Steel 12Ni14
EN 12Ni14
12Ni14 (1.5637) is a low-carbon nickel alloy steel in the EN 10083/10084 family, where roughly 3.5 % nickel provides core toughness and low-temperature impact resistance rather than high as-supplied strength.
Reference datasheet — 12Ni14 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 condition
12Ni14 tempers and conditions
12Ni14 is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. N 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 | Machining/cold-forming condition for bar and forging stock before final normalising or quench-and-temper. | 300 | 470 | 30 | 140 HB | 6.8 % IACS |
Hot rolled | Mill-finish bar and billet bought as feedstock for re-forging or full heat treatment; low-temperature toughness is not guaranteed in this state. | 380 | 560 | 24 | 175 HB | 6.6 % IACS |
NDefault Normalized | Standard delivery condition for EN 10028-4 plate and tube: best balance of −100 °C toughness, weldability and 355 MPa minimum yield. | 385 | 540 | 26 | 165 HB | — |
Normalized and tempered | Choose for heavier plate and forgings where a tempering cycle is used to level out hardness and maximise low-temperature Charpy energy. | 390 | 530 | 27 | 160 HB | — |
Quenched and tempered | Pick when higher yield strength and section-through toughness are needed in thick forgings, shafts, gears and pins. | 480 | 620 | 23 | 14 HRC | — |
What is 12Ni14?
12Ni14 (1.5637) is a low-carbon nickel alloy steel in the EN 10083/10084 family, where roughly 3.5 % nickel provides core toughness and low-temperature impact resistance rather than high as-supplied strength. It is used for case-hardened gears, shafts and pins and for components that must retain toughness at sub-zero temperatures, supplied as bar and forging stock in N, N+T, QT, A and hot-rolled conditions. Typical values are 385 MPa yield, 540 MPa tensile, 26 % elongation and 165 HB (85 HRB), with a 350 °C service limit. Corrosion resistance is negligible (score 12), so the steel always needs a coating. 12Ni14 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F). 12Ni14 has a yield strength of 385 MPa (55.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) — weaker than 65% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 26% and the elastic modulus is 206 GPa (29.9 Msi).
What is 12Ni14 used for?
- gears
- shafts
- case-hardened components
Advantages
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 26%, better than 82% of steel grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 120 MPa·√m (109.2 ksi·√in), better than 81% of steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 65/100, better than 81% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low electrical conductivity — 6.6 % IACS, worse than 76% of steel grades
12Ni14 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 12Ni14-N; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
12Ni14 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F).
Mechanical15
12Ni14 has a yield strength of 385 MPa (55.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) — weaker than 65% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 26% and the elastic modulus is 206 GPa (29.9 Msi).
Thermal6
12Ni14 is rated for continuous service to 350°C (662 °F). It conducts heat at 38 W/m·K (22 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 69% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
12Ni14 conducts electricity at 6.6 % IACS, worse than 76% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 12Ni14 takes about 32 MJ of energy and emits 2.4 kg of CO₂ — more than 70% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
12Ni14's machinability is good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability good (65/100).
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. 12Ni14 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 12Ni14
Is 12Ni14 easy to machine?
Machines like a medium-carbon alloy steel at ~60 % of 1212; use sharp positive geometry and rigid setups because the nickel-bearing ferrite is gummy at low speeds.
Can 12Ni14 be welded?
Readily weldable with matching 3.5 Ni or Ni-base consumables, low hydrogen, preheat ~100 °C on thick section and controlled interpass to keep −100 °C Charpy values.
Can 12Ni14 be formed, bent or molded?
Good cold formability in N or A condition (bend radius ≈2–3 t); hot form 850–1100 °C and re-normalise afterwards to restore toughness.
12Ni14 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CEN 10028-4 ladle analysis | ≤ 0.15 | 0.12 |
| Si | ≤ 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.3 – 0.8 | 0.55 |
| P | ≤ 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Slow S for through-thickness toughness | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Nigives −100 °C toughness | 3.25 – 3.75 | 3.5 |
| Crresidual | ≤ 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Moresidual | ≤ 0.1 | 0.04 |
| Curesidual | ≤ 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Altotal Al, grain refining | ≥ 0.02 | 0.03 |
| N | ≤ 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 12Ni14?
Not corrosion resistant — shot blast then paint, metallise, hot-dip galvanise or zinc/nickel plate; phosphating suits gears and pins.
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 12Ni14 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.5637
How much does 12Ni14 cost?
12Ni14 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.
12Ni14 — frequently asked
What is 12Ni14 used for?
12Ni14 is typically used for gears, shafts and case-hardened components. In short: nickel steel for cold toughness; tough core case-hardening grade; weldable low-alloy steel.
What is the yield strength of 12Ni14?
12Ni14 has a typical yield strength of 385 MPa (55.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) — weaker than 65% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is 12Ni14 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades). Machines like a medium-carbon alloy steel at ~60 % of 1212; use sharp positive geometry and rigid setups because the nickel-bearing ferrite is gummy at low speeds.
Can 12Ni14 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). Readily weldable with matching 3.5 Ni or Ni-base consumables, low hydrogen, preheat ~100 °C on thick section and controlled interpass to keep −100 °C Charpy values.
What surface finishes work on 12Ni14?
Not corrosion resistant — shot blast then paint, metallise, hot-dip galvanise or zinc/nickel plate; phosphating suits gears and pins.
Can 12Ni14 be formed, bent or molded?
Good cold formability in N or A condition (bend radius ≈2–3 t); hot form 850–1100 °C and re-normalise afterwards to restore toughness.
What is the maximum service temperature of 12Ni14?
12Ni14 is rated for continuous use to about 350°C (662 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 12Ni14-N and 12Ni14-QT?
N is the default condition — standard delivery condition for EN 10028-4 plate and tube: best balance of −100 °C toughness, weldability and 355 MPa minimum yield. QT: pick when higher yield strength and section-through toughness are needed in thick forgings, shafts, gears and pins. Yield strength is 385 MPa in N versus 480 MPa in QT.
How much does 12Ni14 cost?
12Ni14 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 10028-4 — Flat products of steels for pressure purposes, Part 4: Nickel alloy steels with specified low-temperature properties — CEN (2017)
- EN 10222-3 — Steel forgings for pressure purposes: Nickel steels with specified low temperature properties — CEN (2017)
- ASTM A203/A203M — Pressure Vessel Plates, Alloy Steel, Nickel — ASTM (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- 3.5 % Ni cryogenic pressure vessel plate datasheets (1.5637 / A203 Gr. D-E) — European plate mills (2022)
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.