Steel 1552
AISI/SAE 1552 · UNS G15520
1552 is a higher-carbon, high-manganese free-machining steel (UNS G15520, formerly designated 1052) from the resulfurized 15xx family.
Reference datasheet — 1552 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
1552 tempers and conditions
1552 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 heavy machining, cold forming or before re-hardening. | 365 | 635 | 22 | 187 HB | — |
HRDefault Hot rolled | Standard stock condition for heavy shafts and forging/heat-treat blanks where scale and loose tolerances are acceptable. | 415 | 725 | 15 | 207 HB | — |
Normalized | Uniform fine pearlitic structure for forgings — better toughness and consistency than as-rolled. | 440 | 760 | 18 | 217 HB | — |
Annealed and Cold Drawn | Pick for precision-tolerance bar with a bright finish and raised yield strength for shafting and machined parts. | 565 | 670 | 12 | 197 HB | — |
Induction hardened | Use when a hard wear surface (≥55 HRC) is needed on a tough Q&T or normalized core, e.g. journals and spline shafts. | 620 | 900 | 14 | 57 HRC | — |
Cold drawn | Highest as-supplied yield strength and best surface/tolerance in unheat-treated bar; residual stresses can cause bow when machined asymmetrically. | 635 | 745 | 10 | 217 HB | — |
oil quenched and tempered ~540–590 °C | General-purpose quenched-and-tempered condition for shafts and highly stressed machined parts needing strength with usable toughness. | 800 | 965 | 16 | 30 HRC | — |
oil quenched and tempered ~425–480 °C | High-strength/wear condition for spring-type, cam and heavy-duty shaft parts; toughness and machinability drop noticeably. | 1,105 | 1,275 | 11 | 40 HRC | — |
What is 1552?
1552 is a higher-carbon, high-manganese free-machining steel (UNS G15520, formerly designated 1052) from the resulfurized 15xx family. It is chosen where increased strength and wear resistance are needed alongside reasonable machinability, and is stocked as hot-rolled, annealed, normalized and cold-drawn bar or quenched and tempered to 28–32 HRC and 38–42 HRC, with induction-hardened conditions on file. Default-condition properties are 415 MPa yield, 725 MPa tensile, 15 % elongation and 207 HB (95 HRB), with service to about 400 °C. Weldability (30) and formability (30) are the limits; 1045 is the nearest alternative where joining or bending dominates. 1552 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). 1552 has a yield strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 725 MPa (105 ksi) — weaker than 56% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
What is 1552 used for?
- leaf and coil springs
- heavy-duty shafts
- wear plates
- agricultural implement parts
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 49 W/m·K (28.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10 % IACS, better than 83% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 50 MPa·√m (45.5 ksi·√in), worse than 86% of steel grades
1552 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1552-HR; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
1552 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
1552 has a yield strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 725 MPa (105 ksi) — weaker than 56% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
1552 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 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1552 conducts electricity at 10 % IACS, better than 83% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1552 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability6
1552's machinability is fair (52/100, better than 52% of steel grades); weldability poor (30/100); formability poor (30/100).
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. 1552 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1552
Is 1552 easy to machine?
Machines like 1050 at ~55 % of 1212; run annealed or ≤32 HRC, use rigid setups, carbide at 90–150 m/min with flood coolant.
Can 1552 be welded?
Poor weldability (CE ≈ 0.7–0.8) — preheat 200–320 °C, low-hydrogen consumables and immediate post-weld temper/slow cool to avoid HAZ cracking.
Can 1552 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in the annealed condition with generous bend radii (≥2t); hot forge 1100–1200 °C and finish above 850 °C, then normalize.
1552 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cheat analysis, SAE J403 | 0.47 – 0.55 | 0.51 |
| Mnhigh-Mn 15xx series | 1.2 – 1.5 | 1.35 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Smax; not a resulfurized 11xx/12xx grade | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Sitypical for killed bar; not specified for all product forms | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1552?
No inherent corrosion protection — oil, phosphate-and-oil, black oxide, zinc or hard chrome plating; grinds and polishes well when hardened.
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 1552 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- G15520
How much does 1552 cost?
1552 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.
1552 — frequently asked
What is 1552 used for?
1552 is typically used for leaf and coil springs, heavy-duty shafts, wear plates and agricultural implement parts. In short: strongest free-machining carbon steel; machinability 52 vs 1212; wear-resistant when hardened.
What is the yield strength of 1552?
1552 has a typical yield strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 725 MPa (105 ksi) — weaker than 56% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 1552 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (52/100, better than 52% of steel grades). Machines like 1050 at ~55 % of 1212; run annealed or ≤32 HRC, use rigid setups, carbide at 90–150 m/min with flood coolant.
Can 1552 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (30/100). Poor weldability (CE ≈ 0.7–0.8) — preheat 200–320 °C, low-hydrogen consumables and immediate post-weld temper/slow cool to avoid HAZ cracking.
What surface finishes work on 1552?
No inherent corrosion protection — oil, phosphate-and-oil, black oxide, zinc or hard chrome plating; grinds and polishes well when hardened.
Can 1552 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in the annealed condition with generous bend radii (≥2t); hot forge 1100–1200 °C and finish above 850 °C, then normalize.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1552?
1552 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 1552-HR and 1552-CD?
HR is the default condition — standard stock condition for heavy shafts and forging/heat-treat blanks where scale and loose tolerances are acceptable. CD: highest as-supplied yield strength and best surface/tolerance in unheat-treated bar; residual stresses can cause bow when machined asymmetrically. Yield strength is 415 MPa in HR versus 635 MPa in CD.
How much does 1552 cost?
1552 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)
- ASTM A29/A29M – Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought, General Requirements — ASTM (2020)
- ASTM A108 – Steel Bar, Carbon and Alloy, Cold-Finished — ASTM (2018)
- 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)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16 – Machining — ASM International (1989)
- GB/T 699 (50Mn/55Mn comparable grades) — SAC (2015)
- Mysteel / SMM carbon steel bar price references (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.