Grades of Steel

Customers generally use this steel, which is produced in accordance with industry specification AMS 2304, for extremely critical or highly stressed parts, as well as other applications involving additional exceptionally stringent requirements (magnetic particle inspection and macro-etch limits, for example). To meet these requirements, we employ exacting steelmaking, rolling, and testing practices.

Customers in the aircraft market count on high-performance, clean steel for important or highly stressed aircraft parts, including landing gear and brakes. We produce this quality level of steel in accordance with the industry specification AMS 2301. To meet these requirements, we employ exacting steelmaking, rolling, and testing practices.

Bearing quality generally applies to alloy steel bars and tubes that we manufacture for anti-friction bearings. Typically, this quality level ranges from standard alloy carburizing grades and high-carbon chromium grades. We produce these steels in accordance with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) A534, A295, and A485 standards. We subject our bearing-quality steel to restricted melting and special teeming, heating, rolling, and conditioning practices to meet the rigid quality requirements.

In our electric arc furnace, which is our primary melting vessel, we melt steel scrap by passing electricity through carbon electrodes. The primary advantages of this type of furnace are that it allows for the extremely close control of temperature, heat analysis, and refining conditions required for the production of standard carbon and alloy steels. Electric furnace quality refers to a restriction of .025 percent maximum sulfur content and .025 percent maximum phosphorous content for the specified grade.

Commercial quality refers to the basic or standard quality level for alloy steel bars and tubes. Customers typically use this type of steel for less critical applications. We melt this quality level of steel to chemical ranges and limits, and inspect and test it to meet normal requirements for regular constructional alloy steel applications.