Steel 1080
AISI/SAE 1080 · UNS G10800 · GB 80
1080 (G10800, 80) is a plain high-carbon spring steel at about 0.80 % C, supplied hot- and cold-rolled, cold-drawn, annealed, normalized, patented, or quenched and tempered to 50–55 HRC.
Values for the HR condition
1080 tempers and conditions
1080 is supplied in 9 conditions, soft to hard. HR 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
spheroidize/full annealed (~790 °C, slow cool) | Softest, most machinable and most formable condition — pick it for heavy machining or cold forming before hardening. | 375 | 615 | 25 | 174 HB | — |
austenitized ~900 °C, air cooled | Uniform fine pearlite for consistent machining and predictable response to later hardening. | 524 | 1,010 | 11 | 31 HRC | — |
HRDefault Hot rolled | Cheapest stock form for blanks that will be machined and then hardened; pearlitic as-rolled structure. | 585 | 965 | 12 | 31 HRC | — |
Spheroidized Annealed + Cold Drawn | Spheroidize-annealed (globular carbides in ferrite) then cold drawn — moderate strength with the best cold formability and machinability attainable in 0.80 % C steel, the standard feed condition for cold-heading and pre-hardened spring parts. | 620 | 745 | 10 | 20 HRC | 9.6 % IACS |
Cold rolled | Thin strip for saw blades, shims, flat springs and stamped blades; tight thickness and good surface. | 830 | 1,000 | 8 | 32 HRC | 9.5 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Use when a bright, close-tolerance bar with higher yield strength is wanted straight from stock. | 855 | 1,015 | 10 | 31 HRC | — |
Quenched and tempered | Balanced strength/toughness condition for springs, chisels and highly loaded machine parts in thin sections. | 980 | 1,310 | 10 | 40 HRC | — |
Quenched and low-temperature tempered | Blade, cutter and wear-part condition: maximum hardness and edge retention, low impact toughness. | 1,500 | 1,800 | 5 | 52 HRC | — |
Patented cold-drawn wire (hard-drawn spring wire) | Patented (sorbitic) and heavily drawn wire for coil springs and wire forms — very high strength as-drawn, no further hardening needed. | 1,500 | 1,750 | 4 | 47 HRC | 9 % IACS |
What is 1080?
1080 (G10800, 80) is a plain high-carbon spring steel at about 0.80 % C, supplied hot- and cold-rolled, cold-drawn, annealed, normalized, patented, or quenched and tempered to 50–55 HRC. It oil-quenches to spring temper for flat springs, music wire, mower blades and knife blanks; default Q&T values are about 585 MPa yield, 965 MPa tensile, 12 % elongation and 293 HB (31 HRC), with service to 400 °C. Limits are poor weldability, low formability once hardened and no corrosion resistance, so parts need oil, phosphate, plating or paint. 6150 adds hardenability for thicker sections. 1080 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,385°C (2,525 °F). 1080 has a yield strength of 585 MPa (84.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 965 MPa (140 ksi) — stronger than 75% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is 1080 used for?
- Flat and leaf springs
- Music and patented spring wire
- Mower and cutter blades
- Knife blanks
- Cold-work tool blanks
- Spiral and clock springs
- Retaining rings
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 48 W/m·K (27.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 65/100, better than 78% of steel grades
- High strength — 585 MPa (84.8 ksi), better than 75% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 9.5 % IACS, better than 75% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 12%, worse than 84% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 35/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 20/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
1080 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1080-HR; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
1080 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,385°C (2,525 °F).
Mechanical15
1080 has a yield strength of 585 MPa (84.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 965 MPa (140 ksi) — stronger than 75% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
1080 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 48 W/m·K (27.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.3 µm/m·K (6.28 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1080 conducts electricity at 9.5 % IACS, better than 75% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1080 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
1080's machinability is fair (35/100, worse than 84% of steel grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability poor (25/100).
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. 1080 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1080
Is 1080 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed or normalized state with rigid setups, sharp carbide or coated carbide at moderate speed and good flood coolant; hardened 1080 needs grinding or ceramic/CBN tooling.
Can 1080 be welded?
Poor weldability — high carbon equivalent causes hard, crack-prone HAZ; if unavoidable use 200–300 °C preheat, low-hydrogen filler, slow cool and immediate stress relief/temper.
Can 1080 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in the spheroidize-annealed condition and expect large springback; hot form at 950–1150 °C, then normalize before hardening.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit applies to 1080. Every 1080 part is priced by an engineer; design inside these and the quote comes back without a redesign loop.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Fair35 / 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 | Fair25 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Poor20 / 100 |
1080 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; GB 80 is 0.77–0.85 | 0.75 – 0.88 | 0.8 |
| MnGB 80 uses 0.17–0.37 Mn | 0.6 – 0.9 | 0.75 |
| Sitypical for killed hot-rolled product; not specified for all bar grades | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| S | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1080?
No corrosion resistance: finish with oil, black oxide, phosphate, zinc plating or paint; hardened surfaces take a fine polish and can be shot-peened for fatigue life.
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 1080 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- G10800
- GB (China)
- 80
How much does 1080 cost?
1080 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 80% 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.
1080 — frequently asked
What is 1080 used for?
1080 is typically used for flat and leaf springs, music and patented spring wire, mower and cutter blades, knife blanks, cold-work tool blanks and spiral and clock springs. In short: high-carbon spring bar.
What is the yield strength of 1080?
1080 has a typical yield strength of 585 MPa (84.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 965 MPa (140 ksi) — stronger than 75% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 1080 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, worse than 84% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed or normalized state with rigid setups, sharp carbide or coated carbide at moderate speed and good flood coolant; hardened 1080 needs grinding or ceramic/CBN tooling.
Can 1080 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Poor weldability — high carbon equivalent causes hard, crack-prone HAZ; if unavoidable use 200–300 °C preheat, low-hydrogen filler, slow cool and immediate stress relief/temper.
What surface finishes work on 1080?
No corrosion resistance: finish with oil, black oxide, phosphate, zinc plating or paint; hardened surfaces take a fine polish and can be shot-peened for fatigue life.
Can 1080 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in the spheroidize-annealed condition and expect large springback; hot form at 950–1150 °C, then normalize before hardening.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1080?
1080 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 1080-HR and 1080-CD?
HR is the default condition — cheapest stock form for blanks that will be machined and then hardened; pearlitic as-rolled structure. CD: use when a bright, close-tolerance bar with higher yield strength is wanted straight from stock. Yield strength is 585 MPa in HR versus 855 MPa in CD.
How much does 1080 cost?
1080 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 80% 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 1080?
Yes — 1080 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
- ASTM A29/A29M — Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought — ASTM (2020)
- SAE J403 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Carbon Steels — SAE International (2014)
- GB/T 699 (grade 80) — SAC (2015)
- ASTM A684/A684M — High-Carbon Steel Strip — ASTM (2021)
- ASTM A227/A229 — Hard-Drawn and Oil-Tempered Spring Wire — ASTM (2017)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4 — Heat Treating; Vol.16 — Machining — ASM International (1991)
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.