Our Materials - Steel

SEAMLESS AIR-HARDENING HEAT-TREATED STEEL

The benefits of air-hardening steels are particularly noticeable in the weld area where, unlike conventional steel alloys, strength can actually increase after cooling in air immediately after welding. 853 is heat-treated to give high strength and damage resistance, and the steel properties allow thin walls to be used, so that lower weight but fatigue-resistant structures can be made.

Why it works:

UTS: 1250-1400 MPa, density 7.78 gm/cc

The chemistry includes carbon, manganese, chrome, molybdenum, silicon, copper.

The interaction between the alloys result in a fine grain structure that forms with air-cooling without the traditional "quenching" (fast cooling in water or oil) process. High strength from bainitic phase steel after a series of cold-working operations.

Heat-treatment to the 853 specification raises the yield strength for the entire tube, increasing dent and impact resistance.

Reynolds offer a design option from 2011 - 853 DZB for Double Zone butted tubes which are particularly suitable for ATB and 29er frames to reduce or eliminate the gussets normally required to pass the stringent EN fatigue testing standards.

Want to know more?
Click here to download a metal alloys comparison (extract) PDF for designers.