Steel 1126
AISI/SAE 1126 · UNS G11260
1126 (UNS G11260) is a medium-carbon resulfurized free-machining steel in the AISI 11xx family, combining manganese sulfide chip control with enough carbon to respond to quenching and tempering.
Reference datasheet — 1126 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 CD condition
1126 tempers and conditions
1126 is supplied in 9 conditions, soft to hard. CD 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
full anneal, softest bar condition | Pick when maximum softness/ductility is needed before heavy cold forming or deep boring. | 250 | 460 | 26 | 131 HB | — |
Hot rolled | Lowest-cost condition for larger diameters and parts that are fully machined or later heat treated. | 280 | 505 | 22 | 143 HB | 10 % IACS |
Normalized | Use to homogenize forged or heavy hot-rolled sections and give uniform, moderately strong structure before machining. | 310 | 545 | 22 | 156 HB | 10 % IACS |
Cold Drawn, Stress Relieved | Choose when machining-induced distortion must be minimized on long or asymmetric parts. | 460 | 565 | 15 | 163 HB | 10 % IACS |
Q&T | General-purpose quench-and-temper condition for shafts and couplings needing tougher, uniform medium strength. | 480 | 690 | 20 | 15 HRC | 10 % IACS |
CDDefault Cold drawn | Default stocked screw-machine bar: good size tolerance, straightness, surface finish and the best strength/machinability balance. | 505 | 585 | 12 | 170 HB | — |
Induction hardened | Use for wear surfaces on shafts and pins where a hard skin over a tough machinable core is wanted. | 520 | 620 | 11 | 45 HRC | 10 % IACS |
water quenched, tempered ~540 °C | Pick for higher-strength studs, pins and hydraulic parts still machinable after heat treatment. | 620 | 830 | 16 | 26 HRC | 10 % IACS |
water quenched, tempered ~450–480 °C (small sections) | Maximum practical through-hardened strength for thin bar; toughness and transverse ductility drop sharply. | 790 | 1,000 | 12 | 32 HRC | 10 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways 1126 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
TGP | TG&P | Surface finish |
What is 1126?
1126 (UNS G11260) is a medium-carbon resulfurized free-machining steel in the AISI 11xx family, combining manganese sulfide chip control with enough carbon to respond to quenching and tempering. Engineers specify it for turned shafts and threaded parts needing more strength than the low-carbon 11xx grades: default bar properties are about 505 MPa yield, 585 MPa tensile, 12 % elongation and 170 HB (88 HRB), with machinability near 78 % of 1212. Conditions on file run from annealed and hot-rolled through cold-drawn, TGP, induction-hardened and QT to 30–34 HRC. Sulfur makes structural welding inadvisable and cold formability is low (score 40); 1045 is the nearest weldable alternative. 1126 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F). 1126 has a yield strength of 505 MPa (73.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 585 MPa (84.8 ksi) — stronger than 64% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is 1126 used for?
- Shafts
- Studs
- Structural fasteners
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 80/100, better than 98% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 49 W/m·K (28.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10 % IACS, better than 83% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 12%, worse than 84% of steel grades
1126 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1126-CD; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
1126 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Mechanical13
1126 has a yield strength of 505 MPa (73.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 585 MPa (84.8 ksi) — stronger than 64% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
1126 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 49 W/m·K (28.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.7 µm/m·K (6.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1126 conducts electricity at 10 % IACS, better than 83% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (11/100), worse than 73% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1126 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability7
1126's machinability is very good (80/100, better than 98% of steel grades); weldability poor (30/100); formability fair (40/100).
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. 1126 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1126
Is 1126 easy to machine?
Excellent free-cutting behaviour — run high speeds with carbide, use positive rake and adequate coolant; MnS gives short chips and clean threads, ~78 % of 1212.
Can 1126 be welded?
Not recommended for structural welding; sulfur promotes hot cracking and porosity — if unavoidable, preheat 150–260 °C, low-hydrogen filler and post-weld stress relief.
Can 1126 be formed, bent or molded?
Limited cold forming (bending, light heading) in annealed/hot-rolled temper; avoid tight transverse bends because MnS stringers cause splitting. Hot forge 1100–1200 °C, never below ~900 °C.
1126 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 grade G11260 | 0.23 – 0.29 | 0.26 |
| Mn | 0.7 – 1 | 0.85 |
| Sresulfurized for free machining (MnS inclusions) | 0.08 – 0.13 | 0.1 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Sinot specified for resulfurized bar; typical mill practice 0.15–0.30 | ≈ 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1126?
No anodizing (ferrous): use zinc/zinc-nickel plating, black oxide, manganese phosphate or paint; degrease well since sulfide inclusions can bleed and stain plated surfaces.
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 1126 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- G11260
How much does 1126 cost?
1126 is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 90% 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.
1126 — frequently asked
What is 1126 used for?
1126 is typically used for shafts, studs and structural fasteners. In short: heat-treatable free-machining bar; stronger than 1117/1119; not for structural welds.
What is the yield strength of 1126?
1126 has a typical yield strength of 505 MPa (73.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 585 MPa (84.8 ksi) — stronger than 64% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 1126 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (80/100, better than 98% of steel grades). Excellent free-cutting behaviour — run high speeds with carbide, use positive rake and adequate coolant; MnS gives short chips and clean threads, ~78 % of 1212.
Can 1126 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (30/100). Not recommended for structural welding; sulfur promotes hot cracking and porosity — if unavoidable, preheat 150–260 °C, low-hydrogen filler and post-weld stress relief.
What surface finishes work on 1126?
No anodizing (ferrous): use zinc/zinc-nickel plating, black oxide, manganese phosphate or paint; degrease well since sulfide inclusions can bleed and stain plated surfaces.
Can 1126 be formed, bent or molded?
Limited cold forming (bending, light heading) in annealed/hot-rolled temper; avoid tight transverse bends because MnS stringers cause splitting. Hot forge 1100–1200 °C, never below ~900 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1126?
1126 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 1126-CD and 1126-HR?
CD is the default condition — default stocked screw-machine bar: good size tolerance, straightness, surface finish and the best strength/machinability balance. HR: lowest-cost condition for larger diameters and parts that are fully machined or later heat treated. Yield strength is 505 MPa in CD versus 280 MPa in HR.
How much does 1126 cost?
1126 is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 90% 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
- SAE J403 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Carbon Steels — SAE International (2014)
- ASTM A29/A29M — General Requirements for Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought — ASTM (2020)
- ASTM A108 — Steel Bar, Carbon and Alloy, Cold-Finished — ASTM (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16 — Machining — ASM International (1989)
- GB/T 8731 (comparable Y30 grade) — SAC (China) (2008)
- Mysteel / 1688 free-machining bar spot quotations (2025)
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.