What is Forged Carbon Steel?

At Merit Brass, our mission is to set the industry standard for the highest total value of products and services. Our product line management team evaluates opportunities to expand our offering with products that serve your continued needs. In 2011, Merit added A105-N Forged Carbon Steel Fittings and Outlets to our portfolio of piping components.

Let’s Chat About Your Carbon Needs

Forged carbon steel is created through a steel forging process that maximizes the forged materials’ natural strength and machinability. It’s a steel that contains a high level of carbon as well as other alloys such as nickel, titanium, manganese, chromium, tungsten, and more.

Forged Carbon Steel Grades

There are three main carbon steel grades that contain different levels of carbon:

• Low Carbon Steel, also known as mild carbon steel, contains 0.05% to 0.25% carbon. Due to its ductility, it can be easily stretched without becoming brittle which helps it withstand high pressure applications. In addition, alloys can be added to low carbon steel to enhance its properties without increasing its weight.
• Medium Carbon Steel contains 0.26% to 0.60% carbon. It offers greater strength and hardness compared to low carbon steel. Medium carbon steel is more ductile than high carbon steel which makes it the perfect balance between the two grades. In addition, medium carbon steel can be heat treated where greater toughness is required without compromising the metal’s machinability.
• High Carbon Steel contains 0.61% to 1.50% carbon. It offers the greatest strength and hardness compared to low and medium carbon steel. High carbon steel is also less ductile which makes it harder to form. Due to its high carbon composition, it can be heat treated to enhance its hardness for use in high stress and extreme applications without breaking.

To identify if forged carbon steel has been heat treated, the ASTM specification A105 will denote it as such. A105 forged carbon steel is typically used in piping applications with higher temperature service; and it has also not been heat treated.

A105N forged carbon steel means that the material has normalization heat treatment. Normalization provides better performance and strength in low temperature applications. It also results in a superior metal that works well in high pressure applications.

Forged carbon steel is used in a variety of piping systems that handle oil, water, natural gas, and steam including oil & gas, chemical, automotive & transportation, architecture & construction, aerospace, mining, and marine.

Characteristics of Forged Carbon Steel

• Meets ASTM A105-N/ASME 105-N and ANSI B16.11 specifications
• Normalized heat treatment
• Conforms to NACE MR0175/MR0103

Reasons to Use Forged Carbon Steel

• Works well in high pressure applications
• Used in a variety of systems that handle oil, water, natural gas, and steam
• Enhanced hardness, strength, and machinability

Benefits of Forged Carbon Steel

• Less likely to crack compared to other types of steel which is why it is often used in applications requiring strength
• Along with high pressure applications, it’s also used to make construction materials, tools, automotive, parts, and more

Merit’s Forged Carbon Steel Fittings & Outlets Offering:

• Class 2000 Forged Threaded Pipe Fittings
• Class 3000 Forged Threaded and Socket Weld Pipe Fittings
• Class 3000 Forged Threaded x Socket Weld Pipe Couplings
• Class 6000 Forged Threaded Pipe Fittings
• Socket Weld Forged Outlet
• Buttweld Forged Outlet
• Threaded Forged Outlet

Order Your Inventory Today!