Steel 1018 · supply condition
Steel 1018-CD
Properties of the CD condition, compared with the other 1018 tempers.
Pick for shafts, pins and as-supplied-diameter parts needing tight tolerance, straightness and higher yield without heat treatment.
What is 1018-CD?
1018-CD is 1018 supplied in the CD condition — pick for shafts, pins and as-supplied-diameter parts needing tight tolerance, straightness and higher yield without heat treatment. 1018-CD has a yield strength of 370 MPa (53.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 440 MPa (63.8 ksi) — weaker than 70% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). 1018-CD has a density of 7.87 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 91% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F). HR is the default condition FabDigit quotes; CD is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 51.9 W/m·K (30 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of steel grades
- Easy to machine — 66/100, better than 95% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10.8 % IACS, better than 94% of steel grades
- Readily welded — 92/100, better than 93% of steel grades
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
1018-CD properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1018-CD — 14 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 1018 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
1018-CD has a density of 7.87 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 91% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical16
1018-CD has a yield strength of 370 MPa (53.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 440 MPa (63.8 ksi) — weaker than 70% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
1018-CD is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 51.9 W/m·K (30 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.7 µm/m·K (6.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1018-CD conducts electricity at 10.8 % IACS, better than 94% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 87% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1018-CD takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
1018-CD's machinability is good (66/100, better than 95% of steel grades); weldability excellent (92/100); formability very good (70/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 1018 tempers and conditions
1018 is also supplied in 5 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 1018 overview.
- HRDefaultCheapest form; pick for weldments, brackets and parts machined all over where scale and loose tolerance are acceptable.220 MPa yield · 116 HB
- CDPick for shafts, pins and as-supplied-diameter parts needing tight tolerance, straightness and higher yield without heat treatment.370 MPa yield · 126 HB
- CRPick for stamped, bent or laser-cut sheet parts needing a clean, scale-free surface ready for paint or plating.340 MPa yield · 126 HB
- NormalizedPick for uniform fine-grain structure, better toughness and dimensional stability after welding, forging or heavy machining.340 MPa yield · 126 HB
- CarburizedPick when a wear-resistant hard skin over a tough low-carbon core is needed — gear teeth, bushings, cam followers, pins.330 MPa yield · 60 HRC
- AnnealedPick for maximum ductility before deep drawing, severe bending or heavy cold forming, and to remove cold-work stresses.215 MPa yield · 111 HB
Working with 1018-CD
Is 1018 easy to machine?
Machines easily but gummy — use positive rake, sharp tools, high speed and generous coolant; cold-drawn stock gives better finish and chip control than hot-rolled.
Can 1018 be welded?
Excellent weldability by all arc, resistance and gas processes with no preheat or PWHT for thin sections; use E7018/ER70S-6 and preheat ~100 °C only in heavy restrained joints.
Can 1018 be formed, bent or molded?
Very good cold formability — bends, roll-forms and stamps readily in annealed/HR condition; cold-drawn bar has lower ductility and may need stress relief before heavy bending.
What surface finishes work on 1018?
Must be protected: zinc/nickel plating, black oxide, manganese phosphate, e-coat or paint; carburize or nitrocarburize for wear surfaces (anodizing not applicable).
1018 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C | 0.15 – 0.2 | 0.18 |
| Mn | 0.6 – 0.9 | 0.75 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| S | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Sinot specified in AISI/SAE 1018 bar; 0.15–0.35 typical for killed steel | ≤ 0.35 | 0.2 |
| Fe | balance | — |
1018-CD — frequently asked
What is 1018-CD used for?
1018-CD is typically used for motor shafts, tie rods, machined pins, spacers and bushings, weldment brackets and base plates, carburized gears and cam followers and keyed drive shafts. In short: the standard machining steel.
What is the yield strength of 1018-CD?
1018-CD has a typical yield strength of 370 MPa (53.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 440 MPa (63.8 ksi) — weaker than 70% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 1018-CD easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (66/100, better than 95% of steel grades). Machines easily but gummy — use positive rake, sharp tools, high speed and generous coolant; cold-drawn stock gives better finish and chip control than hot-rolled.
Can 1018-CD be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (92/100). Excellent weldability by all arc, resistance and gas processes with no preheat or PWHT for thin sections; use E7018/ER70S-6 and preheat ~100 °C only in heavy restrained joints.
What surface finishes work on 1018-CD?
Must be protected: zinc/nickel plating, black oxide, manganese phosphate, e-coat or paint; carburize or nitrocarburize for wear surfaces (anodizing not applicable).
Can 1018-CD be formed, bent or molded?
Very good cold formability — bends, roll-forms and stamps readily in annealed/HR condition; cold-drawn bar has lower ductility and may need stress relief before heavy bending.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1018-CD?
1018-CD is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 1018-HR and 1018-CD?
HR is the default condition — cheapest form; pick for weldments, brackets and parts machined all over where scale and loose tolerance are acceptable. CD: pick for shafts, pins and as-supplied-diameter parts needing tight tolerance, straightness and higher yield without heat treatment. Yield strength is 220 MPa in HR versus 370 MPa in CD.
Can FabDigit make parts in 1018-CD?
Yes — 1018-CD is available for CNC machining and sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM A29/A29M — Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought, General Requirements — ASTM (2020)
- ASTM A108 — Steel Bar, Carbon and Alloy, Cold-Finished — ASTM (2018)
- SAE J403 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Carbon Steels — SAE International (2014)
- GB/T 699 (15/20 grades) — SAC (2015)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Machinery's Handbook, 31st ed. — Industrial Press (2020)
- worldsteel LCI data for steel products — World Steel Association (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.