Steel 15Cr3
EN 15Cr3
15Cr3 (1.7015) is the leanest chromium case-hardening steel in the EN 10084 range, relying on a shallow carburized case over a soft, low-carbon core.
Reference datasheet — 15Cr3 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 +A condition
15Cr3 tempers and conditions
15Cr3 is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. +A is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Treated for shearability | Softest delivery condition, for cold-shearing blanks for cold heading/forging. | 285 | 490 | 25 | 145 HB | 8.5 % IACS |
+ADefault Annealed | Standard stock condition for machining and cold forming before carburizing. | 300 | 520 | 22 | 155 HB | 8.5 % IACS |
Treated to ferrite-pearlite structure with specified hardness range | Choose when consistent, chip-friendly microstructure is needed for automatic machining. | 330 | 540 | 20 | 155 HB | 8.5 % IACS |
Normalized | Uniform fine ferrite-pearlite structure after forging; good baseline before carburizing. | 350 | 570 | 20 | 170 HB | 8.5 % IACS |
Treated to a specified hardness range | Ordered when a narrow as-delivered hardness band is required for CNC turning lines. | 350 | 560 | 19 | 165 HB | 8.5 % IACS |
Carburized and hardened | Final service condition: hard wear-resistant case with tough core, for small carburized gears/pins. | 440 | 760 | 11 | 60 HRC | — |
Cold drawn | Bright, close-tolerance bar for parts machined with minimal stock removal. | 520 | 660 | 9 | 195 HB | 8.5 % IACS |
What is 15Cr3?
15Cr3 (1.7015) is the leanest chromium case-hardening steel in the EN 10084 range, relying on a shallow carburized case over a soft, low-carbon core. It is chosen where cost matters more than load capacity — light-duty carburized pins, bushings and small gears — and is stocked as hot-rolled, annealed, cold-drawn bar and wire, with annealed core values near 300 MPa yield, 520 MPa tensile, 22% elongation and 155 HB. Hardenability and core strength are low, so sections must stay small; there is no corrosion resistance and welding is only possible before carburizing. Move to 16MnCr5 or 16NiCr4 for higher loads. 15Cr3 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). 15Cr3 has a yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) — weaker than 86% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is 15Cr3 used for?
- Light-duty gears
- Pins and dowels
- Bushings and sleeves
- Small shafts and spindles
- Cold-headed studs and fasteners
- Levers and latch components
- Chain link parts
Advantages
- Forms and bends easily — 75/100, better than 90% of steel grades
- Easy to machine — 62/100, better than 89% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 93% of steel grades
- Low strength — 300 MPa (43.5 ksi), worse than 86% of steel grades
15Cr3 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 15Cr3-+A; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
15Cr3 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
15Cr3 has a yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) — weaker than 86% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
15Cr3 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 44 W/m·K (25.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 57% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.6 µm/m·K (6.44 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
15Cr3 conducts electricity at 8.5 % IACS, better than 63% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 15Cr3 takes about 29 MJ of energy and emits 2.1 kg of CO₂ — less than 53% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability7
15Cr3's machinability is good (62/100, better than 89% of steel grades); weldability good (68/100); formability very good (75/100).
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. 15Cr3 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 15Cr3
Is 15Cr3 easy to machine?
Machine in +A/+FP condition; low-carbon gumminess favours sharp positive-rake carbide, high speed and good coolant — machinability ≈65% of 1212.
Can 15Cr3 be welded?
Weld only before carburizing (CE ≈0.4): MAG/TIG with low-hydrogen practice, preheat 100–150 °C on thick sections; carburized cases are effectively unweldable.
Can 15Cr3 be formed, bent or molded?
Good cold heading, upsetting and bending in +A/+S; hot forge 1100–850 °C then normalize at 880–920 °C.
15Cr3 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 | 0.12 – 0.18 | 0.15 |
| Si | ≤ 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.4 – 0.6 | 0.5 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| S0.020–0.040 for +S free-machining variants | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Cr | 0.5 – 0.8 | 0.65 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 15Cr3?
Carburize 900–930 °C, oil quench, temper 150–200 °C; parts are then ground, and rust-protected by oiling, phosphating, black oxide or Zn/Ni plating (no anodizing).
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 15Cr3 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.7015
How much does 15Cr3 cost?
15Cr3 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.
15Cr3 — frequently asked
What is 15Cr3 used for?
15Cr3 is typically used for light-duty gears, pins and dowels, bushings and sleeves, small shafts and spindles, cold-headed studs and fasteners and levers and latch components. In short: lowest-cost Cr carburizing steel; best cold formability in family; light-duty case-hardened parts.
What is the yield strength of 15Cr3?
15Cr3 has a typical yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) — weaker than 86% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is 15Cr3 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (62/100, better than 89% of steel grades). Machine in +A/+FP condition; low-carbon gumminess favours sharp positive-rake carbide, high speed and good coolant — machinability ≈65% of 1212.
Can 15Cr3 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (68/100). Weld only before carburizing (CE ≈0.4): MAG/TIG with low-hydrogen practice, preheat 100–150 °C on thick sections; carburized cases are effectively unweldable.
What surface finishes work on 15Cr3?
Carburize 900–930 °C, oil quench, temper 150–200 °C; parts are then ground, and rust-protected by oiling, phosphating, black oxide or Zn/Ni plating (no anodizing).
Can 15Cr3 be formed, bent or molded?
Good cold heading, upsetting and bending in +A/+S; hot forge 1100–850 °C then normalize at 880–920 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of 15Cr3?
15Cr3 is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 15Cr3 +A and 15Cr3-CH?
+A is the default condition — standard stock condition for machining and cold forming before carburizing. CH: final service condition: hard wear-resistant case with tough core, for small carburized gears/pins. Yield strength is 300 MPa in +A versus 440 MPa in CH.
How much does 15Cr3 cost?
15Cr3 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
- EN 10084 — Case hardening steels: technical delivery conditions — CEN (2008)
- EN 10027-2 material number 1.7015 — CEN (2015)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4 — Heat Treating (carburizing) — ASM International (1991)
- Case-hardening steel datasheets (1.7015 / 15Cr3) — European long-product mills / stockists (2022)
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.