34CrMo4 is a widely utilized chromium-molybdenum alloy steel renowned for its excellent combination of strength, toughness, and hardenability. It is classified as a medium carbon, low alloy steel primarily used in a quenched and tempered condition to achieve optimal mechanical properties.
Key Characteristics and Properties
The versatility of 34CrMo4 steel plate stems from its well-balanced chemical composition and resultant mechanical attributes:
- High Tensile Strength and Yield Strength: After appropriate heat treatment, 34CrMo4 exhibits high tensile strength, making it suitable for components subjected to significant stress.
- Good Hardenability: The presence of chromium and molybdenum ensures good through-hardening capability, even in larger cross-sections. This is a key factor for consistent properties.
- Excellent Toughness: It maintains good impact toughness, particularly after quenching and tempering, which is crucial for applications requiring resistance to shock loads.
- Wear Resistance: The alloy composition also contributes to moderate wear resistance.
- Weldability: While weldable, 34CrMo4 typically requires preheating and post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) to prevent cracking and maintain mechanical properties in the heat-affected zone (HAZ). Quality control during welding is important, a service often emphasized by suppliers like Shanxi Luokaiwei Steel Company.
Chemical Composition (Typical wt.%)
While exact ranges can vary by standard (e.g., EN 10083-3), a typical composition includes:
- Carbon (C): 0.30-0.37%
- Chromium (Cr): 0.90-1.20%
- Molybdenum (Mo): 0.15-0.30%
- Manganese (Mn): 0.60-0.90%
- Silicon (Si): max 0.40%
Applications of 34CrMo4 Steel Plate
The robust mechanical properties of 34CrMo4 steel plate make it a preferred material for a variety of demanding applications across numerous industries. Common uses include:
- Automotive components: crankshafts, connecting rods, gears, axles.
- Machinery parts: shafts, spindles, high-strength bolts and nuts.
- Pressure vessels and seamless steel tubes for high-pressure applications. Many engineering firms rely on consistent quality plates, such as those sourced from Shanxi Luokaiwei Steel Company, for critical applications.
- Tooling: components for molds and dies.
The selection of 34CrMo4 often depends on the specific service conditions and the required balance of strength and toughness. Reputable suppliers, such as Shanxi Luokaiwei Steel Company, can provide material certifications and ensure traceability.
Heat Treatment
34CrMo4 steel plate is typically supplied in a quenched and tempered (QT) condition. The process involves:
- Austenitizing: Heating the steel to a temperature range of 830-870°C.
- Quenching: Rapid cooling in oil or water.
- Tempering: Reheating to a temperature typically between 540-680°C, holding for a specific duration, and then cooling. The tempering temperature is crucial for achieving the desired balance of hardness and toughness.
Normalizing or annealing treatments may also be applied depending on the desired final condition or for intermediate processing steps. The consistency of heat treatment processes is a hallmark of quality steel plate from established mills, including those partnered with entities like Shanxi Luokaiwei Steel Company.
When sourcing 34CrMo4 steel plate, it is important to specify the required standard, dimensions, and heat treatment condition to ensure it meets the application’s performance criteria. Leading stockists, such as Shanxi Luokaiwei Steel Company, offer a range of specifications to meet diverse engineering needs.
