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Steel E70C-Ni2 vs ER70S-6

Steel · grade comparison

Steel E70C-Ni2 and ER70S-6 are both steel grades. Both yield at about 470 MPa — strength does not separate them. E70C-Ni2 is harder — 175 HB against 160 HB for ER70S-6 — which matters for wear surfaces and threads. ER70S-6 conducts heat better (49 W/m·K vs 38 W/m·K). On the shop floor, ER70S-6 forms better (good vs fair) and ER70S-6 sits in a lower cost tier (budget, $) than E70C-Ni2 (standard, $$).

E70C-Ni2Choose it when surface hardness matters.

ER70S-6Choose it when cost is the deciding factor.

E70C-Ni2 vs ER70S-6: properties

E70C-Ni2ER70S-6

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Yield Strength (0.2% offset)

470 MPa68.2 ksi
460 MPa66.7 ksi

Compressive Strength

470 MPa68.2 ksi
460 MPa66.7 ksi

Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)

230 MPa33.4 ksi
240 MPa34.8 ksi

Fracture Toughness (K_IC)

110 MPa·√m100 ksi·√in
120 MPa·√m109 ksi·√in

Hardness, Brinell

175 HB
160 HB

Hardness, Rockwell B

88 HRB
84 HRB

Hardness, Vickers

185 HV
170 HV

Same in both: Elastic (Young's) Modulus 205 GPa29.7 Msi · Shear Modulus 80 GPa11.6 Msi · Bulk Modulus 160 GPa23.2 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.29 · Tensile Strength (Ultimate) 560 MPa81.2 ksi · Elongation at Break 27% · Reduction in Area 65% · Shear Strength 340 MPa49.3 ksi · Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT) 130 J95.9 ft·lbf

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Melting Point (Solidus)

1,460°C2,660 °F
1,470°C2,678 °F

Liquidus Temperature

1,515°C2,759 °F
1,520°C2,768 °F

Same in both: Density 7.85 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³

Thermal

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

Thermal Conductivity

38 W/m·K22 BTU/hr·ft·°F
49 W/m·K28.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Specific Heat Capacity

470 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F
480 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)

12.3 µm/m·K6.8 µin/in·°F
12 µm/m·K6.7 µin/in·°F

Min Service Temperature

-60°C-76 °F
-30°C-22 °F

Same in both: Latent Heat of Fusion 270 J/g116 BTU/lb · Max Service Temperature (continuous) 400°C752 °F

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Electrical Conductivity

8.6 % IACS
10.5 % IACS

Electrical Resistivity

2×10⁻⁷ Ω·m7.87 µΩ·in
1.6×10⁻⁷ Ω·m6.3 µΩ·in

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Corrosion Resistance

12 / 100
10 / 100

Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)

—
-0.65 V

Manufacturability

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

Machinability

55 / 100
58 / 100

Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)

60%
65%

Weldability

92 / 100
95 / 100

Formability (cold)

45 / 100
60 / 100

Brazeability / Solderability

55 / 100
65 / 100

Same in both: Polishability 45 / 100

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Embodied Energy (primary production)

32 MJ/kg13,758 BTU/lb
28 MJ/kg12,038 BTU/lb

Embodied Carbon (primary production)

2.4 kg CO₂/kg
2.1 kg CO₂/kg

Embodied Water

60 L/kg7.2 gal/lb
45 L/kg5.4 gal/lb

Same in both: Typical Recycled Content 25%

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Modulus of Resilience

539 kJ/m³
516 kJ/m³

Thermal Diffusivity

10.3 mm²/s
13 mm²/s

Thermal Shock Resistance Index

8
11

Same in both: Specific Strength (UTS / density) 71 kN·m/kg · 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-6E70C-Ni2

Manufacturing and finishing

CapabilityE70C-Ni2ER70S-6
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.

E70C-Ni2 vs ER70S-6 — frequently asked

What is the difference between E70C-Ni2 and ER70S-6?

Steel E70C-Ni2 and ER70S-6 are both steel grades. Both yield at about 470 MPa — strength does not separate them. E70C-Ni2 is harder — 175 HB against 160 HB for ER70S-6 — which matters for wear surfaces and threads.

Which is cheaper, E70C-Ni2 or ER70S-6?

ER70S-6 is the lower-cost material: it sits in the budget tier ($) while E70C-Ni2 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 E70C-Ni2 over ER70S-6?

Pick E70C-Ni2 when surface hardness matters. Pick ER70S-6 when cost is the deciding factor.

Ready to make it?

Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in E70C-Ni2 and ER70S-6 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.