Steel 1522 Carburized
Heat-treated state
AISI/SAE 1522
Chosen for gears, pins and fasteners needing a hard wear surface (58–62 HRC case) over a tough ~300 HB core.
Values for the Carburized condition
Other 1522 tempers and conditions
1522 is listed in 7 conditions; see the grade overview at 1522.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
full/subcritical anneal (~870 °C, furnace cool) | Softest condition — pick for deep cold forming, heavy machining passes or stress relief before hardening. | 275 | 460 | 27 | 131 HB | 10.5 % IACS |
HRDefault Hot rolled | Default stock form for structural parts, weldments and blanks that will be machined or later heat treated. | 305 | 500 | 20 | 143 HB | — |
~900–925 °C, air cool | Uniform fine grain and better toughness/consistency than as-rolled; standard pre-treatment for weldments and forgings. | 345 | 540 | 22 | 156 HB | — |
Cold rolled | Choose for tight thickness tolerance, smooth surface and higher as-supplied strength in sheet/strip; ductility is reduced. | 460 | 550 | 15 | 163 HB | 10 % IACS |
Quenched and tempered | Use where higher yield and toughness are needed in moderate sections (shafts, links, tube fittings); hardenability limits full through-hardening above ~25 mm. | 480 | 640 | 20 | 12 HRC | — |
Cold drawn | Cold drawn round/hex bar for screw-machine and shaft work needing straightness, size tolerance and higher yield. | 480 | 565 | 14 | 167 HB | 10 % IACS |
CarburizedThis page case hardened (925 °C carburize, quench, temper 175 °C) | Chosen for gears, pins and fasteners needing a hard wear surface (58–62 HRC case) over a tough ~300 HB core. | 650 | 900 | 12 | 60 HRC | 9 % IACS |
What is 1522 Carburized?
1522 Carburized is 1522 heat treated to Carburized — chosen for gears, pins and fasteners needing a hard wear surface (58–62 HRC case) over a tough ~300 HB core. 1522 Carburized has a yield strength of 650 MPa (94.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — stronger than 79% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). 1522 Carburized has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,460°C (2,660 °F). HR is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Carburized is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
- High strength — 650 MPa (94.3 ksi), better than 79% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 180°C (356 °F), worse than 98% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 8/100, worse than 97% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 22/100, worse than 95% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 12%, worse than 84% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 77% of steel grades
1522 Carburized properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1522 Carburized; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 1522 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
1522 Carburized has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,460°C (2,660 °F).
Mechanical14
1522 Carburized has a yield strength of 650 MPa (94.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — stronger than 79% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
1522 Carburized is rated for continuous service to 180°C (356 °F). It conducts heat at 45 W/m·K (26 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 66% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.7 µm/m·K (6.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1522 Carburized conducts electricity at 9 % IACS, better than 71% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1522 Carburized takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
1522 Carburized's machinability is poor (22/100, worse than 95% of steel grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability not recommended (8/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 1522 Carburized
Is 1522 easy to machine?
Machines like a medium-carbon steel at ~65 % of 1212; normalized or cold-drawn stock cuts cleanest, use rigid setups and good chip control since it is non-resulfurized and can be gummy when annealed.
Can 1522 be welded?
Readily welded by SMAW/GMAW with E70-class filler; carbon equivalent ~0.42–0.48, so preheat 100–150 °C for sections over ~25 mm and consider post-weld normalizing on critical parts.
Can 1522 be formed, bent or molded?
Good cold headability and bendability in annealed/hot-rolled condition (bend radius ≈1–2 t); hot forge 1100–1230 °C, finish above 850 °C then normalize.
What surface finishes work on 1522?
No anodizing — protect with zinc or zinc-nickel plating, phosphate + oil, black oxide or paint; carburized parts should be plated only with low-hydrogen processes plus bake.
1522 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 | 0.18 – 0.24 | 0.21 |
| Mnhigh-Mn 15xx series | 1.1 – 1.4 | 1.25 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Smax; 1522H/killed grades often lower | ≤ 0.05 | 0.02 |
| Siwhen killed steel specified | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Fe | balance | — |
1522 Carburized — frequently asked
What is 1522 Carburized used for?
1522 Carburized is typically used for welded tube, forged drive shafts, industrial gears, connecting rods, cold-headed fasteners and agricultural machinery structural parts. In short: manganese-modified carbon bar.
What is the yield strength of 1522 Carburized?
1522 Carburized has a typical yield strength of 650 MPa (94.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — stronger than 79% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is 1522 Carburized easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (22/100, worse than 95% of steel grades). Machines like a medium-carbon steel at ~65 % of 1212; normalized or cold-drawn stock cuts cleanest, use rigid setups and good chip control since it is non-resulfurized and can be gummy when annealed.
Can 1522 Carburized be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Readily welded by SMAW/GMAW with E70-class filler; carbon equivalent ~0.42–0.48, so preheat 100–150 °C for sections over ~25 mm and consider post-weld normalizing on critical parts.
What surface finishes work on 1522 Carburized?
No anodizing — protect with zinc or zinc-nickel plating, phosphate + oil, black oxide or paint; carburized parts should be plated only with low-hydrogen processes plus bake.
Can 1522 Carburized be formed, bent or molded?
Good cold headability and bendability in annealed/hot-rolled condition (bend radius ≈1–2 t); hot forge 1100–1230 °C, finish above 850 °C then normalize.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1522 Carburized?
1522 Carburized 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 1522-HR and 1522-CD?
HR is the default condition — default stock form for structural parts, weldments and blanks that will be machined or later heat treated. CD: cold drawn round/hex bar for screw-machine and shaft work needing straightness, size tolerance and higher yield. Yield strength is 305 MPa in HR versus 480 MPa in CD.
Can FabDigit make parts in 1522 Carburized?
Yes — 1522 Carburized is available for CNC machining and sheet metal; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- SAE J403 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Carbon Steels — SAE International (2014)
- ASTM A29/A29M — Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought — ASTM (2020)
- SAE J1397 — Estimated Mechanical Properties and Machinability of Hot-Wrought and Cold-Drawn Steel Bars — SAE International (2009)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4 — Heat Treating — ASM International (1991)
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.