Steel A532 Class I Type A vs A532 Class III Type A
Steel · grade comparison
Steel A532 Class I Type A and A532 Class III Type A are both steel grades. A532 Class III Type A is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) against 400 MPa (58 ksi) for A532 Class I Type A, about 38% more. A532 Class III Type A is harder — 680 HB against 575 HB for A532 Class I Type A — which matters for wear surfaces and threads. A532 Class III Type A is stiffer (210 GPa vs 175 GPa) and A532 Class III Type A runs hotter in service (600°C vs 250°C continuous).
A532 Class III Type AChoose it when strength drives the design, or when surface hardness matters.
A532 Class I Type A vs A532 Class III Type A: 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.
A532 Class I Type AA532 Class III Type A
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Shear Modulus
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Reduction in Area
Compressive Strength
Shear Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Rockwell C
Hardness, Vickers
Bulk Modulus
Same in both: Poisson's Ratio 0.28 · Elongation at Break 0% · Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT) 3 J2.2 ft·lbf
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Melting Point (Solidus)
Liquidus Temperature
Same in both: Density 7.65 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Latent Heat of Fusion
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Min Service Temperature
Same in both: Specific Heat Capacity 500 J/kg·K0.12 BTU/lb·°F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Conductivity
Same in both: Electrical Resistivity 9×10⁻⁷ Ω·m35.4 µΩ·in
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)
Weldability
Formability (cold)
Castability
Brazeability / Solderability
Polishability
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Typical Recycled Content
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Thermal Diffusivity
Same in both: Thermal Shock Resistance Index 4
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.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | A532 Class I Type A | A532 Class III Type A |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $$ Standard | $$ Standard |
| 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.
A532 Class I Type A vs A532 Class III Type A — frequently asked
Is A532 Class III Type A stronger than A532 Class I Type A?
Yes. A532 Class III Type A has a typical tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) against 400 MPa (58 ksi) for A532 Class I Type A — about 38% more.
Which is cheaper, A532 Class I Type A or A532 Class III Type A?
Both sit in the same relative cost tier ($$, standard); the part price will be decided by machining time, tolerance and quantity rather than by the material.
When should I choose A532 Class I Type A over A532 Class III Type A?
Pick A532 Class III Type A when strength drives the design, or when surface hardness matters.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in A532 Class I Type A and A532 Class III Type A 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.