Low Carbon Ground Flat Stock is a true free machining steel with the best machinability of any ground flat stock. On a relative machinability rating of 100 for AISI 1018 steel. Low Carbon ground flat stock has a machinability rating of 137. Substantial cost reductions over tool steel ground flat stock. There are savings up to 60% because this a low carbon steel and furnished in 24" lengths. This means that you get one-third more steel at less cost. Ideal for a wide variety of parts that don't require more expensive heat treated steels, such as stripper plates, jigs, fixtures, machine and component parts, templates, etc. This free machining steel can be carburized or case hardened. After hardening, its physical properties, especially tensile strength, yield point, and Brinell hardness, are substantially higher. Because of its free machining characteristics, you get longer cutting tool life, better finish, faster production and lower machining costs. Specifications: Furnished in 24" (610mm) lengths, ground straight and parallel Analysis Free Machining Low Carbon Precision Ground Flat Stock is a .17 carbon fine-grained, killed steel of forging quality which can be carburized or case hardened. Very similar to AISI 1117. Heat Treatment For many applications, stock can be used unhardened. However, if surface hardening is desired, it can be carburized or case hardened. If carburized, a case of 1/32" will be obtained if the steel is held in carburizing salt at 1700°F for three hours.