Steel 1050
AISI/SAE 1050 · UNS G10500 · EN C50 · JIS S50C
AISI 1050 is a medium-high carbon (≈0.50 % C) unalloyed structural steel, equivalent to JIS S50C and DIN C50/1.0540, supplied as hot-rolled or cold-drawn bar, plate and strip.
Values for the HR condition
1050 tempers and conditions
1050 is supplied in 14 conditions, soft to hard. HR is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 14 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spheroidize annealed (≈700 °C sub-critical, spheroidal carbides) | Use for cold forging, heading, deep drawing or thread rolling of 0.5 % C steel. | 330 | 560 | 28 | 163 HB | 10.7 % IACS |
HRDefault Hot rolled | Default stock condition for 50#/S50C bar and plate that will be machined and then quench- or induction-hardened. | 340 | 620 | 15 | 179 HB | — |
full anneal ≈790 °C, furnace cooled | Pick for maximum machinability/formability before hardening, or for stress-free blanks. | 365 | 636 | 24 | 187 HB | — |
Normalized | Uniform fine pearlitic structure — best base condition for plate, forgings and pre-machining stability. | 427 | 748 | 20 | 217 HB | — |
Q&T | Softest quench-and-temper option — maximum toughness and machinability with moderate strength. | 538 | 724 | 28 | 20 HRC | — |
Strain hardened and partially annealed, half hard | Cold-worked then sub-critically back-annealed 1050 strip: keeps most of the half-hard strength but recovers useful bend and forming ductility for parts that must still be shaped after rolling. | 580 | 720 | 12 | 17 HRC | 10.4 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Choose for straight, close-tolerance shafting with a better surface and higher yield than hot rolled. | 580 | 690 | 10 | 197 HB | — |
Induction hardened | Pick for shafts, gear teeth and guide rails needing a 55–60 HRC wear skin on a tough core. | 620 | 860 | 15 | 58 HRC | 9.6 % IACS |
Q&T | Use the water-quenched, 540 °C tempered condition at 26–30 HRC for shafts and couplings needing 862 MPa tensile with good toughness while remaining machinable. | 655 | 862 | 23 | 27 HRC | — |
Strain hardened, half hard | Cold-rolled / cold-drawn half-hard 1050 strip and bar: strain hardening raises yield and hardness to roughly twice the hot-rolled level while cutting cold ductility and impact toughness to a minimum. | 660 | 760 | 8 | 21 HRC | 10.3 % IACS |
Q&T | Balanced strength/toughness for shafts, gears and highly loaded machine parts. | 717 | 1,000 | 19 | 40 HRC | — |
Q&T | High-strength wear condition with slightly better ductility than the 205 °C temper. | 793 | 1,090 | 13 | 45 HRC | — |
Cold rolled hard strip | Strip condition for flat springs, shims and saw blanks that are formed then stress-relieved. | 800 | 900 | 4 | 27 HRC | 10.3 % IACS |
Q&T | Maximum hardness and wear resistance for small sections (blades, wear plates); low toughness. | 807 | 1,120 | 9 | 51 HRC | — |
What is 1050?
AISI 1050 is a medium-high carbon (≈0.50 % C) unalloyed structural steel, equivalent to JIS S50C and DIN C50/1.0540, supplied as hot-rolled or cold-drawn bar, plate and strip. It is chosen where higher strength, wear resistance and through- or induction-hardenability are needed than 1035/1045 can give — shafts, gears, sprockets, spring strip, dies and hand tools. Limits are poor weldability (preheat/post-weld temper required), low hardenability in sections above ~25 mm (water quench needed), modest toughness at high hardness and essentially no corrosion resistance without coating. 1050 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). 1050 has a yield strength of 340 MPa (49.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — weaker than 76% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is 1050 used for?
- Forged gears
- Shafts
- Hand tools
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
- 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 — 55 MPa·√m (50.1 ksi·√in), worse than 82% of steel grades
- Low strength — 340 MPa (49.3 ksi), worse than 76% of steel grades
1050 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1050-HR; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
1050 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).
Mechanical14
1050 has a yield strength of 340 MPa (49.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — weaker than 76% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
1050 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
1050 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 1050 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability6
1050's machinability is fair (48/100, worse than 57% of steel grades); weldability poor (30/100); 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. 1050 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1050
Is 1050 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed or ≤30 HRC tempered state with carbide tooling and rigid setups; expect ~50 % of 1212 speeds and use chip breakers as it is not free-cutting.
Can 1050 be welded?
Poor weldability at 0.5 % C — preheat 200–300 °C, low-hydrogen consumables, control interpass and post-weld temper/stress-relieve to avoid HAZ cracking.
Can 1050 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in annealed or spheroidized condition with generous bend radii (≥2t); hot forge 1100–1200 °C and normalize afterwards.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit applies to 1050. Every 1050 part is priced by an engineer; design inside these and the quote comes back without a redesign loop.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Better48 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | P.1 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 220 / 260 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.8 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 5× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 1.6 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
Sheet metal
| Formability | Fair35 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Good30 / 100 |
| Bendable | Yes |
| Minimum bend radius | 0.5× thickness |
| Spring-back | Low |
| Welding processes | MIG, TIG, SPOT, LASER |
1050 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CJIS S50C: 0.47–0.53 | 0.48 – 0.55 | 0.5 |
| Mn | 0.6 – 0.9 | 0.75 |
| SiNot specified in SAE 1050 (silicon-killed practice); required by JIS S50C / DIN C50 | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| P0.030 max for S50C / C50 | ≤ 0.04 | |
| S0.035 max for S50C / C50 | ≤ 0.05 | |
| CrResidual limit (JIS/DIN) | ≤ 0.2 | |
| NiResidual limit | ≤ 0.2 | |
| CuResidual limit | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1050?
No inherent corrosion resistance — oil, phosphate, black oxide, zinc or hard chrome plate; hardened surfaces grind and polish well for die and shaft applications.
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).
Plating
CVD Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel 1050 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
How much does 1050 cost?
1050 is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 82% 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.
1050 — frequently asked
What is 1050 used for?
1050 is typically used for forged gears, shafts and hand tools. In short: hard; high-carbon spring steel.
What is the yield strength of 1050?
1050 has a typical yield strength of 340 MPa (49.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — weaker than 76% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 14 listed tempers.
Is 1050 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (48/100, worse than 57% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed or ≤30 HRC tempered state with carbide tooling and rigid setups; expect ~50 % of 1212 speeds and use chip breakers as it is not free-cutting.
Can 1050 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (30/100). Poor weldability at 0.5 % C — preheat 200–300 °C, low-hydrogen consumables, control interpass and post-weld temper/stress-relieve to avoid HAZ cracking.
What surface finishes work on 1050?
No inherent corrosion resistance — oil, phosphate, black oxide, zinc or hard chrome plate; hardened surfaces grind and polish well for die and shaft applications.
Can 1050 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in annealed or spheroidized condition with generous bend radii (≥2t); hot forge 1100–1200 °C and normalize afterwards.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1050?
1050 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 1050-HR and 1050 QT-205?
HR is the default condition — default stock condition for 50#/S50C bar and plate that will be machined and then quench- or induction-hardened. QT-205: maximum hardness and wear resistance for small sections (blades, wear plates); low toughness. Yield strength is 340 MPa in HR versus 807 MPa in QT-205.
How much does 1050 cost?
1050 is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 82% 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in 1050?
Yes — 1050 is available for CNC machining and sheet metal; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- SAE J403 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Carbon Steels — SAE International (2014)
- ASTM A29/A29M — Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought — ASTM (2020)
- JIS G4051 — Carbon steels for machine structural use (S50C) — JSA (2016)
- EN 10083-2 / DIN C50 (1.0540) — CEN (2006)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Machinery's Handbook (machinability ratings) — Industrial Press (2020)
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.