Skip to content

Home / Forging materials

Forging materials: steel, stainless, aluminum, titanium and nickel alloys

Every alloy has its own forging window, and not every forge shop can hold it. Name the grade and the spec on your RFQ so we only match suppliers that already forge it.

Send my RFQCompare forging ranges

Forging temperature and supplier fit by material

Temperatures are typical ranges for hot forging. Titanium and nickel alloys have the fewest capable suppliers.

MaterialTypical forging rangeWhat to know
Carbon steel (1020, 1045)1100 to 1250 °CThe widest supplier base. Shafts, flanges, gear blanks and general hardware.
Alloy steel (4140, 4340, 8620)1100 to 1230 °CHeat treated for strength or case hardened. State the hardness or grade class you need.
Stainless (304, 316, 17-4 PH, F51)1050 to 1200 °CNarrower working window and more die wear. Common for valves, fittings and flanges.
Aluminum (6061, 7075, 2014)400 to 480 °CHeated dies and close temperature control. Suspension, aerospace and structural parts.
Titanium (Ti-6Al-4V)900 to 980 °CWorked below the beta transus. Fewer shops, longer lead times and strict process records.
Nickel alloy (Inconel 718)990 to 1120 °CHigh press loads and few capable suppliers. Turbine and oil and gas parts.
Brass and copper650 to 800 °C for brassHot brass forging for valve bodies and fittings. Good surface and low porosity.

Carbon steel

The default forging material and the one with the widest supplier base. Most flanges, shafts, gear blanks and general hardware are forged from it.

  • Common grades1020, 1045, ASTM A105 and A350 LF2 for low temperature service.
  • Forging range1100 to 1250 °C.
  • Typical partsFlanges, fittings, shafts, gear blanks, levers and hand tools.
  • Watch forNormalizing is common after forging. Quench and temper adds strength on medium carbon grades.

Alloy steel

Steel with chromium, molybdenum, nickel or vanadium added for strength and hardenability. Usually heat treated, or case hardened for gears.

  • Common grades4140, 4340, 8620 and chrome molybdenum grades such as F11 and F22.
  • Forging range1100 to 1230 °C.
  • Typical partsCrankshafts, axles, gears, heavy equipment pins and high temperature pressure parts.
  • Watch forState the hardness or strength class you need, not only the grade. The heat treatment decides the properties.

Stainless steel

Austenitic, duplex and precipitation hardening grades for corrosion resistance. The forging window is narrower than for carbon steel and dies wear faster.

  • Common gradesF304, F316, F51 duplex and 17-4 PH.
  • Forging range1050 to 1200 °C.
  • Typical partsValve bodies, fittings, flanges, pump parts and marine hardware.
  • Watch forSolution treatment after forging. Duplex needs tight control of temperature to keep the phase balance.

Aluminum

Light and forged at a much lower temperature than steel. Dies are heated and the temperature window is tight.

  • Common grades6061, 6082, 7075 and 2014. Aluminum die forgings are covered by ASTM B247.
  • Forging range400 to 480 °C.
  • Typical partsSuspension arms, wheel parts, structural fittings and housings.
  • Watch forName the temper, for example T6. Strong grades such as 7075 are more sensitive to forging temperature and to stress corrosion.

Titanium

Strong, light and corrosion resistant, and hard to forge. Fewer shops quote it and lead times are longer.

  • Common gradesTi-6Al-4V (grade 5). Titanium forgings are covered by ASTM B381 and AMS 4928.
  • Forging range900 to 980 °C, below the beta transus.
  • Typical partsAerospace fittings, engine parts, medical and marine components.
  • Watch forBillet is expensive and the buy-to-fly yield is low, so the input weight matters more than for steel. Expect strict process records.

Nickel alloys

Heat resistant alloys with high strength at temperature. They need high press loads and a narrow forging window.

  • Common gradesInconel 718 and 625. Nickel alloy forgings are covered by ASTM B637.
  • Forging range990 to 1120 °C.
  • Typical partsTurbine discs and rings, oil and gas downhole parts, fasteners.
  • Watch forFew suppliers have the press capacity and furnace control. Ask for the heat treatment route and the test plan early.

Brass and copper

Hot forged brass gives dense parts with a good surface and low porosity. Lead-free grades are now common for water service parts.

  • Common gradesCW617N, C37700 and lead-free brass. Copper alloy die forgings are covered by ASTM B283.
  • Forging range650 to 800 °C for brass.
  • Typical partsValve bodies, fittings, plumbing parts and electrical connectors.
  • Watch forCheck the lead limit that applies to your market, since it decides which grade you can use.

Questions about forging materials

Which material is the cheapest to forge?

Carbon steel. The supplier base is the widest and the forging window is wide. Stainless, titanium and nickel alloys cost more per kg and are harder to form, which raises die wear and press load.

Do I need to name the exact grade?

Yes. Give the grade and the spec, for example ASTM A182 F316 or Ti-6Al-4V to AMS 4928. A general name such as "stainless" does not tell a supplier which alloy to buy or which tests to run.

Can I supply my own material?

Some suppliers accept customer-supplied billet, but many prefer to buy their own so they can trace the heat to a mill certificate. Say on the RFQ if you want to supply the material or need a named mill.

Which materials have the fewest suppliers?

Titanium and nickel alloys. They need tighter temperature control, higher press loads and more process records, so fewer shops quote them and lead times are longer.

Have a grade and a spec?

Put both on the RFQ with weight and yearly quantity. We match up to 3 suppliers that forge the alloy and reply within 24 business hours.

Send my RFQForging processes