Steel 1038
AISI/SAE 1038 · UNS G10380
1038 is a medium-carbon steel (UNS G10380) in the 0.25–0.60 % C class that balances strength, ductility and machinability and responds to quench-and-temper or induction hardening.
Reference datasheet — 1038 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 CD condition
1038 tempers and conditions
1038 is supplied in 9 conditions, soft to hard. CD is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 9 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hot rolled | Cheapest bulk form for parts that will be fully machined, forged or heat treated afterwards. | 285 | 515 | 20 | 149 HB | — |
Annealed | Softest condition for maximum cold formability, deep drilling or machining before hardening. | 320 | 500 | 27 | 143 HB | — |
Normalized | Uniform fine grain with balanced strength and toughness; standard pre-treatment for forgings before machining or Q&T. | 345 | 565 | 26 | 163 HB | — |
Induction hardened | Select when wear-resistant journal or track surfaces are needed while keeping a tough core. | 400 | 620 | 18 | 54 HRC | 10 % IACS |
Cold Drawn, Stress Relieved | Cold-drawn bar given a low-temperature stress relief for straightness stability in shafting and long machined parts. | 470 | 570 | 15 | 174 HB | 10.8 % IACS |
CDDefault Cold drawn | Most stocked bar condition: higher strength, tight tolerance and good surface for shafts and machined parts. | 515 | 600 | 12 | 179 HB | — |
quenched and high-temperature tempered (~620 °C) | General-purpose quenched-and-tempered condition for shafts and fasteners needing strength with good toughness. | 650 | 830 | 20 | 24 HRC | — |
quenched and tempered (~540 °C) | Higher-strength Q&T bar for loaded pins, connecting rods and gear blanks where toughness is still needed. | 810 | 980 | 17 | 30 HRC | — |
quenched and low-temperature tempered (~425 °C) | Maximum practical through-hardened strength for small sections; reduced ductility and weldability. | 1,000 | 1,180 | 13 | 38 HRC | — |
What is 1038?
1038 is a medium-carbon steel (UNS G10380) in the 0.25–0.60 % C class that balances strength, ductility and machinability and responds to quench-and-temper or induction hardening. Hot-rolled and cold-drawn bar are the usual forms; cold-drawn stock runs about 515 MPa yield, 600 MPa tensile, 12 % elongation and 179 HB (89 HRB), with Q&T bands from 22–26 HRC up to 35–40 HRC on file. Practical service temperature is around 350 °C and there is no corrosion resistance. Weldability is limited (CE ≈ 0.5–0.6) and cold formability is poor, so use 1018/1020 for weldments. 1038 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F). 1038 has a yield strength of 515 MPa (74.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) — stronger than 66% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
What is 1038 used for?
- Machine parts
- Studs
- Fasteners
- Light shafts
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 51.9 W/m·K (30 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10.8 % IACS, better than 94% of steel grades
- Easy to machine — 63/100, better than 92% of steel grades
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 12%, worse than 84% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 60 MPa·√m (54.6 ksi·√in), worse than 78% of steel grades
1038 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1038-CD; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
1038 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical16
1038 has a yield strength of 515 MPa (74.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) — stronger than 66% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
1038 is rated for continuous service to 350°C (662 °F). It conducts heat at 51.9 W/m·K (30 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1038 conducts electricity at 10.8 % IACS, better than 94% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1038 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
1038's machinability is good (63/100, better than 92% of steel grades); weldability fair (48/100); formability fair (35/100).
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 steel family
Yield strength against density for every steel grade FabDigit runs. 1038 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1038
Is 1038 easy to machine?
Machines readily at ~65 % of 1212; use rigid setups, 150–200 m/min carbide turning speeds, and prefer normalized or Q&T ≤30 HRC structure for chip control.
Can 1038 be welded?
Weldable with low-hydrogen SMAW/GMAW but CE ≈ 0.5–0.6, so preheat 150–260 °C for sections over ~25 mm and post-weld stress relieve to avoid HAZ cracking.
Can 1038 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forging 1100–1230 °C is easy; cold bending is limited — use generous bend radii (≥2t) and annealed or hot rolled stock rather than cold drawn bar.
1038 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CSAE J403 / ASTM A29 | 0.35 – 0.42 | 0.38 |
| Mn | 0.6 – 0.9 | 0.75 |
| Pmax for bar/rod/wire | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Smax for bar/rod/wire | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Sitypical when killed steel is specified; not in base J403 limits | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1038?
No natural corrosion protection: apply zinc/black oxide, manganese phosphate, oil or paint; hard chrome and nitrocarburizing are common for wear surfaces.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on 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).
Organic Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel 1038 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- G10380
How much does 1038 cost?
1038 is a budget-cost 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.
1038 — frequently asked
What is 1038 used for?
1038 is typically used for machine parts, studs, fasteners and light shafts. In short: best-machining medium-carbon 10xx; heat-treatable to 40 HRC; limited weldability.
What is the yield strength of 1038?
1038 has a typical yield strength of 515 MPa (74.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) — stronger than 66% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 1038 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (63/100, better than 92% of steel grades). Machines readily at ~65 % of 1212; use rigid setups, 150–200 m/min carbide turning speeds, and prefer normalized or Q&T ≤30 HRC structure for chip control.
Can 1038 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (48/100). Weldable with low-hydrogen SMAW/GMAW but CE ≈ 0.5–0.6, so preheat 150–260 °C for sections over ~25 mm and post-weld stress relieve to avoid HAZ cracking.
What surface finishes work on 1038?
No natural corrosion protection: apply zinc/black oxide, manganese phosphate, oil or paint; hard chrome and nitrocarburizing are common for wear surfaces.
Can 1038 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forging 1100–1230 °C is easy; cold bending is limited — use generous bend radii (≥2t) and annealed or hot rolled stock rather than cold drawn bar.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1038?
1038 is rated for continuous use to about 350°C (662 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 1038-CD and 1038-HR?
CD is the default condition — most stocked bar condition: higher strength, tight tolerance and good surface for shafts and machined parts. HR: cheapest bulk form for parts that will be fully machined, forged or heat treated afterwards. Yield strength is 515 MPa in CD versus 285 MPa in HR.
How much does 1038 cost?
1038 is a budget-cost 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
- SAE J403 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Carbon Steels — SAE International (2014)
- ASTM A29/A29M — Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought — ASTM (2020)
- ASTM A108 — Steel Bar, Carbon and Alloy, Cold-Finished — ASTM (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4 — Heat Treating — ASM International (1991)
- GB/T 699 — (38 equivalent) — SAC (2015)
- Mysteel / SMM (2025)
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.