Steel 1046
AISI/SAE 1046 · UNS G10460
1046 is a plain medium-carbon steel (UNS G10460; C45, 1.0503, 45) carrying slightly more carbon than 1045, with higher strength and hardenability.
Reference datasheet — 1046 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 HR condition
1046 tempers and conditions
1046 is supplied in 10 conditions, soft to hard. HR is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 10 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spheroidize Annealed | Best condition for cold heading, upsetting or deep machining of this carbon level. | 300 | 540 | 24 | 150 HB | 11 % IACS |
HRDefault Hot rolled | Cheapest stock form for parts that will be machined all over or subsequently heat treated. | 310 | 586 | 15 | 170 HB | — |
Solution annealed | Softest condition, used before heavy machining, cold forming or as a stress-relieved starting state. | 310 | 570 | 20 | 163 HB | — |
Normalized | Uniform fine ferrite–pearlite for forgings and pre-machining refinement; better toughness than as-rolled. | 375 | 640 | 17 | 11 HRC | 10.5 % IACS |
Annealed and Cold Drawn | Pick when cold-drawn tolerance is wanted but with softer, lower-residual-stress bar for heavy machining or further cold work. | 495 | 600 | 15 | 179 HB | — |
Cold drawn | Choose for accurate size, bright surface and higher yield strength on as-supplied shafting. | 565 | 655 | 12 | 187 HB | — |
quenched and high-temperature tempered (~620 °C) | Tough, readily machinable condition for general shafts and moderately loaded machine parts. | 620 | 800 | 20 | 24 HRC | — |
Induction hardened | Use where a wear-resistant 55–60 HRC case on a tough core is needed (journals, gear teeth, splines). | 700 | 900 | 14 | 57 HRC | — |
quenched and tempered (~540 °C) | Standard duty condition for shafts, spindles and gear blanks needing strength with useful toughness. | 800 | 965 | 16 | 30 HRC | — |
quenched and tempered (~425 °C) | High-strength condition for heavily loaded pins and shafts; toughness and machinability begin to fall off. | 980 | 1,140 | 13 | 36 HRC | — |
What is 1046?
1046 is a plain medium-carbon steel (UNS G10460; C45, 1.0503, 45) carrying slightly more carbon than 1045, with higher strength and hardenability. It is used for medium-duty shafts and machine parts, supplied as hot-rolled, cold-drawn, annealed, spheroidize-annealed or normalized bar and quenched and tempered to 22–26, 28–32 or 34–38 HRC; the default condition gives 310 MPa yield, 586 MPa tensile, 15 % elongation and 170 HB. Weldability is poor (carbon equivalent about 0.6), the steel does not passivate, and service is limited to roughly 400 °C. 1045 is the nearest substitute. 1046 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). 1046 has a yield strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) and a tensile strength of 586 MPa (85 ksi) — weaker than 83% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is 1046 used for?
- shafts
- axles
- gears
- machine parts
- bolts
Advantages
- High electrical conductivity — 10.5 % IACS, better than 89% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 49 W/m·K (28.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 50 MPa·√m (45.5 ksi·√in), worse than 86% of steel grades
- Low strength — 310 MPa (45 ksi), worse than 83% of steel grades
1046 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1046-HR; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
1046 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
1046 has a yield strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) and a tensile strength of 586 MPa (85 ksi) — weaker than 83% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
1046 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 49 W/m·K (28.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.7 µm/m·K (6.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1046 conducts electricity at 10.5 % IACS, better than 89% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1046 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability6
1046's machinability is good (55/100, better than 62% 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. 1046 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1046
Is 1046 easy to machine?
Machines best at 170–250 HB (annealed/normalized/CD) with carbide tooling and coolant; above 32 HRC use rigid setups and reduced speed, or machine before final temper.
Can 1046 be welded?
Carbon equivalent ~0.6 — preheat 150–260 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables and post-weld stress relief/temper to avoid HAZ martensite cracking.
Can 1046 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1100–1230 °C then normalize; cold bending is limited — spheroidize anneal first and use generous bend radii.
1046 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/AISI 1046, ASTM A29 | 0.43 – 0.5 | 0.46 |
| Mn | 0.7 – 1 | 0.85 |
| Pmax for bar/billet | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Smax, non-resulfurized | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Sitypical for killed steel; not specified in SAE 10xx chemical limits | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1046?
No inherent corrosion protection: phosphate + oil, zinc/chrome plating, black oxide or paint; grinds and polishes well after hardening but requires bake-out after plating to prevent hydrogen embrittlement at high hardness.
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 1046 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- G10460
- Similar grades
- C451.050345
How much does 1046 cost?
1046 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.
1046 — frequently asked
What is 1046 used for?
1046 is typically used for shafts, axles, gears, machine parts and bolts. In short: higher carbon than 1045; C45 / 1.0503 equivalent; hardens to 34–38 HRC.
What is the yield strength of 1046?
1046 has a typical yield strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) and a tensile strength of 586 MPa (85 ksi) — weaker than 83% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is 1046 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades). Machines best at 170–250 HB (annealed/normalized/CD) with carbide tooling and coolant; above 32 HRC use rigid setups and reduced speed, or machine before final temper.
Can 1046 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (40/100). Carbon equivalent ~0.6 — preheat 150–260 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables and post-weld stress relief/temper to avoid HAZ martensite cracking.
What surface finishes work on 1046?
No inherent corrosion protection: phosphate + oil, zinc/chrome plating, black oxide or paint; grinds and polishes well after hardening but requires bake-out after plating to prevent hydrogen embrittlement at high hardness.
Can 1046 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1100–1230 °C then normalize; cold bending is limited — spheroidize anneal first and use generous bend radii.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1046?
1046 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 1046-HR and 1046-IH?
HR is the default condition — cheapest stock form for parts that will be machined all over or subsequently heat treated. IH: use where a wear-resistant 55–60 HRC case on a tough core is needed (journals, gear teeth, splines). Yield strength is 310 MPa in HR versus 700 MPa in IH.
How much does 1046 cost?
1046 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
- ASTM A29/A29M — Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought — ASTM (2020)
- SAE J403 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Carbon Steels — SAE International (2014)
- EN 10083-2 — Quenched and tempered steels: C45 / 1.0503 — CEN (2006)
- 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)
- 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.