4130HW Alloy Steel
Technical Data
4130HW meets standard 4130 but is modified through tight composition control to improve
hardenability and strength in heavier sections.
Alloy Description
TimkenSteel’s 4130HW steel is a fine-grained, low-alloy
steel that offers optimum heat-treat response in heavier
cross-sections. It is used in a variety of bar and tubing
applications in quenched/tempered conditions. Yield
strengths range from 80 ksi through 95 ksi but may be
tempered to higher strength levels.
4130HW combines a medium carbon content with
alloying to improve hardenability. Because the carbon
level is lower, 4130HW can typically tolerate more
aggressive quenching, leading to improved as-quenched
hardness and post-temper properties. Micro-alloying
additions are made to increase temper resistance and
provide grain-size control. The fine grain structure
enhances toughness at all strength levels.
4130HW is produced using the electric arc-furnace
method. After the melting process, the molten steel is
transferred to a ladle refiner for alloy adjustments and
vacuum de-gassing. By performing inert gas stirring
under a near-perfect vacuum, impurities and harmful
gases are removed. This melting and refining process
path reduces levels of elements such as phosphorus
and sulfur. Refining and inclusion engineering practices
are controlled to optimize strength and toughness
properties in both the longitudinal and transverse
directions of the final product. It also enhances resistance
to sulfide stress corrosion.
After refining the steel, it is teemed into large bottom-
poured ingot molds or continuously cast into large
blooms. These ingots or blooms may be rolled into solid
rounds for machining/forging or for conversion into
seamless mechanical tubing.
Alloy Type
Hardenable, low alloy steel.
Typical Applications
Oil and gas completion equipment such as packers and
liner hanger components and wellhead components
including ball valves, gate valves, manifolds, crossover
flanges, adapter flanges, slips and blow out preventers
(BOPs).
Procedure and Results

Chemistry
C Mn Si Cr Ni Mo V Nb

Typical 4130HW 0.31 0.58 0.32 1.07 0.15 0.21 0.025 0.028

Typical 4130 0.31 0.57 0.28 0.93 0.12 0.19 0.006 0.002

AISI 4130 0.25/ 0.40/ 0.80/ 0.15/

Standard Limits 0.33 0.60 1.10 0.25

Physical Properties

Density
Thermal Conductivity
Specific Heat
Thermal Expansion Coefficient
Modulus of Elasticity
Poisson’s Ratio
Value (Units)
0.284 lb/in3 (7.85 g/cm3)
296 BTU-in/hr-ft2-ºF (0.106 cal-cm/s-cm2-ºC) at 212ºF (100ºC)
0.114 Btu/lb/°F (0.16 cal/g/°C) at 122-212ºF (50-100ºC)
6.78 – 8.11 µin/in-ºF (12.2 – 14.6 µm/m-K) at 68-212ºF (20-100ºC)
29.7 x 103 ksi (205 GPa)
0.29

Mechanical Properties

Hardness See Figure 1

Tensile See Figure 2 and Figure 3
Charpy V-notch Impact See Figure 4 and Figure 5

Heat Treatment

Temperatures
1600 – 1700°F (871 – 927°C),
Normalize
Forced air cool prior to harden/temper
Austenitize 1600 – 1650°F (871 – 899°C), Liquid quench, Temper
Quench and Temper
to desired strength
Hardenability

Jominy Hardenability See Figure 6

CCT/IT phase transformations See Figure 7 and Figure 8

Workability

Hot Forgability Forge up to 2250°F (1230°C)

Other Properties

Ability to successfully complete sulfide stress cracking testing per

Corrosion Resistance
NACE TM0177 Method A at L80 strength requirements.
High Temperature Properties See Figure 9
 Tempering Temperature (°C)
600 620 640 660 680 700 720
32 32

30 30

28 28
Hardness (HRC)
26 26

24 24

22 22

20 20

1100 1150 1200 1250 1300 1350

Tempering Temperature (°F)

Figure 1
The effect of tempering temperature on midwall hardness for 1.5” wall tubing.
Austenitized at 1625°F (885°C) and water quenched. Soak time of approximately
60 minutes at temper temperature.

Tempering Temperature (°C)

600 620 640 660 680 700 720
160 1100

1000
140
900
Strength (MPa)

120
Strength (KSI)

800
Lab Trial
UTS - 1.5" Wall

100
Yield - 1.5" Wall 700
Production Data
UTS - 1.25" Wall
Yield - 1.25" Wall
600
80 UTS - 1.375" Wall
Yield - 1.375" Wall
UTS - 1.5" Wall 500
Yield - 1.5" Wall
UTS - 2.0" Wall
60 Yield - 2.0" Wall 400
1100 1150 1200 1250 1300 1350
Tempering Temperature (°F)

Figure 2
The effect of tempering temperature on strength for 1.25,” 1.375,” 1.5,” and
2.0” wall tubing. The data indicated by the lines was generated in a laboratory.
The data indicated by the symbols was obtained from production records.
Austenitized at 1625°F (885°C) and water quenched. Soak time of
approximately 60 minutes at temper temperature.
 Tempering Temperature (°C)
600 620 640 660 680 700 720
80 80
75 75
70 70
65 65
60 Lab Trial 60
55 RA - 1.5" Wall 55
EL - 1.5" Wall

Ductility (%)
50 50
Production Data
45 RA - 1.25" Wall 45
40 EL - 1.25" Wall 40
RA - 1.375" Wall
35 EL - 1.375" Wall 35
RA - 1.5" Wall
30 EL - 1.5" Wall 30
25 RA - 2.0" Wall 25
EL - 2.0" Wall
20 20
15 15
10 10
1100 1150 1200 1250 1300 1350
Tempering Temperature (°F)

Figure 3
The effect of tempering temperature on the elongation and reduction of area for
the 1.25,” 1.375,” 1.5,” and 2.0” wall tubing. The data indicated by the lines was
generated in a laboratory. The data indicated by the symbols was obtained from
production records. Austenitized at 1625°F (885°C) and water quenched. Soak
time of approximately 60 minutes at temper temperature.

Tempering Temperature (°C)

600 620 640 660 680 700 720
160
200
140
180
120 160

100 140
Energy (ft-lbs)

Energy (J)

120
80
100
60 Lab Trials 80
1.375" Wall
1.5" Wall 60
40
Production Data 40
20 1.25" Wall
1.5" Wall 20
2.0" Wall
0 0
1100 1150 1200 1250 1300 1350
Tempering Temperature (°F)

Figure 4
The effect of tempering temperature on the longitudinal impact energy (Charpy
V-notch) for the 1.25,” 1.375,” 1.5,” and 2.0” wall tubing tested at -4ºF. Each data
point represents an average of three individual tests. Austenitized at 1625°F
(885°C) and water quenched. Soak time of approximately 60 minutes at
temper temperature.
 Tempering Temperature (°C)
600 620 640 660 680 700 720
160
200
140
180
120 160

100 140
Energy (ft-lbs)

Energy (J)
120
80
100
Lab Trials
60 1.375" Wall 80
1.5" Wall
60
40 Production Data
1.25" Wall 40
20 1.375" Wall
1.5" Wall 20
2.0" Wall
0 0
1100 1150 1200 1250 1300 1350
Tempering Temperature (°F)

Figure 5
The effect of tempering temperature on the transverse impact energy (Charpy
V-notch) for the 1.25”, 1.375”, 1.5”, and 2.0” wall tubing tested at +32ºF. Each
data point represents an average of three individual tests. Austenitized at
1625°F (885°C) and water quenched. Soak time of approximately 60 minutes at
temper temperature.

Position (mm)
0 10 20 30 40 50
55 55

50 4130HW 50
4130
45 45
Hardness (HRC)

40 40

35 35

30 30

25 25

20 20

15 15
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Jominy Position (1/16th of in.)

Figure 6
Jominy hardenability curve for 4130 and 4130HW. The data represents an
average of Jominy results from several 4130 and 4130HW heats.
 Time (hrs)
1E-3 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
1500 800
1400 ae1
1300 ae3 700
1200 Ferrite Start Pearlite Start
1100 600

Temperature (°C)
1000

Temperature (°F)
T 500
900 b Bainite Start
800
400
700
Ms
600 Martensite 300
500
400 200
300 Transformation(s)
200 IT Complete 100
100 CCT
0 0
1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000 1,000,000
Time (s)

Figure 7
Predicted isothermal and continuous cooling transformation diagrams for
4130HW calculated with MCASIS.

Time (hrs)
1E-3 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
1500 800
1400 ae1
1300 ae3 700
1200 Ferrite Start Pearlite Start
1100 600
Temperature (°C)

1000 Tb
Temperature (°F)

900 500
Bainite Start
800
400
700
Ms
600 Martensite 300
500
400 200
300 Transformation(s)
200 IT Complete 100
100 CCT
0 0
1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000 1,000,000
Time (s)

Figure 8
Predicted isothermal and continuous cooling transformation diagrams for 4130
calculated with MCASIS.
 Test Temperature (°C)
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
120
UTS
115 800
Yield
110
750
105

Strength (MPa)
Strength (KSI)

700
100

95 650

90
600
85

80 550

0 100 200 300 400 500 600

Test Temperature (°F)
Figure 9
High temperature strength results for 4130HW tubing with a 0.805” wall.
Samples were austenitized at 1625°F (885°C), water quenched, and tempered
at 1340°F (727°C).

For more information about TimkenSteel and other value-added products and services,
call 866.284.6536 (USA) or +44 1455 826320 (international).
Also, please visit our website at www.timkensteel.com.

0.5M 05-14:29 Order No. 10518 T im k e n S t e e l ® is a re gis t e re d t r ade m ar k .

©2 0 1 4 T im k e n S t e e l C o r po r at io n . Printed in U.S.A.