Steel 1074 · supply condition · default condition
Steel 1074-HR
Properties of the HR condition, compared with the other 1074 tempers.
Cheapest as-rolled bar/coil for parts that will be machined and then heat treated.
What is 1074-HR?
1074-HR is 1074 supplied in the HR condition — cheapest as-rolled bar/coil for parts that will be machined and then heat treated. 1074-HR has a yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 655 MPa (95 ksi) — weaker than 67% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). 1074-HR 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).
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 48 W/m·K (27.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 9.6 % IACS, better than 77% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 250°C (482 °F), worse than 85% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 12%, worse than 84% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 77% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 40/100, worse than 76% of steel grades
1074-HR properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1074-HR — 10 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 1074 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
1074-HR 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).
Mechanical13
1074-HR has a yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 655 MPa (95 ksi) — weaker than 67% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
1074-HR is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 48 W/m·K (27.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1074-HR 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 1074-HR takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability6
1074-HR's machinability is fair (40/100, worse than 76% of steel grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability poor (30/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 1074 tempers and conditions
1074 is also supplied in 8 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 1074 overview.
- HRDefaultCheapest as-rolled bar/coil for parts that will be machined and then heat treated.380 MPa yield · 192 HB
- Q&T-58Low-temper condition for saw blades, scrapers, knives and wear parts where edge hardness matters more than toughness.1,800 MPa yield · 58 HRC
- SpringStandard supply condition for 1074/1075 flat spring, clip and blade stock; maximum elastic limit, low ductility.1,500 MPa yield · 49 HRC
- Q&TGeneral hardened-and-tempered condition (temper ~370–450 °C) for tools, blades and heavy springs needing strength with some toughness.1,150 MPa yield · 42 HRC
- CRCold-rolled high-carbon strip with tight thickness and bright surface, for blanked parts hardened afterwards.780 MPa yield · 26 HRC
- CDCold-drawn round bar or wire with higher yield and better straightness/finish than hot rolled.670 MPa yield · 235 HB
- Spher-CDSpheroidize-annealed 1074 bar/wire then cold drawn — globular carbide structure gives good cold-forming and machining behaviour with moderately raised strength.635 MPa yield · 217 HB
- NormalizedUniform fine pearlitic structure before hardening or for moderately strong as-supplied parts.435 MPa yield · 217 HB
- AnnealedSoftest condition; choose for deep blanking, forming or heavy machining before hardening.350 MPa yield · 174 HB
Working with 1074-HR
Is 1074 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed or hot-rolled state with rigid setups, carbide or coated HSS and generous coolant; above ~45 HRC use grinding, EDM or CBN.
Can 1074 be welded?
Poor weldability — 0.75 %C causes hard martensite and cracking; if unavoidable preheat 250–350 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables and temper immediately.
Can 1074 be formed, bent or molded?
Blank and form in annealed/cold-rolled state; spring-temper strip only tolerates gentle bends with large radii along the rolling direction — harden after forming for complex shapes (oil quench 800–830 °C, temper 350–450 °C).
What surface finishes work on 1074?
No inherent corrosion resistance: oil, phosphate, blueing, black oxide, paint or zinc plating; bake after electroplating to avoid hydrogen embrittlement, and polish easily to a bright edge when hardened.
1074 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 | 0.7 – 0.8 | 0.75 |
| Mn | 0.5 – 0.8 | 0.65 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Smax (0.050 for some bar products) | ≤ 0.04 | — |
| Sinot specified in J403 for non-Si grades; typical strip practice | 0.1 – 0.3 | 0.2 |
| Fe | balance | — |
1074-HR — frequently asked
What is 1074-HR used for?
1074-HR is typically used for flat springs and spring clips, coil springs, hand tool blanks, saw and scraper blades, shim and washer stock and retaining rings. In short: spring-steel sheet stock.
What is the yield strength of 1074-HR?
1074-HR has a typical yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 655 MPa (95 ksi) — weaker than 67% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 1074-HR easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (40/100, worse than 76% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed or hot-rolled state with rigid setups, carbide or coated HSS and generous coolant; above ~45 HRC use grinding, EDM or CBN.
Can 1074-HR be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Poor weldability — 0.75 %C causes hard martensite and cracking; if unavoidable preheat 250–350 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables and temper immediately.
What surface finishes work on 1074-HR?
No inherent corrosion resistance: oil, phosphate, blueing, black oxide, paint or zinc plating; bake after electroplating to avoid hydrogen embrittlement, and polish easily to a bright edge when hardened.
Can 1074-HR be formed, bent or molded?
Blank and form in annealed/cold-rolled state; spring-temper strip only tolerates gentle bends with large radii along the rolling direction — harden after forming for complex shapes (oil quench 800–830 °C, temper 350–450 °C).
What is the maximum service temperature of 1074-HR?
1074-HR is rated for continuous use to about 250°C (482 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 1074-HR and 1074 Spring?
HR is the default condition — cheapest as-rolled bar/coil for parts that will be machined and then heat treated. Spring: standard supply condition for 1074/1075 flat spring, clip and blade stock; maximum elastic limit, low ductility. Yield strength is 380 MPa in HR versus 1,500 MPa in Spring.
Can FabDigit make parts in 1074-HR?
Yes — 1074-HR 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 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Carbon Steels — SAE International (2014)
- ASTM A29/A29M — Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought — ASTM (2020)
- ASTM A684/A684M — High-Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel Strip — ASTM (2021)
- 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 (machinability ratings) — Industrial Press (2020)
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.