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Steel E6010 vs ER70S-3

Steel · grade comparison

Steel E6010 and ER70S-3 are both steel grades. ER70S-3 is the stronger of the two: yield strength 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) against 400 MPa (58 ksi) for E6010, about 15% more; tensile strength follows at 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) vs 480 MPa (69.6 ksi). On the shop floor, ER70S-3 forms better (very good vs good) and ER70S-3 sits in a lower cost tier (budget, $) than E6010 (standard, $$).

ER70S-3Choose it when strength drives the design, or when cost is the deciding factor.

E6010 vs ER70S-3: properties

E6010ER70S-3

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)

480 MPa69.6 ksi
550 MPa79.8 ksi

Yield Strength (0.2% offset)

400 MPa58 ksi
460 MPa66.7 ksi

Shear Strength

300 MPa43.5 ksi
330 MPa47.9 ksi

Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)

200 MPa29 ksi
230 MPa33.4 ksi

Hardness, Brinell

155 HB
160 HB

Hardness, Rockwell B

82 HRB
84 HRB

Reduction in Area

—
65%

Compressive Strength

—
460 MPa66.7 ksi

Fracture Toughness (K_IC)

—
100 MPa·√m91 ksi·√in

Hardness, Vickers

—
168 HV

Same in both: Elastic (Young's) Modulus 205 GPa29.7 Msi · Shear Modulus 79 GPa11.5 Msi · Bulk Modulus 160 GPa23.2 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.29 · Elongation at Break 28% · Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT) 90 J66.4 ft·lbf

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Melting Point (Solidus)

1,480°C2,696 °F
1,470°C2,678 °F

Same in both: Density 7.85 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³ · Liquidus Temperature 1,520°C2,768 °F

Thermal

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

Thermal Conductivity

50 W/m·K28.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F
48 W/m·K27.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Latent Heat of Fusion

270 J/g116 BTU/lb
247 J/g106 BTU/lb

Same in both: Specific Heat Capacity 470 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F · Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C) 12 µm/m·K6.7 µin/in·°F · Max Service Temperature (continuous) 400°C752 °F · Min Service Temperature -30°C-22 °F

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Same in both: Electrical Conductivity 10 % IACS · Electrical Resistivity 1.7×10⁻⁷ Ω·m6.69 µΩ·in

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)

-0.62 V
-0.65 V

Same in both: Corrosion Resistance 10 / 100

Manufacturability

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

Machinability

60 / 100
58 / 100

Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)

65%
60%

Weldability

92 / 100
95 / 100

Formability (cold)

55 / 100
80 / 100

Polishability

45 / 100
55 / 100

Castability

—
70 / 100

Same in both: Brazeability / Solderability 70 / 100

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Typical Recycled Content

20%
25%

Same in both: Embodied Energy (primary production) 32 MJ/kg13,758 BTU/lb · Embodied Carbon (primary production) 2.4 kg CO₂/kg · Embodied Water 60 L/kg7.2 gal/lb

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Specific Strength (UTS / density)

61 kN·m/kg
70 kN·m/kg

Modulus of Resilience

390 kJ/m³
516 kJ/m³

Thermal Diffusivity

13.6 mm²/s
13 mm²/s

Thermal Shock Resistance Index

10
11

Same in both: Specific Stiffness (E / density) 26.1 MN·m/kg

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 scaleER70S-3E6010

Manufacturing and finishing

CapabilityE6010ER70S-3
Default condition——
Relative cost$$ Standard$ Budget
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.

E6010 vs ER70S-3 — frequently asked

Is ER70S-3 stronger than E6010?

Yes. ER70S-3 has a typical yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) against 400 MPa (58 ksi) for E6010 — about 15% more. Tensile strength is 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) vs 480 MPa (69.6 ksi).

Which is cheaper, E6010 or ER70S-3?

ER70S-3 is the lower-cost material: it sits in the budget tier ($) while E6010 is standard ($$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.

When should I choose E6010 over ER70S-3?

Pick ER70S-3 when strength drives the design, or when cost is the deciding factor.

Ready to make it?

Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in E6010 and ER70S-3 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.