1045 Steel Plate

AISI 1045 steel is characterized by good weldability, good machinability, and high strength and impact properties in either the normalized or hot-rolled condition. Because 1045’s chemical composition doesn’t include suitable alloying elements, it does not respond to nitriding.

1045 is most commonly found in the automotive, construction, and agriculture industries.

AISI 1045 is widely used for all industrial applications that require higher wear resistance and strength.  Typical applications include gears, pins, rams, shafts, sockets, rolls, axles, spindles, worms, ratchets, light gears, bolts, crankshafts, guide rods, connecting rods, hydraulic clamps, crankshafts, studs, and more.

1045 is considered to have good machinability in either the hot rolled or normalized state. Machine manufacturers may recommend tapping, broaching, drilling, milling, turning, or sawing using suitable tool types, feeds, and speeds to machine 1045.

1045 is characterized by good weldability when normalized or hot rolled. Welding 1045 steel when it is through-, induction-, or flame-hardened, or when tempered, is not recommended. Welding 1045 is recommending under the following conditions:

• The workpiece has been pre-heated to 200°C–300°C (392°F – 572°F);
• The temperature remains constant throughout the welding
• The piece is cooled slowly with either sand or ashes
• The piece is stress-relieved between 550°C and 660°C (1022°F – 1220°F)

AISI 1045 can be forged, annealed, normalized, stress-relieved, hardened, and tempered – each of which is explained in more detail below:

• Forging – to forget 1045, first heat it to 850°C – 1250°C (1562°F – 2282°F) and hold until the temperature is uniform. Afterward, cool in a furnace.
• Annealing – to anneal 1045, first heat it to 800°C – 850°C (1472°F – 1562°F) and hold until the temperature is uniform. Afterward, cool in a furnace.
• Normalizing – to normalize 1045, first heat it to 870°C – 920°C (1598°F-1688°F) and hold until the temperature is uniform. Afterward, soak it for 10 – 15 minutes and cool it in still air.
• Stress-Relieving – to stress-relieve 1045, first teat to 550°C – 660°C (1022°F – 1220°F) and hold it until the temperature is uniform. Afterward, soak it for 1 hour per section of 25mm and cool in still air.
• Hardening – 1045 is considered to have low through-hardening capability. Only sections of 60mm are recommended for tempering and through-hardening. But, when hot rolled or normalized, it can be flame- or induction-hardened to achieve a surface hardness of Rc 54 – 60. To harden 1045, first heat it to 820°C – 850°C (1508°F – 1562°F) and hold it until the temperature is uniform. Afterward, soak it for 10 – 15 minutes per section of 25mm and quench it in water or brine.
• Tempering – to temper 1045, first re-heat it to 400°C – 650°C (752°F – 1202°F) as required and afterward hold it until the temperature is uniform. Then, soak it for 1 hour per section of 25mm and cool it in still air.

Learn more about 4 types of heat treatment that steel can undergo.