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1018 vs. 1045 Steel Comparison | Capital Steel & Wire - & - naming convention code for steel identification numbers
https://www.capitalsteel.net/news/blog/1018-vs-1045-steel-comparison

Carbon steel is one of the most widely used materials in the world, and the 1018 and 1045 grades of steel is a big reason for that. One of the most common questions that arise when considering buying cold finished steel products is the difference between 1018 cold steel bars and 1045 cold bars. There will obviously be some differences between the chemical makeup and mechanical properties of both, but what materials are ideal for certain applications?

Chemical Makeup

Being two different grades of steel, there are some important differences during the manufacturing process that influences key differences in the chemical makeup of each grade of steel. To best illustrate the differences, it is good to reference a table.

As you may have noticed, the carbon content is what identifies the steel grade. The carbon content of 1018 is 0.18%, and the carbon content of 1045 is 0.45%. The "1" identifies that they are both carbon steels, and the "0" identifies that there were no modifications to the alloy. A carbon steel like 1330 for example has a much higher concentration of manganese.

Mechanical Properties

Whether steel is cold drawn or hot rolled plays a huge factor in the mechanical properties of steel. The majority of 1018 and 1045 steel that is manufactured will be in the cold drawn state, and comes in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Here is a comparison chart of 1018 and 1045 cold drawn steel mechanical properties:

Real Life Applications

With higher carbon content and higher tensile strength, 1045 is a stronger steel than 1018. However, because it has a higher carbon content, it is not as easy to weld. Therefore 1018 is used mostly for applications that may involve welding. 1045 is often selected for applications that require more strenth than 1018 can provide, such as transmission parts.

Cost

1018 is one of the most widely manufactured grades of steel as it is a cost effective and adequate steel option for a wide range of applications. For additional information on 1018 and 1045 please visit these pages:

• 1018 cold drawn
• 1018 hot rolled
• 1045 cold drawn
• 1045 hot rolled