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Introduction
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Origin of the Coding System
Grading of AISI Materials
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Schematic Representation of AISI/SAE Steel Designation System interviews equipment stories
Understanding of the SAE/AISI Steel Numbering Designation System

Introduction

Origin of the Coding System

The early 1940’s witnessed the development of a coding system for the
classification of different types of steels. Designers, heat treaters, draftsmen, and
engineers were able to obtain specific information on the types of steel along
with its grades. The coding system is known for its efficient classification of steels
as it uses the standards from the American Iron and Steel Institute (A.I.S.I.) and
the Society of Automotive Engineers (S.A.E.).

Alloy steels and carbon steels for a number of years were designated with
specific grades by a four-digit SAE/AISE numerical index system. Grades for alloy
steels and carbon steels were identified by this system based on standard
chemical compositions. A discontinuity in the relationship between grade
designations and the AISI occurred as a result of the decision made by the AISI to
stop writing material specifications.

Grading of AISI Materials

A basic four-digit system is used by the SAE system to designate the chemical
composition of alloy steels and carbon steels. There is a possibility that AISI
grades are quoted as SAE grades and very often the same steel identification (http://www.azom.com/ads/abmc.aspx?
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number is present in AISI/SAE standards. A four-digit number is usually given to b=21475&z=10&cb=1) b=21474&z=20&cb=1)

the AISI alloy steels and carbon steels. The alloying element in the AISI
specification is indicated by the first two digits and the amount of carbon is
indicated by the last two digits.

The chemical composition of alloy steels and carbon steels is further explained in
the figure given below through a schematic representation of the AISI/SAE steel
designation system. (http://www.azom.com/ads/abmc.aspx?
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SAE/AISI Carbon Steel Naming Conventions Page 2 of 5

Schematic Representation of AISI/SAE Steel

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Designation System
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Stainless steels are also included in the AISI steel specifications range. The
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stainless steels are provided with three digit numbers starting with 2, 3, 4, or 5.
The 300 series austenitic stainless grades and the 400 series martensitic grades
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Given below is a table of AISI material grades explaining the steel type indicated
by each four digit number along with its specifications.
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Table 1. AISI Material Grades
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AISI Steel Specifications
Carbon Steel 10XX Plain carbon steel , Mn 1.00% max
11XX Resulfurized free cutting
Resulfurized - Rephosphorized free
12XX
cutting
15XX Plain carbon steel, Mn 1.00-1.65%
27 May 2017
Manganese Steel 13XX Mn 1.75%
Nickel Steel 23XX Ni 3.50%
25XX Ni 5.00%
Nickel Chromium Steel 31XX Ni 1.25%, Cr 0.65-0.80%
32XX Ni 1.75%, Cr 1.07%
33XX Ni 3.50%, Cr 1.50-1.57%
34XX Ni 3.00%, Cr 0.77% 5 Jun 2017
Molybdenum Steel 40XX Mo 0.20-0.25%
44XX Mo 0.40-0.52% Newsletters you may be
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Chromium Molybdenum Steel 41XX Cr 0.50-0.95%, Mo 0.12-0.30%
Nickel Chromium Molybdenum
43XX Ni 1.82%, Cr 0.50-0.80%, Mo 0.25% 3D Printing (/newsletters)
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Nickel Molybdenum Steel 46XX Ni 0.85-1.82%, Mo 0.20-0.25% ppnid=56))

48XX Ni 3.50%, Mo 0.25%

Chromium Steel 50XX Cr 0.27-0.65% Automotive (/newsletters)
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51XX Cr 0.80-1.05%
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51XXXCr 1.02%, C 1.00% min
52XXXCr 1.45%, C 1.00% min Heat Treatment
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Chromium Vanadium Steel 61XX Cr 0.60-0.95%, V 0.10-0.15% (/newsletters)
Tungsten Chromium Steel 72XX W 1.75%, Cr 0.75% (Preview
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Nickel Chromium Molybdenum
81XX Ni 0.30%, Cr 0.40%, Mo 0.12% ppnid=75))
Steel
86XX Ni 0.55%, Cr 0.50%, Mo 0.20%
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87XX Ni 0.55%, Cr 0.50%, Mo 0.25%
88XX Ni 0.55% Cr 0.50% Mo 0.35%
Related ANSI Standards
Silicon Manganese Steel 92XX Si 1.40-2.00%, Mn 0.65-0.85% Cr 0.65%
Nickel Chromium Molybdenum
93XX Ni 3.25%, Cr 1.20%, Mo 0.12% ASTM C565-15: Standard Test Methods for
Steel Tension Testing of Carbon and Graphite
94XX Ni 0.45%, Cr 0.40%, Mo 0.12% Mechanical Materials
97XX Ni 0.55%, Cr 0.20%, Mo 0.20%
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SAE/AISI Carbon Steel Naming Conventions Page 3 of 5

ASTM C808-75(2016): Standard Guide for

Understanding of the SAE/AISI Steel Numbering
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Designation System of Manufactured Carbon and Graphite
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Bearing and Seal Materials
Given below is a table illustrating the four-digit index classification of alloy steels
(/) by the SAE-AISI system. Articles (/articles.aspx) ASTM E110-14: Standard Test Method for
Rockwell and Brinell Hardness of Metallic
Materials by Portable Hardness Testers
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Table 2. Four-Digit Index Classification of Alloy Steels
ASTM E18-16: Standard Test Methods for
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SAE designation Type Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials

1xxx Carbon steels Videos (/materials-videos-index.aspx)

2xxx Nickel steels
3xxx Nickel-chromium steels Events (/events/events.aspx)
4xxx Molybdenum steels
5xxx Advertise (http://www.azonetwork.com/marketing-science/solutions)
Chromium steels
6xxx Chromium-vanadium steels
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7xxx Tungsten steels
8xxx Nickel-chromium-vanadium steels
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The first digit of AISI/SAE Steel  (https://twitter.com/AZoM)
Designation represents a general Related Stories
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category grouping of steels. This means • Comprehensive Market
that 1xxx groups within the SAE-AISI Research Report on US Steel
system represent carbon steels. Industry (/news.aspx?
Because of the variations in some of newsID=38705)
the fundamental properties among the
• Leaf Springs, Better by Design
carbon steels, they are further divided
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into four classes. Thus the plain carbon
• Global Research Report on
steels are represented within the 10xx
Stainless Steel Market
series containing a maximum of 1.00%
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Mn, resulfurized carbon steels are
represented within the 11xx series,
resulfurized and rephosphorized
carbon steels are represented within the 12xx series, and non-resulfurized high-
manganese (up-to 1.65%) carbon steels are represented in 15xx series. The non-
resulfurized high-manganese carbon steels are developed for ensuring better
machinability.

The second digit of the series indicates the presence of major elements, which
may affect the properties of the steel. For example in 1018 steel, the zero in the
10XX series depicts that major secondary elements such as sulfur, are not
present. Sulfur in the steel ensures better machinability, but all free machining
agents such as sulfur, lead, calcium, etc., are not clean or directly taken from the
earth. These free machining elements do not completely homogenize during the
steel making process and can also cause stringers, pockets or other faults which
can affect some of the properties of the steel.

The last two digits indicate that the carbon concentration is 0.01%. For instance,

SAE 1018 indicates non-modified carbon steel containing 0.18% of carbon.

SAE 5130 indicates a chromium alloy steel containing 1% of chromium and 0.30%
of carbon.

An additional letter is sometimes added between the second and third digits of
the code groups such as 11L41, 12L14 or 50B40. The letter L indicates the
addition of lead (between 0.15% and 0.35%) to improve the machinability of the
steel. The letter B indicates the addition of boron (between 0.0005% and 0.003%)
to low carbon steels to enhance the hardness of the steel. Further, the merchant
quality
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