Tensile strength of an alloy steel can be improved using ____

Alloying element

Effects

Boron

• It is very effective in increasing the hardenability of low and medium carbon steel.
• It has no effect on the tensile strength of steel.

Chromium

• It makes steel tough and hard
• It also refines the grain structure
• It increases resistance to corrosion property of steel

Nickel

• It increases the critical range of temperature.
• It increases tensile strength without decreasing ductility

Manganese

• It is added as a deoxidizing and desulphurizing agent
• It lowers the critical range of temperature

Silicon

• Deoxidizing agent
• When added to low carbon steel it gives a brittleness and high magnetic permeability.

Vanadium

• It is used to toughen or strengthen the steel.
• It is also used to reduce grain size and to act as a cleanser and detoxifier.
• It has a desirable effect of increasing tool life.

Tungsten

• It is widely used in tool steels because the tool maintains at its hardness even at red heat.

Cobalt

• It is commonly used in high-speed steels to increase hot hardness so that cutting tools can be used at high cutting speed and temperature and still retain their hardness.
• It increases magnetism and coercive magnetic force in steel.

Copper

• It lowers the critical temperature.
• It improves resistance to atmospheric corrosion property

• It improves hardenability; it deoxidizes steels.