Steel 1060 · heat-treated state
Steel 1060 Normalized
Properties of the Normalized condition, compared with the other 1060 tempers.
Use to refine and homogenize the structure of forgings and hot-rolled sections before machining or hardening; better strength than annealed with uniform properties.
What is 1060 Normalized?
1060 Normalized is 1060 heat treated to Normalized — use to refine and homogenize the structure of forgings and hot-rolled sections before machining or hardening; better strength than annealed with uniform properties. 1060 Normalized has a yield strength of 421 MPa (61.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 776 MPa (113 ksi) — weaker than 52% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). 1060 Normalized has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F). HR is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Normalized is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 49 W/m·K (28.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 65/100, better than 78% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 9.6 % IACS, better than 77% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 45 MPa·√m (41 ksi·√in), worse than 90% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), worse than 77% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 77% of steel grades
1060 Normalized properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1060 Normalized — 10 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 1060 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
1060 Normalized has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Mechanical15
1060 Normalized has a yield strength of 421 MPa (61.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 776 MPa (113 ksi) — weaker than 52% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
1060 Normalized is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 49 W/m·K (28.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.3 µm/m·K (6.28 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1060 Normalized conducts electricity at 9.6 % IACS, better than 77% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 87% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1060 Normalized 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
1060 Normalized's machinability is fair (42/100, worse than 72% of steel grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability poor (30/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 1060 tempers and conditions
1060 is also supplied in 8 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 1060 overview.
- HRDefaultDefault stock form for bar, plate and flat: cheapest, adequate strength, to be machined and then heat treated if hardness is needed.370 MPa yield · 201 HB
- HDWWire condition for coil and tension springs wound cold and only stress-relieved; strength rises sharply as diameter falls.1,300 MPa yield · 45 HRC
- Q&T 45-50HRCPick for blades, wear plates, dies and hand tools where hardness and wear resistance dominate and impact loading is low.1,250 MPa yield · 47 HRC
- Q&TGeneral-purpose hardened-and-tempered condition for springs, shafts and wear parts needing ~1000 MPa strength with some ductility.765 MPa yield · 33 HRC
- CRPick for thin strip and spring/shim stock where flat, close-tolerance, smooth-surface material is needed; hardness set by the amount of cold reduction.700 MPa yield · 250 HB
- CDChoose for bright, straight, close-tolerance bar with higher yield than hot rolled and good as-machined finish; residual stress can cause bow after heavy machining.670 MPa yield · 229 HB
- SA+CD1060 bar spheroidize-annealed to globular carbide then cold drawn — moderate strength with the best cold-formability and machinability attainable in a 0.60 %C steel.485 MPa yield · 183 HB
- NormalizedUse to refine and homogenize the structure of forgings and hot-rolled sections before machining or hardening; better strength than annealed with uniform properties.421 MPa yield · 229 HB
- AnnealedSoftest condition — use when the part must be heavily machined, cold formed or blanked before hardening.372 MPa yield · 179 HB
Working with 1060 Normalized
Is 1060 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed or normalized state with rigid setups, sharp carbide or coated-carbide tooling, moderate speed and generous coolant; above ~35 HRC switch to grinding or ceramic/CBN tooling.
Can 1060 be welded?
Poor weldability (CE ≈ 0.7–0.8): preheat 200–300 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables, keep interpass heat, and post-weld stress relieve/temper immediately or expect underbead cracking.
Can 1060 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in the annealed/spheroidized state and with generous bend radii; hot form 850–1100 °C, then normalize — heavy cold work needs intermediate anneals.
What surface finishes work on 1060?
No inherent corrosion resistance — oil, black oxide, phosphate, zinc plate, hard chrome or paint; hardened surfaces polish and hold a fine grind, and induction hardening plus grinding is common for wear surfaces.
1060 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CGB/T 699 grade 60: 0.57–0.65 | 0.55 – 0.65 | 0.6 |
| MnGB 60: 0.50–0.80 | 0.6 – 0.9 | 0.75 |
| Sinot specified in AISI/SAE 1060; per GB/T 699 0.17–0.37 | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Pmax; GB/T 699 ≤0.035 | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Smax; GB/T 699 ≤0.035 | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Crresidual, GB/T 699 limit | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Niresidual, GB/T 699 limit | ≤ 0.3 | — |
| Curesidual, GB/T 699 limit | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
1060 Normalized — frequently asked
What is 1060 Normalized used for?
1060 Normalized is typically used for coil and leaf springs, knife blanks, wear plates, hand tools, shafts and agricultural blades and tines. In short: medium-high carbon bar.
What is the yield strength of 1060 Normalized?
1060 Normalized has a typical yield strength of 421 MPa (61.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 776 MPa (113 ksi) — weaker than 52% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 1060 Normalized easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (42/100, worse than 72% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed or normalized state with rigid setups, sharp carbide or coated-carbide tooling, moderate speed and generous coolant; above ~35 HRC switch to grinding or ceramic/CBN tooling.
Can 1060 Normalized be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Poor weldability (CE ≈ 0.7–0.8): preheat 200–300 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables, keep interpass heat, and post-weld stress relieve/temper immediately or expect underbead cracking.
What surface finishes work on 1060 Normalized?
No inherent corrosion resistance — oil, black oxide, phosphate, zinc plate, hard chrome or paint; hardened surfaces polish and hold a fine grind, and induction hardening plus grinding is common for wear surfaces.
Can 1060 Normalized be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in the annealed/spheroidized state and with generous bend radii; hot form 850–1100 °C, then normalize — heavy cold work needs intermediate anneals.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1060 Normalized?
1060 Normalized is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 1060-HR and 1060-HDW?
HR is the default condition — default stock form for bar, plate and flat: cheapest, adequate strength, to be machined and then heat treated if hardness is needed. HDW: wire condition for coil and tension springs wound cold and only stress-relieved; strength rises sharply as diameter falls. Yield strength is 370 MPa in HR versus 1,300 MPa in HDW.
Can FabDigit make parts in 1060 Normalized?
Yes — 1060 Normalized 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
- SAE J403 / ASTM A29 — Carbon and alloy steel bars, chemical composition — SAE / ASTM (2019)
- GB/T 699 (grade 60) — SAC (2015)
- EN 10083-2 / DIN 17200 — C60 quenched and tempered steel — CEN (2006)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.19 — Fatigue and Fracture — ASM International (1996)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4 — Heat Treating — ASM International (1991)
- Carbon steel property tables (1060 hot rolled / annealed / normalized / OQ&T) — MatWeb (2024)
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.