C45E vs S960QL: 31% composition overlap. Significantly different materials serving different application areas.
C45E vs S960QL
Side-by-side chemical composition and mechanical property comparison.
Overview
C45E
1.1191
Unalloyed special steel with controlled chemistry (E grade) and 0.42–0.50% carbon. Tighter P and S limits than standard C45 for improved consistency. The most widely used medium-carbon steel for quenching and tempering. Good balance of strength (620–850 MPa QT) and toughness. Through-hardening up to ø60mm. Surface hardening by induction to HRC 58. Used for shafts, gears, bolts, connecting rods, crankshafts, and general machine parts.
S960QL
1.8933
Ultra-high-strength quenched and tempered fine-grained structural steel with minimum yield strength 960 MPa. QL designation indicates impact testing at -40°C. Used for mobile cranes, heavy lift equipment, offshore wind turbine towers, mining machinery, and weight-critical structural applications. Weldable with appropriate precautions (preheating, low hydrogen). Dramatically reduces component weight compared to conventional structural steels.
| C45E | S960QL | |
|---|---|---|
| Material Number | 1.1191 | 1.8933 |
| Category | Carbon Steel | Carbon Steel |
| Standard | EN 10083-2 | EN 10025-6 |
Chemical composition (wt%)
| Element | C45E | S960QL | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 0.42–0.5% | ≤ 0.2% | No overlap |
| Si | ≤ 0.4% | ≤ 0.8% | OK |
| Mn | 0.5–0.8% | ≤ 1.7% | OK |
| P | ≤ 0.025% | ≤ 0.02% | OK |
Mechanical properties
| Property | C45E | S960QL | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| tensile_strength | 700–850 | 980–1150 | MPa |
| yield_strength | ≥ 490 | ≥ 960 | MPa |
| elongation | ≥ 14 | ≥ 10 | % |
Compatibility Assessment
C45E and S960QL have significantly different compositions (31% overlap). These materials are not interchangeable and serve different application areas.
Automated assessment based on composition analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
Is C45E the same as S960QL?
C45E and S960QL have a 31% composition overlap. They are generally not directly interchangeable.
Can I replace C45E with S960QL?
Generally not recommended. The compositions differ significantly (31% overlap). These materials have different alloying concepts and are intended for different applications.
What is the difference between C45E and S960QL?
The main differences are in the following elements: C. C45E is a Carbon Steel grade, while S960QL is a Carbon Steel grade.
View full data for each material:
Data provided for reference only. Always verify against the applicable specification for critical applications.
All data is for reference only. Equivalents indicate similarity, not identity. Always verify against the applicable specification for safety-critical applications. materialref.com accepts no liability for decisions based on this data.