.) section thickness. Steel from one mill
heat. Parts heated at 870 DC (1600 OF), oil quenched, and tem-
pered at 580C (1075 OF) to a hardness of 321 to 363 HB
10 5
Batchnumber
I
""'specification range
I I
260
240
o 1
Cal
320
300
eo
I
i 280
c

I
150 120 90
Diameter, in.
Diameter, mm
60 30
co 280
I
.; 260

c 240

I 220
200
1
10
Batch number
0
..
I
0
0
.1 I
............. Specification range I
..
380
32
o 1
34
Cb)
m 36
I

c

I
E
E
"

0.5 _
o
s:

o
o
80 20 40 60
Duration of nitriding, hr
4
20
V

2
o
o
0.0


'"
c
0.0
'0
-s

0
4140: Depth of Case vs Duration of Nitriding. Double stage ni-
trided at 525 DC (975 OF). Numbers indicate hours of nitriding at 15
to 25% dissociation. Remainder of cycle at 83 to 85% dissociation
1.0
Cutting speed Metal removed
between grinds
Steel
condition Itlmin mls in.
3
m
3
Normalized ...... 300 1.5 165 2.3 x 10-
3
Annealed ....... 360 1.8 190 3.1 x 10 3
Annealed ....... 300 1.5 260 4.3 x 10-
3
Quenched and .... 300 1.5 115 1.9 x 10-
3
tempered
4140: Effect of Microstructure on Tool Life
20 40 60 80
Tool life between grinds, min
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Alloy Steel I 323
4140: Gas Nitriding. (a) 7 h, 2 suppliers, 20 to 30% dissociation; (b) 9 h, 2 heats, 25 to 30% dissociation; (c) 24 h, 2 suppliers, 20 to 30%
dissociation; (d) 40 h, 5 heats, 25 to 30% dissociation; (e) 90 h, 9 heats, 25 to 35% dissociation; (f) 25 h, 20 to 30% dissociation; (9) 35 h, 20
to 30% dissociation; (h) 50 h, 20 to 30% dissociation. For (f), (9), (h), 1: 21 to 23 HRC; 2: 26 to 28 HRC; 3: 33 to 35 HRC; 4: 36 to 37 HRC
core hardness
0.030 0.035
07
0.025 0.020 0.015
Distance below surface, mm
03 05
0.010 0.005
01
-
"'"

300
o
600
400
700
>l
J:
::i
1! 500
l'
..
J:
0.015 0.010 0.005
700,------..------rr-----,
600
Distance below surface, mm
0.125 0.250
(a) Distance below surface, in. (b) Distance belowsurface, in.
Distance below surface, mm
0.040
0.9
0.035 0.030
0.7
0.025
0.5
0.020 0.015
0.3
0.010 0.005
Distance belowsurface, in.
300'-----'----<------'------'----'-------'----'-------'
o
4001---1-----11-----1-----"1""""""'-
(dl
>l
J:
5001---+----P......

J:
0.020
Distance below surface, mm
0.1 0.3 0.5
>l
J:

c
l'
..
J:
Distance below surface, mm
o 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5


-6 400
:-
J: 300
o 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.10
Dlstanea balowsurface, In.
0.020 0.016 0.010 0.006
Dlstance balowsurfaea, mm
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
70
0
L..__--'-__--'-__--'-__....J
z

a:
J:
D'
" l'
761---t-
Distance below surface, in.
Distance below surface, in.
(el
(e)
Distancebelowsurface, mm
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
z

a:
J:
80
" l'
751---+--- '---t-----==""i_;;;;;:;:=""i

Z
ltI
a:
J:

J:
761----t---+--+"""'o;;;::-i
0.020 0.015 0.010 0.005
70'--_--J'--_--J'--_----'__----'
o 0.015 0.020 0.010 0.005
70'::-0_---:-,':-,---:_--'-__--'--__....J
(g) Distancebelowsurface, in.
(h)
Distanea balowsurface, In.
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324/ Heat Treater's Guide
4140: Microstructures. (a) 2% nital, 825x. Resulfurized forging normalized by austenitizing at 900C (1650 OF) %h, air cooling; annealed
by heating at 815C (1500 OF) 1 h, furnace cooling to 540C (1000 OF), air cooling. Blocky ferrite and fine-to-coarse lamellar pearlite. Black
dots are sulfide. (b) Nital, 500x. 25.4 mm (1 in.) diam, austenitized at 845C (1555 OF) 1 h, cooled to 650C (1200 OF), and held 1 h for iso-
thermal transformation, then air cooled to room temperature. White areas, ferrite; gray and black areas, pearlite with fine and coarse lamellar
spacing. (c) 2% nital, 500x. Hot rolled steel round bar. 25.4 mm (1 in.) diam, austenitized at 845C (1555 OF) for 1 h and water quenched.
Fine, homogeneous, untempered martensite. Tempering at 150C (300 OF) would result in a darker etching structure. (d) 2% nital, 500x.
Same as (c), except the steel was quenched in oil rather than water, resulting in the presence of bainite (black constituent) along with the
martensite (light). (e) 2% nital, 750x. Steel bar austenitized at 845C (1555 OF), oil quenched to 66C (150 OF), and tempered 2 h at 620C
(1150 OF). Martensite-ferrite-carbide aggregate. (f) As polished (not etched), 200x. Oxide inclusions (stringers) in a steel bar, 25.4 mm (1 in.)
diam. Stringers parallel to the direction of rolling on the as-polished surface of the bar. (g) Not polished, not etched, 8600x. Replica electron
fractograph showing the dimpled structure typical of the overstress mode of failure. (h) 2% nital, 400x. Oil quenched from 845C (1555 OF),
tempered for 2 h at 620C (1150 OF), surface activated in manganese phosphate, gas nitrided for 24 h at 525C (975 OF), 20 to 30% disso-
ciation. 0.0050 to 0.0076 mm (0.0002 to 0.0003 in.) white surface layer Fe
2N,
iron nitride, and tempered martensite. (j) 2% nital, 400x. Same
steel and prenitriding conditions as (h), except double stage gas nitrided: 5 h at 525C (975 OF), 20 to 30% dissociation; 20 h at 565C (1050
OF), 75 to 80% dissociation. High second-stage dissociation caused absence of white layer. Diffused nitride layer and a matrix of tempered
martensite
Alloy Steel/325
4140H: HardenabilityCurves. Heat-treating temperatures recommended by SAE. Normalize (for forged or rolled specimens only): 870C
(1600 OF). Austenitize: 845C (1555 OF)
Hardness limits for specification
Approximate diameters of rounds with
purposes
same as-quenched hardness (HRC), mm
Location in round Quench
J distance, Hardness, HRC 5075 Surface
Mild
mm Maximum Minimum 2030 60 90 3/4 radius from center water
20 30 40 50 60 80 100 Center
quench
1.5 60 53
3 60 52
20 40 60 80 100 Surface
Mild
5 60 52 15 30 45 60 75 90 3/4 radius from center oil
7 59 51 10 20 30 40 50 60 75 Center
quench
9 59 50
65
11 58 48
13 57 46
15 57 43
60
t-
I--
20 55 38
t--
I--
r--
25 53 35
55
------
30 51 33
r-
r-
-......
----
35 49 32 50
I'...
-
--
40 48 32
0
r-,
--
a:
-
45 46 31
I
45
<,
50 45 30
u>
en
<,
Q)
c;
"E 40
<,
'"
I
-------
35
--
I-
30
25
20
0 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Distance from quenched end, mm
Hardness limits for specification
Diameters of rounds with
Location in round Quench
purposes same as-quenched hardness (HRC), in.
2 4 Surface
Mild
J distance, Hardness, HRC
1 2 3 4 3/4 radius from center water
11t6in. Maximum Minimum
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 Center
quench
1 60 53
1 2 3 4 Surface
Mild
2 60 53
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 3/4 radius from center oil
3 60 52
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 Center
quench
4 59 51
5 59 51 65
6 58 50
7 58 48 60
-
8 57 47 r--
r---
9 57 44
r--..
55
-
10 56 42 l-
I--
I--
r--
11 56 40
50
r-----.-.. ;---
12 55 39
r-.
I-- 0
I--
r-- 13 55 38
a:
:-- I
14 54 37 u>
45
<, en
15 54 36
Q)
r-,
c;
16 53 35
"E 40
r-.
'" 18 52 34
I
r----
20 51 33 35
-
22 49 33
r--t---
24 48 32
30
26 47 32
28 46 31
25
30 45 31
32 44 30
20
20 22 24 26 28 30 32 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
Distance from quenched end, 1/16 in.
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