Steel 12NiCr3-2
EN 12NiCr3-2
12NiCr3-2 (1.5732) is a nickel-chromium case-hardening steel from the EN 10084 family, supplied soft-annealed (+A/+AC), treated to ferrite-pearlite (+FP), normalized (+N), cold drawn (+C) or with hardenability control (+H).
Reference datasheet — 12NiCr3-2 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 +AC condition
12NiCr3-2 tempers and conditions
12NiCr3-2 is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. +AC is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 8 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
+ACDefault Spheroidize annealed | Softest stocked condition with spheroidal carbides — pick for heavy machining, cold forming or upsetting of gear blanks before carburizing. | 295 | 500 | 25 | 150 HB | — |
Treated for shearability | Hardness-capped delivery condition for coil and bar that must be cold sheared or cropped into blanks. | 310 | 520 | 24 | 160 HB | 7.8 % IACS |
Normalized | Normalized bar or forging with refined uniform grain — pick to reset structure after hot forging and before carburizing. | 330 | 540 | 24 | 165 HB | 7.8 % IACS |
Treated to ferrite-pearlite structure and hardness range | Controlled ferrite-pearlite delivery condition — pick for consistent chip formation and surface finish on automatic lathes and gear cutting. | 340 | 550 | 22 | 170 HB | — |
Spheroidize annealed and cold drawn | Cold-drawn bright bar with close tolerance and smooth surface — pick for small pins, bushings and screw-machine parts made near-net before carburizing. | 500 | 620 | 12 | 190 HB | — |
Cold drawn | Straight cold-drawn bar without prior spheroidizing — pick for cheapest close-tolerance bright stock where cold formability is not needed. | 540 | 660 | 10 | 14 HRC | 7.8 % IACS |
Hardened | Quenched-and-low-tempered condition giving the tough martensitic core strength quoted for case-hardened parts — pick when core load capacity, not just case wear, governs. | 640 | 880 | 12 | 27 HRC | — |
Carburized and hardened | Final in-service condition: carburized 0.3–1.2 mm, quenched and tempered ~180 °C — pick for gear teeth, cams and pins needing wear and contact fatigue resistance. | 650 | 900 | 11 | 61 HRC | — |
What is 12NiCr3-2?
12NiCr3-2 (1.5732) is a nickel-chromium case-hardening steel from the EN 10084 family, supplied soft-annealed (+A/+AC), treated to ferrite-pearlite (+FP), normalized (+N), cold drawn (+C) or with hardenability control (+H). Carburizing gives a wear-resistant case over a tough, ductile core, with core properties of 295 MPa yield, 500 MPa tensile, 25% elongation and about 150 HB (80 HRB) before hardening. It machines and cold forms well (machinability 65, formability 70) but has no corrosion resistance, is limited to about 300 °C, and cannot be welded after carburizing. 10NiCr5-4 is the next step up in hardenability. 12NiCr3-2 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). 12NiCr3-2 has a yield strength of 295 MPa (42.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) — weaker than 87% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).
What is 12NiCr3-2 used for?
- gears
- pins
- case-hardened shafts
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 65/100, better than 93% of steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 70/100, better than 86% of steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 25%, better than 77% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 295 MPa (42.8 ksi), worse than 87% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), worse than 78% of steel grades
12NiCr3-2 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 12NiCr3-2-+AC; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
12NiCr3-2 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
12NiCr3-2 has a yield strength of 295 MPa (42.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) — weaker than 87% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).
Thermal6
12NiCr3-2 is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 44 W/m·K (25.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 57% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12 µm/m·K (6.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
12NiCr3-2 conducts electricity at 7.8 % IACS, worse than 57% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 12NiCr3-2 takes about 32 MJ of energy and emits 2.3 kg of CO₂ — more than 70% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability6
12NiCr3-2's machinability is good (65/100, better than 93% of steel grades); weldability good (60/100); formability very good (70/100).
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. 12NiCr3-2 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 12NiCr3-2
Is 12NiCr3-2 easy to machine?
Machine fully in the +AC/+FP condition with sharp positive-rake carbide and generous coolant; annealed material is gummy, so a normalized or cold-drawn condition gives better chip break, and hard finishing after carburizing must be done by grinding.
Can 12NiCr3-2 be welded?
Weldable before carburizing with low-hydrogen electrodes and 150–200 °C preheat; welding after case hardening is not recommended because the case cracks and decarburizes.
Can 12NiCr3-2 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge at 1050–1150 °C then normalize at 880–920 °C; cold heading and upsetting are practical in the spheroidized (+AC) condition.
12NiCr3-2 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 carbon for tough core; case is enriched to ~0.8 % C | 0.09 – 0.15 | 0.12 |
| Si | ≤ 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.4 – 0.7 | 0.55 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | |
| Sresulphurized (S-suffix) versions run 0.020–0.040 % | ≤ 0.04 | |
| Crper EN designation digit 2 (≈0.5 %) | 0.4 – 0.7 | 0.55 |
| Niper EN designation digit 3 (≈0.75 %); older DIN 1.5732 tables list higher Ni — confirm with mill certificate | 0.6 – 0.9 | 0.75 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 12NiCr3-2?
Carburize 900–930 °C, quench in oil and temper 150–200 °C; unhardened surfaces need oil, phosphate, zinc or nickel plating since the steel has no inherent corrosion resistance — bake plated parts 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 12NiCr3-2 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.5732
How much does 12NiCr3-2 cost?
12NiCr3-2 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
12NiCr3-2 — frequently asked
What is 12NiCr3-2 used for?
12NiCr3-2 is typically used for gears, pins and case-hardened shafts. In short: entry-level Ni-Cr case-hardening steel; tough core, hard case; good cold-heading formability.
What is the yield strength of 12NiCr3-2?
12NiCr3-2 has a typical yield strength of 295 MPa (42.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) — weaker than 87% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 12NiCr3-2 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (65/100, better than 93% of steel grades). Machine fully in the +AC/+FP condition with sharp positive-rake carbide and generous coolant; annealed material is gummy, so a normalized or cold-drawn condition gives better chip break, and hard finishing after carburizing must be done by grinding.
Can 12NiCr3-2 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (60/100). Weldable before carburizing with low-hydrogen electrodes and 150–200 °C preheat; welding after case hardening is not recommended because the case cracks and decarburizes.
What surface finishes work on 12NiCr3-2?
Carburize 900–930 °C, quench in oil and temper 150–200 °C; unhardened surfaces need oil, phosphate, zinc or nickel plating since the steel has no inherent corrosion resistance — bake plated parts to avoid hydrogen embrittlement.
Can 12NiCr3-2 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge at 1050–1150 °C then normalize at 880–920 °C; cold heading and upsetting are practical in the spheroidized (+AC) condition.
What is the maximum service temperature of 12NiCr3-2?
12NiCr3-2 is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does 12NiCr3-2 cost?
12NiCr3-2 is a standard-cost steel ($$), 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 (name and number) — CEN (2016)
- Key to Steel / Stahlschlüssel — Verlag Stahlschlüssel Wegst (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4A — Steel Heat Treating Fundamentals and Processes (carburizing) — ASM International (2013)
- GB/T 3077 — Alloy structural steels (comparison grades 12CrNi2 / 20CrNi) — SAC (2015)
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.