Steel 18Cr2Ni4WA
GB 18Cr2Ni4WA
18Cr2Ni4WA is a tungsten-bearing Cr-Ni case-hardening steel from the GB alloy structural steel family, combining very high core hardenability with a hard carburized surface.
Reference datasheet — 18Cr2Ni4WA 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 QT200 condition
18Cr2Ni4WA tempers and conditions
18Cr2Ni4WA is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. QT200 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solution annealed | Pick the 650–670 °C softening anneal, the usual bar delivery state, for rough machining and gear-blank hobbing, with hardness limited to ≤269 HB per GB/T 3077. | 640 | 850 | 18 | 24 HRC | — |
Cold drawn | Use annealed then cold-drawn bar for small-diameter precision stock with good dimensional accuracy and surface finish; final heat treatment is still needed after machining. | 800 | 950 | 10 | 29 HRC | 5.5 % IACS |
Hot rolled | Use only as the incoming rolled or as-forged blank; hardness is high and uneven at about 350 HB, so anneal it before any machining or forming operation. | 850 | 1,150 | 12 | 38 HRC | 5.5 % IACS |
Quenched + high temper | Choose quenching with a 500–600 °C temper for heavily loaded shafts and flanges that need more ductility and machinability, accepting 1050 MPa instead of low-temper strength. | 900 | 1,050 | 16 | 34 HRC | — |
Normalized | Choose normalizing at 900–950 °C with air cooling to refine post-forging structure; air hardening leaves about 370 HB, so a high temper must follow before machining. | 950 | 1,200 | 12 | 39 HRC | 5.5 % IACS |
Carburized, hardened + 160–180 °C temper | Specify carburizing, hardening and a 160–180 °C temper as the in-service state for gears and splines: a 60 HRC wear case over a tough core gives the highest contact and bending fatigue life. | 1,050 | 1,250 | 12 | 60 HRC | — |
QT200Default Quenched + low temper 200 °C | Pick the property-acceptance route — 950 °C air cool, 850 °C oil quench, 200 °C temper — for uncarburized high-strength shafts, pins and joints needing the best strength-toughness balance. | 1,150 | 1,350 | 13 | 43 HRC | — |
What is 18Cr2Ni4WA?
18Cr2Ni4WA is a tungsten-bearing Cr-Ni case-hardening steel from the GB alloy structural steel family, combining very high core hardenability with a hard carburized surface. It is specified for critical heavy-duty aerospace and military gearing and high-load shafts, and is bought as rolled bar, forged blanks and rings in the annealed or normalized state for machining before carburizing. Hardened, it reaches about 1150 MPa yield, 1350 MPa tensile, 13 % elongation and 400 HB (43 HRC), but service is limited to roughly 180 °C, weldability is poor and machinability is low (score 20). Where the tungsten addition is not required, 12Cr2Ni4A (9310) is the nearer and more available alternative. 18Cr2Ni4WA 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). 18Cr2Ni4WA has a yield strength of 1,150 MPa (167 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,350 MPa (196 ksi) — stronger than 94% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 13% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is 18Cr2Ni4WA used for?
- Aircraft gears
- Critical high-load transmission shafts
- Heavy-duty spur and bevel pinions
- Splined drive shafts
- Helicopter and aero gearbox gears
- Military drivetrain gears
- Carburized gear rings
Advantages
- High strength — 1,150 MPa (167 ksi), better than 94% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 180°C (356 °F), worse than 98% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 20/100, worse than 97% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 2.8 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 90% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 20/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 83% of steel grades
18Cr2Ni4WA properties
Typical room-temperature values for 18Cr2Ni4WA-QT200; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
18Cr2Ni4WA 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
18Cr2Ni4WA has a yield strength of 1,150 MPa (167 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,350 MPa (196 ksi) — stronger than 94% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 13% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
18Cr2Ni4WA is rated for continuous service to 180°C (356 °F). It conducts heat at 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 83% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
18Cr2Ni4WA conducts electricity at 5.5 % IACS, worse than 81% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (14/100), better than 70% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 18Cr2Ni4WA takes about 36 MJ of energy and emits 2.8 kg of CO₂ — more than 89% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability7
18Cr2Ni4WA's machinability is poor (20/100, worse than 97% of steel grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability poor (20/100).
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. 18Cr2Ni4WA is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 18Cr2Ni4WA
Is 18Cr2Ni4WA easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed (high-temperature tempered) condition with hardness held to ≤269 HB; use rigid setups and carbide tooling at low speed with heavy feed. After quenching or carburizing only grinding and gear honing are practical.
Can 18Cr2Ni4WA be welded?
Poor weldability: high carbon equivalent and air-hardening behaviour require 250–350 °C preheat, a low-hydrogen process and immediate post-weld tempering. Critical transmission parts are normally designed without welds.
Can 18Cr2Ni4WA be formed, bent or molded?
Start forging at 1150–1180 °C, finish at or above 850 °C and cool slowly to avoid flake (white-spot) cracking. Cold forming is effectively impractical; stress relieve and soften fully before heat treatment.
18Cr2Ni4WA 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 | 0.13 – 0.19 | 0.16 |
| Si | 0.17 – 0.37 | 0.27 |
| Mn | 0.3 – 0.6 | 0.45 |
| Cr | 1.35 – 1.65 | 1.5 |
| Nihigh Ni for hardenability and low-temperature toughness | 4 – 4.5 | 4.25 |
| Wrefines grain, improves tempering stability | 0.8 – 1.2 | 1 |
| Prestricted for class A high-grade quality steel | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Srestricted for class A high-grade quality steel | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Curesidual element | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 18Cr2Ni4WA?
Shot peening is standard to raise tooth-root fatigue strength, combined with phosphating, black oxide or cadmium / zinc-nickel plating for corrosion protection. In the high-strength condition, bake plated parts at 190–220 °C for 8–24 h to remove hydrogen.
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
How much does 18Cr2Ni4WA cost?
18Cr2Ni4WA is a premium-cost steel ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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.
18Cr2Ni4WA — frequently asked
What is 18Cr2Ni4WA used for?
18Cr2Ni4WA is typically used for aircraft gears, critical high-load transmission shafts, heavy-duty spur and bevel pinions, splined drive shafts, helicopter and aero gearbox gears and military drivetrain gears. In short: highest-strength carburizing grade; aerospace and military gearing; lowest machinability in family.
What is the yield strength of 18Cr2Ni4WA?
18Cr2Ni4WA has a typical yield strength of 1,150 MPa (167 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,350 MPa (196 ksi) — stronger than 94% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is 18Cr2Ni4WA easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (20/100, worse than 97% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed (high-temperature tempered) condition with hardness held to ≤269 HB; use rigid setups and carbide tooling at low speed with heavy feed. After quenching or carburizing only grinding and gear honing are practical.
Can 18Cr2Ni4WA be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Poor weldability: high carbon equivalent and air-hardening behaviour require 250–350 °C preheat, a low-hydrogen process and immediate post-weld tempering. Critical transmission parts are normally designed without welds.
What surface finishes work on 18Cr2Ni4WA?
Shot peening is standard to raise tooth-root fatigue strength, combined with phosphating, black oxide or cadmium / zinc-nickel plating for corrosion protection. In the high-strength condition, bake plated parts at 190–220 °C for 8–24 h to remove hydrogen.
Can 18Cr2Ni4WA be formed, bent or molded?
Start forging at 1150–1180 °C, finish at or above 850 °C and cool slowly to avoid flake (white-spot) cracking. Cold forming is effectively impractical; stress relieve and soften fully before heat treatment.
What is the maximum service temperature of 18Cr2Ni4WA?
18Cr2Ni4WA 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 18Cr2Ni4WA-QT200 and 18Cr2Ni4WA-A?
QT200 is the default condition — pick the property-acceptance route — 950 °C air cool, 850 °C oil quench, 200 °C temper — for uncarburized high-strength shafts, pins and joints needing the best strength-toughness balance. A: pick the 650–670 °C softening anneal, the usual bar delivery state, for rough machining and gear-blank hobbing, with hardness limited to ≤269 HB per GB/T 3077. Yield strength is 1,150 MPa in QT200 versus 640 MPa in A.
How much does 18Cr2Ni4WA cost?
18Cr2Ni4WA is a premium-cost steel ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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.
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.