4130HW Alloy Steel

Technical Data

4130HW meets standard 4130 but is modified through tight composition control to improve
hardenability and strength in heavier sections.

Alloy Description
TimkenSteels 4130HW steel is a fine-grained, low-alloy
steel that offers optimum heat-treat response in heavier
cross-sections. It is used in a variety of bar and tubing
applications in quenched/tempered conditions. Yield
strengths range from 80 ksi through 95 ksi but may be
tempered to higher strength levels.
4130HW combines a medium carbon content with
alloying to improve hardenability. Because the carbon
level is lower, 4130HW can typically tolerate more
aggressive quenching, leading to improved as-quenched
hardness and post-temper properties. Micro-alloying
additions are made to increase temper resistance and
provide grain-size control. The fine grain structure
enhances toughness at all strength levels.
4130HW is produced using the electric arc-furnace
method. After the melting process, the molten steel is
transferred to a ladle refiner for alloy adjustments and
vacuum de-gassing. By performing inert gas stirring
under a near-perfect vacuum, impurities and harmful
gases are removed. This melting and refining process
path reduces levels of elements such as phosphorus

and sulfur. Refining and inclusion engineering practices

are controlled to optimize strength and toughness
properties in both the longitudinal and transverse
directions of the final product. It also enhances resistance
to sulfide stress corrosion.
After refining the steel, it is teemed into large bottompoured ingot molds or continuously cast into large
blooms. These ingots or blooms may be rolled into solid
rounds for machining/forging or for conversion into
seamless mechanical tubing.

Alloy Type
Hardenable, low alloy steel.

Typical Applications
Oil and gas completion equipment such as packers and
liner hanger components and wellhead components
including ball valves, gate valves, manifolds, crossover
flanges, adapter flanges, slips and blow out preventers
(BOPs).

Procedure and Results

Chemistry
C

Mn

Si

Cr

Ni

Mo

Nb

Typical 4130HW

0.31

0.58

0.32

1.07

0.15

0.21

0.025

0.028

Typical 4130

0.31

0.57

0.28

0.93

0.12

0.19

0.006

0.002

AISI 4130
Standard Limits

0.25/
0.33

0.40/
0.60

0.80/
1.10

0.15/
0.25

Physical Properties
Value (Units)
Density

0.284 lb/in3 (7.85 g/cm3)

Thermal Conductivity

296 BTU-in/hr-ft2-F (0.106 cal-cm/s-cm2-C) at 212F (100C)

Specific Heat

0.114 Btu/lb/F (0.16 cal/g/C) at 122-212F (50-100C)

Thermal Expansion Coefficient

6.78 8.11 in/in-F (12.2 14.6 m/m-K) at 68-212F (20-100C)

Modulus of Elasticity

29.7 x 103 ksi (205 GPa)

Poissons Ratio

0.29

Mechanical Properties
Hardness

See Figure 1

Tensile

See Figure 2 and Figure 3

Charpy V-notch Impact

See Figure 4 and Figure 5

Heat Treatment
Temperatures
Normalize

1600 1700F (871 927C),

Forced air cool prior to harden/temper

Quench and Temper

Austenitize 1600 1650F (871 899C), Liquid quench, Temper

to desired strength

Hardenability
Jominy Hardenability

See Figure 6

CCT/IT phase transformations

See Figure 7 and Figure 8

Workability
Hot Forgability

Forge up to 2250F (1230C)

Other Properties
Corrosion Resistance

Ability to successfully complete sulfide stress cracking testing per

NACE TM0177 Method A at L80 strength requirements.

High Temperature Properties

See Figure 9

Hardness (HRC)

32

600

Tempering Temperature (C)

620

640

660

680

700

720

32

30

30

28

28

26

26

24

24

22

22

20

20

1100

1150

1200

1250

1300

1350

Tempering Temperature (F)

Figure 1
The effect of tempering temperature on midwall hardness for 1.5 wall tubing.
Austenitized at 1625F (885C) and water quenched. Soak time of approximately
60 minutes at temper temperature.

Tempering Temperature (C)

160

600

620

640

660

680

700

720
1100
1000

140

120

800

Lab Trial
UTS - 1.5" Wall
Yield - 1.5" Wall

100

700

Production Data

80

60
1100

UTS - 1.25" Wall

Yield - 1.25" Wall
UTS - 1.375" Wall
Yield - 1.375" Wall
UTS - 1.5" Wall
Yield - 1.5" Wall
UTS - 2.0" Wall
Yield - 2.0" Wall

1150

600

Strength (MPa)

Strength (KSI)

900

500
400
1200

1250

1300

1350

Tempering Temperature (F)

Figure 2
The effect of tempering temperature on strength for 1.25, 1.375, 1.5, and
2.0 wall tubing. The data indicated by the lines was generated in a laboratory.
The data indicated by the symbols was obtained from production records.
Austenitized at 1625F (885C) and water quenched. Soak time of
approximately 60 minutes at temper temperature.

Tempering Temperature (C)

Ductility (%)

600

620

80
75
70
65
60 Lab Trial
RA - 1.5" Wall
55
EL - 1.5" Wall
50
Production Data
45
RA - 1.25" Wall
EL - 1.25" Wall
40
RA - 1.375" Wall
35
EL - 1.375" Wall
RA - 1.5" Wall
30
EL - 1.5" Wall
RA - 2.0" Wall
25
EL - 2.0" Wall
20
15
10
1100
1150

640

660

1200

680

1250

700

720

1300

80
75
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
1350

Tempering Temperature (F)

Figure 3
The effect of tempering temperature on the elongation and reduction of area for
the 1.25, 1.375, 1.5, and 2.0 wall tubing. The data indicated by the lines was
generated in a laboratory. The data indicated by the symbols was obtained from
production records. Austenitized at 1625F (885C) and water quenched. Soak
time of approximately 60 minutes at temper temperature.

Tempering Temperature (C)

620

640

660

680

700

720
200

Energy (ft-lbs)

140

180

120

160

100

140
120

80

100

60

Lab Trials
1.375" Wall
1.5" Wall

40

Production Data

20
0
1100

1.25" Wall
1.5" Wall
2.0" Wall

1150

1200

1250

1300

80

Energy (J)

160

600

60
40
20
0
1350

Tempering Temperature (F)

Figure 4
The effect of tempering temperature on the longitudinal impact energy (Charpy
V-notch) for the 1.25, 1.375, 1.5, and 2.0 wall tubing tested at -4F. Each data
point represents an average of three individual tests. Austenitized at 1625F
(885C) and water quenched. Soak time of approximately 60 minutes at
temper temperature.

Tempering Temperature (C)

620

640

660

680

700

720
200

Energy (ft-lbs)

140

180

120

160

100

140
120

80

100

Lab Trials

60

1.375" Wall
1.5" Wall

40

Production Data
1.25" Wall
1.375" Wall
1.5" Wall
2.0" Wall

20
0
1100

1150

1200

1250

80

Energy (J)

160

600

60
40
20

0
1350

1300

Tempering Temperature (F)

Figure 5
The effect of tempering temperature on the transverse impact energy (Charpy
V-notch) for the 1.25, 1.375, 1.5, and 2.0 wall tubing tested at +32F. Each
data point represents an average of three individual tests. Austenitized at
1625F (885C) and water quenched. Soak time of approximately 60 minutes at
temper temperature.

55

Position (mm)

10

20

30

50

55

4130HW
4130

50

Hardness (HRC)

40

50

45

45

40

40

35

35

30

30

25

25

20

20

15

10

15

20

25

Jominy Position (1/16th of in.)

30

35

15

Figure 6
Jominy hardenability curve for 4130 and 4130HW. The data represents an
average of Jominy results from several 4130 and 4130HW heats.

0.01

Time (hrs)

0.1
1
10
100
1500
800
1400 ae1
1300 ae3
700
1200
Ferrite Start
Pearlite Start
600
1100
1000
T
500
900 b
Bainite Start
800
400
700
Ms
600
Martensite
300
500
400
200
300
Transformation(s)
100
IT
200
Complete
CCT
100
0
0
1
10
100
1,000 10,000 100,000 1,000,000

Temperature (C)

Temperature (F)

1E-3

Time (s)

Figure 7
Predicted isothermal and continuous cooling transformation diagrams for
4130HW calculated with MCASIS.

0.01

Time (hrs)

0.1
1
10
100
1500
800
1400 ae1
1300 ae3
700
1200
Ferrite Start
Pearlite Start
600
1100
1000 Tb
500
900
Bainite Start
800
400
700
Ms
600
Martensite
300
500
400
200
300
Transformation(s)
100
IT
200
Complete
CCT
100
0
0
1
10
100
1,000 10,000 100,000 1,000,000

Temperature (C)

Temperature (F)

1E-3

Time (s)

Figure 8
Predicted isothermal and continuous cooling transformation diagrams for 4130
calculated with MCASIS.

Test Temperature (C)

0

120

50

100

150

200

250

300

UTS
Yield

115

750

105
700

100
95

650

90

Strength (MPa)

Strength (KSI)

110

800

600

85
80

550
0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Test Temperature (F)

Figure 9
High temperature strength results for 4130HW tubing with a 0.805 wall.
Samples were austenitized at 1625F (885C), water quenched, and tempered
at 1340F (727C).

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call 866.284.6536 (USA) or +44 1455 826320 (international).
Also, please visit our website at www.timkensteel.com.
0.5M 05-14:29 Order No. 10518 T im k e n S t e e l is a re gis t e re d t r ade m ar k .
2 0 1 4 T im k e n S t e e l C o r po r at io n . Printed in U.S.A.