Steel 12CrMoV
GB 12CrMoV
12CrMoV is a low-alloy Cr-Mo-V creep-resistant steel for high-temperature pressure service, matched in application to ASTM A335 P11.
Reference datasheet — 12CrMoV 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 N+T condition
12CrMoV tempers and conditions
12CrMoV is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. N+T is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solution annealed | Softest condition for heavy machining, deep forming or re-heat-treatment of bar and forgings. | 255 | 470 | 28 | 137 HB | — |
N+TDefault Normalized and tempered | Standard delivery condition for GB/T 5310 high-pressure boiler tube and steam piping; best creep and impact balance. | 300 | 540 | 25 | 155 HB | — |
Hot rolled | Cheapest mill condition for stock that will be re-heat-treated after machining; properties not creep-qualified. | 320 | 560 | 22 | 170 HB | 8 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Cold-drawn small-diameter tubing and bar with tighter tolerance and better surface; higher strength, lower ductility. | 470 | 620 | 16 | 190 HB | 8 % IACS |
Quenched and tempered | Choose for bolting, turbine fasteners and forgings needing higher room-temperature strength than the N+T tube condition. | 550 | 700 | 18 | 20 HRC | — |
What is 12CrMoV?
12CrMoV is a low-alloy Cr-Mo-V creep-resistant steel for high-temperature pressure service, matched in application to ASTM A335 P11. Engineers specify it for boiler tubes, steam piping and hot fasteners where metal temperature reaches 570 °C; it is supplied as seamless tube, pipe and bar in normalized-and-tempered, annealed, hot-rolled, quenched-and-tempered and cold-drawn conditions, with typical values of 300 MPa yield, 540 MPa tensile, 25 % elongation and 155 HB. It has no inherent corrosion resistance and requires 200–300 °C preheat plus mandatory PWHT at 720–750 °C; hotter or thicker service normally moves to the 2.25Cr-1Mo (P22) family. 12CrMoV has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,470°C (2,678 °F). 12CrMoV has a yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) — weaker than 86% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is 12CrMoV used for?
- boiler tubes
- steam pipes
- high-temperature fasteners
Advantages
- High service temperature — 570°C (1,058 °F), better than 96% of steel grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 120 MPa·√m (109.2 ksi·√in), better than 81% of steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 25%, better than 77% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 300 MPa (43.5 ksi), worse than 86% of steel grades
12CrMoV properties
Typical room-temperature values for 12CrMoV-N+T; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
12CrMoV has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,470°C (2,678 °F).
Mechanical16
12CrMoV has a yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) — weaker than 86% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
12CrMoV is rated for continuous service to 570°C (1,058 °F). It conducts heat at 41 W/m·K (23.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 62% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12 µm/m·K (6.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
12CrMoV conducts electricity at 8 % IACS, better than 55% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (16/100), better than 79% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 12CrMoV takes about 27 MJ of energy and emits 2.1 kg of CO₂ — less than 59% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
12CrMoV's machinability is good (58/100, better than 75% 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. 12CrMoV is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 12CrMoV
Is 12CrMoV easy to machine?
Machines like normalized 4130 at ~60 % of AISI 1212 — rigid setups, carbide tooling, moderate speeds; vanadium carbides accelerate tool wear versus plain Cr-Mo.
Can 12CrMoV be welded?
Weldable by TIG/SMAW with matching Cr-Mo-V filler, preheat 200–300 °C and mandatory PWHT 720–750 °C; watch for reheat (stress-relief) cracking in thick sections and HAZ hardening.
Can 12CrMoV be formed, bent or molded?
Hot bend/forge at 1100–850 °C followed by re-normalizing and tempering; cold tube bending is possible on thin wall but needs stress relief.
12CrMoV 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C | 0.08 – 0.15 | 0.12 |
| Si | 0.17 – 0.37 | 0.27 |
| Mn | 0.4 – 0.7 | 0.55 |
| Cr | 0.3 – 0.6 | 0.45 |
| Mo | 0.25 – 0.35 | 0.3 |
| Vcarbide former giving creep strength | 0.15 – 0.3 | 0.22 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Niresidual max | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Curesidual max | ≤ 0.2 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 12CrMoV?
No anodizing — descale by pickling or shot blast, then aluminize, phosphate or apply high-temperature silicone/aluminium paint for outdoor and flue-gas 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 12CrMoV in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Similar grades
- A335 P11
How much does 12CrMoV cost?
12CrMoV 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.
12CrMoV — frequently asked
What is 12CrMoV used for?
12CrMoV is typically used for boiler tubes, steam pipes and high-temperature fasteners. In short: creep-resistant to 570 °C; boiler and steam-pipe grade; needs mandatory PWHT.
What is the yield strength of 12CrMoV?
12CrMoV has a typical yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) — weaker than 86% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is 12CrMoV easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (58/100, better than 75% of steel grades). Machines like normalized 4130 at ~60 % of AISI 1212 — rigid setups, carbide tooling, moderate speeds; vanadium carbides accelerate tool wear versus plain Cr-Mo.
Can 12CrMoV be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (60/100). Weldable by TIG/SMAW with matching Cr-Mo-V filler, preheat 200–300 °C and mandatory PWHT 720–750 °C; watch for reheat (stress-relief) cracking in thick sections and HAZ hardening.
What surface finishes work on 12CrMoV?
No anodizing — descale by pickling or shot blast, then aluminize, phosphate or apply high-temperature silicone/aluminium paint for outdoor and flue-gas surfaces.
Can 12CrMoV be formed, bent or molded?
Hot bend/forge at 1100–850 °C followed by re-normalizing and tempering; cold tube bending is possible on thin wall but needs stress relief.
What is the maximum service temperature of 12CrMoV?
12CrMoV is rated for continuous use to about 570°C (1,058 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 12CrMoV N+T and 12CrMoV-QT?
N+T is the default condition — standard delivery condition for GB/T 5310 high-pressure boiler tube and steam piping; best creep and impact balance. QT: choose for bolting, turbine fasteners and forgings needing higher room-temperature strength than the N+T tube condition. Yield strength is 300 MPa in N+T versus 550 MPa in QT.
How much does 12CrMoV cost?
12CrMoV 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
- GB/T 5310 — Seamless steel tubes for high pressure boilers — SAC (China) (2017)
- GB/T 3077 — Alloy structural steels — SAC (China) (2015)
- ASTM A335/A335M — Seamless ferritic alloy-steel pipe for high-temperature service (P11 comparison) — ASTM (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.13 — Corrosion — ASM International (2005)
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.