An auto-component manufacturer once faced a 10-12% rejection rate to cracks in forged parts. The culprit? A mere 1% variation in carbon content. That slight deviation was enough to weaken the steel, causing cracks that led to production delays and massive material wastage.
By fine-tuning their specification sheet, we helped them bring rejections because of this reason below 1%, saving them lacs in costs – not just in raw material but also in reduced downtime and better machining efficiency.
This is the reality of working with Special Steels—where chemical composition is everything. It forms the basis of a Technical Delivery Condition (TDC), defining whether a material will perform flawlessly or become a costly liability.
As users of steel, we carry a responsibility:
To ensure that every batch meets the exact specifications needed—because even the smallest variations can cause serious issues down the line.
Did you know?
- Even a 0.1-0.2% variation in Chromium affects hardenability, impacting how the steel responds to heat treatment.
- A 0.02% increase in Sulphur can make steel brittle, leading to unexpected failures.
Matching the right steel chemistry to the application is critical. The wrong composition can sometimes:
- Cause premature cracking in high-stress applications
- Disrupt machining processes, leading to tool wear and scrap
- Compromise component performance, increasing warranty claims
Correct TDC/Specification Sheet is your First Defence Against Costly Mistakes
A well-drafted specification sheet is not just a document-it’s your insurance against rejections, failures and lost profits.
At Blue Ocean Steels, we don’t just supply steel-we partner with manufacturers to fine-tune specifications, reduce costs, and ensure consistency in material performance.
Have you ever faced steel composition issues? Let’s discuss how to solve them.