Steel 1536
AISI/SAE 1536 · UNS G15360
High-manganese (1.20-1.50%) medium-carbon steel used where improved machinability and moderate strength are needed without added sulfur; often selected for shafts and fasteners requiring good response to heat treatment.
Reference datasheet — 1536 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 CD condition
1536 tempers and conditions
1536 is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. CD 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solution annealed | Softest, most machinable and most formable condition; use before heavy cold working or deep machining. | 295 | 540 | 23 | 150 HB | — |
Hot rolled | Cheapest form for weldments, machined-all-over parts and stock to be heat treated afterwards. | 330 | 600 | 16 | 170 HB | — |
Normalized | Refines the coarse as-forged/as-rolled grain and evens out properties before quench-and-temper or final machining. | 380 | 620 | 19 | 180 HB | — |
Cold Drawn, Stress Relieved | Choose when cold-drawn bar must be machined asymmetrically or straightened without distortion. | 485 | 620 | 15 | 10 HRC | 9 % IACS |
CDDefault Cold drawn | Standard stock condition: tighter tolerance, better surface and higher yield strength for shafts, pins and screw-machine work. | 550 | 655 | 12 | 187 HB | — |
Induction hardened | Pick for journals, splines and cam surfaces needing a hard wear case over a tough medium-carbon core. | 660 | 860 | 14 | 53 HRC | — |
oil quenched from 845 °C, tempered ≈540 °C | Pick the 845 °C oil quench with a ≈540 °C temper for shafts, axles and fasteners that need 700 MPa yield while keeping 17 % elongation for a tough, general-purpose condition. | 700 | 860 | 17 | 27 HRC | — |
oil quenched, tempered ≈425 °C | Use the oil quench with a ≈425 °C temper when highly loaded pins, links and bolts need 970 MPa yield at 32–38 HRC, accepting lower toughness, machinability and weldability. | 970 | 1,130 | 12 | 35 HRC | — |
What is 1536?
High-manganese (1.20-1.50%) medium-carbon steel used where improved machinability and moderate strength are needed without added sulfur; often selected for shafts and fasteners requiring good response to heat treatment. 1536 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). 1536 has a yield strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 655 MPa (95 ksi) — stronger than 71% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is 1536 used for?
- shafts
- bolts and studs
- machine parts requiring induction hardening
- forgings
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 49 W/m·K (28.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 12%, worse than 84% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 55 MPa·√m (50.1 ksi·√in), worse than 82% of steel grades
1536 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1536-CD; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
1536 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
1536 has a yield strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 655 MPa (95 ksi) — stronger than 71% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
1536 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 49 W/m·K (28.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.7 µm/m·K (6.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1536 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 1536 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
1536's machinability is good (58/100, better than 75% of steel grades); weldability fair (45/100); formability fair (35/100).
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. 1536 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1536
Is 1536 easy to machine?
Machines at roughly 65 % of AISI 1212; cold-drawn bar gives the best chip control, while annealed stock tends to be gummy — use rigid setups, sharp positive-rake carbide and generous coolant.
Can 1536 be welded?
CE ≈ 0.55–0.62, so preheat 150–250 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables and post-weld stress relief or temper to avoid HAZ martensite cracking.
Can 1536 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1100–1230 °C then normalize; cold bending is limited in the cold-drawn state (bend radii ≥ 2–3 t) — anneal first for severe forming.
1536 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 heat analysis | 0.3 – 0.37 | 0.34 |
| Mnhigh-Mn grade — main hardenability contributor | 1.2 – 1.5 | 1.35 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Smax; not intentionally resulfurized | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Sitypical for killed bar; not specified in J403 for all products | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1536?
No anodizing; protect with zinc/zinc-nickel plating, phosphate-and-oil, black oxide or paint, and bake plated Q&T parts above 30 HRC to prevent 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 1536 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- G15360
How much does 1536 cost?
1536 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.
1536 — frequently asked
What is 1536 used for?
1536 is typically used for shafts, bolts and studs, machine parts requiring induction hardening and forgings. In short: high-Mn free-machining steel; 65% of 1212 machinability; induction-hardenable shaft steel.
What is the yield strength of 1536?
1536 has a typical yield strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 655 MPa (95 ksi) — stronger than 71% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 1536 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (58/100, better than 75% of steel grades). Machines at roughly 65 % of AISI 1212; cold-drawn bar gives the best chip control, while annealed stock tends to be gummy — use rigid setups, sharp positive-rake carbide and generous coolant.
Can 1536 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). CE ≈ 0.55–0.62, so preheat 150–250 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables and post-weld stress relief or temper to avoid HAZ martensite cracking.
What surface finishes work on 1536?
No anodizing; protect with zinc/zinc-nickel plating, phosphate-and-oil, black oxide or paint, and bake plated Q&T parts above 30 HRC to prevent hydrogen embrittlement.
Can 1536 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1100–1230 °C then normalize; cold bending is limited in the cold-drawn state (bend radii ≥ 2–3 t) — anneal first for severe forming.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1536?
1536 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 1536-CD and 1536-A?
CD is the default condition — standard stock condition: tighter tolerance, better surface and higher yield strength for shafts, pins and screw-machine work. A: softest, most machinable and most formable condition; use before heavy cold working or deep machining. Yield strength is 550 MPa in CD versus 295 MPa in A.
How much does 1536 cost?
1536 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
- SAE J403 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Carbon Steels — SAE International (2014)
- SAE J404 / ASTM A29 — Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought, General Requirements — ASTM/SAE (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Machining Data Handbook / Machinery's Handbook machinability ratings — ASM International (2016)
- GB/T 699 — (35Mn/40Mn comparable grades) — SAC (2015)
- Mysteel / SMM (2025)
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.