Steel 17MnCr5
EN 17MnCr5 · AISI/SAE 5115
17MnCr5 (1.3521, comparable to AISI 5115) is a manganese-chromium case-hardening steel that is carburized to give a hard wear surface over a tough core.
Reference datasheet — 17MnCr5 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
17MnCr5 tempers and conditions
17MnCr5 is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. +A is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spheroidize annealed | Softest condition — pick for cold heading, cold extrusion and deep cold forming of blanks before carburizing. | 340 | 560 | 25 | 165 HB | 8.2 % IACS |
Annealed to a ferrite-pearlite structure with specified hardness range | Choose when consistent chip formation and dimensional stability in automatic machining are required. | 370 | 600 | 21 | 175 HB | 8.2 % IACS |
+ADefault Annealed | Standard stock condition for bar and tube: soft, easily machined before carburizing. | 380 | 620 | 20 | 180 HB | — |
Supplied with specified (standard) hardenability, Jominy-controlled | Order this when case and core hardness after carburizing must be reproducible batch to batch (Jominy band guaranteed). | 400 | 640 | 19 | 190 HB | 8.2 % IACS |
Treated to a specified hardness range | Bar supplied within a narrow hardness band so machining parameters and shear/cropping behaviour are repeatable. | 420 | 660 | 18 | 195 HB | 8.2 % IACS |
Carburized, quenched and low-temperature tempered | Final service condition of finished gears/bearing parts: hard wear-resistant case over a tough, strong core. | 700 | 1,000 | 10 | 60 HRC | — |
What is 17MnCr5?
17MnCr5 (1.3521, comparable to AISI 5115) is a manganese-chromium case-hardening steel that is carburized to give a hard wear surface over a tough core. It is supplied as annealed (+A), ferrite-pearlite (+FP), spheroidized (+AC) or treated-to-hardness bar for carburized gears, bearing rollers and shafts. Soft-condition values are about 380 MPa yield, 620 MPa tensile, 20 % elongation and 180 HB, with machinability rated 58 and cold formability 60. It is weldable only before carburizing and offers no corrosion resistance; 20MnCr4-2 is the nearest leaner case-hardening alternative. 17MnCr5 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). 17MnCr5 has a yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — weaker than 68% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is 17MnCr5 used for?
- Carburized gears
- Bearing rollers
- Shafts
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 180°C (356 °F), worse than 98% of steel grades
17MnCr5 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 17MnCr5-+A; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
17MnCr5 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).
Mechanical14
17MnCr5 has a yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — weaker than 68% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
17MnCr5 is rated for continuous service to 180°C (356 °F). It conducts heat at 44 W/m·K (25.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 57% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
17MnCr5 has an electrical resistivity of 2.1×10⁻⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 17MnCr5 takes about 32 MJ of energy and emits 2.2 kg of CO₂ — more than 70% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
17MnCr5's machinability is good (58/100, better than 75% of steel grades); weldability good (55/100); formability good (60/100).
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. 17MnCr5 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 17MnCr5
Is 17MnCr5 easy to machine?
Machine fully in the soft (+A/+FP/+TH) condition with carbide tooling and generous coolant, leaving 0.2–0.4 mm grinding stock for post-carburizing distortion.
Can 17MnCr5 be welded?
Weldable as low-carbon alloy steel before carburizing (preheat ~150 °C for heavy sections); do not weld carburized surfaces — hard case cracks.
Can 17MnCr5 be formed, bent or molded?
Good cold heading and extrusion in the spheroidized +AC condition; hot forge 1100–850 °C followed by controlled cooling or normalizing.
17MnCr5 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 | 0.14 – 0.19 | 0.17 |
| Si | ≤ 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 1 – 1.3 | 1.15 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Smax; low-S or controlled-S variants available | ≤ 0.04 | |
| Cr | 0.8 – 1.1 | 0.95 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 17MnCr5?
Not anodizable; protect with oil, Mn/Zn phosphate, black oxide or zinc plating (bake to avoid hydrogen embrittlement), grind and hone bearing surfaces after carburizing.
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 17MnCr5 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- AISI / SAE
- 5115
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.3521
How much does 17MnCr5 cost?
17MnCr5 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.
17MnCr5 — frequently asked
What is 17MnCr5 used for?
17MnCr5 is typically used for carburized gears, bearing rollers and shafts. In short: case-hardening gear steel; AISI 5115 equivalent; good cold-heading grade.
What is the yield strength of 17MnCr5?
17MnCr5 has a typical yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — weaker than 68% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 17MnCr5 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (58/100, better than 75% of steel grades). Machine fully in the soft (+A/+FP/+TH) condition with carbide tooling and generous coolant, leaving 0.2–0.4 mm grinding stock for post-carburizing distortion.
Can 17MnCr5 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (55/100). Weldable as low-carbon alloy steel before carburizing (preheat ~150 °C for heavy sections); do not weld carburized surfaces — hard case cracks.
What surface finishes work on 17MnCr5?
Not anodizable; protect with oil, Mn/Zn phosphate, black oxide or zinc plating (bake to avoid hydrogen embrittlement), grind and hone bearing surfaces after carburizing.
Can 17MnCr5 be formed, bent or molded?
Good cold heading and extrusion in the spheroidized +AC condition; hot forge 1100–850 °C followed by controlled cooling or normalizing.
What is the maximum service temperature of 17MnCr5?
17MnCr5 is rated for continuous use to about 180°C (356 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 17MnCr5 +A and 17MnCr5 CARB-QT?
+A is the default condition — standard stock condition for bar and tube: soft, easily machined before carburizing. CARB-QT: final service condition of finished gears/bearing parts: hard wear-resistant case over a tough, strong core. Yield strength is 380 MPa in +A versus 700 MPa in CARB-QT.
How much does 17MnCr5 cost?
17MnCr5 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 10083-1 / EN 10250-3 general delivery and bar conditions — CEN (2006)
- 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 (carburizing) — ASM International (2013)
- Case-hardening steel 1.3521 / 17MnCr5 data sheet — European long-products mill (typical values) (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.