Description
The Workhorse of High-Performance Applications
When we started supplying 4130 alloy steel bars 15 years ago, we quickly realized why it’s called aircraft grade. This chromium-molybdenum steel isn’t just another carbon steel – it’s the backbone of critical components that simply can’t fail. What makes it special? It balances toughness and weldability in a way few alloys can match, especially when you need reliability at 30,000 feet or 100 mph.
We’ve seen this material perform in some demanding environments:
* A European aircraft manufacturer uses our heat-treated 4130 bars for landing gear components that must endure 20,000+ landing cycles
* A Formula 1 team relies on our precision-ground bars for titanium-replacement suspension systems – saving 18% in weight without sacrificing strength
* In oil fields, our normalized 4130 stands up to high-pressure drilling where other alloys crack under stress
From Chemistry to Real-World Performance
The magic is in the mix: 0.28-0.33% carbon with chromium (0.80-1.10%) and molybdenum (0.15-0.25%). This combination gives us:
– 90,000-120,000 psi tensile strength after proper heat treatment
– 20-30 HRC in as-rolled condition, up to 50 HRC when hardened
– The rare ability to be welded without pre/post-heating in most applications
One thing our customers often ask: “Will it machine well?” Our answer – yes, but with caveats. We recommend carbide tooling at 120-150 surface feet per minute for best results. And while the chromium content helps with corrosion resistance, we always advise protective coatings for marine applications.
Our bars come in ASTM A29, AMS 6345, and MIL-S-18729 certified forms, with diameters from 6mm to 300mm. Whether you need black finish for structural use, polished for shafts, or precision-ground to ±0.001″ tolerance, we’ve got it covered.
Why Buy From Our Chinese Factory
Being based in China isn’t just about competitive pricing – it’s about vertical integration. We control everything from raw material sourcing (we use only prime virgin scrap in our EAF process) to final testing (including 100% ultrasonic inspection on aerospace orders).
Need something special? We regularly:
– Customize lengths up to 12 meters
– Provide normalized, quenched & tempered, or stress-relieved states
– Supply material with third-party inspection reports (SGS, BV, etc.)
– Handle small batch runs (500kg) to full container orders (25+ tons)
We’ve learned that great steel is just the start – it’s how we solve problems that matters. Got a design challenge or unusual specification? Let’s discuss what we can really do.
