Not long ago we talked about the international standards for classifying steel. However, one of the most important that establishes essential and international standards for the manufacture, handling, and distribution of steel is the SAE classification.
The SAE standards, bear this name because of the authority that created this system. The Society of Automotive Engineers is an organization that seeks the mobility and standardization of professionals. This society of engineers is present in different industries.
Some of the most fundamental are space engineering, automotive and other commercial industries that specialize in vehicle manufacturing. Today you will learn with Ulbrinox how tests and measurements help improve car design.
What is the SAE classification?
It is a 4 or 5 digit identification system. It is based on the chemical composition of the steel. This code helps to interpret and identify the elements present in the alloy. In other words, it standardizes steel worldwide.
This classification helps to optimize the production needed in industries for specific alloys. It is normal that being a classification defined by automotive engineers, one comes across other inputs that use the same system, but with different compositions, such as the case of automotive oils.
Why is the SAE classification so important?
It has not only been an international standard to regulate and supervise steel at the international level. But it turned into a complete success. The AISI standard establishes the same classification (American Iron and Steel Institute, in English).
In addition, they unite more than 128,000 engineers and technical experts. This is how they boost knowledge and experience in different industries. They always base their interests on priorities in order to offer mobility solutions.
How to interpret the SAE classification?
You should know that there are not only thousands of combinations of chemical compositions present in the steel alloys. That is why, the classification with numbers becomes the easiest to identify the properties of the alloying elements.
To interpret the SAE standards we must pay attention to a format similar to this: ABXXX or ABXXX or just numbers. The first two digits identify the elements of the main alloys and their contents. While, the other two or three digits, indicate the hundredths of a percentage of C (carbon) in the metal.
The amount of carbon can range between 0.05% C and 0.95%. However, we use three digits according to the rounding rule of the ABNT or the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards. This society establishes two numbers after the comma.
To identify the other elements in the steel, we can see the classification by decimal figures in this list:
AB = 10 – Simple carbon steel
AB = 20 – Steel - Nickel
AB = 30 – Steel - Nickel - Chrome
AB = 40 – Steel - Molybdenum
AB = 50 – Steel - Chrome
AB = 60 – Steel - Chrome - Vanadium
AB = 70 – Steel - Chrome - Tungsten
AB = 80 – Steel - Nickel - Chrome - Molybdenum
AB = 92 – Steel - Silicon - Manganese
AB = 93,94,97 and 98 – Steel - Nickel - Chrome - Molybdenum
While this is only a general overview to better understand the standard, every engineer has a more specific list that helps facilitate interpretation, with percentages of each element contained in the composition.
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