Steel 10NiCr5-4-CH (Carburized and hardened)
Heat-treated state
EN 10NiCr5-4
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.
Values for the CH condition
Other 10NiCr5-4 tempers and conditions
10NiCr5-4 is listed in 10 conditions; see the grade overview at 10NiCr5-4.
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 | — |
CHThis page 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-CH?
10NiCr5-4-CH is 10NiCr5-4 heat treated to 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. 10NiCr5-4-CH has a yield strength of 680 MPa (98.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 950 MPa (138 ksi) — stronger than 80% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi). 10NiCr5-4-CH 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). +FP is the default condition FabDigit quotes; CH is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 75/100, better than 94% of steel grades
- High strength — 680 MPa (98.6 ksi), better than 80% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 10/100, worse than 99% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 10/100, worse than 99% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 3/100, worse than 99% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 180°C (356 °F), worse than 98% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 10%, worse than 91% of steel grades
10NiCr5-4-CH properties
Typical room-temperature values for 10NiCr5-4-CH; 15 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 10NiCr5-4 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
10NiCr5-4-CH 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-CH has a yield strength of 680 MPa (98.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 950 MPa (138 ksi) — stronger than 80% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
10NiCr5-4-CH is rated for continuous service to 180°C (356 °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-CH 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-CH 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-CH's machinability is not recommended (10/100, worse than 99% of steel grades); weldability not recommended (10/100); formability not recommended (3/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 10NiCr5-4-CH
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.
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).
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 | — |
10NiCr5-4-CH — frequently asked
What is 10NiCr5-4-CH used for?
10NiCr5-4-CH 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-CH?
10NiCr5-4-CH has a typical yield strength of 680 MPa (98.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 950 MPa (138 ksi) — stronger than 80% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is 10NiCr5-4-CH easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (10/100, worse than 99% 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-CH be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (10/100). 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-CH?
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-CH 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-CH?
10NiCr5-4-CH is rated for continuous use to about 180°C (356 °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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.