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Alloying Elements

The Effects of Alloying Elements on the properties of Steels

Alloying element Mechanical Properties Magnetic Properties
Silicon ↑ ↑ ↑↑ ↓ ~ ↓ ↑↑↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↓↓↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ – ↓↓ ↑↑ ↓↓ – ↓↓
Manganese in pearlitic steels ↑ ↑ ↑ ~ ~ ~ ↑ ~ ↑ ~ ↓↓ ↑ ↓ ~ ~ –
Manganese in austenitic steels ↓↓↓ ↑ ↓ ↑↑ ~ ~ ~ ~ ↑↑ ~ – ↓↓↓ ↓↓↓ ↓↓ – not magnetic
Chromium ↑↑ ↑↑ ↑↑ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓↓↓ ↑↑ ↑ ↓ ~ ↓↓↓ ↑↑ ↑↑↑ ↑ ↑↑
Nickel in pearlitic steels ↑ ↑ ↑ ~ ~ ~ ~ ↑ ↓↓ ~ ↓↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ – – ↑↑ ↑↑
Nickel in austenitic steels ↓↓ ↑ ↓ ↑↑↑ ↑↑↓ ↑↑↑ ~ ↑↑↑ ↓↓ ~ ~ ↓↓↓ ↓↓↓ ↓↓ – ↑↑ not magnetic
Aluminium – – – – ↓ ↓ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ↓↓ ~ ↓↓ ↑↑↑ – ↑↑ ↑↑
Tungsten ↑ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ~ ~ ↑↑↑ ↓↓ ↑↑ ↑↑↑ ↓↓ ↓↓ ↓↓ ↑ – ↑↑↑ ↑↑↑
Vanadium ↑ ↑ ↑ ~ ~ ↑ ↑ ↑↑ ↓↓ ↑↑↑↑ ↑ ~ ↓ ↑ ↑
Cobalt ↑ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↓ ~ ↑↑↑ ↓ ~ ↓ – – ↑↑ ↑↑↑ ↑↑↑
Molybdenum ↑ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↑ ~ ↑↑ ↓↓ ↑↑↑ ↑↑ ↓ ↓ ↑↑ ↑↑ – ↑
Copper ↑ ↑ ↑↑ ~ ~ ~ – ↑ – – – ↓↓↓ ~ ~ – ↑
Sulphur – – – ↓ ↓ ↓ – – – – – ↓↓↓ ↑↑↑ – – ↓
Phosphorous ↑ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↓↓↓ – – – – – ↓ ↑↑ – – –
↑ = Increase                 ↓ = Reduction                ~ = Contant                      – = Not characteristic or unknown effect                  Several at arrows = More intensive