ASTM Grade LC2-1 (J42215) Cast Alloy Steel
ASTM grade LC2-1 steel is an alloy steel formulated for casting. Cited properties are appropriate for the normalized and tempered condition. LC2-1 is the ASTM designation for this material. J42215 is the UNS number.
It has a fairly high base cost among cast alloy steels. In addition, it has a fairly high electrical conductivity and a moderately high embodied energy.
The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare ASTM grade LC2-1 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
240
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
190 GPa 27 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
20 %
Fatigue Strength
430 MPa 63 x 103 psi
Poisson's Ratio
0.29
Reduction in Area
34 %
Shear Modulus
73 GPa 11 x 106 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
810 MPa 120 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
630 MPa 91 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
260 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
450 °C 840 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
1460 °C 2660 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
1420 °C 2590 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
470 J/kg-K 0.11 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
46 W/m-K 26 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
13 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
8.0 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
9.1 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
5.0 % relative
Density
7.9 g/cm3 490 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
1.9 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
25 MJ/kg 11 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
60 L/kg 7.2 gal/lb
Common Calculations
PREN (Pitting Resistance)
3.1
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
150 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
1040 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
13 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
24 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
29 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
25 points
Thermal Diffusivity
12 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
24 points
Alloy Composition
Among cast alloy steels, the composition of ASTM grade LC2-1 steel is notable for containing comparatively high amounts of nickel (Ni) and chromium (Cr). Nickel is used to improve mechanical properties, and to make the alloy easier to heat treat. Chromium is used to improve corrosion resistance and most mechanical properties (particularly at higher temperatures).
| Fe | 92.5 to 95.3 | |
| Ni | 2.5 to 3.5 | |
| Cr | 1.4 to 1.9 | |
| Mn | 0.55 to 0.75 | |
| Mo | 0.3 to 0.6 | |
| Si | 0 to 0.5 | |
| C | 0 to 0.22 | |
| 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
Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High Performance Alloys, ASM Handbook vol. 1, ASM International, 1993
Manufacture and Uses of Alloy Steels, Henry D. Hibbard, 2005
Ferrous Materials: Steel and Cast Iron, Hans Berns and Werner Theisen, 2008
Steels: Processing, Structure, and Performance, 2nd ed., George Krauss, 2015