Steel 17Cr3
EN 17Cr3
17Cr3 (1.7016, SAE 5115) is a low-carbon chromium case-hardening steel from the EN 10084 family, carburized to give a hard wear-resistant case over a tough core.
Reference datasheet — 17Cr3 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 +FP condition
17Cr3 tempers and conditions
17Cr3 is supplied in 11 conditions, soft to hard. +FP is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 11 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Lowest hardness state for heavy machining or straightening of large sections. | 310 | 520 | 25 | 150 HB | — |
Spheroidize annealed | Choose for cold heading, cold extrusion or deep upsetting of blanks before carburizing. | 320 | 540 | 24 | 155 HB | — |
Treated for shearability | Order when bars/coils are sheared cold into slugs without cracking or excessive burr. | 325 | 545 | 23 | 158 HB | 8 % IACS |
+FPDefault Treated to ferrite-pearlite structure with specified hardness range | Standard stock condition for machined gear and shaft blanks: uniform structure and predictable chip formation before carburizing. | 360 | 590 | 20 | 170 HB | — |
Hot rolled | Cheapest bar condition; pick when the part is fully machined and heat treated anyway. | 370 | 610 | 19 | 175 HB | 8 % IACS |
Treated to a specified hardness range | Use when the mill must guarantee a narrow delivery hardness band for automated machining lines. | 420 | 650 | 17 | 12 HRC | 8 % IACS |
Restricted hardenability, lower half of the Jominy band | Use when low core hardness and minimum distortion/quench cracking risk matter more than core strength. | 450 | 720 | 13 | 19 HRC | 8 % IACS |
Specified hardenability (Jominy band); blank-hardened properties | Order +H when core strength/hardness after direct (blank) hardening must be reproducible from heat to heat. | 490 | 800 | 11 | 23 HRC | — |
Spheroidize annealed and cold drawn | Bright drawn bar/wire with close tolerance and clean surface for automatic-lathe and cold-formed parts. | 500 | 630 | 12 | 190 HB | — |
Restricted hardenability, upper half of the Jominy band | Pick for the highest attainable core hardness/case depth reproducibility on thicker sections. | 540 | 880 | 10 | 27 HRC | 8 % IACS |
Case hardened and low-temperature tempered | Final service condition: hard wear-resistant case (58–62 HRC) over a tough low-carbon core for gears, pins and bushings. | 550 | 850 | 9 | 60 HRC | — |
What is 17Cr3?
17Cr3 (1.7016, SAE 5115) is a low-carbon chromium case-hardening steel from the EN 10084 family, carburized to give a hard wear-resistant case over a tough core. In the default supply condition it shows about 360 MPa yield, 590 MPa tensile, 20 % elongation and 170 HB, and is stocked as bar and forging stock in +A, +AC, +FP, +TH and cold-drawn conditions for small-to-medium parts. Hardenability is limited, so it suits thin sections; it has no corrosion resistance and must be welded before carburizing. 20Cr4 is the nearest alternative when higher core strength or rolling-contact fatigue life is required. 17Cr3 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). 17Cr3 has a yield strength of 360 MPa (52.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 590 MPa (85.6 ksi) — weaker than 72% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is 17Cr3 used for?
- gears
- pins
- cams
- small shafts
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 62/100, better than 89% of steel grades
17Cr3 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 17Cr3-+FP; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
17Cr3 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
17Cr3 has a yield strength of 360 MPa (52.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 590 MPa (85.6 ksi) — weaker than 72% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
17Cr3 is rated for continuous service to 350°C (662 °F). It conducts heat at 44 W/m·K (25.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 57% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.8 µm/m·K (6.56 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
17Cr3 conducts electricity at 8 % IACS, better than 55% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (13/100), better than 66% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 17Cr3 takes about 30 MJ of energy and emits 2.1 kg of CO₂ — more than 56% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
17Cr3's machinability is good (62/100, better than 89% of steel grades); weldability good (60/100); formability good (55/100).
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. 17Cr3 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 17Cr3
Is 17Cr3 easy to machine?
Machines well in +FP/+AC+C (≈65 % of AISI 1212); soft-annealed material tends to smear, so use sharp coated carbide, positive rake and generous coolant; finish-grind after carburizing.
Can 17Cr3 be welded?
Weldable before carburizing with low-hydrogen or MAG process; preheat 150–250 °C on thick sections and avoid welding carburized surfaces (case cracks and carbon pickup).
Can 17Cr3 be formed, bent or molded?
Order +AC (spheroidized) for cold heading/extrusion; hot forge 1100–850 °C then normalize 880–920 °C, and expect distortion allowance during case hardening.
17Cr3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CEN 10084 | 0.14 – 0.2 | 0.17 |
| Si | ≤ 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.6 – 0.9 | 0.75 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Smax; ≤0.010 for +S-free variants, 0.020–0.040 for machinable grades | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Cr | 0.7 – 1 | 0.85 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 17Cr3?
No anodizing (ferrous); protect with phosphate + oil, black oxide, zinc or zinc-nickel plating (bake to avoid hydrogen embrittlement of the hard case), or shot-peen for extra fatigue life.
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 17Cr3 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.7016
- Similar grades
- 5115
How much does 17Cr3 cost?
17Cr3 is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
17Cr3 — frequently asked
What is 17Cr3 used for?
17Cr3 is typically used for gears, pins, cams and small shafts. In short: hard case, tough core; small-section case-hardening steel; machines well before carburizing.
What is the yield strength of 17Cr3?
17Cr3 has a typical yield strength of 360 MPa (52.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 590 MPa (85.6 ksi) — weaker than 72% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 11 listed tempers.
Is 17Cr3 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (62/100, better than 89% of steel grades). Machines well in +FP/+AC+C (≈65 % of AISI 1212); soft-annealed material tends to smear, so use sharp coated carbide, positive rake and generous coolant; finish-grind after carburizing.
Can 17Cr3 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (60/100). Weldable before carburizing with low-hydrogen or MAG process; preheat 150–250 °C on thick sections and avoid welding carburized surfaces (case cracks and carbon pickup).
What surface finishes work on 17Cr3?
No anodizing (ferrous); protect with phosphate + oil, black oxide, zinc or zinc-nickel plating (bake to avoid hydrogen embrittlement of the hard case), or shot-peen for extra fatigue life.
Can 17Cr3 be formed, bent or molded?
Order +AC (spheroidized) for cold heading/extrusion; hot forge 1100–850 °C then normalize 880–920 °C, and expect distortion allowance during case hardening.
What is the maximum service temperature of 17Cr3?
17Cr3 is rated for continuous use to about 350°C (662 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does 17Cr3 cost?
17Cr3 is a budget-cost steel ($), 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 10084 / DIN 17210 designation 17Cr3, material number 1.7016 — CEN / DIN (2008)
- SAE J404 — Chemical compositions of SAE alloy steels (5115) — SAE International (2009)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4A — Steel Heat Treating Fundamentals and Processes (carburizing) — ASM International (2013)
- Case-hardening steel 17Cr3 / 1.7016 bar datasheet — European special-steel producer (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.