17CrNiMo6
1.6587Premium CrNiMo case hardening steel for demanding gear applications. Ni 1.2-1.5% + Mo 0.25-0.35% give excellent core toughness and deep hardenability — suitable for large gears up to 400mm ruling section. Surface HRC 60-63 after carburizing. THE wind turbine gearbox steel. Also used for large industrial gearboxes, mining equipment, and heavy truck transmissions.
International equivalents
| Flag | Standard | Country | Grade | Number | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 | AISI | USA | AISI 4820 (approximate) | — | REF |
| 🇪🇺 | EN | Europe | 17CrNiMo6 / 1.6587 | 1.6587 | 100% |
Sources: ASTM A29, EN 10084
Chemical composition comparison (wt%)
Side-by-side: 17CrNiMo6 (EN) (EN 10084) vs 17CrNiMo6 / 1.6587 (EN) (EN 10084)
| Element | 17CrNiMo6 (EN) | 17CrNiMo6 / 1.6587 (EN) | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 0.15–0.21% | 0.15–0.21% | OK |
| Si | 0–0.4% | 0–0.4% | OK |
| Mn | 0.5–0.9% | 0.5–0.9% | OK |
| Cr | 1.5–1.8% | 1.5–1.8% | OK |
| Mo | 0.25–0.35% | 0.25–0.35% | OK |
| Ni | 1.2–1.5% | 1.2–1.5% | OK |
Mechanical properties
Case Hardened
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness HRC | 60–63 | HRC |
QT Core
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 1000–1300 | MPa |
| Yield Strength | 700–1000 | MPa |
| Elastic Modulus | ≥ 210 | GPa |
| Density | ≥ 7.85 | g/cm3 |
Heat treatment
| Process | Temperature | Medium | Holding Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| carburizing | 900–950 °C | endothermic atmosphere | — | Case depth 1.0-3.0mm |
| hardening | 820–850 °C | oil | — | Direct or reheat quench |
| tempering | 150–200 °C | air | 2h | Low-temp temper |
Compatibility verdict
17CrNiMo6 and 17CrNiMo6 / 1.6587: 100% composition match
Close equivalents but NOT identical.
Related materials
50CrV4
1.8160Chromium-vanadium spring/tool steel — identical alloy system to 51CrV4 (1.8159) but recognized as a separate grade in some standards. Dual use: heavy-duty springs (EN 10089) AND cold work tools (knives, shear blades). V improves temper resistance and grain refinement. UTS 1200-1500 QT. Used for heavy leaf springs, stabilizer bars, torsion bars, and cold work cutting tools.
51CrMoV4
1.7701CrMoV alloyed spring steel — THE European automotive suspension spring material. CrMo gives deep hardenability for large coil springs, V adds grain refinement and secondary hardening for fatigue resistance. UTS 1350-1600 MPa QT. Used for hot-formed coil springs (cars, trucks), leaf springs, torsion bars, and stabilizer bars. Excellent sag resistance to 200°C.
20MnCr5
1.7147Manganese-chromium case-hardening steel with higher core strength than 16MnCr5. Used for heavily loaded gears, shafts, camshafts, and transmission components requiring high surface hardness with tough core. Popular in automotive and heavy machinery.
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