Steel 10NiCr5-4
EN 10NiCr5-4
10NiCr5-4 (1.5805) is a nickel-chromium case-hardening steel with higher hardenability than 12NiCr3-2, stocked untreated (+U), soft-annealed (+A/+AC), ferrite-pearlite (+FP), cold drawn (+C, +AC+C), hardenability-controlled (+H) and in bright ground bar.
Reference datasheet — 10NiCr5-4 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 +FP condition
10NiCr5-4 tempers and conditions
10NiCr5-4 is supplied in 10 conditions, soft to hard. +FP 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 | Choose for cold extrusion, upsetting and heavy cold forming of blanks, or where the lowest hardness and best drilling/tapping behaviour is needed. | 285 | 470 | 27 | 145 HB | — |
Annealed | General soft-annealed condition for easy machining and moderate cold working of bars and forgings. | 295 | 490 | 25 | 152 HB | 7.9 % IACS |
+FPDefault Treated to a ferrite-pearlite structure | Standard stock condition for gear and shaft blanks: uniform ferrite-pearlite structure that machines predictably and distorts little on carburizing. | 325 | 540 | 20 | 165 HB | — |
Treated to a specified hardness range | Use when a guaranteed as-delivered hardness band is needed for automatic bar machining or straightness control. | 350 | 570 | 18 | 175 HB | 7.8 % IACS |
Hot rolled | Cheapest mill condition; pick when the part is fully re-heat-treated (normalized or carburized) after rough machining. | 380 | 620 | 16 | 185 HB | 7.8 % IACS |
Supplied with specified (standard) hardenability band | Order this when the Jominy end-quench hardenability band must be guaranteed so case/core hardness after carburizing is repeatable batch to batch. | 380 | 620 | 16 | 40 HRC | 7.8 % IACS |
Spheroidize annealed and cold drawn | Best combination for cold-formed / cold-headed carburizing parts: drawn size accuracy plus the ductile spheroidized matrix. | 505 | 615 | 12 | 190 HB | — |
Cold drawn | Bright cold-drawn bar for close tolerances and good surface on turned/screw-machined parts; work-hardened, so cold formability is limited. | 545 | 660 | 10 | 15 HRC | 7.5 % IACS |
Blank hardened | Reference/test condition of EN 10084 and the practical option when only core strength (no case) is required from the bar. | 640 | 900 | 11 | 30 HRC | — |
Carburized and hardened | Final in-service condition: 58–62 HRC wear/pitting-resistant case (typ. 0.6–1.2 mm) on a tough Ni-Cr core; finish grinding after treatment. | 680 | 950 | 10 | 60 HRC | — |
What is 10NiCr5-4?
10NiCr5-4 (1.5805) is a nickel-chromium case-hardening steel with higher hardenability than 12NiCr3-2, stocked untreated (+U), soft-annealed (+A/+AC), ferrite-pearlite (+FP), cold drawn (+C, +AC+C), hardenability-controlled (+H) and in bright ground bar. Core properties of 325 MPa yield, 540 MPa tensile, 20% elongation and about 165 HB (85 HRB) support medium-duty gears and shafts that need a strong core under a carburized case. Maximum service temperature is about 400 °C, machinability is 62 and formability 55, and the steel has no corrosion resistance; it must not be welded after carburizing. 10NiCr5-4 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,480°C (2,696 °F). 10NiCr5-4 has a yield strength of 325 MPa (47.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) — weaker than 80% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is 10NiCr5-4 used for?
- gears
- shafts
- case-hardened components
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 62/100, better than 89% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 325 MPa (47.1 ksi), worse than 80% of steel grades
10NiCr5-4 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 10NiCr5-4-+FP; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
10NiCr5-4 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,480°C (2,696 °F).
Mechanical14
10NiCr5-4 has a yield strength of 325 MPa (47.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) — weaker than 80% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
10NiCr5-4 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 42 W/m·K (24.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 56% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12 µm/m·K (6.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
10NiCr5-4 conducts electricity at 7.8 % IACS, worse than 57% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (13/100), better than 66% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 10NiCr5-4 takes about 29 MJ of energy and emits 2.2 kg of CO₂ — less than 53% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
10NiCr5-4's machinability is good (62/100, better than 89% of steel grades); weldability good (60/100); formability good (55/100).
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. 10NiCr5-4 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 10NiCr5-4
Is 10NiCr5-4 easy to machine?
Machine soft (+FP/+AC, 140–195 HB) with carbide at 120–200 m/min; leave 0.2–0.4 mm grinding stock for post-carburizing distortion, and expect gummy chips in the +AC condition (sharp positive tools, good coolant).
Can 10NiCr5-4 be welded?
Weldable before carburizing with low-hydrogen consumables and 150–250 °C preheat (CE ≈0.45); never weld a carburized surface — the high-carbon case cracks.
Can 10NiCr5-4 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold head, upset and extrude in the +AC or +AC+C condition; hot forge 1100–850 °C followed by normalizing or +FP annealing to restore a uniform structure.
10NiCr5-4 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Clow core carbon for a tough core | 0.07 – 0.13 | 0.1 |
| Si | ≤ 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.4 – 0.7 | 0.55 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | |
| Smax; non-resulphurized | ≤ 0.04 | |
| Cr | 0.8 – 1.1 | 0.95 |
| Ni | 1 – 1.4 | 1.25 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 10NiCr5-4?
Carburize 900–930 °C, oil or gas quench, temper 180–200 °C, then hard-grind or lap; protect bare surfaces with oil, phosphate, black oxide or zinc/Ni plating (bake to avoid hydrogen embrittlement).
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 10NiCr5-4 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.5805
How much does 10NiCr5-4 cost?
10NiCr5-4 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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.
10NiCr5-4 — frequently asked
What is 10NiCr5-4 used for?
10NiCr5-4 is typically used for gears, shafts and case-hardened components. In short: higher hardenability than 12NiCr3-2; strong core after carburizing; grind after case hardening.
What is the yield strength of 10NiCr5-4?
10NiCr5-4 has a typical yield strength of 325 MPa (47.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) — weaker than 80% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is 10NiCr5-4 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (62/100, better than 89% of steel grades). Machine soft (+FP/+AC, 140–195 HB) with carbide at 120–200 m/min; leave 0.2–0.4 mm grinding stock for post-carburizing distortion, and expect gummy chips in the +AC condition (sharp positive tools, good coolant).
Can 10NiCr5-4 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (60/100). Weldable before carburizing with low-hydrogen consumables and 150–250 °C preheat (CE ≈0.45); never weld a carburized surface — the high-carbon case cracks.
What surface finishes work on 10NiCr5-4?
Carburize 900–930 °C, oil or gas quench, temper 180–200 °C, then hard-grind or lap; protect bare surfaces with oil, phosphate, black oxide or zinc/Ni plating (bake to avoid hydrogen embrittlement).
Can 10NiCr5-4 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold head, upset and extrude in the +AC or +AC+C condition; hot forge 1100–850 °C followed by normalizing or +FP annealing to restore a uniform structure.
What is the maximum service temperature of 10NiCr5-4?
10NiCr5-4 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 10NiCr5-4 +FP and 10NiCr5-4-CH?
+FP is the default condition — standard stock condition for gear and shaft blanks: uniform ferrite-pearlite structure that machines predictably and distorts little on carburizing. CH: final in-service condition: 58–62 HRC wear/pitting-resistant case (typ. 0.6–1.2 mm) on a tough Ni-Cr core; finish grinding after treatment. Yield strength is 325 MPa in +FP versus 680 MPa in CH.
How much does 10NiCr5-4 cost?
10NiCr5-4 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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
- EN 10084 — Case hardening steels: technical delivery conditions — CEN (2008)
- EN 10027-1/-2 — Designation systems for steels (1.5805) — CEN (2016)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4A — Steel Heat Treating Fundamentals (carburizing) — ASM International (2013)
- Case-hardening engineering bar datasheets (Ni-Cr grades) — Ovako / Böhler / Swiss Steel (2023)
- Steel grade database entries for 1.5805 / 10NiCr5-4 — Stahlschlüssel / Steelnumber (2019)
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.