38Cr2
1.7003Low-chromium (0.4–0.6% Cr) alloy steel for quenching and tempering with moderate hardenability. Economical alternative to higher-alloyed Cr steels for lighter-duty applications. Cold forging grade suitable for stressed machine and vehicle components, quenched-and-tempered screws, and bolts. Good machinability in annealed condition.
International equivalents
| Flag | Standard | Country | Grade | Number | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 | AISI | USA | AISI 5140 | — | REF |
Sources: ASTM A29
Chemical composition comparison (wt%)
Side-by-side: 38Cr2 (EN) (EN 10083-3:2006) vs ASTM
| Element | 38Cr2 (EN) | ASTM | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 0.35–0.42% | — | — |
| Si | ≤ 0.4% | — | — |
| Mn | 0.5–0.8% | — | — |
| P | ≤ 0.025% | — | — |
| S | ≤ 0.035% | — | — |
| Cr | 0.4–0.6% | — | — |
Mechanical properties
QT
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 800–950 | MPa |
| Yield Strength | ≥ 550 | MPa |
| Elongation | ≥ 14 | % |
| Hardness HB | 240–280 | HB |
| Density | ≥ 7.85 | g/cm3 |
| Elastic Modulus | ≥ 210 | GPa |
Heat treatment
| Process | Temperature | Medium | Holding Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| quenching | 830–860 °C | oil | — | Water possible for small sections |
| tempering | 540–680 °C | air | — | — |
| annealing | 650–720 °C | furnace | — | Soft annealing max 207 HB |
Related materials
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1.8522Premium nitriding steel with high chromium content (2.8–3.3%) providing exceptional surface hardness after gas or plasma nitriding (up to 900 HV). Excellent core strength (900–1100 MPa tensile) with good toughness. Used for gears, crankshafts, cylinders, spindles, and precision machine components in aerospace, automotive, and power generation. Also known as 32CDV13 (AFNOR) and AMS 6481.
S235J2W
1.8961Entry-level structural weathering steel with minimum yield strength 235 MPa and impact testing at -20°C (J2 designation). Improved low-temperature toughness compared to S235J0W. Used for outdoor structural applications in colder climates where basic strength with atmospheric corrosion resistance is sufficient.
EN-GJS-500-7
5.3200Ferritic-pearlitic ductile cast iron with minimum tensile strength 500 MPa and minimum elongation 7%. The balanced grade offering significantly higher strength than EN-GJS-400-15 while retaining reasonable ductility. Mixed ferrite-pearlite matrix (typically 40-50% pearlite). Used for crankshafts, connecting rods, suspension components, gear housings, heavy-duty pipe fittings, and medium-stress structural castings. Equivalent to DIN GGG50, JIS FCD500.
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