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Frequently Used Metallic Materials (Fundamentals of Industrial Materials and Surface Treatment)

This article is designed to help users select materials with greater confidence by providing a brief introduction to the characteristics and selection methods of basic materials and surface treatment.

What are industrial materials? / Fundamentals of Metallic Material
Frequently used metallic materials
What is heat treatment? / What is surface treatment?

Steel material

Features: Inexpensive, good workability, various property changes shown by heat treatment, easy-to-recycle.

* The characteristics below are standard values, not guaranteed values.

Type	Material symbol	Application	Features
Structural steel	SS400	General machine parts	The most versatile steel grade. Workablity and weldability are good.
Carbon steel	S45C	General machine parts	Normalizing: Tensile strength of 570 N/mm² or greater Hardness of HB 167 to 229 Quenching and tempering: Tensile strength of 690N/mm² or greater Hardness of HB 201 to 269
Carbon steel	S50C	General machine parts	Normalizing: Tensile strength of 610 N/mm² or greater Hardness of HB 179 to 235 Quenching and tempering: Tensile strength of 740N/mm² or greater Hardness of HB 212 to 277
Chrome molybdenum steel	SCM435	General machine parts that require strength Example: Screw	Quenching and tempering: 930N/mm² or greater Hardness of HB 269 to 331 or greater
High-carbon chrome steel	SUJ2	Parts that require abrasion resistance Examples: Shaft, bearing	Hardness of 58 HRC or greater by high-frequency hardening
Hot-rolled steel plate	SPHC	Parts for general machine structures	So-called sheet metal. Material rolled in high-temperature conditions with plate thicknesses from 1.2 to 14.0 mm. The surface is black with oxide scale. Typical plate thickness used is 6 mm or less.
Cold-rolled steel plate	SPCC	Covers, cases, etc.	So-called sheet metal. It is produced by rolling of SPHC at near room temperature. Standard plate thickness is 0.4 to 3.2 mm. Dimensional precision is high, and the surface is beautiful. Good workability in terms of bending, drawing, and cutting. Weldability is also good.
Austenitic stainless steel	SUS303	Machine parts requiring rustproof Examples: Bolt, nut, etc.	Cutting properties are better than SUS304, but corrosion resistance is slightly inferior. No magnetism.
	SUS304	Machine parts that require rustproof Example: Food equipment, general scientific equipment, etc.	The most typical stainless steel. It is used as general corrosion resistant steel and heat-resistant steel. No magnetism.
	SUS316	Machine parts that require rustproof	Stainless steel made by adding molybdenum to SUS304. Superior to SUS304 in terms of corrosion resistance, acid resistance, and seawater resistance. No magnetism.
Martensitic stainless steel	SUS440C	Machine parts that require rustproof	Corrosion resistance is inferior to that of austenitic. It can be hardened. Magnetic

Nonferrous metallic materials

Aluminum

Features: Specific gravity is low (2.7 g/cm³, approx. 35% of iron). Conductivity and thermal conductivity are high.
Vulnerable to seawater, acids, and alkalis. In air and water, a thin oxide film is formed to prevent corrosion.
It is excellent in castability and workability, and can be rolled, drawn, and pressed at room temperature or high temperature.

Type	Material symbol	Application	Features
Al-Cu alloys	A2017	General purpose heavy-duty materials Examples: Aircraft materials, various structural materials, fabrication machine parts	Duralumin. Heat-treated alloy with high strength and good milling properties. Weldability is inferior.
Al-Mg alloys	A5052	General purpose heavy-duty materials Examples: Ships, vehicles, construction materials, beverage cans, machine parts	Typical alloy with moderate strength. Corrosion resistance, static formation, weldability, and seawater resistance are good.
Al-Mg-Si alloys	A6061	General machine parts	Heat-treatable corrosion resistant alloys. Considerably high yield strength can be obtained by T6 treatment.
Al-Mg-Si alloys	A6063	Structural materials for general machine parts Examples: Machine parts and plates that do not require strength	It is often used as extrusion material. The strength is lower than A6061, but it is extrudable and capable of forming complex cross-sectional shapes. Corrosion resistance and surface treatment are good.

Copper

Features: High conductivity and heat conductivity, antimagnetic. It has ductility, but hardens with work.
Better corrosion resistance than iron (moisture or carbon dioxide in the air causes copper rust).
Not vulnerable to fresh water, but not resistant to seawater. As the shrink ratio is large, it is difficult to cast.

Type	Material symbol	Application	Features
Oxygen-free copper	C1020	Cables, heat sinks, etc., that require high performance	Highest purity of copper on the market. It does not become brittle when heated to high temperatures.
Tough-pitch copper	C1100	Conductive materials, construction uses, distillation stills, gaskets, etc.	It is the most versatile copper, and has excellent electrical and thermal conductivity.
Brass plate	C2801	Wiring apparatus parts, nameplates, instrument panels, etc., that are punched or bent for use	Strength is high among copper alloys, and ductility is good.
Free-cutting brass	C3604	Machining parts that require cutting, such as valve parts	Alloy containing lead and zinc. Brass with improved machinability by adding lead. Tensile strength is high and ductility is good.