Alloy steel AISI 4140 (chromium-molybdenum) 4140 (UNS G41400)
Fe balance
Also known as UNS G41400, EN 1.7225, EN name 42CrMo4, AISI 4140, JIS SCM440, JIS SCM 4 · 31 more
AISI 4140 is a medium-carbon chromium-molybdenum alloy steel (UNS G41400) whose strength depends on heat treatment.
Evidence level
2 of 5
Lab-measured
- 0Predicted only. No one has made it, or no measurement exists.
- 1Calculated. Only calculated or predicted values from sources.
- 2Lab-measured. Measured properties with their conditions stated.
- 3Space-relevant tests. Measured in conditions relevant to space, such as vacuum or atomic oxygen.
- 4Ground-qualified. Qualified for an application on the ground.
- 5Flown or field-proven. Flight or field results exist.
Recipe, share of the weight
- Fe balance (the rest)Iron
- C 0.38 to 0.43%Carbon
- Mn 0.75 to 1%Manganese
- Si 0.15 to 0.35%Silicon
- Cr 0.8 to 1.1%Chromium
- Mo 0.15 to 0.25%Molybdenum
- P 0 to 0.035%Phosphorus
- S 0 to 0.04%Sulfur
Best for
Machine parts and structures in medium and large sections that need high strength and toughness after quenching and tempering
Weakest at
Hydrogen gas, which cut notched strength by about 60 percent in one room-temperature study, and dilute sulfuric acid, which corroded it at 176.87 mpy
Risk at a glance
- People None found. Alloy not checked against an SDS
- If it fails High. Hydrogen embrittlement in gaseous hydrogen
- Corrosion Severe. AISI 4140 corroded at 132.65 to 176.87 mpy in 0.5 M sulfuric acid, and its rate rose with exposure time.
Quick facts: 4140 (UNS G41400)
| Property | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 7.85 g/cm³ | 1 sourced value |
| Yield strength | 570 to 1,235 MPa | 7 sourced values across conditions |
| Tensile strength | 745 to 1,283 MPa | 8 sourced values across conditions |
| Young's modulus | 205 GPa | 1 sourced value |
| Hardness (Brinell) | 269 to 331 HB | 3 sourced values across conditions |
| Thermal conductivity | 42.6 W/(m·K) | 1 sourced value |
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 12.2 to 14.6 ppm/K | 2 sourced values across conditions |
| Specific heat | 473 J/(kg·K) | 1 sourced value |
What is the density of Alloy steel AISI 4140?
Alloy steel AISI 4140 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the thermal conductivity of Alloy steel AISI 4140?
Alloy steel AISI 4140 has a thermal conductivity of 42.6 W/(m·K). The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the coefficient of thermal expansion of Alloy steel AISI 4140?
Alloy steel AISI 4140 has a coefficient of thermal expansion of 12.2 to 14.6 ppm/K. The range covers 2 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is the yield strength of Alloy steel AISI 4140?
Alloy steel AISI 4140 has a yield strength of 570 to 1,235 MPa. The range covers 7 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is the tensile strength of Alloy steel AISI 4140?
Alloy steel AISI 4140 has a tensile strength of 745 to 1,283 MPa. The range covers 8 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What are the other names and codes for Alloy steel AISI 4140?
Alloy steel AISI 4140 is also written as UNS G41400, EN 1.7225, EN name 42CrMo4, AISI 4140, JIS SCM440, JIS SCM 4. Each code is printed in the source listed beside it in the designations table.
What is Alloy steel AISI 4140 used for?
Uses recorded in the sources include Axles, gears, shafts, spindles, pinions, sprockets and studs; Rams, crowbars and oil-patch and logging parts; Aerospace bar to AMS 6349 and AMS 6382.
Why it exists
AISI 4140 (UNS G41400) is a medium-carbon chromium-molybdenum steel. It is chosen for a balance of strength, toughness and wear resistance after quenching and tempering, and molybdenum keeps it free of temper brittleness, according to the supplier. Its strength depends on the condition: a normalised 25 mm bar, a quenched and tempered bar of 10 to 100 mm and a room-temperature hydrogen study each give different numbers, so every value in this profile carries its own condition. Its main weakness is hydrogen gas, which cut notched strength sharply in one room-temperature study.
Where it's used
Gears, shafts and spindles
Aircraft Materials lists axles, gears, shafts, pump shafts, pinions, sprockets, studs and ring gears among the typical uses of alloy 4140 bar.
Oil-patch and logging parts
The same supplier calls alloy 4140 the most widely used alloy for oil-patch applications.
Aerospace bar
Alloy 4140 bar is supplied to the aerospace specifications AMS 6349 and AMS 6382 (Aircraft Materials).
Recipe
Fe balance; 0.38 to 0.43 C, 0.75 to 1.00 Mn, 0.15 to 0.35 Si, 0.80 to 1.10 Cr, 0.15 to 0.25 Mo, 0.035 max P, 0.040 max S (wt%, ASTM A29 limits as printed in Table 1.1.1 of the Sandia reference)
AISI 4140 is an iron-based chromium-molybdenum steel. The composition limits printed for it (ASTM A29, in the Sandia reference) are 0.38 to 0.43 wt% carbon, 0.75 to 1.00 manganese, 0.15 to 0.35 silicon, 0.80 to 1.10 chromium and 0.15 to 0.25 molybdenum, with phosphorus at 0.035 maximum, sulfur at 0.04 maximum and iron as the balance. Its strength comes from heat treatment (austenitize, quench, temper) as much as from its composition.
| Ingredient | Share of the weight | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Iron Fe | balance (the rest) | The matrix of the steel; heat treatment changes its structure from austenite to martensite and then tempered martensite. |
| Carbon C | 0.38 to 0.43% | Sets how hard the steel can become when quenched; medium carbon gives the strength range. |
| Manganese Mn | 0.75 to 1% | Deoxidiser and hardenability aid in the melt. |
| Silicon Si | 0.15 to 0.35% | Deoxidiser in the melt. |
| Chromium Cr | 0.8 to 1.1% | Adds hardenability and corrosion resistance; the grade is still a low-alloy steel, not stainless. |
| Molybdenum Mo | 0.15 to 0.25% | Adds hardenability and, per the supplier, prevents temper brittleness. |
| Phosphorus P | 0 to 0.035% | Impurity held low. |
| Sulfur S | 0 to 0.04% | Impurity held low. |
Weight shares are as printed in the sources.
What it can do
Strength
Quenched and tempered bar of 10 to 100 mm is specified at a minimum yield strength of 740 MPa and a tensile strength of 930 to 1080 MPa (voestalpine).
Toughness
In the same condition the minimum Charpy impact energy is 42 J (voestalpine).
Normalised
A 25 mm round normalised at 870 C gives 1020 MPa tensile strength, 655 MPa yield strength and 17.7% elongation (Elgin).
Stiffness
The modulus of elasticity is 205 GPa, typical for steel (Elgin).
Hydrogen
In 69 MPa hydrogen gas at room temperature, high-strength 4140 still reached 1228 MPa tensile strength, but its notched tensile strength fell to 862 MPa (Sandia).
How it compares
In the same 0.5 M sulfuric acid test, AISI 4140 corroded at a rate second only to AISI 1045 (176.87 mpy against 183.7 mpy at 144 h), while the stainless steel in the same test corroded least, because its chromium oxide film protects it (Rosidah et al., 2021). The fetched sources give no direct comparison with another grade on strength or hydrogen behaviour, so this paragraph is limited to that acid test.
The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details. Other materials are shown beside it; each was measured under its own conditions, so open its page before comparing closely. Compare every grade in the family.
| Measurement | 4140 (UNS G41400) | A36 (UNS K02600) | 1018 (UNS G10180, AISI 1018) | 1045 (UNS G10450, AISI 1045) | 1215 (UNS G12150, AISI 1215) | 4130 (UNS G41300) | 1010 (UNS G10100, AISI 1010) | 1070 (UNS G10700, AISI 1070, SAE 1070) | 4340 (UNS G43400) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity and energy | |||||||||
| Charpy impact energy, quenched and tempered, 10 to 100 mm | > 42 J6 | no data | no data | no data | no data | 87 J | no data | no data | > 35 J |
| Izod impact energy, typical, 50 mm section | 90 J13 | no data | no data | no data | no data | 87 J | no data | no data | > 35 J |
| Thermal behavior and safety | |||||||||
| specific heat | 0.473 J/gK27 | no data | 0.486 J/g-°C | no data | 0.472 J/g-°C | 0.477 J/g-°C | 450 J/(kg·K) | 470 J/(kg·K) | no data |
| Thermal conductivity | 42.6 W/mK28 | no data | 51.9 W/m-K | no data | 51.9 W/m-K | 42.7 W/m-K | 64.21 W/(m∙°C) | 50 W/(m·K) | no data |
| Physical and electrical | |||||||||
| Hardness, quenched and tempered, 10 to 100 mm | 269 to 331 HB7 | no data | no data | no data | 167 HB | 197 HB | no data | 192 HB | 248 to 302 HB |
| Hardness, typical, 50 mm section | 275 HB14 | no data | no data | no data | 167 HB | 197 HB | no data | 192 HB | 248 to 302 HB |
| Hardness, Brinell, normalised at 870 C | 302 HB19 | no data | no data | no data | 167 HB | 197 HB | no data | 192 HB | 248 to 302 HB |
| Density | 7.85 g/cc20 | 7.8 g/cm³ | 7.87 g/cc | no data | 7.87 g/cc | 7.85 g/cc | 7.9 g/cm³ | 7.7 g/cm³ | 7.7 to 8.03 g/cm³ |
| Other measurements | |||||||||
| Yield strength, quenched and tempered, 10 to 100 mm | > 740 MPa1 | > 36 ksi | 370 MPa | > 540 MPa | 415 MPa | 635 MPa | 190 MPa | > 390 MPa | > 665 MPa |
| Yield strength, quenched and tempered, 101 to 250 mm | > 665 MPa2 | > 36 ksi | 370 MPa | > 540 MPa | 415 MPa | 635 MPa | 190 MPa | > 390 MPa | > 665 MPa |
| Tensile strength, quenched and tempered, 10 to 100 mm | 930 to 1080 MPa3 | 58 to 80 ksi | 440 MPa | > 690 MPa | 540 MPa | 820 MPa | 350 MPa | 640 MPa | 850 to 1000 MPa |
| Tensile strength, quenched and tempered, 101 to 250 mm | 850 to 1000 MPa4 | 58 to 80 ksi | 440 MPa | > 690 MPa | 540 MPa | 820 MPa | 350 MPa | 640 MPa | 850 to 1000 MPa |
| Elongation, quenched and tempered, 10 to 100 mm | > 12 %5 | > 21 % | 15 % | > 8 % | 10 % | 25.5 % | 30 % | > 10 % | > 13 % |
| Yield strength, typical, 50 mm section | 770 MPa8 | > 36 ksi | 370 MPa | > 540 MPa | 415 MPa | 635 MPa | 190 MPa | > 390 MPa | > 665 MPa |
| Yield strength, typical, 200 mm section | 570 MPa9 | > 36 ksi | 370 MPa | > 540 MPa | 415 MPa | 635 MPa | 190 MPa | > 390 MPa | > 665 MPa |
| Tensile strength, typical, 50 mm section | 930 MPa10 | 58 to 80 ksi | 440 MPa | > 690 MPa | 540 MPa | 820 MPa | 350 MPa | 640 MPa | 850 to 1000 MPa |
| Tensile strength, typical, 200 mm section | 850 MPa11 | 58 to 80 ksi | 440 MPa | > 690 MPa | 540 MPa | 820 MPa | 350 MPa | 640 MPa | 850 to 1000 MPa |
| Elongation, typical, 50 mm section | 17 %12 | > 21 % | 15 % | > 8 % | 10 % | 25.5 % | 30 % | > 10 % | > 13 % |
| Tensile strength, normalised at 870 C | 1020 MPa15 | 58 to 80 ksi | 440 MPa | > 690 MPa | 540 MPa | 820 MPa | 350 MPa | 640 MPa | 850 to 1000 MPa |
| Yield strength, normalised at 870 C | 655 MPa16 | > 36 ksi | 370 MPa | > 540 MPa | 415 MPa | 635 MPa | 190 MPa | > 390 MPa | > 665 MPa |
| Elongation, normalised at 870 C | 17.7 %17 | > 21 % | 15 % | > 8 % | 10 % | 25.5 % | 30 % | > 10 % | > 13 % |
| Reduction of area, normalised at 870 C | 46.8 %18 | no data | 40 % | no data | 35 % | 67 % | no data | 30 % | no data |
| Modulus of elasticity | 205 GPa21 | 200 GPa | 200 GPa | 190 to 210 GPa | 200 GPa | 205 GPa | 210 GPa | 190 GPa | 190 to 210 GPa |
| shear modulus | 80 GPa22 | 79.3 GPa | 78 GPa | no data | 80 GPa | 80 GPa | no data | no data | no data |
| bulk modulus | 160 GPa23 | no data | no data | no data | 160 GPa | 160 GPa | no data | no data | no data |
| poissons ratio | 0.29 -24 | 0.26 - | 0.29 - | no data | 0.29 - | 0.29 - | no data | no data | 0.27 to 0.3 - |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion, 0 to 100 C | 12.2 ppm/K25 | no data | no data | no data | 11.5 µm/m-°C | 6.2×10^-6 1/F | no data | 11.8 10-6/°C | 11.5 ppm/K |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 600 C | 14.6 ppm/K26 | no data | no data | no data | 11.5 µm/m-°C | 6.2×10^-6 1/F | no data | 11.8 10-6/°C | 11.5 ppm/K |
| Yield strength, high-strength condition, smooth bar | 1235 MPa29 | > 36 ksi | 370 MPa | > 540 MPa | 415 MPa | 635 MPa | 190 MPa | > 390 MPa | > 665 MPa |
| Tensile strength, high-strength condition, heliumTable 3.1.1.1 row 4140, 69 MPa He | 1283 MPa30 | 58 to 80 ksi | 440 MPa | > 690 MPa | 540 MPa | 820 MPa | 350 MPa | 640 MPa | 850 to 1000 MPa |
| Tensile strength, high-strength condition, hydrogenTable 3.1.1.1 row 4140, 69 MPa H2 | 1228 MPa31 | 58 to 80 ksi | 440 MPa | > 690 MPa | 540 MPa | 820 MPa | 350 MPa | 640 MPa | 850 to 1000 MPa |
| Reduction of area, high-strength condition, heliumTable 3.1.1.1 row 4140, 69 MPa He, RA column | 48 %32 | no data | 40 % | no data | 35 % | 67 % | no data | 30 % | no data |
| Reduction of area, high-strength condition, hydrogenTable 3.1.1.1 row 4140, 69 MPa H2, RA column | 8.8 %33 | no data | 40 % | no data | 35 % | 67 % | no data | 30 % | no data |
| Elongation, high-strength condition, hydrogen | 2.6 %34 | > 21 % | 15 % | > 8 % | 10 % | 25.5 % | 30 % | > 10 % | > 13 % |
| Yield strength, low-strength condition | 642 MPa35 | > 36 ksi | 370 MPa | > 540 MPa | 415 MPa | 635 MPa | 190 MPa | > 390 MPa | > 665 MPa |
| Tensile strength, low-strength conditionTable 1.1.3 low-strength 4140 row | 745 MPa | 58 to 80 ksi | 440 MPa | > 690 MPa | 540 MPa | 820 MPa | 350 MPa | 640 MPa | 850 to 1000 MPa |
| Reduction of area, low-strength conditionTable 1.1.3 low-strength 4140 row | 68 % | no data | 40 % | no data | 35 % | 67 % | no data | 30 % | no data |
| Notched tensile strength, low-strength condition, airTable 3.1.2.1 row 4140 (low strength), air | 1345 MPa36 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Notched tensile strength, low-strength condition, heliumTable 3.1.2.1 row 4140 (low strength), 69 MPa He | 1259 MPa37 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Notched tensile strength, low-strength condition, hydrogenTable 3.1.2.1 row 4140 (low strength), 69 MPa H2 | 1074 MPa38 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Notched tensile strength, high-strength condition, helium | 2160 MPa39 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Notched tensile strength, high-strength condition, hydrogen | 862 MPa40 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Notched reduction of area, low-strength condition, air | 10 %41 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Notched reduction of area, low-strength condition, helium | 14 %42 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Notched reduction of area, low-strength condition, hydrogen | 7.1 %43 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Notched reduction of area, high-strength condition, helium | 2.8 %44 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Notched reduction of area, high-strength condition, hydrogen | 0.9 %45 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
Why choose it, and why not
Good for
- Medium and large sections that need high strength with toughness after quenching and tempering (voestalpine).
- Gears, shafts, spindles, pinions and sprockets, the machine parts the supplier lists (Aircraft Materials).
Watch out for
- Hydrogen gas: notched tensile strength of high-strength 4140 fell from 2160 to 862 MPa at 69 MPa and room temperature.
- Dilute acid: 4140 rusted and corroded at 176.87 mpy in 0.5 M sulfuric acid after 144 h.
- Tempering between 200 and 420 C causes temper brittleness, so avoid that range.
AISI 4140 is a strong, tough steel whose properties depend on heat treatment. Quote the condition with each value, keep hydrogen exposure in mind when choosing the strength level, and protect it from acid. The hydrogen data here come from one room-temperature study, so treat them as a warning, not a design allowable.
Technical details
For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.
Other names and standards
The same grade under other systems, as datasheets and standards print them. Each code was checked against the page it comes from.
| System | Codes |
|---|---|
| UNS | G41400 |
| EN | 1.7225 |
| EN name | 42CrMo4 |
| AISI | 4140 |
| JIS | SCM440, SCM 4 |
| SAE | 4140, J404, J412, J770 |
| DIN | 41CrMo4 (nearest equivalent) |
| BS | EN19, 708M40, 708A42, 709M40, EN19A (nearest equivalent) |
| AFNOR | 40 CD 4, 42 CD 4 |
| SS | 14 2244 |
| IS | 40Cr1Mo28 |
| ISO | 683-2 |
| ASTM | A29, A322, A331, A505, A519, A646 |
| DTD | 167A |
| MIL | MIL-S-16974, S 5626 |
| AMS | S 5626, 6349, 6382, 6381, 6390, 6395 |
| AS | 1444-1996 |
Notes
The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.
| # | Measurement | Method | Conditions | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yield strength, quenched and tempered, 10 to 100 mm | Mechanical properties (heat treated) table, minimum as printed; N/mm2 is the same number as MPa | condition quenched and tempered: oil quench from 830 to 860 C, temper 540 to 680 C for at least 1 h, air coolsection 10 to 100 mmstrength type Rp0.2, minimumunit in source N/mm2 | — |
| 2 | Yield strength, quenched and tempered, 101 to 250 mm | Mechanical properties (heat treated) table, minimum as printed; N/mm2 is the same number as MPa | condition quenched and tempered: oil quench from 830 to 860 C, temper 540 to 680 C for at least 1 h, air coolsection 101 to 250 mmstrength type Rp0.2, minimumunit in source N/mm2 | — |
| 3 | Tensile strength, quenched and tempered, 10 to 100 mm | Mechanical properties (heat treated) table, minimum and maximum as printed; N/mm2 is the same number as MPa | condition quenched and tempered: oil quench from 830 to 860 C, temper 540 to 680 C for at least 1 h, air coolsection 10 to 100 mmunit in source N/mm2 | — |
| 4 | Tensile strength, quenched and tempered, 101 to 250 mm | Mechanical properties (heat treated) table, minimum and maximum as printed; N/mm2 is the same number as MPa | condition quenched and tempered: oil quench from 830 to 860 C, temper 540 to 680 C for at least 1 h, air coolsection 101 to 250 mmunit in source N/mm2 | — |
| 5 | Elongation, quenched and tempered, 10 to 100 mm | Mechanical properties (heat treated) table, minimum as printed | condition quenched and tempered: oil quench from 830 to 860 C, temper 540 to 680 C for at least 1 h, air coolsection 10 to 100 mmgauge A5 as labelled in the datasheet | — |
| 6 | Charpy impact energy, quenched and tempered, 10 to 100 mm | Mechanical properties (heat treated) table, minimum as printed | condition quenched and tempered: oil quench from 830 to 860 C, temper 540 to 680 C for at least 1 h, air coolsection 10 to 100 mmtest Charpytest temperature not stated in the datasheet | — |
| 7 | Hardness, quenched and tempered, 10 to 100 mm | Mechanical properties (heat treated) table, range as printed | condition quenched and tempered: oil quench from 830 to 860 C, temper 540 to 680 C for at least 1 h, air coolsection 10 to 100 mm | — |
| 8 | Yield strength, typical, 50 mm section | Typical mechanical properties table as printed, row Alloy 4140 at 50 mm; typical values, not minimums | condition hardened and tempered, supplied to condition T (the temper temperature is not stated)section 50 mm | — |
| 9 | Yield strength, typical, 200 mm section | Typical mechanical properties table as printed, row Alloy 4140 at 200 mm; typical values, not minimums | condition hardened and tempered, supplied to condition T (the temper temperature is not stated)section 200 mm | — |
| 10 | Tensile strength, typical, 50 mm section | Typical mechanical properties table as printed, row Alloy 4140 at 50 mm; typical values, not minimums | condition hardened and tempered, supplied to condition T (the temper temperature is not stated)section 50 mm | — |
| 11 | Tensile strength, typical, 200 mm section | Typical mechanical properties table as printed, row Alloy 4140 at 200 mm; typical values, not minimums | condition hardened and tempered, supplied to condition T (the temper temperature is not stated)section 200 mm | — |
| 12 | Elongation, typical, 50 mm section | Typical mechanical properties table as printed, row Alloy 4140 at 50 mm | condition hardened and tempered, supplied to condition T (the temper temperature is not stated)section 50 mm | — |
| 13 | Izod impact energy, typical, 50 mm section | Typical mechanical properties table as printed (column headed Izod J) | condition hardened and tempered, supplied to condition T (the temper temperature is not stated)section 50 mmtest Izod | — |
| 14 | Hardness, typical, 50 mm section | Typical mechanical properties table as printed, row Alloy 4140 at 50 mm | condition hardened and tempered, supplied to condition T (the temper temperature is not stated)section 50 mm | — |
| 15 | Tensile strength, normalised at 870 C | Mechanical properties table of the fact sheet, value as printed for the stated condition | condition normalised at 870 C, air cooledsection 25 mm (1 in.) round | — |
| 16 | Yield strength, normalised at 870 C | Mechanical properties table of the fact sheet, value as printed for the stated condition | condition normalised at 870 C, air cooledsection 25 mm (1 in.) round | — |
| 17 | Elongation, normalised at 870 C | Mechanical properties table of the fact sheet, value as printed for the stated condition | condition normalised at 870 C, air cooledsection 25 mm (1 in.) roundgauge 50 mm | — |
| 18 | Reduction of area, normalised at 870 C | Mechanical properties table of the fact sheet, value as printed for the stated condition | condition normalised at 870 C, air cooledsection 25 mm (1 in.) round | — |
| 19 | Hardness, Brinell, normalised at 870 C | Mechanical properties table of the fact sheet; the Brinell value is printed and the other scales are converted by the datasheet | condition normalised at 870 C, air cooledsection 25 mm (1 in.) round | — |
| 20 | Density | Physical properties table as printed (metric column) | basis physical properties table; no temperature or heat treatment stated | — |
| 21 | Modulus of elasticity | Mechanical properties table as printed; the datasheet marks the value as typical for steel | basis datasheet comment Typical for steel; no temperature or heat treatment stated | — |
| 22 | shear modulus | Mechanical properties table as printed; the datasheet marks the value as typical for steel | basis datasheet comment Typical for steel; no temperature or heat treatment stated | — |
| 23 | bulk modulus | Mechanical properties table as printed; the datasheet marks the value as typical for steel | basis datasheet comment Typical for steel; no temperature or heat treatment stated | — |
| 24 | poissons ratio | Mechanical properties table as printed; the datasheet notes the value is calculated | basis datasheet marks the value as calculated; no temperature stated | — |
| 25 | Coefficient of thermal expansion, 0 to 100 C | Thermal properties table as printed; the unit is the same number as ppm/K | temperature 0 to 100 C (32 to 212 F)unit in source µm/m-°C, numerically the same as ppm/K | — |
| 26 | Coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 600 C | Thermal properties table as printed; the unit is the same number as ppm/K | temperature 20 to 600 C (68 to 1110 F)unit in source µm/m-°C, numerically the same as ppm/K | — |
| 27 | specific heat | Thermal properties table as printed; J/g-°C is the same number as J/gK | temperature 150 to 200 C (302 to 392 F)unit in source J/g-°C | — |
| 28 | Thermal conductivity | Thermal properties table as printed; unit inferred from the BTU-in column on the same row | temperature 100 C (212 F)unit in source W/m-K, with the W lost in text extraction; the BTU column on the same row (296 BTU-in/hr-ft2-F) confirms W/m-K | — |
| 29 | Yield strength, high-strength condition, smooth bar | Table 3.1.1.1 row 4140 (69 MPa He); the same value appears in Table 1.1.3 high-strength row; kelvin converted to C by subtracting 273.15 and rounding | heat treatment A 1116 K/60 min, water quench, T 755 K/120 min (A 843 C 1 h, water quench, temper 482 C 2 h); strength level highenvironment 69 MPa helium gastest smooth tensile, room temperature, strain rate 3.3e-5 per syield definition deviation from linearity on load vs time plot | — |
| 30 | Tensile strength, high-strength condition, helium | — | heat treatment A 1116 K/60 min, water quench, T 755 K/120 min (A 843 C 1 h, water quench, temper 482 C 2 h); strength level highenvironment 69 MPa helium gastest smooth tensile, room temperature | — |
| 31 | Tensile strength, high-strength condition, hydrogen | — | heat treatment A 1116 K/60 min, water quench, T 755 K/120 min (A 843 C 1 h, water quench, temper 482 C 2 h); strength level highenvironment 69 MPa hydrogen gastest smooth tensile, room temperature | — |
| 32 | Reduction of area, high-strength condition, helium | — | heat treatment A 1116 K/60 min, water quench, T 755 K/120 min (A 843 C 1 h, water quench, temper 482 C 2 h); strength level highenvironment 69 MPa helium gastest smooth tensile, room temperature | — |
| 33 | Reduction of area, high-strength condition, hydrogen | — | heat treatment A 1116 K/60 min, water quench, T 755 K/120 min (A 843 C 1 h, water quench, temper 482 C 2 h); strength level highenvironment 69 MPa hydrogen gastest smooth tensile, room temperature | — |
| 34 | Elongation, high-strength condition, hydrogen | Table 3.1.1.1 row 4140, 69 MPa H2, Elt column; the footnote for a 32 mm gauge is printed against the helium value, not this one | heat treatment A 1116 K/60 min, water quench, T 755 K/120 min (A 843 C 1 h, water quench, temper 482 C 2 h); strength level highenvironment 69 MPa hydrogen gastest smooth tensile, room temperature | — |
| 35 | Yield strength, low-strength condition | Table 1.1.3 low-strength 4140 row; kelvin converted to C by subtracting 273.15 and rounding; the same Sy* is listed in Table 3.1.2.1 | heat treatment A 1116 K/60 min, oil quench, T 977 K/120 min, air cool (A 843 C 1 h, oil quench, temper 704 C 2 h, air cool); strength level lowenvironment not stated for the smooth yield value | — |
| 36 | Notched tensile strength, low-strength condition, air | — | heat treatment A 843 C 1 h, oil quench, temper 704 C 2 h, air cool; strength level lowenvironment airspecimen V-notch, 60 degree included angle, notch root radius 0.024 mm, Kt 8.4displacement rate about 4e-4 mm/s | — |
| 37 | Notched tensile strength, low-strength condition, helium | — | heat treatment A 843 C 1 h, oil quench, temper 704 C 2 h, air cool; strength level lowenvironment 69 MPa helium gasspecimen V-notch, 60 degree included angle, notch root radius 0.024 mm, Kt 8.4displacement rate about 4e-4 mm/s | — |
| 38 | Notched tensile strength, low-strength condition, hydrogen | — | heat treatment A 843 C 1 h, oil quench, temper 704 C 2 h, air cool; strength level lowenvironment 69 MPa hydrogen gasspecimen V-notch, 60 degree included angle, notch root radius 0.024 mm, Kt 8.4displacement rate about 4e-4 mm/s | — |
| 39 | Notched tensile strength, high-strength condition, helium | Table 3.1.2.1 row 4140 (high strength), 69 MPa He | heat treatment A 843 C 1 h, water quench, temper 482 C 2 h; strength level highenvironment 69 MPa helium gasspecimen V-notch, 60 degree included angle, notch root radius 0.024 mm, Kt 8.4displacement rate about 4e-4 mm/s | — |
| 40 | Notched tensile strength, high-strength condition, hydrogen | Table 3.1.2.1 row 4140 (high strength), 69 MPa H2 | heat treatment A 843 C 1 h, water quench, temper 482 C 2 h; strength level highenvironment 69 MPa hydrogen gasspecimen V-notch, 60 degree included angle, notch root radius 0.024 mm, Kt 8.4displacement rate about 4e-4 mm/s | — |
| 41 | Notched reduction of area, low-strength condition, air | Table 3.1.2.1 row 4140 (low strength), air, RA column | heat treatment A 843 C 1 h, oil quench, temper 704 C 2 h, air cool; strength level lowenvironment airspecimen V-notch, Kt 8.4 | — |
| 42 | Notched reduction of area, low-strength condition, helium | Table 3.1.2.1 row 4140 (low strength), 69 MPa He, RA column | heat treatment A 843 C 1 h, oil quench, temper 704 C 2 h, air cool; strength level lowenvironment 69 MPa helium gasspecimen V-notch, Kt 8.4 | — |
| 43 | Notched reduction of area, low-strength condition, hydrogen | Table 3.1.2.1 row 4140 (low strength), 69 MPa H2, RA column | heat treatment A 843 C 1 h, oil quench, temper 704 C 2 h, air cool; strength level lowenvironment 69 MPa hydrogen gasspecimen V-notch, Kt 8.4 | — |
| 44 | Notched reduction of area, high-strength condition, helium | Table 3.1.2.1 row 4140 (high strength), 69 MPa He, RA column | heat treatment A 843 C 1 h, water quench, temper 482 C 2 h; strength level highenvironment 69 MPa helium gasspecimen V-notch, Kt 8.4 | — |
| 45 | Notched reduction of area, high-strength condition, hydrogen | Table 3.1.2.1 row 4140 (high strength), 69 MPa H2, RA column | heat treatment A 843 C 1 h, water quench, temper 482 C 2 h; strength level highenvironment 69 MPa hydrogen gasspecimen V-notch, Kt 8.4 | — |
Corrosion and compatibility
What happens when it meets other materials and environments.
| Environment | Concern | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Immersion in 0.5 M sulfuric acid (H2SO4), 48 to 144 h, weight-loss test | severe | AISI 4140 corroded at 132.65 to 176.87 mpy in 0.5 M sulfuric acid, and its rate rose with exposure time.1 |
| Hydrogen gas at 69 MPa, room temperature (one study compiled by Sandia) | severe | Hydrogen gas at 69 MPa cuts the notched tensile strength of high-strength 4140 from 2160 to 862 MPa, and its notched reduction of area from 2.8 to 0.9 percent.2 |
| # | Environment | Details | Test conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Immersion in 0.5 M sulfuric acid (H2SO4), 48 to 144 h, weight-loss test | Rates were 132.65 mpy at 48 h, 143.7 mpy at 96 h and 176.87 mpy at 144 h, from weight loss (Table 1). The paper reports obvious rust on all AISI 4140 specimens at every time and XRD shows metal oxides as the corrosion products. Only AISI 1045 corroded faster, at 183.7 mpy at 144 h. The severe rating is an assistant judgement from the mpy values, not a rating in the paper. | solution 0.5 M H2SO4exposure times h 48, 96, 144specimen 25 mm diameter by 30 mm high, three per material (as printed)heat treatment not stated in the papermethod weight loss in mg; corrosion rate in mpy |
| 2 | Hydrogen gas at 69 MPa, room temperature (one study compiled by Sandia) | The Sandia reference says hydrogen severely degrades reduction of area in smooth tension (80% lower than in helium), while ultimate strength barely changes (1283 to 1228 MPa). Hydrogen lowers notched tensile strength by about 60% for high-strength 4140 and by about 15% for low-strength 4140. The yield strength of 4140 sets how severe the loss is, so the high-strength condition suffers most. | environment 69 MPa hydrogen gas, room temperaturecomparison 69 MPa helium gasnotch V-notch, Kt 8.4heat treatment high A 843 C 1 h, water quench, temper 482 C 2 hheat treatment low A 843 C 1 h, oil quench, temper 704 C 2 h |
Risks and side effects
Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.
For people
The PubChem records below are for elemental chromium and molybdenum. No safety data sheet for AISI 4140 bar was read in this run.
- Chromium
- PubChem lists elemental chromium as Danger, with H317, H319 and H334 among the reported codes. About half of 2404 company reports say it does not meet GHS criteria.
- Molybdenum
- PubChem lists elemental molybdenum with H361 (suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child) and H228 (flammable solid) among the reported codes. 57.4% of reports say it does not meet GHS criteria.
In service
These come from two laboratory tests, not from field incidents.
- Hydrogen gas
- In 69 MPa hydrogen gas at room temperature, high-strength 4140 lost about 60% of its notched tensile strength, from 2160 to 862 MPa (Sandia).
- Dilute acid
- In 0.5 M sulfuric acid, 4140 rusted over its surface and corroded at 176.87 mpy after 144 h (Rosidah et al., 2021).
Heat treatment
Heat treatment sets the strength, and two windows need care.
- Temper brittleness
- Tempering between 200 and 420 C causes temper brittleness, per the supplier. Avoid that range.
- Stress relief
- After quenching and tempering, stress relieve about 30 to 50 C below the tempering temperature, then air cool.
Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.
Failure risks
| Failure | Trigger and consequence |
|---|---|
| Hydrogen embrittlement in gaseous hydrogenhigh severity | Hydrogen gas at 69 MPa, room temperature, notched and smooth specimensNotched tensile strength of high-strength 4140 fell from 2160 to 862 MPa, and its notched reduction of area from 2.8 to 0.9 percent. The source ties the loss to yield strength. |
| Acid corrosion with weight losshigh severity | Immersion in 0.5 M sulfuric acid for 48 to 144 hMass fell from 4000 mg to 1600 mg after 144 h, a corrosion rate of 176.87 mpy, with visible rust on the specimens. |
| Temper brittlenessmoderate severity | Tempering in the 200 to 420 C rangeBrittleness. The supplier says this tempering range should be avoided. |
Handling and storage
- Harden at 830 to 860 C and oil quench, then temper at 540 to 680 C for at least 1 hour and air cool (recommended for the quenched and tempered condition).
- Stress relieve about 30 to 50 C below the tempering temperature for the quenched and tempered condition, or at 600 to 650 C for the annealed condition, then air cool.
- Avoid tempering between 200 and 420 C; the supplier says this causes temper brittleness.
Mitigations
- The source ties the hydrogen damage to yield strength. In the room-temperature study the lower-strength 4140 lost about 15% of its notched tensile strength, against about 60% for the high-strength condition, so keep the yield strength of the chosen condition in view wherever hydrogen may be present.
- Molybdenum in the grade prevents temper brittleness, per the supplier; keep the Mo content within the datasheet limits.
Supply and geography
How common the raw materials are and where they come from.
Chromium
World resources are greater than 12 billion t of shipping-grade chromite, with 95% of world chromium resources in Kazakhstan and southern Africa. US net import reliance was 79% of apparent consumption in 2025 (estimated). US chromite imports in 2021 to 2024 came from South Africa (96%) and Turkey (3%).
- Top producers (2025)
- South Africa 45.1%, Turkey 17.6%, Kazakhstan 13.7%, India 5.9%, Brazil 3.9%, Zimbabwe 3.9%
- Critical mineral lists
- US: listed
- Recycling
- Recycled chromium in stainless-steel scrap receipts was 21% of US apparent consumption in 2025.
- Substitutes
- Chromium has no substitute in stainless steel, the leading end use, or in superalloys (USGS 2026).
Molybdenum
World reserves were 17,000 thousand t (2025e). Identified resources are about 5.4 million t in the United States and about 20 million t in the rest of the world. Molybdenum is used principally as an alloying agent in cast iron, steel and superalloys. The Government of China imposed export controls on molybdenum powders in February 2025.
- Top producers (2025)
- China 37.3%, Chile 16.2%, United States 15.4%, Peru 15%, Mexico 6.5%
- Recycling
- Molybdenum is recycled in ferrous scrap, superalloy scrap and catalysts; USGS says recycled molybdenum may be as much as 30% of apparent supply.
- Substitutes
- USGS: there is little substitution in steels; potential substitutes in alloy steels include boron, chromium, niobium (columbium) and vanadium.
Documents
Datasheets, safety data sheets, papers and standards you can open.
Full record
The complete spore, as stored. Free to reuse under CC-BY-4.0. Images keep the licence shown with each one.
Show the full YAML
spore: profile
id: steel-4140
spore_version: 0.2
family: carbon-and-alloy-steels
name: Alloy steel AISI 4140 (chromium-molybdenum)
abbreviation: 4140 (UNS G41400)
role: structural alloy
category: metals
type: steels-and-stainless
summary: AISI 4140 is a medium-carbon chromium-molybdenum alloy steel (UNS G41400) whose strength depends on heat treatment. Quenched and tempered bar of 10 to 100 mm reaches a minimum yield strength of 740 MPa. In hydrogen gas and in dilute sulfuric acid its strength and corrosion resistance suffer, which limits use where those are present.
best_for: Machine parts and structures in medium and large sections that need high strength and toughness after quenching and tempering
weakest_at: Hydrogen gas, which cut notched strength by about 60 percent in one room-temperature study, and dilute sulfuric acid, which corroded it at 176.87 mpy
identity:
formula: Fe balance; 0.38 to 0.43 C, 0.75 to 1.00 Mn, 0.15 to 0.35 Si, 0.80 to 1.10 Cr, 0.15 to 0.25 Mo, 0.035 max P, 0.040 max S (wt%, ASTM A29 limits as printed in Table 1.1.1 of the Sandia reference)
source: sandia-1211
where: Table 1.1.1, Allowable composition ranges (wt%) for Cr-Mo steels, row 4140
designations:
- system: AISI
code: '4140'
source: voestalpine-4140
where: NEAREST STANDARDS table, AISI column
- system: UNS
code: G41400
source: voestalpine-4140
where: NEAREST STANDARDS table, UNS column
- system: EN
code: '1.7225'
source: saky-4140
where: 'Product description: 1.7225 is the European EN standard'
- system: EN name
code: 42CrMo4
source: metinvest-42crmo4
where: Steel 42CrMo4 analogues table, EU column
- system: ISO
code: 683-2
source: metinvest-42crmo4
where: '42CrMo4 page: made in accordance with DIN EN ISO 683-2 (formerly EN 10083-3)'
- system: JIS
code: SCM440
source: elgin-4140
where: Key Words line
- system: JIS
code: SCM 4
source: elgin-4140
where: Key Words line, printed as JIS SCM 4
- system: SAE
code: '4140'
source: saky-4140
where: 'Short Description: AISI SAE 4140 alloy steel'
- system: SAE
code: J404
source: elgin-4140
where: Key Words line
- system: SAE
code: J412
source: elgin-4140
where: Key Words line
- system: SAE
code: J770
source: elgin-4140
where: Key Words line
- system: ASTM
code: A29
source: saky-4140
where: Specifications table, Standard row
- system: ASTM
code: A322
source: elgin-4140
where: Key Words line
- system: ASTM
code: A331
source: elgin-4140
where: Key Words line
- system: ASTM
code: A505
source: elgin-4140
where: Key Words line
- system: ASTM
code: A519
source: elgin-4140
where: Key Words line
- system: ASTM
code: A646
source: elgin-4140
where: Key Words line
- system: BS
code: EN19
source: tachart-709m40
where: 709M40 page, Alias list, printed En19
- system: BS
code: 708M40
source: elgin-4140
where: Key Words line, printed B.S. 708 M 40 (UK)
- system: BS
code: 708A42
source: elgin-4140
where: Key Words line, printed B.S. 708 A 42 (UK)
- system: BS
code: 709M40
source: elgin-4140
where: Key Words line, printed B.S. 709 M 40 (UK)
- system: DTD
code: 167A
source: tachart-709m40
where: 709M40 page, Alias list
- system: AFNOR
code: 40 CD 4
source: elgin-4140
where: Key Words line
- system: AFNOR
code: 42 CD 4
source: elgin-4140
where: Key Words line, printed AFNOR 42 CD 4 (France)
- system: SS
code: 14 2244
source: elgin-4140
where: Key Words line, printed SS14 2244 (Sweden)
- system: MIL
code: MIL-S-16974
source: elgin-4140
where: Key Words line, printed MIL SPEC MIL-S-16974
- system: MIL
code: S 5626
source: aircraft-4140
where: Specifications list, MIL S 5626
- system: AMS
code: S 5626
source: aircraft-4140
where: Specifications list, AMS S 5626
- system: AMS
code: '6349'
source: aircraft-4140
where: Specifications list, AMS 6349
- system: AMS
code: '6382'
source: aircraft-4140
where: Specifications list, AMS 6382
- system: AMS
code: '6381'
source: elgin-4140
where: Key Words line
- system: AMS
code: '6390'
source: elgin-4140
where: Key Words line
- system: AMS
code: '6395'
source: elgin-4140
where: Key Words line
- system: AS
code: 1444-1996
source: aircraft-4140
where: Specifications list, AS 1444-1996
- system: IS
code: 40Cr1Mo28
source: elgin-4140
where: Key Words line, printed IS 1570, IS 4367 and IS 5517 40Cr1Mo28
- system: DIN
code: 41CrMo4
note: nearest equivalent
source: voestalpine-4140
where: NEAREST STANDARDS table, DIN column, printed as 41CrMo4
- system: BS
code: EN19A
note: nearest equivalent
source: voestalpine-4140
where: NEAREST STANDARDS table, BS column
tags:
environments: []
stresses: []
applications:
- mechanisms
- structures
properties:
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Yield strength, quenched and tempered, 10 to 100 mm
value: 740
bound: lower
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
condition: 'quenched and tempered: oil quench from 830 to 860 C, temper 540 to 680 C for at least 1 h, air cool'
section: 10 to 100 mm
strength_type: Rp0.2, minimum
unit_in_source: N/mm2
method: Mechanical properties (heat treated) table, minimum as printed; N/mm2 is the same number as MPa
status: ground
source: voestalpine-4140
where: Mechanical Properties (heat treated) table, Yield Strength (Rp 0.2), 10-100 mm column
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Yield strength, quenched and tempered, 101 to 250 mm
value: 665
bound: lower
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
condition: 'quenched and tempered: oil quench from 830 to 860 C, temper 540 to 680 C for at least 1 h, air cool'
section: 101 to 250 mm
strength_type: Rp0.2, minimum
unit_in_source: N/mm2
method: Mechanical properties (heat treated) table, minimum as printed; N/mm2 is the same number as MPa
status: ground
source: voestalpine-4140
where: Mechanical Properties (heat treated) table, Yield Strength (Rp 0.2), 101-250 mm column
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, quenched and tempered, 10 to 100 mm
value: 930
value_high: 1080
bound: range
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
condition: 'quenched and tempered: oil quench from 830 to 860 C, temper 540 to 680 C for at least 1 h, air cool'
section: 10 to 100 mm
unit_in_source: N/mm2
method: Mechanical properties (heat treated) table, minimum and maximum as printed; N/mm2 is the same number as MPa
status: ground
source: voestalpine-4140
where: Mechanical Properties (heat treated) table, Tensile (Rm), 10-100 mm column
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, quenched and tempered, 101 to 250 mm
value: 850
value_high: 1000
bound: range
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
condition: 'quenched and tempered: oil quench from 830 to 860 C, temper 540 to 680 C for at least 1 h, air cool'
section: 101 to 250 mm
unit_in_source: N/mm2
method: Mechanical properties (heat treated) table, minimum and maximum as printed; N/mm2 is the same number as MPa
status: ground
source: voestalpine-4140
where: Mechanical Properties (heat treated) table, Tensile (Rm), 101-250 mm column
- benchmark: elongation
label: Elongation, quenched and tempered, 10 to 100 mm
value: 12
bound: lower
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
condition: 'quenched and tempered: oil quench from 830 to 860 C, temper 540 to 680 C for at least 1 h, air cool'
section: 10 to 100 mm
gauge: A5 as labelled in the datasheet
method: Mechanical properties (heat treated) table, minimum as printed
status: ground
source: voestalpine-4140
where: Mechanical Properties (heat treated) table, Elongation (A5 %), 10-100 mm column
- benchmark: impact_energy
label: Charpy impact energy, quenched and tempered, 10 to 100 mm
value: 42
bound: lower
unit: J
scope: material
conditions:
condition: 'quenched and tempered: oil quench from 830 to 860 C, temper 540 to 680 C for at least 1 h, air cool'
section: 10 to 100 mm
test: Charpy
test_temperature: not stated in the datasheet
method: Mechanical properties (heat treated) table, minimum as printed
status: ground
source: voestalpine-4140
where: Mechanical Properties (heat treated) table, Charpy Impact (J), 10-100 mm column
- benchmark: hardness_brinell
label: Hardness, quenched and tempered, 10 to 100 mm
value: 269
value_high: 331
bound: range
unit: HB
scope: material
conditions:
condition: 'quenched and tempered: oil quench from 830 to 860 C, temper 540 to 680 C for at least 1 h, air cool'
section: 10 to 100 mm
method: Mechanical properties (heat treated) table, range as printed
status: ground
source: voestalpine-4140
where: Mechanical Properties (heat treated) table, Hardness (HB), 10-100 mm column
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Yield strength, typical, 50 mm section
value: 770
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
condition: hardened and tempered, supplied to condition T (the temper temperature is not stated)
section: 50 mm
method: Typical mechanical properties table as printed, row Alloy 4140 at 50 mm; typical values, not minimums
status: ground
source: aircraft-4140
where: Typical Mechanical Properties table, row Alloy 4140, section 50 mm
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Yield strength, typical, 200 mm section
value: 570
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
condition: hardened and tempered, supplied to condition T (the temper temperature is not stated)
section: 200 mm
method: Typical mechanical properties table as printed, row Alloy 4140 at 200 mm; typical values, not minimums
status: ground
source: aircraft-4140
where: Typical Mechanical Properties table, row Alloy 4140, section 200 mm
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, typical, 50 mm section
value: 930
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
condition: hardened and tempered, supplied to condition T (the temper temperature is not stated)
section: 50 mm
method: Typical mechanical properties table as printed, row Alloy 4140 at 50 mm; typical values, not minimums
status: ground
source: aircraft-4140
where: Typical Mechanical Properties table, row Alloy 4140, section 50 mm
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, typical, 200 mm section
value: 850
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
condition: hardened and tempered, supplied to condition T (the temper temperature is not stated)
section: 200 mm
method: Typical mechanical properties table as printed, row Alloy 4140 at 200 mm; typical values, not minimums
status: ground
source: aircraft-4140
where: Typical Mechanical Properties table, row Alloy 4140, section 200 mm
- benchmark: elongation
label: Elongation, typical, 50 mm section
value: 17
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
condition: hardened and tempered, supplied to condition T (the temper temperature is not stated)
section: 50 mm
method: Typical mechanical properties table as printed, row Alloy 4140 at 50 mm
status: ground
source: aircraft-4140
where: Typical Mechanical Properties table, Elongation %, row Alloy 4140, section 50 mm
- benchmark: impact_energy
label: Izod impact energy, typical, 50 mm section
value: 90
unit: J
scope: material
conditions:
condition: hardened and tempered, supplied to condition T (the temper temperature is not stated)
section: 50 mm
test: Izod
method: Typical mechanical properties table as printed (column headed Izod J)
status: ground
source: aircraft-4140
where: Typical Mechanical Properties table, Izod J, row Alloy 4140, section 50 mm
- benchmark: hardness_brinell
label: Hardness, typical, 50 mm section
value: 275
unit: HB
scope: material
conditions:
condition: hardened and tempered, supplied to condition T (the temper temperature is not stated)
section: 50 mm
method: Typical mechanical properties table as printed, row Alloy 4140 at 50 mm
status: ground
source: aircraft-4140
where: Typical Mechanical Properties table, Hardness HB, row Alloy 4140, section 50 mm
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, normalised at 870 C
value: 1020
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
condition: normalised at 870 C, air cooled
section: 25 mm (1 in.) round
method: Mechanical properties table of the fact sheet, value as printed for the stated condition
status: ground
source: elgin-4140
where: 'Mechanical Properties, Tensile Strength Ultimate, row 1020 MPa (heading: normalized at 870 C, 25 mm round)'
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Yield strength, normalised at 870 C
value: 655
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
condition: normalised at 870 C, air cooled
section: 25 mm (1 in.) round
method: Mechanical properties table of the fact sheet, value as printed for the stated condition
status: ground
source: elgin-4140
where: 'Mechanical Properties, Tensile Strength Yield, row 655 MPa (heading: normalized at 870 C, 25 mm round)'
- benchmark: elongation
label: Elongation, normalised at 870 C
value: 17.7
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
condition: normalised at 870 C, air cooled
section: 25 mm (1 in.) round
gauge: 50 mm
method: Mechanical properties table of the fact sheet, value as printed for the stated condition
status: ground
source: elgin-4140
where: Mechanical Properties, Elongation at Break, row 17.70% in 50 mm
- benchmark: reduction_of_area
label: Reduction of area, normalised at 870 C
value: 46.8
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
condition: normalised at 870 C, air cooled
section: 25 mm (1 in.) round
method: Mechanical properties table of the fact sheet, value as printed for the stated condition
status: ground
source: elgin-4140
where: Mechanical Properties, Reduction of Area, row 46.80%
- benchmark: hardness_brinell
label: Hardness, Brinell, normalised at 870 C
value: 302
unit: HB
scope: material
conditions:
condition: normalised at 870 C, air cooled
section: 25 mm (1 in.) round
method: Mechanical properties table of the fact sheet; the Brinell value is printed and the other scales are converted by the datasheet
status: ground
source: elgin-4140
where: Mechanical Properties, Hardness Brinell, row 302
- benchmark: density
value: 7.85
unit: g/cc
scope: material
conditions:
basis: physical properties table; no temperature or heat treatment stated
method: Physical properties table as printed (metric column)
status: ground
source: elgin-4140
where: Physical Properties, Density, row 7.85 g/cc
- benchmark: elastic_modulus
label: Modulus of elasticity
value: 205
unit: GPa
scope: material
conditions:
basis: datasheet comment Typical for steel; no temperature or heat treatment stated
method: Mechanical properties table as printed; the datasheet marks the value as typical for steel
status: ground
source: elgin-4140
where: Mechanical Properties, Modulus of Elasticity, row 205 GPa
- benchmark: shear_modulus
value: 80
unit: GPa
scope: material
conditions:
basis: datasheet comment Typical for steel; no temperature or heat treatment stated
method: Mechanical properties table as printed; the datasheet marks the value as typical for steel
status: ground
source: elgin-4140
where: Mechanical Properties, Shear Modulus, row 80.0 GPa
- benchmark: bulk_modulus
value: 160
unit: GPa
scope: material
conditions:
basis: datasheet comment Typical for steel; no temperature or heat treatment stated
method: Mechanical properties table as printed; the datasheet marks the value as typical for steel
status: ground
source: elgin-4140
where: Mechanical Properties, Bulk Modulus, row 160 GPa
- benchmark: poissons_ratio
value: 0.29
unit: '-'
scope: material
conditions:
basis: datasheet marks the value as calculated; no temperature stated
method: Mechanical properties table as printed; the datasheet notes the value is calculated
status: calculated
source: elgin-4140
where: Mechanical Properties, Poissons Ratio, row 0.29 (comment Calculated)
- benchmark: cte
label: Coefficient of thermal expansion, 0 to 100 C
value: 12.2
unit: ppm/K
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 0 to 100 C (32 to 212 F)
unit_in_source: µm/m-°C, numerically the same as ppm/K
method: Thermal properties table as printed; the unit is the same number as ppm/K
status: ground
source: elgin-4140
where: Thermal Properties, CTE linear, row 12.2 µm/m-°C at 0.000 to 100 °C
- benchmark: cte
label: Coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 600 C
value: 14.6
unit: ppm/K
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 20 to 600 C (68 to 1110 F)
unit_in_source: µm/m-°C, numerically the same as ppm/K
method: Thermal properties table as printed; the unit is the same number as ppm/K
status: ground
source: elgin-4140
where: Thermal Properties, CTE linear, row 14.6 µm/m-°C at 20.0 to 600 °C
- benchmark: specific_heat
value: 0.473
unit: J/gK
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 150 to 200 C (302 to 392 F)
unit_in_source: J/g-°C
method: Thermal properties table as printed; J/g-°C is the same number as J/gK
status: ground
source: elgin-4140
where: Thermal Properties, Specific Heat Capacity, row 0.473 J/g-°C at 150 to 200 °C
- benchmark: thermal_conductivity
value: 42.6
unit: W/mK
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 100 C (212 F)
unit_in_source: W/m-K, with the W lost in text extraction; the BTU column on the same row (296 BTU-in/hr-ft2-F) confirms W/m-K
method: Thermal properties table as printed; unit inferred from the BTU-in column on the same row
status: ground
source: elgin-4140
where: Thermal Properties, Thermal Conductivity, row 42.6 at 100 C (296 BTU-in/hr-ft2-F)
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Yield strength, high-strength condition, smooth bar
value: 1235
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
heat_treatment: A 1116 K/60 min, water quench, T 755 K/120 min (A 843 C 1 h, water quench, temper 482 C 2 h); strength level high
environment: 69 MPa helium gas
test: smooth tensile, room temperature, strain rate 3.3e-5 per s
yield_definition: deviation from linearity on load vs time plot
method: Table 3.1.1.1 row 4140 (69 MPa He); the same value appears in Table 1.1.3 high-strength row; kelvin converted to C by subtracting 273.15 and rounding
status: ground
source: sandia-1211
where: Table 3.1.1.1, 4140 row, 69 MPa He; Table 1.1.3, 4140 high strength row
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, high-strength condition, helium
value: 1283
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
heat_treatment: A 1116 K/60 min, water quench, T 755 K/120 min (A 843 C 1 h, water quench, temper 482 C 2 h); strength level high
environment: 69 MPa helium gas
test: smooth tensile, room temperature
method: Table 3.1.1.1 row 4140, 69 MPa He
status: ground
source: sandia-1211
where: Table 3.1.1.1, 4140 row, 69 MPa He, Su column
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, high-strength condition, hydrogen
value: 1228
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
heat_treatment: A 1116 K/60 min, water quench, T 755 K/120 min (A 843 C 1 h, water quench, temper 482 C 2 h); strength level high
environment: 69 MPa hydrogen gas
test: smooth tensile, room temperature
method: Table 3.1.1.1 row 4140, 69 MPa H2
status: ground
source: sandia-1211
where: Table 3.1.1.1, 4140 row, 69 MPa H2, Su column
- benchmark: reduction_of_area
label: Reduction of area, high-strength condition, helium
value: 48
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
heat_treatment: A 1116 K/60 min, water quench, T 755 K/120 min (A 843 C 1 h, water quench, temper 482 C 2 h); strength level high
environment: 69 MPa helium gas
test: smooth tensile, room temperature
method: Table 3.1.1.1 row 4140, 69 MPa He, RA column
status: ground
source: sandia-1211
where: Table 3.1.1.1, 4140 row, 69 MPa He, RA column
- benchmark: reduction_of_area
label: Reduction of area, high-strength condition, hydrogen
value: 8.8
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
heat_treatment: A 1116 K/60 min, water quench, T 755 K/120 min (A 843 C 1 h, water quench, temper 482 C 2 h); strength level high
environment: 69 MPa hydrogen gas
test: smooth tensile, room temperature
method: Table 3.1.1.1 row 4140, 69 MPa H2, RA column
status: ground
source: sandia-1211
where: Table 3.1.1.1, 4140 row, 69 MPa H2, RA column
- benchmark: elongation
label: Elongation, high-strength condition, hydrogen
value: 2.6
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
heat_treatment: A 1116 K/60 min, water quench, T 755 K/120 min (A 843 C 1 h, water quench, temper 482 C 2 h); strength level high
environment: 69 MPa hydrogen gas
test: smooth tensile, room temperature
method: Table 3.1.1.1 row 4140, 69 MPa H2, Elt column; the footnote for a 32 mm gauge is printed against the helium value, not this one
status: ground
source: sandia-1211
where: Table 3.1.1.1, 4140 row, 69 MPa H2, Elt column
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Yield strength, low-strength condition
value: 642
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
heat_treatment: A 1116 K/60 min, oil quench, T 977 K/120 min, air cool (A 843 C 1 h, oil quench, temper 704 C 2 h, air cool); strength level low
environment: not stated for the smooth yield value
method: Table 1.1.3 low-strength 4140 row; kelvin converted to C by subtracting 273.15 and rounding; the same Sy* is listed in Table 3.1.2.1
status: ground
source: sandia-1211
where: Table 1.1.3, 4140 low strength row, Sy column
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, low-strength condition
value: 745
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
heat_treatment: A 1116 K/60 min, oil quench, T 977 K/120 min, air cool (A 843 C 1 h, oil quench, temper 704 C 2 h, air cool); strength level low
environment: not stated in Table 1.1.3
method: Table 1.1.3 low-strength 4140 row
status: ground
source: sandia-1211
where: Table 1.1.3, 4140 low strength row, Su column
- benchmark: reduction_of_area
label: Reduction of area, low-strength condition
value: 68
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
heat_treatment: A 1116 K/60 min, oil quench, T 977 K/120 min, air cool (A 843 C 1 h, oil quench, temper 704 C 2 h, air cool); strength level low
environment: not stated in Table 1.1.3
method: Table 1.1.3 low-strength 4140 row
status: ground
source: sandia-1211
where: Table 1.1.3, 4140 low strength row, RA column
- benchmark: notched_tensile_strength
label: Notched tensile strength, low-strength condition, air
value: 1345
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
heat_treatment: A 843 C 1 h, oil quench, temper 704 C 2 h, air cool; strength level low
environment: air
specimen: V-notch, 60 degree included angle, notch root radius 0.024 mm, Kt 8.4
displacement_rate: about 4e-4 mm/s
method: Table 3.1.2.1 row 4140 (low strength), air
status: ground
source: sandia-1211
where: Table 3.1.2.1, 4140 low strength row, air, sigma s column
- benchmark: notched_tensile_strength
label: Notched tensile strength, low-strength condition, helium
value: 1259
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
heat_treatment: A 843 C 1 h, oil quench, temper 704 C 2 h, air cool; strength level low
environment: 69 MPa helium gas
specimen: V-notch, 60 degree included angle, notch root radius 0.024 mm, Kt 8.4
displacement_rate: about 4e-4 mm/s
method: Table 3.1.2.1 row 4140 (low strength), 69 MPa He
status: ground
source: sandia-1211
where: Table 3.1.2.1, 4140 low strength row, 69 MPa He, sigma s column
- benchmark: notched_tensile_strength
label: Notched tensile strength, low-strength condition, hydrogen
value: 1074
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
heat_treatment: A 843 C 1 h, oil quench, temper 704 C 2 h, air cool; strength level low
environment: 69 MPa hydrogen gas
specimen: V-notch, 60 degree included angle, notch root radius 0.024 mm, Kt 8.4
displacement_rate: about 4e-4 mm/s
method: Table 3.1.2.1 row 4140 (low strength), 69 MPa H2
status: ground
source: sandia-1211
where: Table 3.1.2.1, 4140 low strength row, 69 MPa H2, sigma s column
- benchmark: notched_tensile_strength
label: Notched tensile strength, high-strength condition, helium
value: 2160
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
heat_treatment: A 843 C 1 h, water quench, temper 482 C 2 h; strength level high
environment: 69 MPa helium gas
specimen: V-notch, 60 degree included angle, notch root radius 0.024 mm, Kt 8.4
displacement_rate: about 4e-4 mm/s
method: Table 3.1.2.1 row 4140 (high strength), 69 MPa He
status: ground
source: sandia-1211
where: Table 3.1.2.1, 4140 high strength row, 69 MPa He, sigma s column
- benchmark: notched_tensile_strength
label: Notched tensile strength, high-strength condition, hydrogen
value: 862
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
heat_treatment: A 843 C 1 h, water quench, temper 482 C 2 h; strength level high
environment: 69 MPa hydrogen gas
specimen: V-notch, 60 degree included angle, notch root radius 0.024 mm, Kt 8.4
displacement_rate: about 4e-4 mm/s
method: Table 3.1.2.1 row 4140 (high strength), 69 MPa H2
status: ground
source: sandia-1211
where: Table 3.1.2.1, 4140 high strength row, 69 MPa H2, sigma s column
- benchmark: notched_reduction_of_area
label: Notched reduction of area, low-strength condition, air
value: 10
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
heat_treatment: A 843 C 1 h, oil quench, temper 704 C 2 h, air cool; strength level low
environment: air
specimen: V-notch, Kt 8.4
method: Table 3.1.2.1 row 4140 (low strength), air, RA column
status: ground
source: sandia-1211
where: Table 3.1.2.1, 4140 low strength row, air, RA column
- benchmark: notched_reduction_of_area
label: Notched reduction of area, low-strength condition, helium
value: 14
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
heat_treatment: A 843 C 1 h, oil quench, temper 704 C 2 h, air cool; strength level low
environment: 69 MPa helium gas
specimen: V-notch, Kt 8.4
method: Table 3.1.2.1 row 4140 (low strength), 69 MPa He, RA column
status: ground
source: sandia-1211
where: Table 3.1.2.1, 4140 low strength row, 69 MPa He, RA column
- benchmark: notched_reduction_of_area
label: Notched reduction of area, low-strength condition, hydrogen
value: 7.1
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
heat_treatment: A 843 C 1 h, oil quench, temper 704 C 2 h, air cool; strength level low
environment: 69 MPa hydrogen gas
specimen: V-notch, Kt 8.4
method: Table 3.1.2.1 row 4140 (low strength), 69 MPa H2, RA column
status: ground
source: sandia-1211
where: Table 3.1.2.1, 4140 low strength row, 69 MPa H2, RA column
- benchmark: notched_reduction_of_area
label: Notched reduction of area, high-strength condition, helium
value: 2.8
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
heat_treatment: A 843 C 1 h, water quench, temper 482 C 2 h; strength level high
environment: 69 MPa helium gas
specimen: V-notch, Kt 8.4
method: Table 3.1.2.1 row 4140 (high strength), 69 MPa He, RA column
status: ground
source: sandia-1211
where: Table 3.1.2.1, 4140 high strength row, 69 MPa He, RA column
- benchmark: notched_reduction_of_area
label: Notched reduction of area, high-strength condition, hydrogen
value: 0.9
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
heat_treatment: A 843 C 1 h, water quench, temper 482 C 2 h; strength level high
environment: 69 MPa hydrogen gas
specimen: V-notch, Kt 8.4
method: Table 3.1.2.1 row 4140 (high strength), 69 MPa H2, RA column
status: ground
source: sandia-1211
where: Table 3.1.2.1, 4140 high strength row, 69 MPa H2, RA column
corrosion:
- environment: Immersion in 0.5 M sulfuric acid (H2SO4), 48 to 144 h, weight-loss test
headline: AISI 4140 corroded at 132.65 to 176.87 mpy in 0.5 M sulfuric acid, and its rate rose with exposure time.
effect: Rates were 132.65 mpy at 48 h, 143.7 mpy at 96 h and 176.87 mpy at 144 h, from weight loss (Table 1). The paper reports obvious rust on all AISI 4140 specimens at every time and XRD shows metal oxides as the corrosion products. Only AISI 1045 corroded faster, at 183.7 mpy at 144 h. The severe rating is an assistant judgement from the mpy values, not a rating in the paper.
rating: severe
conditions:
solution: 0.5 M H2SO4
exposure_times_h: 48, 96, 144
specimen: 25 mm diameter by 30 mm high, three per material (as printed)
heat_treatment: not stated in the paper
method: weight loss in mg; corrosion rate in mpy
source: itats-2021
where: Table 1 (AISI 4140 rows); Results, Corrosion Rate; Macrostructure results
- environment: Hydrogen gas at 69 MPa, room temperature (one study compiled by Sandia)
headline: Hydrogen gas at 69 MPa cuts the notched tensile strength of high-strength 4140 from 2160 to 862 MPa, and its notched reduction of area from 2.8 to 0.9 percent.
effect: The Sandia reference says hydrogen severely degrades reduction of area in smooth tension (80% lower than in helium), while ultimate strength barely changes (1283 to 1228 MPa). Hydrogen lowers notched tensile strength by about 60% for high-strength 4140 and by about 15% for low-strength 4140. The yield strength of 4140 sets how severe the loss is, so the high-strength condition suffers most.
rating: severe
conditions:
environment: 69 MPa hydrogen gas, room temperature
comparison: 69 MPa helium gas
notch: V-notch, Kt 8.4
heat_treatment_high: A 843 C 1 h, water quench, temper 482 C 2 h
heat_treatment_low: A 843 C 1 h, oil quench, temper 704 C 2 h
source: sandia-1211
where: Sections 3.1.1 and 3.1.2 (text); Tables 3.1.1.1 and 3.1.2.1
risks:
hazards:
- text: 'PubChem aggregated GHS for elemental chromium (signal word Danger): H317 (20.7%), H319 (19.1%) and H334 (20.3%) are the reported codes above 10%; H335, H320, H341, H371, H400 and H410 also appear in notifications. About half of 2404 company reports (1202) say it does not meet GHS criteria. The data cover the element, not the alloy.'
ghs:
- H317
- H319
- H334
- H335
- H320
- H341
- H371
- H400
- H410
source: pubchem-chromium
where: Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification (CID 23976)
- text: 'PubChem aggregated GHS for elemental molybdenum: 57.4% (874 of 1523) of reports say it does not meet GHS criteria. Reported codes include H228 flammable solid (30%), H361 suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child (29.5%), H225 (11.6%), H315, H319 and H335. The data cover the element, not the alloy.'
ghs:
- H228
- H361
- H225
- H315
- H319
- H335
source: pubchem-molybdenum
where: Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification (CID 23932)
failure_risks:
- mode: Hydrogen embrittlement in gaseous hydrogen
trigger: Hydrogen gas at 69 MPa, room temperature, notched and smooth specimens
consequence: Notched tensile strength of high-strength 4140 fell from 2160 to 862 MPa, and its notched reduction of area from 2.8 to 0.9 percent. The source ties the loss to yield strength.
severity: high
source: sandia-1211
where: Table 3.1.2.1; Section 3.1.2
- mode: Acid corrosion with weight loss
trigger: Immersion in 0.5 M sulfuric acid for 48 to 144 h
consequence: Mass fell from 4000 mg to 1600 mg after 144 h, a corrosion rate of 176.87 mpy, with visible rust on the specimens.
severity: high
source: itats-2021
where: Table 1, AISI 4140 rows
- mode: Temper brittleness
trigger: Tempering in the 200 to 420 C range
consequence: Brittleness. The supplier says this tempering range should be avoided.
severity: moderate
source: aircraft-4140
where: Heat Treatments, Tempering note
side_effects: []
handling:
- text: Harden at 830 to 860 C and oil quench, then temper at 540 to 680 C for at least 1 hour and air cool (recommended for the quenched and tempered condition).
source: voestalpine-4140
where: Heat Treatment (recommended), Harden and Temper rows
- text: Stress relieve about 30 to 50 C below the tempering temperature for the quenched and tempered condition, or at 600 to 650 C for the annealed condition, then air cool.
source: voestalpine-4140
where: Heat Treatment (recommended), Stress Relieve row
- text: Avoid tempering between 200 and 420 C; the supplier says this causes temper brittleness.
source: aircraft-4140
where: Heat Treatments, Tempering note
mitigations:
- text: The source ties the hydrogen damage to yield strength. In the room-temperature study the lower-strength 4140 lost about 15% of its notched tensile strength, against about 60% for the high-strength condition, so keep the yield strength of the chosen condition in view wherever hydrogen may be present.
source: sandia-1211
where: Section 3.1.2 (text); Table 3.1.2.1
- text: Molybdenum in the grade prevents temper brittleness, per the supplier; keep the Mo content within the datasheet limits.
source: voestalpine-4140
where: Description
uses:
- application: mechanisms
device: Axles, gears, shafts, spindles, pinions, sprockets and studs
example: Aircraft Materials lists these among the other typical applications of alloy 4140 bar. No test data are given for them.
source: aircraft-4140
where: Description, other typical applications
- application: structures
device: Rams, crowbars and oil-patch and logging parts
example: The supplier calls alloy 4140 the most widely used alloy for oil-patch applications and lists logging parts and rams among its uses.
source: aircraft-4140
where: Description
- application: structures
device: Aerospace bar to AMS 6349 and AMS 6382
example: Alloy 4140 bar is supplied to AMS 6349 and AMS 6382, with AMS S 5626 and MIL S 5626 also listed. The Elgin fact sheet lists AMS 6381, 6382, 6390 and 6395.
source: aircraft-4140
where: Specifications list; Elgin keywords list
supply:
- subject: Chromium
abundance: World resources are greater than 12 billion t of shipping-grade chromite, with 95% of world chromium resources in Kazakhstan and southern Africa. US net import reliance was 79% of apparent consumption in 2025 (estimated). US chromite imports in 2021 to 2024 came from South Africa (96%) and Turkey (3%).
producers:
- country: South Africa
share_percent: 45.1
year: 2025
- country: Turkey
share_percent: 17.6
year: 2025
- country: Kazakhstan
share_percent: 13.7
year: 2025
- country: India
share_percent: 5.9
year: 2025
- country: Brazil
share_percent: 3.9
year: 2025
- country: Zimbabwe
share_percent: 3.9
year: 2025
critical_lists:
- list: USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals (chromium, used in stainless steel)
listed: true
recycling: Recycled chromium in stainless-steel scrap receipts was 21% of US apparent consumption in 2025.
substitutes:
- Chromium has no substitute in stainless steel, the leading end use, or in superalloys (USGS 2026).
source: usgs-chromium-2026
where: Salient Statistics; World Mine Production and Reserves (2025e; shares computed as printed tonnage over the 51,000 t world total); World Resources; Substitutes; Recycling
- subject: Molybdenum
abundance: World reserves were 17,000 thousand t (2025e). Identified resources are about 5.4 million t in the United States and about 20 million t in the rest of the world. Molybdenum is used principally as an alloying agent in cast iron, steel and superalloys. The Government of China imposed export controls on molybdenum powders in February 2025.
producers:
- country: China
share_percent: 37.3
year: 2025
- country: Chile
share_percent: 16.2
year: 2025
- country: United States
share_percent: 15.4
year: 2025
- country: Peru
share_percent: 15
year: 2025
- country: Mexico
share_percent: 6.5
year: 2025
critical_lists: []
recycling: Molybdenum is recycled in ferrous scrap, superalloy scrap and catalysts; USGS says recycled molybdenum may be as much as 30% of apparent supply.
substitutes:
- 'USGS: there is little substitution in steels; potential substitutes in alloy steels include boron, chromium, niobium (columbium) and vanadium.'
source: usgs-molybdenum-2026
where: Domestic Production and Use; Events, Trends and Issues; World Mine Production and Reserves (2025e; shares computed over the 260,000 t world total); World Resources; Substitutes; Recycling
media: []
documents:
- title: 'voestalpine High Performance Metals: AISI 4140 / 1.7225 / G41400 datasheet (Australia)'
type: datasheet
url: https://www.voestalpine.com/highperformancemetals/australia/app/uploads/sites/265/2024/08/Datasheet-4140-2026-v1.pdf
year: 2026
- title: Alloy Steel Grade 4140 Fact Sheet (Elgin, mwcomponents.com)
type: datasheet
url: https://www.mwcomponents.com/uploads/Resource-Center/Elgin-Material-Sheets/Alloy-Steel-Grade-4140-Fact-Sheet_Elgin-Website.pdf
- title: Aircraft Alloy Steel AISI 4140 (AMS 6349 / AMS 6382) Technical Data Sheet (Aircraft Materials)
type: datasheet
url: https://aircraftmaterials.com/data/alstst/4140.html
- title: 'Technical Reference on Hydrogen Compatibility of Materials: Low-Alloy Ferritic Steels, Tempered Fe-Cr-Mo Alloys (code 1211), Sandia National Laboratories'
type: report
url: https://www.sandia.gov/app/uploads/sites/158/2021/12/1211TechRef_FeCrMo_T.pdf
year: 2005
- title: 'Rosidah et al. 2021: The effect of time variation on the steels corrosion rate in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution (JMESI)'
type: paper
url: https://ejournal.itats.ac.id/jmesi/article/download/2183/1989
year: 2021
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Chromium'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-chromium.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Molybdenum'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-molybdenum.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'USGS: About the 2025 List of Critical Minerals'
type: report
url: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/mineral-resources-program/science/about-2025-list-critical-minerals
year: 2025
- title: 'PubChem: Chromium (CID 23976), GHS classification'
type: database
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/23976/JSON/?heading=GHS+Classification
year: 2026
- title: 'PubChem: Molybdenum (CID 23932), GHS classification'
type: database
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/23932/JSON/?heading=GHS+Classification
year: 2026
- title: 'Saky Steel: AISI 4140 1.7225 42CrMo4 SCM440 B7 Steel Bar (stockist page)'
type: datasheet
url: https://www.sakysteel.com/aisi-4140-1-7225-42crmo4-scm440-b7-steel-bar.html
- title: 'Metinvest: Steel 42CrMo4 characteristics, properties and analogues (manufacturer page)'
type: datasheet
url: https://metinvestholding.com/en/products/steel-grades/42crmo4
- title: 'Tachart: 709M40 grade page with alias list (stockist page)'
type: datasheet
url: https://www.tachart.com/?p=1110
gaps:
- No safety data sheet for AISI 4140 bar was read in this run. The hazard entries are PubChem records for elemental chromium and molybdenum. Welding, grinding and fume hazards of the steel itself are not sourced.
- Composition sources disagree. Elgin lists carbon as max 0.33 and manganese as 0.40 to 0.60; voestalpine gives maximum limits (carbon 0.40, manganese 1.00, silicon 0.40, chromium 1.10, molybdenum 0.30); Aircraft Materials gives single values (carbon 0.40, silicon 0.25, manganese 0.85, chromium 1.00, molybdenum 0.25). The recipe uses the ASTM A29 ranges printed in the Sandia reference; the other values are kept in their sources as printed.
- 'No annealed-condition strength value was found. Annealing temperatures also differ: voestalpine gives 680 to 720 C, and Aircraft Materials gives 830 to 850 C with furnace cooling.'
- The Aircraft Materials typical rows do not state a temper temperature, so they are recorded as condition T with the temper temperature not stated.
- The hydrogen data come from one room-temperature study, compiled in the Sandia reference (its reference 4), at 69 MPa gas only. No temperature dependence, hydrogen concentration or cathodic-charging data were read. The Colombo 2020 paper (doi 10.1016/j.tafmec.2020.102810) returned a Cloudflare challenge, MDPI Materials 18(2), 339 returned Access Denied, and the arXiv 2012.10112 PDF was truncated.
- No chloride or salt-spray corrosion data for AISI 4140 were read. The Springer brake-disc paper (doi 10.1186/s44147-025-00702-z, NaCl immersion) returned an automated-access challenge. The only corrosion values here are in 0.5 M sulfuric acid, from a 2021 journal paper that does not state the heat treatment of its 4140 specimens.
- Mechanical values come from manufacturer datasheets, not from a standard such as AMS 6382 or ASTM A29. MatWeb and Total Materia were not reached in this run.
- 'Properties not in property-canon were given snake_case names: hardness_brinell, impact_energy, reduction_of_area, notched_tensile_strength and notched_reduction_of_area.'
- 'Thermal conductivity: the W glyph was lost in text extraction. W/mK is inferred from the BTU-in column on the same row (296 BTU-in/hr-ft2-F matches 42.6 W/mK).'
- Elgin's density, modulus, bulk and shear moduli, and Poisson's ratio carry no temperature or heat treatment; they are recorded as typical or calculated, as the datasheet marks them.
- 'Critical minerals: the USGS 2025 list page was read through a fetch summary, not raw text. Chromium is recorded as listed; the summary names no molybdenum entry, so molybdenum has no list entry. The EU critical raw materials list was not read.'
- No flight, spacecraft or vacuum use of AISI 4140 was found in these sources. The uses are terrestrial machinery and aerospace specifications.
- Sandia's tables give temperatures in kelvin. The C values in the conditions are conversions (minus 273.15, rounded), and the printed kelvin values are kept beside them.
- The Sandia composition in Table 1.1.2 (0.40 C, 0.93 Cr, 0.20 Mo) is one test heat, not a specification, and it is not used in the recipe.
- 'Designations: no Aalco or Sandvik grade page was reached in this run; the web searches returned neither.'
- 'Designations: voestalpine prints 41CrMo4 beside 1.7225 under DIN, while Metinvest and Saky print 42CrMo4 for 1.7225. Both are kept as printed; check the DIN name before relying on it.'
- 'Designations: no source in this run calls 708M40, 709M40, 708A42 or EN19 a nearest equivalent, so they carry no note. Tachart lists AISI 4140 as an alias of its 709M40 page.'
- 'Designations not added: SCM440H and the Russian grades 38XM and 40XFA appear only in the Metinvest 42CrMo4 analogues table. AISI 4137 and SAE 4137 are aliases of 709M40 on Tachart and are a different grade.'
sources:
voestalpine-4140:
title: 'voestalpine High Performance Metals: AISI 4140 / 1.7225 / G41400 datasheet'
id: AISI 4140 / 1.7225 / G41400
url: https://www.voestalpine.com/highperformancemetals/australia/app/uploads/sites/265/2024/08/Datasheet-4140-2026-v1.pdf
year: 2026
kind: datasheet
license: supplier datasheet, cited not reproduced
elgin-4140:
title: Alloy Steel Grade 4140 Fact Sheet (Elgin, mwcomponents.com), normalized at 870 C, 25 mm round
id: AISI 4140 normalized 870 C, 25 mm round
url: https://www.mwcomponents.com/uploads/Resource-Center/Elgin-Material-Sheets/Alloy-Steel-Grade-4140-Fact-Sheet_Elgin-Website.pdf
kind: datasheet
license: supplier datasheet, cited not reproduced
aircraft-4140:
title: Aircraft Alloy Steel AISI 4140 (AMS 6349 / AMS 6382) Technical Data Sheet (Aircraft Materials)
id: AMS 6349 / AMS 6382
url: https://aircraftmaterials.com/data/alstst/4140.html
kind: datasheet
license: supplier web page, cited not reproduced
sandia-1211:
title: 'Technical Reference on Hydrogen Compatibility of Materials: Low-Alloy Ferritic Steels, Tempered Fe-Cr-Mo Alloys (code 1211)'
id: Sandia National Laboratories, Somerday, revised 12/05
url: https://www.sandia.gov/app/uploads/sites/158/2021/12/1211TechRef_FeCrMo_T.pdf
year: 2005
kind: report
license: US government report, public
itats-2021:
title: The effect of time variation on the steels corrosion rate in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution (Rosidah et al., JMESI 1(2))
id: doi:10.31284/j.jmesi.2021.v1i2.2183
url: https://ejournal.itats.ac.id/jmesi/article/download/2183/1989
year: 2021
kind: paper
license: CC BY-NC 4.0
usgs-chromium-2026:
title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Chromium'
id: mcs2026-chromium
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-chromium.pdf
year: 2026
kind: report
license: public domain (USGS)
usgs-molybdenum-2026:
title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Molybdenum'
id: mcs2026-molybdenum
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-molybdenum.pdf
year: 2026
kind: report
license: public domain (USGS)
usgs-critical-2025:
title: 'USGS: About the 2025 List of Critical Minerals'
id: 2025 List of Critical Minerals (60 minerals)
url: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/mineral-resources-program/science/about-2025-list-critical-minerals
year: 2025
kind: web
license: public domain (USGS)
pubchem-chromium:
title: 'PubChem: Chromium (CID 23976), Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification'
id: CID 23976
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/23976/JSON/?heading=GHS+Classification
year: 2026
kind: database
license: PubChem terms (public)
pubchem-molybdenum:
title: 'PubChem: Molybdenum (CID 23932), Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification'
id: CID 23932
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/23932/JSON/?heading=GHS+Classification
year: 2026
kind: database
license: PubChem terms (public)
saky-4140:
title: 'Saky Steel: AISI 4140 1.7225 42CrMo4 SCM440 B7 Steel Bar'
id: AISI 4140 1.7225 42CrMo4 SCM440 B7 Steel Bar
url: https://www.sakysteel.com/aisi-4140-1-7225-42crmo4-scm440-b7-steel-bar.html
kind: datasheet
license: supplier web page, cited not reproduced
metinvest-42crmo4:
title: 'Metinvest: Steel 42CrMo4 characteristics, properties and analogues'
id: Steel 42CrMo4 analogues table
url: https://metinvestholding.com/en/products/steel-grades/42crmo4
kind: datasheet
license: manufacturer web page, cited not reproduced
tachart-709m40:
title: 'Tachart: 709M40 grade page with alias list'
id: 709M40 alias list
url: https://www.tachart.com/?p=1110
kind: datasheet
license: supplier web page, cited not reproduced
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-10-24'
review:
status: draft
method: assistant
checked_values: 47
unreachable: 4
caveats: 3
note: 'Read by an AI assistant on 2026-10-24 from pages fetched in this run. Strength values are each tied to their heat treatment. Unreachable: Colombo 2020 (Cloudflare), MDPI Materials 18(2) 339 (Access Denied), Springer 10.1186/s44147-025-00702-z (challenge), arXiv 2012.10112 (truncated PDF).'
story:
recipe:
line: AISI 4140 is an iron-based chromium-molybdenum steel. The composition limits printed for it (ASTM A29, in the Sandia reference) are 0.38 to 0.43 wt% carbon, 0.75 to 1.00 manganese, 0.15 to 0.35 silicon, 0.80 to 1.10 chromium and 0.15 to 0.25 molybdenum, with phosphorus at 0.035 maximum, sulfur at 0.04 maximum and iron as the balance. Its strength comes from heat treatment (austenitize, quench, temper) as much as from its composition.
parts:
- name: Iron
symbol: Fe
share_note: balance (the rest)
role: The matrix of the steel; heat treatment changes its structure from austenite to martensite and then tempered martensite.
- name: Carbon
symbol: C
share_percent: 0.38
share_high: 0.43
role: Sets how hard the steel can become when quenched; medium carbon gives the strength range.
- name: Manganese
symbol: Mn
share_percent: 0.75
share_high: 1
role: Deoxidiser and hardenability aid in the melt.
- name: Silicon
symbol: Si
share_percent: 0.15
share_high: 0.35
role: Deoxidiser in the melt.
- name: Chromium
symbol: Cr
share_percent: 0.8
share_high: 1.1
role: Adds hardenability and corrosion resistance; the grade is still a low-alloy steel, not stainless.
- name: Molybdenum
symbol: Mo
share_percent: 0.15
share_high: 0.25
role: Adds hardenability and, per the supplier, prevents temper brittleness.
- name: Phosphorus
symbol: P
share_percent: 0
share_high: 0.035
limit: maximum
role: Impurity held low.
- name: Sulfur
symbol: S
share_percent: 0
share_high: 0.04
limit: maximum
role: Impurity held low.
risk_groups:
- title: For people
level: 0
verdict: Alloy not checked against an SDS
lead: The PubChem records below are for elemental chromium and molybdenum. No safety data sheet for AISI 4140 bar was read in this run.
points:
- label: Chromium
line: PubChem lists elemental chromium as Danger, with H317, H319 and H334 among the reported codes. About half of 2404 company reports say it does not meet GHS criteria.
- label: Molybdenum
line: PubChem lists elemental molybdenum with H361 (suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child) and H228 (flammable solid) among the reported codes. 57.4% of reports say it does not meet GHS criteria.
- title: In service
level: 1
verdict: Hydrogen and acid are the watch points
lead: These come from two laboratory tests, not from field incidents.
points:
- label: Hydrogen gas
line: In 69 MPa hydrogen gas at room temperature, high-strength 4140 lost about 60% of its notched tensile strength, from 2160 to 862 MPa (Sandia).
- label: Dilute acid
line: In 0.5 M sulfuric acid, 4140 rusted over its surface and corroded at 176.87 mpy after 144 h (Rosidah et al., 2021).
- title: Heat treatment
level: 1
verdict: Keep out of the tempering brittle range
lead: Heat treatment sets the strength, and two windows need care.
points:
- label: Temper brittleness
line: Tempering between 200 and 420 C causes temper brittleness, per the supplier. Avoid that range.
- label: Stress relief
line: After quenching and tempering, stress relieve about 30 to 50 C below the tempering temperature, then air cool.
why: 'AISI 4140 (UNS G41400) is a medium-carbon chromium-molybdenum steel. It is chosen for a balance of strength, toughness and wear resistance after quenching and tempering, and molybdenum keeps it free of temper brittleness, according to the supplier. Its strength depends on the condition: a normalised 25 mm bar, a quenched and tempered bar of 10 to 100 mm and a room-temperature hydrogen study each give different numbers, so every value in this profile carries its own condition. Its main weakness is hydrogen gas, which cut notched strength sharply in one room-temperature study.'
uses:
- where: Gears, shafts and spindles
line: Aircraft Materials lists axles, gears, shafts, pump shafts, pinions, sprockets, studs and ring gears among the typical uses of alloy 4140 bar.
- where: Oil-patch and logging parts
line: The same supplier calls alloy 4140 the most widely used alloy for oil-patch applications.
- where: Aerospace bar
line: Alloy 4140 bar is supplied to the aerospace specifications AMS 6349 and AMS 6382 (Aircraft Materials).
can_do:
- label: Strength
line: Quenched and tempered bar of 10 to 100 mm is specified at a minimum yield strength of 740 MPa and a tensile strength of 930 to 1080 MPa (voestalpine).
- label: Toughness
line: In the same condition the minimum Charpy impact energy is 42 J (voestalpine).
- label: Normalised
line: A 25 mm round normalised at 870 C gives 1020 MPa tensile strength, 655 MPa yield strength and 17.7% elongation (Elgin).
- label: Stiffness
line: The modulus of elasticity is 205 GPa, typical for steel (Elgin).
- label: Hydrogen
line: In 69 MPa hydrogen gas at room temperature, high-strength 4140 still reached 1228 MPa tensile strength, but its notched tensile strength fell to 862 MPa (Sandia).
compare: In the same 0.5 M sulfuric acid test, AISI 4140 corroded at a rate second only to AISI 1045 (176.87 mpy against 183.7 mpy at 144 h), while the stainless steel in the same test corroded least, because its chromium oxide film protects it (Rosidah et al., 2021). The fetched sources give no direct comparison with another grade on strength or hydrogen behaviour, so this paragraph is limited to that acid test.
compare_rows:
- label: Strength
benchmark: yield_strength
- label: Stiffness
benchmark: elastic_modulus
- label: Density
benchmark: density
handling:
- Quote the heat-treatment condition with every strength value, because the normalised, quenched and tempered, and hydrogen-tested rows differ.
- Avoid tempering between 200 and 420 C; the supplier says this causes temper brittleness.
- 'In hydrogen service, do not assume the notched strength of high-strength 4140: the room-temperature study lost about 60%.'
- Take the safety data sheet for the specific bar before cutting, grinding or welding; no 4140 SDS was read here.
good_for:
- Medium and large sections that need high strength with toughness after quenching and tempering (voestalpine).
- Gears, shafts, spindles, pinions and sprockets, the machine parts the supplier lists (Aircraft Materials).
watch_out:
- 'Hydrogen gas: notched tensile strength of high-strength 4140 fell from 2160 to 862 MPa at 69 MPa and room temperature.'
- 'Dilute acid: 4140 rusted and corroded at 176.87 mpy in 0.5 M sulfuric acid after 144 h.'
- Tempering between 200 and 420 C causes temper brittleness, so avoid that range.
verdict: AISI 4140 is a strong, tough steel whose properties depend on heat treatment. Quote the condition with each value, keep hydrogen exposure in mind when choosing the strength level, and protect it from acid. The hydrogen data here come from one room-temperature study, so treat them as a warning, not a design allowable.
References
Every number above carries a reference number. Click one to see the source and where in it the value comes from.