ASTM A519 Grade 1040 Tubes: High-Strength Medium-Carbon Seamless Steel

When your project needs seamless steel tubing with serious strength and good workability, ASTM A519 Grade 1040 is a name you can trust. This medium-carbon grade really shines with its impressive tensile strength and decent toughness, plus it machines quite well. It’s the go-to choice for tough mechanical parts and structural jobs. If you need something stronger than typical low-carbon steels (like 1018 or 1026) but don’t need the extra cost or complexity of alloy steels (like 4130), Grade 1040 often hits that perfect balance. Here at Corten Steel Tube, we’re your reliable source for top-quality A519 Grade 1040 tubing, made to strict standards so you know it will perform, even in demanding situations
What exactly is A519 Grade 1040 Steel?
Think of ASTM A519 Grade 1040 as the official designation for seamless mechanical tubing crafted from 1040 carbon steel. Being a medium-carbon steel, it packs more carbon than grades like 1020 or 1026, which is where it gets its extra strength and hardness potential. The “seamless” part is crucial – these tubes start as solid steel billets, meaning there’s no weld seam to worry about. This gives them fantastic structural integrity, consistent properties all around, and makes them much more reliable under high stress, pressure, or repeated loading. That’s why it’s such a dependable material for parts that simply can’t fail.
Chemical Composition of A519 Grade 1040
What goes into Grade 1040 steel is carefully controlled to give it that signature mix of strength, hardness, and workability:
Element | What’s Inside (%) | Its Role in the Steel |
---|---|---|
Carbon (C) | 0.37–0.44 | The main ingredient is boosting hardness and tensile strength. |
Manganese (Mn) | 0.60–0.90 | Helps with overall strength, toughness, and hardenability. |
Phosphorus (P) | ≤ 0.040 | Kept low to ensure toughness; can help slightly with machining. |
Sulfur (S) | ≤ 0.050 | Helps with machining but carefully controls for quality. |
This precise recipe means Grade 1040 responds well if you decide to heat treat it (like quenching and tempering) for even greater strength and hardness, while still performing reliably right out of the mill in its standard condition.
Mechanical Properties of A519 Grade 1040
A519 Grade 1040 tubing delivers the kind of solid mechanical performance needed for hard-working parts. Here’s what you can typically expect (remember, these numbers can shift depending on if it’s hot-finished, cold-drawn, or heat-treated):
Property | Typical Strength/Value Range | Why This Matters to You |
---|---|---|
Tensile Strength | 620–850 MPa (90–123 ksi) | Resists breaking when pulled – great for carrying loads. |
Yield Strength | 415 MPa (60 ksi) minimum | The point it starts to permanently bend – shows load capacity. |
Elongation | 15% minimum (in 2 inches) | Shows it can stretch a decent amount before failing – good ductility. |
Hardness (Brinell) | 170–210 HB (Typical Normalized) | Resists dents, scratches, and wears well. |
These strong numbers mean Grade 1040 is an excellent pick for parts that need to handle significant stress, fight off wear, and hold their shape under load, while still being practical to machine into the final component.
Common Uses of A519 Grade 1040 Tubes
Because it’s strong, tough, and reasonably easy to machine, A519 Grade 1040 is a versatile player showing up in demanding roles across many industries:
- On the Road: Vital for making durable automotive parts like axles, crankshafts, steering components, and heavy-duty shafts that need high strength and fatigue life.
- In the Factory: Trusted for producing tough industrial rollers, gears, spindles, machine parts, hydraulic cylinder components, and structural pieces.
- Heavy Equipment: Used in sturdy construction equipment frames, structural supports, pins, and other parts that take a beating.
- Farming Tough: Ideal for strong agricultural toolbars, equipment frames, shafts, and components exposed to rough conditions.
- General Engineering: A go-to for making high-load pins, bushings, mechanical connectors, shafts, and countless other parts that need more strength than lower-carbon steels offer.
Its ability to handle higher stress makes it a smart upgrade from 1020 or 1026 for many mechanical designs.
Standards and Specifications for A519 Grade 1040
You need assurance that your materials meet industry expectations. A519 Grade 1040 tubes are made to strict international standards for quality and consistency:
Standard | What It Covers |
---|---|
ASTM A519 | The key US standard for seamless carbon & alloy mechanical tubing. |
ASME SA519 | The ASME code equivalent, often needed for pressure applications. |
UNS G10400 | The universal ID number for 1040 carbon steel. |
DIN 1.1186 | A similar European steel grade used for comparison internationally. |
Following these standards, confirmed by the Mill Test Certificates (MTRs) we provide, gives you confidence that the tubing meets the required chemical, mechanical, and dimensional specs.
How It's Made: The Seamless Process for A519 Grade 1040 Tubes
We supply A519 Grade 1040 tubes made using only seamless techniques, ensuring top-notch strength and uniformity without any welds. You generally choose between two main finishes:
- Hot-Finished Seamless (HFS): Made at high temperatures. It’s typically the more economical route and offers good basic strength, but the surface will be rougher and the dimensions less precise. Great for many structural uses or when finish isn’t critical.
- Cold-Drawn Seamless (CDS): This process takes a hot-finished tube and draws it through a die at room temperature. The result? A much smoother surface, tighter control over dimensions (OD, ID, Wall), and increased hardness and strength from the cold working. The best choice when precision, a clean finish, or enhanced properties are needed.
Not sure which is right for you? Tell us about your application, and we can help guide your choice.
Why Choose A519 Grade 1040 Tubes?
Choosing the right supplier for critical materials like A519 Grade 1040 tubes is key. At Corten Steel Tube, we aim to be more than just a supplier – we want to be your trusted partner. Here’s what sets us apart:
- A Real Strength Boost: Noticeably stronger than lower-carbon grades like 1020/1026, letting you handle bigger loads or potentially use less material.
- Machines Well: Even with its higher strength, Grade 1040 is known for being reasonably easy to machine into finished parts, keeping production efficient.
- Does Many Jobs Well: Its well-rounded properties make it suitable for a wide variety of mechanical and structural tasks across different industries.
- Strong Performance, Sensible Cost: Gives you impressive strength and durability without the premium price tag of alloy steels.
When you need more capability than basic carbon steel but don’t need a full alloy, Grade 1040 is often the smart, dependable pick.
Why Choose Corten Steel Tube for A519 Grade 1040?
Choosing the right supplier for critical materials like A519 Grade 1040 tubes is key. At Corten Steel Tube, we aim to be more than just a supplier – we want to be your trusted partner. Here’s what sets us apart:
- Ready When You Are: We keep a large inventory of Grade 1040 tubes in many sizes, both hot-finished and cold-drawn, so you can get what you need quickly.
- Quality You Can Trust: We follow ASTM standards to the letter, work with reputable mills, and provide full MTRs with every order, giving you complete confidence.
- Cut to Your Needs: Need specific lengths? We offer custom cutting services to minimize your waste and ensure the tubes fit your project perfectly.
- We Ship Anywhere: Our logistics team gets your order delivered reliably and on time, whether you’re local or need international shipping (to the USA, UAE, Europe, Asia, Australia, and beyond).
- Great Value: You get top-quality tubing at competitive prices, backed by customer service that’s actually helpful.
- We Know Tubing: Our team has the expertise to help you select the right material, understand the specs, and make sure everything complies with your requirements.
Count on Corten Steel Tube for quality materials and dependable service every time.
Finding Your Size: Available Dimensions
Projects need specific dimensions, and we’ve got you covered. We stock A519 Grade 1040 tubes in a wide array of sizes:
Dimension | Common Range | Good to Know |
---|---|---|
Outside Diameter (OD) | 1/2” to 12” (12.7mm – 304.8mm) | Many options available |
Wall Thickness | 1mm to 25mm (.039″ – .984″) | Covering various schedules |
Length | Standard (e.g., 20ft/6m) & Custom | Cut precisely to your spec |
Don’t see the exact OD/Wall combination you need? Give us a call! Custom sizes might be possible
How Does 1040 Compare? Grade vs. Grade
Wondering where Grade 1040 fits in? Here’s a quick comparison with other common grades
Grade | Carbon Level | Strength Level | Typical Use Case |
---|---|---|---|
A519 1020 | Low | Moderate | General purpose, light loads, easily formed |
A519 1040 | Medium | High | Stronger structural parts, auto components |
A519 4140 | Alloy (Cr-Mo) | Very High | Heavy-duty gears, axles, high-stress areas |
The Takeaway: Grade 1040 is that ideal step-up when you need significantly more strength than 1020, but don’t need the expense or potential welding challenges of an alloy steel like 4140.
Our Commitment to Certifications & Testing
We don’t just say our quality is high – we prove it. Every shipment of A519 Grade 1040 Tubes comes with thorough documentation and verification
- Mill Test Certificates (MTC) per EN 10204 3.1: Your proof of the exact chemical analysis and mechanical test results.
- Optional Third-Party Inspection: We can arrange inspections by agencies like Lloyds, BV, DNV if your project requires it.
- NDT Assurance: We utilize Non-Destructive Testing like Ultrasonic (UT) or Eddy Current testing as applicable.
- Pressure Tested: Hydrostatic testing confirms the tube’s integrity under pressure.
- Careful Checks: Rigorous inspection of dimensions and surface finish against ASTM A519 standards
Our quality control process ensures you get material you can rely on.
Let's Get Started: Request Your Quote for A519 Grade 1040 Tubes!
Our knowledgeable sales team is ready 24/7 to answer your technical questions, give you current lead times, and help you order the right materials.
FAQs
Yes! Both refer to the same steel grade (UNS G10400). AISI/SAE defines the steel grade, while ASTM A519 specifies the manufacturing standards for seamless mechanical tubing, including tolerances and testing. When ordering, you’ll typically specify “ASTM A519 Grade 1040 tubing.
It is weldable, but due to its higher carbon content, extra care is needed. Preheating and post-weld heat treatment (PWHT), such as stress relieving, are recommended, especially for thicker tubes, to avoid cracking. Low-hydrogen rods or wire are also recommended for best results.
Surface finishes depend on whether the tube is hot-finished or cold-drawn. Options include an ‘as-rolled’ finish (hot-finished with some scale), a smoother ‘cold-drawn’ finish, or further processing like ‘normalized,’ ‘polished,’ or a rust-preventative coating. Let us know your required surface quality!
Absolutely! We offer precision cut-to-length services to match your exact needs, reducing material waste and saving time. Just provide the required lengths with your quote request.
Yes, ASTM A519 1040 tubes are suitable for high-pressure applications, especially when heat treatment and proper welding procedures are followed. Ensure the tube is properly tested and certified for your specific application.
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