Steel 1524-HR (Hot rolled)
Supply condition · default condition
AISI/SAE 1524 · UNS G15240
Cheapest stock condition for forged, machined or carburized parts where tolerance and surface finish are not critical.
Values for the HR condition
Other 1524 tempers and conditions
1524 is listed in 5 conditions; see the grade overview at 1524.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solution annealed | Softest, most ductile condition for deep machining, cold forming or as a pre-carburizing structure. | 275 | 470 | 26 | 137 HB | — |
HRDefaultThis page Hot rolled | Cheapest stock condition for forged, machined or carburized parts where tolerance and surface finish are not critical. | 305 | 510 | 20 | 149 HB | — |
Normalized | Use to refine forged or hot-rolled grain, even out properties and improve toughness before machining or case hardening. | 315 | 530 | 22 | 156 HB | — |
Cold drawn | Choose for straight, close-tolerance bright bar with higher yield strength and better as-machined finish. | 505 | 585 | 15 | 170 HB | — |
Carburized, quenched & low-temper | Pick when a hard wear surface (≈0.5–1.2 mm case, 55–62 HRC) is needed over a tough medium-strength core on light-duty gears and pins. | 520 | 760 | 14 | 59 HRC | — |
What is 1524-HR?
1524-HR is 1524 supplied in the HR condition — cheapest stock condition for forged, machined or carburized parts where tolerance and surface finish are not critical. 1524-HR has a yield strength of 305 MPa (44.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 510 MPa (74 ksi) — weaker than 84% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi). 1524-HR has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 51.9 W/m·K (30 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10.8 % IACS, better than 94% of steel grades
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 305 MPa (44.2 ksi), worse than 84% of steel grades
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
1524-HR properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1524-HR; 14 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 1524 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
1524-HR has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical16
1524-HR has a yield strength of 305 MPa (44.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 510 MPa (74 ksi) — weaker than 84% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
1524-HR is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 51.9 W/m·K (30 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.7 µm/m·K (6.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1524-HR conducts electricity at 10.8 % IACS, better than 94% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1524-HR takes about 24 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 97% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
1524-HR's machinability is good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability good (60/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 1524-HR
Is 1524 easy to machine?
Machines like a gummy low-carbon steel — use sharp positive-rake tooling, good coolant and chip breakers; normalizing or cold drawing improves chip control over annealed stock.
Can 1524 be welded?
Readily welded by SMAW/GMAW with E70-class filler; carbon equivalent near 0.45–0.50 means 100–150 °C preheat for sections over ~25 mm and no welding after carburizing.
Can 1524 be formed, bent or molded?
Good hot forgeability at 1100–1230 °C; cold bending is fine in annealed/hot-rolled bar but cold-drawn bar has limited remaining ductility.
What surface finishes work on 1524?
No inherent corrosion resistance — specify oil, phosphate-and-oil, zinc plate, black oxide or paint; takes decorative plating well after fine grinding.
1524 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 | 0.19 – 0.25 | 0.22 |
| Mnhigh-Mn carbon steel series | 1.35 – 1.65 | 1.5 |
| Pmax, SAE J403 bar | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Smax, SAE J403 bar | ≤ 0.05 | — |
| Sitypical for killed steel; not always specified | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Fe | balance | — |
1524-HR — frequently asked
What is 1524-HR used for?
1524-HR is typically used for low-load gears, wear pins and dowels, bushings and sleeves, chain sprockets, levers and linkage parts and studs and shoulder bolts. In short: cheapest carburizing option; best weldability in family; light-duty wear parts.
What is the yield strength of 1524-HR?
1524-HR has a typical yield strength of 305 MPa (44.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 510 MPa (74 ksi) — weaker than 84% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is 1524-HR easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades). Machines like a gummy low-carbon steel — use sharp positive-rake tooling, good coolant and chip breakers; normalizing or cold drawing improves chip control over annealed stock.
Can 1524-HR be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). Readily welded by SMAW/GMAW with E70-class filler; carbon equivalent near 0.45–0.50 means 100–150 °C preheat for sections over ~25 mm and no welding after carburizing.
What surface finishes work on 1524-HR?
No inherent corrosion resistance — specify oil, phosphate-and-oil, zinc plate, black oxide or paint; takes decorative plating well after fine grinding.
Can 1524-HR be formed, bent or molded?
Good hot forgeability at 1100–1230 °C; cold bending is fine in annealed/hot-rolled bar but cold-drawn bar has limited remaining ductility.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1524-HR?
1524-HR 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 1524-HR and 1524 CARB-QT?
HR is the default condition — cheapest stock condition for forged, machined or carburized parts where tolerance and surface finish are not critical. CARB-QT: pick when a hard wear surface (≈0.5–1.2 mm case, 55–62 HRC) is needed over a tough medium-strength core on light-duty gears and pins. Yield strength is 305 MPa in HR versus 520 MPa in CARB-QT.
Sources
- SAE J403 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Carbon Steels — SAE International (2014)
- ASTM A29/A29M — Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought, General Requirements — ASTM (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4 — Heat Treating (carburizing of carbon steels) — ASM International (1991)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16 — Machining — ASM International (1989)
- MatWeb material property data, AISI 1524 hot rolled / cold drawn — MatWeb LLC (2024)
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.