Stainless Steel 3Cr12
EN 3Cr12 · UNS S41003
A low-cost 11-12% chromium utility stainless combining mild-steel-like formability/weldability with useful corrosion resistance, used as a cheaper alternative to austenitic grades in structural and abrasive-wear applications.
Reference datasheet — 3Cr12 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the Annealed condition
3Cr12 tempers and conditions
3Cr12 is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
As-welded deposit | Reference condition for fabricated structures: joints are normally used as welded, with reduced HAZ toughness and slight loss of local corrosion resistance. | 340 | 500 | 20 | 200 HB | 2.9 % IACS |
AnnealedDefault mill annealed (soft) condition | The standard stocked condition for plate, sheet, strip and bar — best formability and weldability with the specified minimum strength. | 350 | 510 | 28 | 165 HB | — |
Cold worked | Choose for higher yield strength and straightness in strip, wire and bar where little further forming is required. | 520 | 620 | 12 | 17 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
Quenched and tempered | Use for wear parts or shafts needing 700–800 MPa strength with restored toughness; not a common mill supply condition. | 560 | 750 | 18 | 23 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
Normalized / air-hardened (as-cooled from ~950–1000 °C) | Pick when higher strength and abrasion resistance are wanted straight from an air cool; toughness and ductility drop versus annealed. | 620 | 850 | 14 | 34 HRC | — |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways 3Cr12 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
1D | Hot rolled, annealed, pickled plate | Surface finish |
2B | Cold rolled, annealed, pickled, skin passed | Surface finish |
2D | Cold rolled, annealed, pickled | Surface finish |
What is 3Cr12?
A low-cost 11-12% chromium utility stainless combining mild-steel-like formability/weldability with useful corrosion resistance, used as a cheaper alternative to austenitic grades in structural and abrasive-wear applications. 3Cr12 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F). 3Cr12 has a yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 510 MPa (74 ksi) — weaker than 52% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
What is 3Cr12 used for?
- mining chute liners
- conveyor and bin fabrications
- trailer and truck bodies
- water/wastewater equipment
- structural stainless fabrications
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 99% of stainless steel grades
- Low embodied carbon — 3 kg CO₂/kg, better than 97% of stainless steel grades
- Easy to machine — 55/100, better than 94% of stainless steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 2.9 % IACS, better than 87% of stainless steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 70/100, better than 79% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 35/100, worse than 97% of stainless steel grades
- Hard to polish — 55/100, worse than 89% of stainless steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 80 MPa·√m (72.8 ksi·√in), worse than 79% of stainless steel grades
3Cr12 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 3Cr12-Annealed; bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
3Cr12 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F).
Mechanical16
3Cr12 has a yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 510 MPa (74 ksi) — weaker than 52% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
3Cr12 is rated for continuous service to 650°C (1,202 °F). It conducts heat at 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 99% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.4 µm/m·K (5.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
3Cr12 conducts electricity at 2.9 % IACS, better than 87% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (35/100), worse than 97% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 3Cr12 takes about 36 MJ of energy and emits 3 kg of CO₂ — less than 99% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 65%.
Manufacturability7
3Cr12's machinability is good (55/100, better than 94% of stainless steel grades); weldability very good (78/100); formability very good (70/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the stainless steel family
Yield strength against density for every stainless steel grade FabDigit runs. 3Cr12 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 3Cr12
Is 3Cr12 easy to machine?
Machines much like a low-alloy 12Cr steel — use rigid setups, sharp carbide, positive rake and generous coolant; ~55 % of 1212 rate, with less work-hardening and better chip breaking than 304.
Can 3Cr12 be welded?
Weldable by GMAW/GTAW/SMAW/SAW without preheat in thin sections; use austenitic 309L/316L or matched 3CR12 fillers, keep heat input moderate to limit HAZ grain growth and toughness loss.
Can 3Cr12 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold bends, roll-forms and presses similar to mild steel (allow slightly more springback than carbon steel); hot work 1100–850 °C followed by annealing at 700–800 °C.
3Cr12 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Cultra-low carbon to limit HAZ martensite hardness | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.4 |
| Mn | ≤ 1.5 | 1 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.03 |
| SEN 1.4003 limits S to 0.015 max | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Cr | 10.5 – 12.5 | 11.5 |
| NiEN 1.4003 specifies 0.30–1.00 | ≤ 1.5 | 0.5 |
| N | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Tioptional stabiliser in some 3CR12 producer variants (e.g. 3CR12L/Ti-stabilised) | ≤ 0.6 | 0.2 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 3Cr12?
Pickle and passivate after welding to restore the film; cannot be anodized — for cosmetic or wet-service parts use paint/powder coat, or accept a light surface tea-staining.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on stainless steel parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Passivation
Organic Coating
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Stainless Steel 3Cr12 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
How much does 3Cr12 cost?
3Cr12 is a budget-cost stainless steel ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
3Cr12 — frequently asked
What is 3Cr12 used for?
3Cr12 is typically used for mining chute liners, conveyor and bin fabrications, trailer and truck bodies, water/wastewater equipment and structural stainless fabrications. In short: cheapest weldable stainless; mild-steel-like formability; abrasion-service utility grade.
What is the yield strength of 3Cr12?
3Cr12 has a typical yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 510 MPa (74 ksi) — weaker than 52% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is 3Cr12 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, better than 94% of stainless steel grades). Machines much like a low-alloy 12Cr steel — use rigid setups, sharp carbide, positive rake and generous coolant; ~55 % of 1212 rate, with less work-hardening and better chip breaking than 304.
Can 3Cr12 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (78/100). Weldable by GMAW/GTAW/SMAW/SAW without preheat in thin sections; use austenitic 309L/316L or matched 3CR12 fillers, keep heat input moderate to limit HAZ grain growth and toughness loss.
What surface finishes work on 3Cr12?
Pickle and passivate after welding to restore the film; cannot be anodized — for cosmetic or wet-service parts use paint/powder coat, or accept a light surface tea-staining.
Can 3Cr12 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold bends, roll-forms and presses similar to mild steel (allow slightly more springback than carbon steel); hot work 1100–850 °C followed by annealing at 700–800 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of 3Cr12?
3Cr12 is rated for continuous use to about 650°C (1,202 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 3Cr12 Annealed and 3Cr12-CW?
Annealed is the default condition — the standard stocked condition for plate, sheet, strip and bar — best formability and weldability with the specified minimum strength. CW: choose for higher yield strength and straightness in strip, wire and bar where little further forming is required. Yield strength is 350 MPa in Annealed versus 520 MPa in CW.
How much does 3Cr12 cost?
3Cr12 is a budget-cost stainless steel ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASTM A240/A240M — Chromium and Chromium-Nickel Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet and Strip (UNS S41003) — ASTM International (2023)
- EN 10088-1/-2 — Stainless steels: list of grades and technical delivery conditions (1.4003) — CEN (2014)
- 3CR12 utility ferritic stainless steel data sheet — Columbus Stainless / Acerinox (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.13B — Corrosion: Materials — ASM International (2005)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.