Steel 1548
AISI/SAE 1548 · UNS G15480 · EN 1.1226
1548 (UNS G15480, formerly 1048, also 1.1226) is a medium-high carbon, high-manganese steel with good hardenability and reasonable machinability, chosen where a turned shaft is later induction hardened.
Reference datasheet — 1548 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 HR condition
1548 tempers and conditions
1548 is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. HR 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 condition; choose for maximum machinability and for parts that will be quench hardened afterwards. | 350 | 600 | 20 | 170 HB | — |
HRDefault Hot rolled | Lowest-cost stock condition for forged/machined shafts that will later be normalized, Q&T or induction hardened. | 365 | 660 | 12 | 197 HB | — |
Normalized | Uniform fine pearlitic structure for forgings before machining or induction hardening; better toughness consistency than as-rolled. | 415 | 700 | 16 | 207 HB | — |
Annealed and Cold Drawn | Use when cold-drawn bar must still be headed, bent or heavily machined — softer and more ductile than as-drawn. | 565 | 655 | 12 | 187 HB | — |
Cold drawn | Pick for straight, close-tolerance, bright bar with higher yield strength and better surface finish straight from stock. | 630 | 730 | 10 | 217 HB | — |
Induction hardened | The classic use of 1548: 55–60 HRC martensitic case on journals and splines with a tough Q&T core. | 780 | 950 | 14 | 57 HRC | — |
oil quenched, tempered ~540–590 °C | General-purpose quenched-and-tempered shaft condition balancing strength, toughness and machinability. | 800 | 965 | 16 | 30 HRC | — |
oil quenched, tempered ~400–450 °C | High-strength condition for heavily loaded pins, levers and spring-type parts where impact demand is moderate. | 1,180 | 1,350 | 11 | 43 HRC | — |
What is 1548?
1548 (UNS G15480, formerly 1048, also 1.1226) is a medium-high carbon, high-manganese steel with good hardenability and reasonable machinability, chosen where a turned shaft is later induction hardened. It is available hot-rolled, cold-drawn, annealed-and-cold-drawn, annealed, normalized, induction-hardened and quenched and tempered to 28–32 HRC or 40–45 HRC. Hot-rolled bar runs about 365 MPa yield, 660 MPa tensile, 12 % elongation and 197 HB, with service to 400 °C and a machinability rating of 45. Carbon equivalent near 0.7 makes welding demanding and cold forming limited; 1045 is the lower-hardenability alternative. 1548 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). 1548 has a yield strength of 365 MPa (52.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 660 MPa (95.7 ksi) — weaker than 71% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
What is 1548 used for?
- automotive axle shafts
- steering components
- induction-hardened parts
- couplings
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10.5 % IACS, better than 89% of steel grades
- 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
1548 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1548-HR; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
1548 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).
Mechanical16
1548 has a yield strength of 365 MPa (52.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 660 MPa (95.7 ksi) — weaker than 71% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
1548 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
1548 conducts electricity at 10.5 % IACS, better than 89% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1548 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
1548's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades); weldability poor (30/100); formability poor (25/100).
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. 1548 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1548
Is 1548 easy to machine?
Machines like 1045–1050 at ~55 % of 1212; use rigid setups, coated carbide, 120–180 m/min, and prefer annealed or Q&T ≤32 HRC stock for heavy cuts.
Can 1548 be welded?
Carbon equivalent ~0.7 — preheat 250–350 °C, low-hydrogen consumables and immediate stress relief/PWHT; avoid welding on induction-hardened surfaces.
Can 1548 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forging at 1100–1200 °C is easy; cold bending and heading are limited, so anneal or normalize before severe cold work.
1548 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 | 0.44 – 0.52 | 0.48 |
| Mnhigh-Mn 15xx series, boosts hardenability | 1.1 – 1.4 | 1.25 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Smax; 1548 is not a resulfurized free-machining grade | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Sitypical for killed bar, not always specified | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1548?
No natural corrosion protection — specify black oxide, manganese phosphate, zinc plating or paint; hard chrome and nitrocarburizing are common on hardened journals.
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 1548 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- G15480
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.1226
How much does 1548 cost?
1548 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.
1548 — frequently asked
What is 1548 used for?
1548 is typically used for automotive axle shafts, steering components, induction-hardened parts and couplings. In short: induction-hardening shaft steel; high hardenability, medium machinability; preheat required for welding.
What is the yield strength of 1548?
1548 has a typical yield strength of 365 MPa (52.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 660 MPa (95.7 ksi) — weaker than 71% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 1548 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades). Machines like 1045–1050 at ~55 % of 1212; use rigid setups, coated carbide, 120–180 m/min, and prefer annealed or Q&T ≤32 HRC stock for heavy cuts.
Can 1548 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (30/100). Carbon equivalent ~0.7 — preheat 250–350 °C, low-hydrogen consumables and immediate stress relief/PWHT; avoid welding on induction-hardened surfaces.
What surface finishes work on 1548?
No natural corrosion protection — specify black oxide, manganese phosphate, zinc plating or paint; hard chrome and nitrocarburizing are common on hardened journals.
Can 1548 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forging at 1100–1200 °C is easy; cold bending and heading are limited, so anneal or normalize before severe cold work.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1548?
1548 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 1548-HR and 1548-IH?
HR is the default condition — lowest-cost stock condition for forged/machined shafts that will later be normalized, Q&T or induction hardened. IH: the classic use of 1548: 55–60 HRC martensitic case on journals and splines with a tough Q&T core. Yield strength is 365 MPa in HR versus 780 MPa in IH.
How much does 1548 cost?
1548 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 J1397 — Estimated Mechanical Properties and Machinability of Steel Bars — SAE International (2009)
- 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 — ASM International (1991)
- GB/T 699 — (50Mn comparable grade) — 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.