Materials database

Highest-carbon unalloyed spring strip steel — C 0.83-0.90%. Maximum achievable hardness (HRC 62-65) and fatigue strength in the cold-rolled spring strip series. Used for the most demanding flat spring applications where maximum hardness is critical: saw blades, scraper blades, precision springs, and high-frequency reed valves. Higher C than C67S (0.65-0.72%) and C75S (0.70-0.80%).

High-carbon unalloyed spring steel with 0.85–0.95% carbon. Achieves very high hardness (58–62 HRC) after quenching. Primarily used for flat springs, clock springs, saw blades, scraper blades, and cold-forming tools. Good wear resistance but limited toughness. The S suffix indicates suitability for spring applications per EN 10132-4.

Plain carbon quenched & tempered steel — 0.57-0.65% C. Highest practical C for Q&T without excessive brittleness. Good surface hardness (HRC 55-60) with adequate core toughness. Modern designation C60E (EN 10083-2), traditional Ck60 still widely used. Used for crankshafts, connecting rods, rail wheels, axles, and machine tool spindles where alloy cost is not justified.

Cold-rolled unalloyed low-carbon steel for cold forming. Base grade of the DC family (DC01-DC07). Good formability for bending, coining, beading, and simple drawing operations. Smooth surface suitable for coating and painting. Formerly designated St12.

Cold-rolled steel for moderate drawing applications. Better formability than DC01, not as good as DC04. The "middle" grade in the EN 10130 drawing steel series. Used for moderate deep-drawing applications, automotive body panels (non-critical areas), white goods housings, and general presswork.

Cold-rolled low-carbon steel for deep drawing. Higher formability than DC01/DC03 — suitable for difficult drawing and profiling operations. Used for automotive body panels, deep-drawn kitchen sinks, complex stampings, and precision-formed components.

Cold-rolled steel for extra deep drawing. The highest formability grade in the EN 10130 drawing steel series (r-value ≥1.8). Very low yield strength for excellent deep drawability. Used for complex deep-drawn automotive body panels (doors, fenders), kitchen sinks, washing machine drums, and any severe stamping application.

Interstitial-free (IF) cold-rolled steel — the absolute best formability of all automotive steels. Ultra-low carbon (<0.02%) with Ti/Nb microalloying to scavenge interstitial C and N. r-value ≥2.1. Used for the most demanding deep-drawn body panels (door inners, complex fenders, quarter panels) and structural reinforcements requiring extreme formability.

Super deep-drawing quality cold-rolled steel with extremely low carbon content (max 0.01%). The highest formability grade in the EN 10130 DC series, designed for extreme cold forming operations. Interstitial-free (IF) steel with Ti and/or Nb stabilization to achieve exceptional r-values and elongation. Used for complex automotive body panels, deep-drawn fuel tanks, and intricate sheet metal components requiring the most demanding forming operations.

General-purpose engineering structural steel — ReH >=295 MPa. Formerly St 50-2 (DIN 17100). Higher strength than S235 but not intended for welded structures (higher C, no guaranteed weldability). Used for machine bases, frames, pins, keys, and general engineering parts where moderate strength without welding is sufficient. Not suitable for cold forming.

Highest-strength unalloyed structural steel in EN 10025-2 — former designation St60-2 (DIN 17100). Higher C and Mn than S355 giving UTS 570-710 MPa. Not intended for welding (high CEV). Used for shafts, axles, bolts, and machine parts where weldability is not required but higher strength than S355 is needed. "E" designates engineering steel (vs "S" for structural).

Highest-strength unalloyed structural steel in EN 10025-2 — ReH ≥360 MPa minimum. Not intended for welding (high C ~0.57%). Used for general engineering where maximum unalloyed strength is needed without heat treatment: machine beds, crane components, wear plates, and structural members not requiring welding. Formerly St 70-2 (DIN 17100).

Grey cast iron with lamellar graphite and minimum tensile strength 150 MPa. The softest standard grey iron grade with predominantly ferritic matrix. Excellent machinability, vibration damping, and thermal conductivity. Chemical composition is not specified by EN 1561 — left to the foundry to achieve required mechanical properties. Used for electrical housings, machine tool covers, counterweights, low-stress castings, and decorative ironwork. Equivalent to DIN GG15 and ASTM A48 Class 20.

Grey cast iron with lamellar graphite and minimum tensile strength 200 MPa. Ferrite-pearlite matrix. Good balance of castability, machinability, and moderate strength. Excellent vibration damping. The most economical grey iron grade for general engineering. Used for machine bases, pump housings, valve bodies, pipe fittings, brake drums, and general-purpose castings. Equivalent to DIN GG20 and ASTM A48 Class 30.

Grey cast iron with lamellar graphite and minimum tensile strength 250 MPa. The most widely used grey cast iron grade worldwide. Predominantly pearlitic matrix providing an excellent balance of strength, machinability, damping capacity, and castability. Used for engine blocks, cylinder heads, machine tool beds, lathe beds, flywheels, brake discs, hydraulic valve bodies, and general medium-duty structural castings. Equivalent to DIN GG25 and ASTM A48 Class 35.

Grey cast iron with lamellar graphite and minimum tensile strength 300 MPa. Fully pearlitic matrix with higher strength than EN-GJL-250 but slightly reduced machinability and damping. Used for cylinder liners, heavy-duty machine beds, hydraulic cylinders, gearbox housings, large flywheels, and structural castings requiring higher strength. Equivalent to DIN GG30 and ASTM A48 Class 45.

Grey cast iron with lamellar graphite and minimum tensile strength 350 MPa. The highest standard strength grade. Fully pearlitic or even bainitic matrix with possible alloying (Cr, Cu, Ni) to achieve high strength. Reduced machinability compared to lower grades. Used for heavy-duty cylinder liners, large diesel engine blocks, high-performance brake discs, press frames, and heavily loaded machine components. Equivalent to DIN GG35 and ASTM A48 Class 50.

Ferritic black heart malleable cast iron. Rm ≥350 MPa, Rp0.2 ≥200 MPa, A ≥10%. Good ductility and shock resistance. Density ~7.3 g/cm³. EN 1562, ASTM A47 Grade 32510. Carbon exists as temper carbon nodules after annealing at 950°C. Applications: pipe fittings, automotive brackets, farm machinery, electrical fittings, small castings requiring ductility.

Pearlitic/ferritic white heart malleable cast iron. Rm ≥360 MPa, Rp0.2 ≥190 MPa, A ≥12% (for wall thickness ≤15mm). EN 1561, DIN EN 1562. Decarburized surface with white fracture. Better weldability than black malleable iron. Applications: pipe fittings (especially gas/water), chain links, lever arms, brackets, thin-walled castings.

Ferritic ductile (spheroidal graphite) cast iron with minimum tensile strength 400 MPa and minimum elongation 15%. The most widely used ductile iron grade worldwide. Spheroidal graphite morphology achieved by magnesium treatment provides far superior ductility and impact resistance compared to grey iron. Used for water and gas pipes, valve bodies, pump housings, automotive components, gearbox housings, and general engineering castings. Equivalent to DIN GGG40, ASTM A536 60-40-18, JIS FCD400.

Ferritic ductile cast iron with minimum tensile strength 400 MPa and minimum elongation 18%. Higher ductility than EN-GJS-400-15 due to more fully ferritic matrix and tighter process control. RT designation indicates room temperature impact testing. Used for pressure-retaining components, safety-critical castings, pipe fittings, and applications where impact resistance at room temperature is important.

Ferritic-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.

Mainly pearlitic ductile cast iron with minimum tensile strength 600 MPa and minimum elongation 3%. High-strength grade achieved through predominantly pearlitic matrix, often with Cu or Sn additions as pearlite stabilizers. Used for camshafts, gears, high-stress housings, heavy-duty hydraulic components, press frames, and load-bearing structural castings where high strength is more important than ductility. Equivalent to DIN GGG60, JIS FCD600.

Fully pearlitic ductile cast iron with minimum tensile strength 700 MPa and minimum elongation 2%. One of the highest strength conventional ductile iron grades. Achieved through alloying (Cu, Sn, Mn) to stabilize a fully pearlitic matrix. Used for nockenwellen (camshafts), high-stress gears, crankshafts, connecting rods, heavy-duty machine components, and automotive powertrain parts where maximum ductile iron strength is needed. Equivalent to DIN GGG70, JIS FCD700.