4130 or 4140 Steel Alloy Tubes
4130 and 4140 steel alloys are both popular materials used in building projects and machining applications. However, while they do have similarities, they also have distinct differences, making them ideal for different applications because of their chemical makeup.
Before you start ordering materials for your next project, take a look below to fully understand if 4130 0r 4140 steel alloy tube is what you really need to get the job done correctly.
What Is 4130 Steel Alloy?
Steel alloy is also known as Chromium-molybdenum steel or “chrome moly” or “CrMo” for short.
4130 is considered a low alloy steel material, but that does not mean it’s “low” quality. 4130 steel alloy is primarily made up of carbon, chromium, sulfur, silicon, molybdenum, manganese, and phosphorus. This unique combination of elements allows 4130 steel alloy to have increased strength, hardness, and toughness, as well as high resistance to corrosion and extreme heat.
Best Applications & Uses for 4130 Steel Alloy Tube
Boyer Steel offers 4130 steel alloy in a round shape as a tube product. Tubing is generally subjected to more rigorous testing and has tighter tolerances when compared to pipe. Usually, tube is measured by the outside diameter (OD) and wall thickness, because it is commonly used in structural and mechanical applications where strength and stability are the main concerns.
Because of its lower carbon amount, when compared to 4140 steel alloy, 4130 steel alloy is easier to machine, making it ideal for drilling, milling, turning, and welding without the risk of temperature damage from friction. 4130 steel alloy is available in smaller diameters up to two inches with a wall thickness no greater than ¼ inch. Because of its resistance, strength, and small product size, 4130 steel alloy tube is used for a variety of applications across several industries including:
- Building and Construction (Structural)
- Aircraft and Aerospace
- Automotive
- Mechanical
Boyer Steel stocks a variety of common 4130 steel alloy tube gauges and sizes for your next project including:
- 1.625 OD x .083 wall
- 1.25 OD x .049 wall
- 1 OD x .065 wall
What Is 4140 Steel Alloy?
Like 4130, 4140 steel alloy is also considered a low alloy steel material and is made up of chromium, phosphorus, sulfur, molybdenum, and manganese. 4140 steel alloy contains a higher amount of carbon than 4130 steel alloy, creating a material with increased toughness, resistance, and strength. The higher carbon content of 4140 steel alloy also makes it ideal for heat treatment to increase hardness and elevate strength levels, depending on your application.
Best Applications & Uses for 4140 Steel Alloy Tube
Boyer Steel offers 4140 steel alloy in a round shape as a tube product. 4140 and 4130 steel alloy are almost interchangeable and can both be used in mechanical and structural construction applications. However, because 4140 steel alloy is not available in as intricate and smaller measurements as 4130 steel alloy, it is not used for precision applications like aerospace or automotive.
4140 steel alloy is ideal for applications and uses in more extreme environments, conditions, and temperatures because it has higher tensile strength and resistance when compared to 4130 steel alloy.
Boyer Steel stocks a variety of common tube gauges and sizes for your next project including:
- 5.5 OD x .625 wall
- 8 OD x 1 wall
- 3.5 OD x .5 wall
What’s the Difference Between Carbon Steel vs Steel Alloy?
Carbon steel is made up of mostly carbon and iron, while steel alloy contains a variety of different elements including chromium, phosphorus, nickel, sulfur, molybdenum, and manganese. These additional elements in steel alloy increase its strength, durability, toughness, and hardness.
Carbon steel is available at a much lower cost than steel alloy; however, carbon steel is much weaker than steel alloy as well. In most cases, carbon steel cannot be used in place of steel alloy because it has different corrosion resistance levels than steel alloy and has lower durability, making it a poor choice for structural construction applications or precise, high wear parts.
The Boyer Steel team will work with you to ensure you select the correct grade of steel alloy for your project. We regularly stock common sizes of both 4130 and 4140 steel alloy to reduce lead times and ensure your project is completed on time.
Ready to order the 4130 or 4140 steel alloy you need for your next project? Request a quote now!
