Steel 1043
AISI/SAE 1043 · UNS G10430
1043 is a plain medium-carbon steel (UNS G10430) in the AISI/SAE 10xx family, strengthened by carbon rather than alloying additions.
Reference datasheet — 1043 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
1043 tempers and conditions
1043 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 form for parts that will be fully machined or subsequently heat treated; scaled surface and loose tolerances. | 305 | 550 | 17 | 156 HB | — |
Solution annealed | Softest condition, chosen for maximum cold formability or for machining deep features before hardening. | 350 | 545 | 26 | 152 HB | — |
Normalized | Refines grain and homogenizes forgings/hot-rolled bar; a good starting point for quench-and-temper or induction hardening. | 390 | 610 | 24 | 175 HB | — |
CDDefault Cold drawn | Most commonly stocked condition: higher strength, bright surface and close size tolerance straight from the bar. | 530 | 620 | 12 | 179 HB | — |
Induction hardened | Use for shafts and pins needing a hard, wear-resistant, compressively stressed surface with a tough unhardened core. | 540 | 640 | 12 | 55 HRC | — |
Normalized and Cold Drawn | Pick when a uniform fine pearlitic structure plus cold-finished tolerance is wanted, e.g. before induction hardening or heavy machining. | 545 | 640 | 12 | 187 HB | — |
quenched and high-temperature tempered | Tough general-purpose hardened condition for shafts and machine parts that still need to be machined after heat treatment. | 640 | 800 | 20 | 24 HRC | — |
quenched and tempered | Standard strengthened condition for pins, spindles and gear blanks; good strength-to-toughness balance in sections up to ~50 mm. | 790 | 950 | 17 | 30 HRC | — |
quenched and low-temperature tempered | Highest practical through-hardened level for wear-loaded small parts; toughness and machinability drop noticeably. | 950 | 1,120 | 14 | 36 HRC | — |
What is 1043?
1043 is a plain medium-carbon steel (UNS G10430) in the AISI/SAE 10xx family, strengthened by carbon rather than alloying additions. It is used for general mechanical bar components; the default condition gives 530 MPa yield, 620 MPa tensile, 12 % elongation and 179 HB, and stock is available annealed, normalized, cold drawn, normalized-and-cold-drawn, induction hardened or quenched and tempered to 22–26, 28–32 or 34–38 HRC. Weldability is limited (carbon equivalent 0.55–0.6, preheat required), the bare steel has no corrosion resistance, and service is capped near 350 °C. 1045 is the more widely stocked alternative. 1043 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F). 1043 has a yield strength of 530 MPa (76.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — stronger than 69% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is 1043 used for?
- Machine parts
- Shafts
- Fasteners
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 49 W/m·K (28.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10 % IACS, better than 83% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 12%, worse than 84% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 55 MPa·√m (50.1 ksi·√in), worse than 82% of steel grades
1043 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1043-CD; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
1043 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Mechanical16
1043 has a yield strength of 530 MPa (76.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — stronger than 69% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
1043 is rated for continuous service to 350°C (662 °F). It conducts heat at 49 W/m·K (28.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1043 conducts electricity at 10 % IACS, better than 83% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1043 takes about 26 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 64% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
1043's machinability is good (58/100, better than 75% of steel grades); weldability fair (40/100); 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. 1043 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1043
Is 1043 easy to machine?
Machines well at ~60 % of 1212 with carbide at 120–180 m/min; cold-drawn or normalized-and-cold-drawn bar gives the cleanest chip and best finish, annealed bar tends to smear.
Can 1043 be welded?
Carbon equivalent ≈ 0.55–0.6, so preheat 150–260 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables and post-weld stress relief or temper to avoid HAZ cracking.
Can 1043 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1100–1200 °C; cold bending and heading are limited — anneal or spheroidize first and use generous bend radii (≥3t).
1043 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 heat analysis | 0.4 – 0.47 | 0.43 |
| Mn | 0.7 – 0.9 | 0.8 |
| Pmax, hot-rolled bar (0.030 max for some product forms) | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Smax, non-resulfurized grade | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Sitypical for killed steel; not specified for rimmed/capped | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1043?
No inherent corrosion protection: specify oil, phosphate-and-oil, black oxide, zinc or nickel plating, or paint; grinds and polishes to a good finish after hardening.
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 1043 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- G10430
How much does 1043 cost?
1043 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.
1043 — frequently asked
What is 1043 used for?
1043 is typically used for machine parts, shafts and fasteners. In short: mid-strength plain-carbon bar; machines at 58 % of 1212; preheat needed for welding.
What is the yield strength of 1043?
1043 has a typical yield strength of 530 MPa (76.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — stronger than 69% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 1043 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (58/100, better than 75% of steel grades). Machines well at ~60 % of 1212 with carbide at 120–180 m/min; cold-drawn or normalized-and-cold-drawn bar gives the cleanest chip and best finish, annealed bar tends to smear.
Can 1043 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (40/100). Carbon equivalent ≈ 0.55–0.6, so preheat 150–260 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables and post-weld stress relief or temper to avoid HAZ cracking.
What surface finishes work on 1043?
No inherent corrosion protection: specify oil, phosphate-and-oil, black oxide, zinc or nickel plating, or paint; grinds and polishes to a good finish after hardening.
Can 1043 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1100–1200 °C; cold bending and heading are limited — anneal or spheroidize first and use generous bend radii (≥3t).
What is the maximum service temperature of 1043?
1043 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 1043-CD and 1043-HR?
CD is the default condition — most commonly stocked condition: higher strength, bright surface and close size tolerance straight from the bar. HR: cheapest form for parts that will be fully machined or subsequently heat treated; scaled surface and loose tolerances. Yield strength is 530 MPa in CD versus 305 MPa in HR.
How much does 1043 cost?
1043 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, General Requirements — 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)
- Machinery's Handbook, 31st ed. — Industrial Press (2020)
- GB/T 699 — (45 , near-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.