AISI 1035 Carbon Steel Properties and Applications

AISI 1035 carbon steel is a widely used medium carbon steel. As defined by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standards, the “10” designates it as a plain carbon steel, and the “35” indicates a nominal carbon content of 0.35% (typically ranging from 0.32% to 0.38%). This composition provides a reliable balance between strength and ductility, making it suitable for numerous industrial applications.

1. 1035 Carbon Steel Chemical Composition

Beyond carbon, the typical composition of 1035 steel includes:

• Manganese (Mn): 0.60% to 0.90%. Enhances hardenability and strength.
• Silicon (Si): 0.15% to 0.35%. Acts as a deoxidizer during steel production.
• Phosphorus (P) & Sulfur (S): Kept at low maximum levels (often ≤ 0.040% P, ≤ 0.050% S) to ensure good mechanical properties, particularly ductility and weldability. For specific high-quality needs, these limits can be even lower.

2. 1035 Carbon Steel Processing and Heat Treatment

1035 steel is available in various conditions, including hot rolled, normalized, annealed, or cold drawn, influencing its initial properties.

2.1 Heat Treatment Capability

This grade responds well to heat treatment, allowing for various mechanical properties. Common heat treatment involves:

• Austenitizing: Heating the steel above its critical temperature (approx. 810°C for similar grades) to form austenite.
• Quenching: Rapid cooling in oil or water to transform austenite into martensite, a hard structure.
• Tempering: Reheating the quenched steel to a lower temperature (typically 205°C to 650°C) to reduce brittleness while retaining significant hardness and strength.

2.2 Induction Hardening

1035 steel is also commonly used for induction hardening processes, achieving a hard surface layer on specific component areas.

3. 1035 Steel Mechanical Properties

When properly heat-treated (e.g., quenched and tempered), 1035 steel exhibits strength and toughness.

• Strength: Exact yield and tensile strength values depend heavily on the specific heat treatment parameters and the part’s size. For example, while as-rolled yield strength might be around 379 MPa (55 ksi), heat treatment can achieve considerably higher levels.
• Machinability:  It offers reasonable machinability. Heat treatment can be adjusted to optimize the balance between ease of machining and the final required strength.

4. 1035 Steel Applications

The balanced characteristics of 1035 steel make it a practical choice for various components, including:

• Gears
• Axles
• Shafts
• Fabricated disks
• Rectangular tubes and plates
• Parts under 100mm requiring good strength and material homogeneity after heat treatment
• Bearing journal surfaces

5. 1035 Steel Equivalent Grades and Standards

AISI 1035 steel is recognized under several international standards:

• UNS: G10350
• ASTM: A576
• SAE: J403
• JIS: G 4051 (S35C)
• EN: 10083-1 (C35E), EN 10016-4 (C36D2)

In certain cases, it substitutes for grades like the French CC35, especially for parts needing consistent quality after heat treatment and machining.