ASTM Grade LC3 (J31550) Cast Nickel Steel
ASTM grade LC3 steel is an alloy steel formulated for casting. Cited properties are appropriate for the normalized and tempered condition. LC3 is the ASTM designation for this material. J31550 is the UNS number.
It has a fairly high ductility among cast alloy steels. In addition, it has a fairly high thermal conductivity and a moderately high base cost.
The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare ASTM grade LC3 steel to: cast alloy steels (top), all iron alloys (middle), and the entire database (bottom). A full bar means this is the highest value in the relevant set. A half-full bar means it's 50% of the highest, and so on.
Mechanical Properties
Brinell Hardness
170
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
190 GPa 27 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
27 %
Fatigue Strength
230 MPa 34 x 103 psi
Poisson's Ratio
0.29
Reduction in Area
40 %
Shear Modulus
73 GPa 11 x 106 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
570 MPa 83 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
310 MPa 45 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
250 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
410 °C 770 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
1460 °C 2660 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
1420 °C 2580 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
470 J/kg-K 0.11 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
52 W/m-K 30 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
13 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
7.6 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
8.7 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
4.0 % relative
Density
7.9 g/cm3 490 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
1.7 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
23 MJ/kg 9.8 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
52 L/kg 6.2 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
130 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
260 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
13 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
24 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
20 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
19 points
Thermal Diffusivity
14 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
17 points
Alloy Composition
Among cast alloy steels, the composition of ASTM grade LC3 steel is notable for containing a comparatively high amount of nickel (Ni). Nickel is used to improve mechanical properties, and to make the alloy easier to heat treat.
| Fe | 94.4 to 96.5 | |
| Ni | 3.0 to 4.0 | |
| Mn | 0.5 to 0.8 | |
| Si | 0 to 0.6 | |
| C | 0 to 0.15 | |
| S | 0 to 0.045 | |
| P | 0 to 0.040 |
All values are % weight. Ranges represent what is permitted under applicable standards.
Followup Questions
Similar Alloys
Further Reading
ASTM A352: Standard Specification for Steel Castings, Ferritic and Martensitic, for Pressure-Containing Parts, Suitable for Low-Temperature Service
Pressure Vessels: External Pressure Technology, 2nd ed., Carl T. F. Ross, 2011
ASM Specialty Handbook: Carbon and Alloy Steels, J. R. Davis (editor), 1996
Manufacture and Uses of Alloy Steels, Henry D. Hibbard, 2005
Ferrous Materials: Steel and Cast Iron, Hans Berns and Werner Theisen, 2008
CRC Materials Science and Engineering Handbook, 4th ed., James F. Shackelford et al. (editors), 2015
Steels: Processing, Structure, and Performance, 2nd ed., George Krauss, 2015