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Steel 5CrMnMo vs H43

Steel · grade comparison

Steel 5CrMnMo and H43 are both steel grades. Both yield at about 500 MPa — strength does not separate them. 5CrMnMo conducts heat better (34 W/m·K vs 24 W/m·K). On the shop floor, 5CrMnMo machines more easily (good vs fair), 5CrMnMo welds better (fair vs poor), and 5CrMnMo forms better (poor vs not recommended).

5CrMnMoChoose it when the part is machined in volume, or when it will be welded.

5CrMnMo vs H43: properties

5CrMnMoH43

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)

780 MPa113 ksi
760 MPa110 ksi

Yield Strength (0.2% offset)

500 MPa72.5 ksi
520 MPa75.4 ksi

Reduction in Area

40%
38%

Compressive Strength

520 MPa75.4 ksi
540 MPa78.3 ksi

Shear Strength

470 MPa68.2 ksi
480 MPa69.6 ksi

Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)

350 MPa50.8 ksi
340 MPa49.3 ksi

Fracture Toughness (K_IC)

80 MPa·√m72.8 ksi·√in
—

Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)

45 J33.2 ft·lbf
28 J20.7 ft·lbf

Hardness, Brinell

220 HB
229 HB

Hardness, Rockwell B

97 HRB
98 HRB

Hardness, Rockwell C

18 HRC
—

Hardness, Vickers

230 HV
240 HV

Same in both: Elastic (Young's) Modulus 210 GPa30.5 Msi · Shear Modulus 81 GPa11.7 Msi · Bulk Modulus 160 GPa23.2 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.29 · Elongation at Break 18%

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Density

7.8 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³
7.95 g/cm³0.29 lb/in³

Melting Point (Solidus)

1,420°C2,588 °F
1,400°C2,552 °F

Liquidus Temperature

1,470°C2,678 °F
1,455°C2,651 °F

Thermal

How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.

Thermal Conductivity

34 W/m·K19.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F
24 W/m·K13.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)

12.3 µm/m·K6.8 µin/in·°F
11.3 µm/m·K6.3 µin/in·°F

Min Service Temperature

-20°C-4 °F
-30°C-22 °F

Same in both: Specific Heat Capacity 460 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F · Latent Heat of Fusion 250 J/g107 BTU/lb · Max Service Temperature (continuous) 400°C752 °F

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Electrical Conductivity

7.2 % IACS
3.1 % IACS

Electrical Resistivity

2.4×10⁻⁷ Ω·m9.45 µΩ·in
5.5×10⁻⁷ Ω·m21.7 µΩ·in

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Corrosion Resistance

12 / 100
16 / 100

Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)

—
-0.45 V

Manufacturability

FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.

Machinability

55 / 100
35 / 100

Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)

55%
38%

Weldability

35 / 100
25 / 100

Formability (cold)

30 / 100
12 / 100

Polishability

55 / 100
72 / 100

Same in both: Castability 25 / 100 · Brazeability / Solderability 35 / 100

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Embodied Energy (primary production)

34 MJ/kg14,617 BTU/lb
42 MJ/kg18,057 BTU/lb

Embodied Carbon (primary production)

2.6 kg CO₂/kg
3.1 kg CO₂/kg

Embodied Water

60 L/kg7.2 gal/lb
70 L/kg8.4 gal/lb

Same in both: Typical Recycled Content 45%

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Specific Strength (UTS / density)

100 kN·m/kg
96 kN·m/kg

Specific Stiffness (E / density)

26.9 MN·m/kg
26.4 MN·m/kg

Modulus of Resilience

595 kJ/m³
644 kJ/m³

Thermal Diffusivity

9.5 mm²/s
6.6 mm²/s

Thermal Shock Resistance Index

10
8

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.

2005001,0002,0007.588.5Density (g/cm³)Yield strength (MPa) — log scale5CrMnMoH43

Manufacturing and finishing

Capability5CrMnMoH43
Default condition——
Relative cost$ Budget$$$$ High
Min. machined wall——
Best machined surface——

Both take the same 9 finishes: Copper Plating, Electroless Nickel (EN), Epoxy Coating, Gold Plating, Hard Chrome Plating, Manganese Phosphate, Plasma Spray, Silver Plating, Zinc Phosphate.

5CrMnMo vs H43 — frequently asked

What is the difference between 5CrMnMo and H43?

Steel 5CrMnMo and H43 are both steel grades. Both yield at about 500 MPa — strength does not separate them. 5CrMnMo conducts heat better (34 W/m·K vs 24 W/m·K).

Which is cheaper, 5CrMnMo or H43?

5CrMnMo is the lower-cost material: it sits in the budget tier ($) while H43 is high ($$$$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.

Which is easier to machine, 5CrMnMo or H43?

5CrMnMo. Its machinability rates good (55/100) against fair (35/100) for H43; for welding the order is 5CrMnMo first (fair, 35/100) then H43 (poor, 25/100).

Ready to make it?

Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in 5CrMnMo and H43 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.