Introduction to the SAE-AISI

Designation System

By: Rosales Eldwin Fritz D.

Sicsic Justyn Wayne M.

Objectives:
To be able to know the specification

numbers of both SAE/AISI materials.

To familiarize at least a couple of metal

specification numbers regarding SAE-AISI

materials.

AISI AND SAE SPECIFICATION

NUMBERS

There are numerous standard materials

specifications. Many large consuming
organizations and nearly all producers have
some standards of their own. The armed
forces have numerous ones.

The principal agencies whose

specifications are most widely used
are:
ASTM American Society for Testing

Materials.
SAE
AISI

Society of Automotive Engineers

American Iron and Steel

Institute

Difference between AISI/SAE:

SAE and AISI specification numbers are alike
in terms of steels except:
The AISI uses prefixes B,C,D, and E to

indicate the method of manufacturing the

carbon grades.

In general way for steel, the first digit (or the

first two digit) of the number represents the
type of steel. The last two digits in fourdigit numbers invariably give the
approximate or average carbon content in
points or hundredths of percent.

Schematic Representation of
AISI/SAE Steel Designation System:

The said figure demonstrates that the SAE-AISI

system uses a four-digit number to designate
a carbon and alloy steel and refers to its
specific chemical composition. However, that
there are also certain types of alloy steels
that are designated by five digits ( 51XXX;
52XXX).

The SAE/AISI system classifies all other alloy

steel using the same four digit index as follows:

2 - Nickel steels;
3 - Nickel-chromium steels;
4 - Molybdenum steels;
5 - Chromium steels;
6 - Chromium-vanadium steels;
7 - Tungsten-chromium steels;
9 - Silicon-manganese steels.

In general way for steel, the first digit (or

the first two digits) of the numbers
represents a type of steel, for example:
1XXX - is a plain carbon steel.
11XX - is a plain carbon steel with greater
sulfur
content for free cutting.
2XXX - is a nickel.

numbers invariably give the

approximate or average carbon
content in points or hundredths of
percent, for example:

SAE 1030 or an AISI C1030 has about 0.30%

carbon, spoken of as 30 points of carbon
(nominal range is 0.28%-0.34%). Or in
8620, the average carbon content is close
to 0.20% (range of 0.18%-0.23%).

System of specification numbers

for steel- AISI and SAE
In the AISI system, prefixes have the following
meanings:
H Hardenability
B acid bessemer steel
C basic ,open-heart carbon steel
D acid open heart carbon steel
E electric-furnace steel
L Lead
M merchant quality steel

Letters B or L in the middle of the number

indicates that boron or lead, respectively,
has been added as:
94 B 40 and 11 L 41.
An H at the end indicates that material can
be bought on hardenability specification as:
9840H

10XX
11XX
12XX
15XX

Plain carbon, Mn 1.00% max

Resulfurized free machining
Resulfurized/rephosphorized
free machining
Plain carbon, Mn 1.00-1.65%

13XX

Mn 1.75%

23XX
25XX

Ni 3.50%
Ni 5.00%

Nickel-chromium
Steels

31XX
32XX
33XX
34XX

Ni
Ni
Ni
Ni

Molybdenum
Steels

40XX
44XX

Mo 0.20-0.25%
Mo 0.40-0.52%

Chromiummolybdenum
Steels

41XX

Cr 0.50-0.95%, Mo 0.12-0.30%

CARBON STEELS

Manganese Steel
Nickel Steels

1.25%,
1.75%,
3.50%,
3.00%,

Cr
Cr
Cr
Cr

0.65-0.80%
1.07%
1.50-1.57%
0.77%

Nickel-chromium43XX
molybdenum steels 47XX

Ni 1.82%, Cr 0.50-0.80%, Mo
0.25%
Ni 1.05%, Cr 0.45%, Mo 0.200.35%

Nickel-molybdenum
steels

46XX
48XX

Ni 0.85-1.82%, Mo 0.20-0.25%
Ni 3.50%, Mo 0.25%

50XX
51XX
50XX
X
51XX
X
52XX
X

Cr
Cr
Cr
Cr
Cr

Chromium-vanadium
steels

61XX

Cr 0.60-0.95%, V 0.10-0.015%

Tungsten-chromium
steels

72XX

W 1.75%, Cr 0.75%

Nickel-chromiummolybdenum steels

81XX
86XX
87XX
88XX

Ni
Ni
Ni
Ni

Chromium steels

0.27-0.65%
0.80-1.05%
0.50%, C 1.00% min
1.02%, C 1.00% min
1.45%, C 1.00% min

0.30%,
0.55%,
0.55%,
0.55%,

Cr
Cr
Cr
Cr

0.40%,
0.50%,
0.50%,
0.50%,

Mo
Mo
Mo
Mo

0.12%
0.20%
0.25%
0.35%

A brief suggestion of typical uses of plain

carbon wrought steel is as follows:

Carbon 10-20 points, 10XX group used for

tubing, forgings, pressed-steel parts,
screws, rivets and for case-hardened parts.
Carbon 10-20 points, 11XX group due to
high sulfur content, it is free-cutting and
good for use in automatic screw machines
and for other parts including screws and
also may be carburized.

Carbon 20-30 points General purpose

grades. Used for forged and machined
parts, screws; also for boiler plate and
structural steel.

Carbon 30-55 points with 0.40-0.50% C,

frequently used for miscellaneous forged
and machined parts; shafts.

Carbon 60-90 points may be hardened to a

cutting edge, especially in the higher
ranges of carbon; therefore used for tools
and also for springs. High strength, low
ductility. Nearly always heat treated, say, to
a Brinell hardness 375 or higher.

THANK YOU
VERRY MUCH
FOR LISTENING!!