Melting Points of Metals – What Is Piping

Metals are popular and widely used because of their capabilities to withstand extreme conditions. Sustaining high temperature is one such ability. Furnaces, ignition nozzles, high-speed machinery, combustion engines, jet engines, and exhaust systems are consistently working at high temperatures that can cause melting of certain materials. Hence, melting temperature of metals is a selection criteria while choosing materials for high temperature applications. So, melting temperature of metals must be known prior to using it in specific application. In this article, we will explore more about the melting point temperatures of various metals and alloys. What is the Melting Points of Metals? A metal’s melting point temperature is defined as the lowest metal temperature at which the metal starts to transform from a solid phase into a liquid phase. Scientifically, it is known as the melting point temperature of materials. At the melting point temperature, the metal's solid and liquid phase coexists in equilibrium. On application of more heat, the temperature will not increase till the complete solid phase transform into the liquid phase and thereafter temperature will grow again. Why is the Metal Melting Temperature Important? The melting point temperature of a metal is one of the most important consideration for various industries as stated below: For casting industry where the end product is manufactured in foundry shops by melting the metal and pouring that liquid metal into various cast forms. So, information regarding those metal's melting point temperature must be known to heat that metal or alloy for liquification.Melting temperature of metals and alloys are an important parameter for metallic modifications, production of new alloys, laboratory experimentation, etc in metallurgical industries.Heat treatment of metals and alloys also requires information about the melting temperature of that material so that it is not heated till melting.High temperature applications should use metals with high melting points. So material selection also requires the information related to melting point temperature.Welding of materials need the data for metal's melting point temperature. Melting Points of Metals and Alloys Melting Point of Steel: The melting point of steel depends on the type of steel. This alloy contains traces of other alloying elements those are added purposely to improve its corrosion resistance, ease of fabrication, and strength. Depending the presence and percentage of alloying element, the melting point of steel varies. In general, steel’s melting point is around 1370°C (2500°F) but it varies within a range. Let us explore the melting point of steel with the below-mentioned five main types of steel: Melting Point of Carbon Steel: Low Carbon Steel contains carbon (0.05 to 0.15 wt%), copper (0.6%), manganese (1.65%), and silicon (0.6%). The melting point of low carbon steel is 1410°C (2570°F).High carbon steel containing 0.3 to 1.7 wt% of carbon have melting point ranging from 1425-1540°C (2600-2800°F). Melting point of Stainless Steel: The melting point of stainless steel containing 10.5% to 11 wt% chromium is 1510°C (2750°F). The melting point of Stainless Steel grade 304 ranges from 1400-1450°C; grade 316 ranges from 1375-1400°C; and grade 321 ranges from 1400-1425°C. The melting point of DSS grade 2205 ranges from 1385-1440°C. The melting point of other stainless steel grades are: Grade 430: 1425-1510°C (2597-2750°F)Grade 316: 1375-1400°C (2507-2552°F)Grade 434: 1426-1510°C (2600-2750°F)Grade 420: 1450-1510°C (2642-2750°F)Grade 304: 1400-1450°C (2552-2642°F)Grade 410: 1480-1530°C (2696-2786°F) Melting Point of Maraging Steel: Maraging steel is a low carbon-iron alloy, having 15 to 25 wt% nickel as its main alloying element. The melting point of maraging steel is 1413°C (2575°F). Melting point of Alloy Steel: Alloy steels containing 1 to 50 wt% of alloying element is known as alloy steel. There are two groups of alloy steels: low alloy steels and high alloy steels. The melting point of low alloy steel is 1432°C (2610°F) and the same for high alloy steel is 1415°C (2600°F). Melting point of Tool Steel: The hardest variety of Steels, Tool Steels contains 0.7 to 1.4 wt% Carbon and manganese, chrome, nickel, tungsten, molybdenum, phosphorous, and sulfur in various proportions as alloying elements. The melting point of tool steel varies in the range 1400 to 1425°C (2550 to 2600°F). Melting point of other Metals: Metal's Melting Point Chart The melting point of metals chart is provided below in a tabular format: MetalMelting Point (0C)Melting Point (0F)Actinium10501922Admiralty Brass900 – 9401650 – 1720Aluminum6601220Aluminum Alloy463 – 671865 – 1240Aluminum Bronze1027 – 10381881 – 1900Antimony6301170Babbitt249480Beryllium12852345Beryllium Copper865 – 9551587 – 1750Bismuth271.4520.5Brass, Red10001832Brass, Yellow9301710Cadmium321610Chromium18603380Cobalt14952723Copper10841983Cupronickel1170 – 12402140 – 2260Gold, 24K Pure10631945Hastelloy C1320 – 13502410 – 2460Inconel1390 – 14252540 – 2600Incoloy1390 – 14252540 – 2600Iridium24504440Iron, Wrought1482 – 15932700 – 2900Iron, Gray Cast1127 – 12042060 – 2200Iron, Ductile11492100Lead327.5621Magnesium6501200Magnesium Alloy349 – 649660 – 1200Manganese12442271Manganese bronze865 – 8901590 – 1630Mercury-38.86-37.95Molybdenum26204750Monel1300 – 13502370 – 2460Nickel14532647Niobium (Columbium)24704473Osmium30255477Palladium15552831Phosphorus44111Platinum17703220Plutonium6401180Potassium63.3146Red Brass990 – 10251810 – 1880Rhenium31865767Rhodium19653569Ruthenium24824500Selenium217423Silicon14112572Silver, Coin8791615Silver, Pure9611761Silver, Sterling8931640Sodium97.83208Tantalum29805400Thorium17503180Tin232449.4Titanium16703040Tungsten34006150Uranium11322070Vanadium19003450Yellow Brass905 – 9321660 – 1710Zinc419.5787Zirconium18543369Melting point of metals chart