Steel 51CrV4 Cold Drawn vs 51CrV4 Hardened & Tempered
Steel · 51CrV4 temper comparison
51CrV4 Cold Drawn and 51CrV4 Hardened & Tempered are two conditions of the same steel grade, 51CrV4: Cold Drawn versus Hardened & Tempered (quenched and tempered). The chemistry is identical, so every difference below comes from the condition. 51CrV4 Hardened & Tempered is the stronger of the two: yield strength 1,500 MPa (218 ksi) against 800 MPa (116 ksi) for 51CrV4 Cold Drawn, about 88% more; tensile strength follows at 1,700 MPa (247 ksi) vs 950 MPa (138 ksi). In exchange, 51CrV4 Cold Drawn is the more ductile: elongation 8% versus 6% for 51CrV4 Hardened & Tempered, and 51CrV4 Cold Drawn is harder (285 HB vs 230 HB). 51CrV4 Hardened & Tempered runs hotter in service (250°C vs 200°C continuous). On the shop floor, 51CrV4 Cold Drawn machines more easily (fair vs poor) and 51CrV4 Cold Drawn welds better (poor vs not recommended).
51CrV4 Cold DrawnChoose it when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded, or when the part is machined in volume.
51CrV4 Hardened & TemperedChoose it when strength drives the design, or when the part sees heat.
51CrV4 Cold Drawn vs 51CrV4 Hardened & Tempered: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all steel grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all steel grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
51CrV4 Cold Drawn51CrV4 Hardened & Tempered
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)
Elongation at Break
Reduction in Area
Shear Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Vickers
Same in both: Elastic (Young's) Modulus 210 GPa30.5 Msi · Shear Modulus 79.5 GPa11.5 Msi · Bulk Modulus 160 GPa23.2 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.29 · Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT) 12 J8.9 ft·lbf
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Same in both: Density 7.85 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³ · Melting Point (Solidus) 1,420°C2,588 °F · Liquidus Temperature 1,480°C2,696 °F
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Same in both: Thermal Conductivity 42 W/m·K24.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F · Specific Heat Capacity 460 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F · Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C) 12.5 µm/m·K6.9 µin/in·°F · Latent Heat of Fusion 250 J/g107 BTU/lb · Min Service Temperature -40°C-40 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Conductivity
Electrical Resistivity
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Same in both: Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE) -0.6 V · Corrosion Resistance 12 / 100
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)
Weldability
Formability (cold)
Polishability
Same in both: Brazeability / Solderability 55 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Same in both: Embodied Energy (primary production) 32 MJ/kg13,758 BTU/lb · Embodied Carbon (primary production) 2.1 kg CO₂/kg · Embodied Water 60 L/kg7.2 gal/lb · Typical Recycled Content 30%
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every steel grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
51CrV4 Cold Drawn vs 51CrV4 Hardened & Tempered — frequently asked
Is 51CrV4 Hardened & Tempered stronger than 51CrV4 Cold Drawn?
Yes. 51CrV4 Hardened & Tempered has a typical yield strength of 1,500 MPa (218 ksi) against 800 MPa (116 ksi) for 51CrV4 Cold Drawn — about 88% more. Tensile strength is 1,700 MPa (247 ksi) vs 950 MPa (138 ksi).
Which condition does FabDigit quote by default, Cold Drawn or Hardened & Tempered?
Annealed is the default 51CrV4 condition in the FabDigit quote flow (neither Cold Drawn nor Hardened & Tempered). The other condition is available on request or by drawing note — specify it in the material field or the part notes and the quote is priced for it.
Which is easier to machine, 51CrV4 Cold Drawn or 51CrV4 Hardened & Tempered?
51CrV4 Cold Drawn. Its machinability rates fair (50/100) against poor (15/100) for 51CrV4 Hardened & Tempered; for welding the order is 51CrV4 Cold Drawn first (poor, 20/100) then 51CrV4 Hardened & Tempered (not recommended, 8/100).
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in 51CrV4 Cold Drawn and 51CrV4 Hardened & Tempered side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.