Steel 18NiCrMo14-6
EN 18NiCrMo14-6
18NiCrMo14-6 (1.3533) is a nickel-chromium-molybdenum case-hardening steel from the EN 10084 family, providing deep hardenability and high core toughness for critical bearing rings and carburized gears.
Reference datasheet — 18NiCrMo14-6 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 +AC condition
18NiCrMo14-6 tempers and conditions
18NiCrMo14-6 is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. +AC 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 high shearability | Choose for coil, wire and bar that must be cold sheared, sawn or cold headed into blanks without cracking; softest supplied condition. | 450 | 680 | 19 | 200 HB | — |
Annealed | General annealed delivery condition for forging and rough machining where a specified spheroidized structure is not required. | 480 | 720 | 17 | 16 HRC | 7 % IACS |
+ACDefault Spheroidize annealed | Standard stock condition for bar and forging billet: spheroidized carbides give the best machinability and dimensional stability before carburizing. | 500 | 750 | 16 | 220 HB | — |
Treated to a specified hardness range | Pick for automated turning/hobbing lines that need a narrow, repeatable hardness window before carburizing. | 580 | 850 | 14 | 25 HRC | 7 % IACS |
Hot rolled | Cheapest mill condition for stock that will be re-forged and fully heat treated by the user. | 650 | 950 | 12 | 30 HRC | 7 % IACS |
Supplied to specified hardenability (Jominy) band, carburize-and-harden… | Order +H when the deep case and through-hardened tough core must be guaranteed by end-quench band on large bearing rings and gears. | 1,050 | 1,350 | 11 | 41 HRC | — |
Carburized, hardened and low-temperature tempered | Final in-service condition: 58–62 HRC deep case over a tough 36–45 HRC martensitic core for high-load rolling contact and bending fatigue. | 1,100 | 1,400 | 10 | 60 HRC | — |
What is 18NiCrMo14-6?
18NiCrMo14-6 (1.3533) is a nickel-chromium-molybdenum case-hardening steel from the EN 10084 family, providing deep hardenability and high core toughness for critical bearing rings and carburized gears. It is supplied as bar and forging stock in +AC, +S, +H, +A, +TH and +U conditions or case-hardened and tempered (CH+T), with core values near 500 MPa yield, 750 MPa tensile, 16% elongation and 220 HB. Machinability and formability are both low (score 45), it is not a structural welding grade, it has no corrosion resistance, and service is limited to about 200 °C by the tempered case. 16NiCrMo16-5 is the nearest alternative. 18NiCrMo14-6 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). 18NiCrMo14-6 has a yield strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 750 MPa (109 ksi) — stronger than 63% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 16% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is 18NiCrMo14-6 used for?
- Aerospace bearing rings
- Critical carburized gears
- Main-shaft bearing races
- Planetary gear pinions
- Heavily loaded gear and pinion shafts
- Motorsport transmission gears
- Rolling elements for high-load bearings
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 75/100, better than 94% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 93% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 2.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 82% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 34 W/m·K (19.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 77% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 77% of steel grades
18NiCrMo14-6 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 18NiCrMo14-6-+AC; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
18NiCrMo14-6 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
18NiCrMo14-6 has a yield strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 750 MPa (109 ksi) — stronger than 63% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 16% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
18NiCrMo14-6 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 34 W/m·K (19.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 77% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
18NiCrMo14-6 conducts electricity at 7 % IACS, worse than 74% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 18NiCrMo14-6 takes about 34 MJ of energy and emits 2.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability8
18NiCrMo14-6's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability fair (45/100).
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. 18NiCrMo14-6 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 18NiCrMo14-6
Is 18NiCrMo14-6 easy to machine?
Machine in the +AC/+A condition with rigid setups, sharp coated carbide and generous coolant; the high-Ni matrix work-hardens and produces gummy chips, and finish grinding is normally required after carburizing.
Can 18NiCrMo14-6 be welded?
Not a structural welding grade — high carbon equivalent means preheat 250–350 °C, low-hydrogen consumables and immediate stress relief; never weld a carburized part.
Can 18NiCrMo14-6 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1100–1200 °C with slow cooling and full anneal afterwards; cold heading/shearing only in the +S condition, and severe cold forming is not practical.
18NiCrMo14-6 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 | 0.15 – 0.21 | 0.18 |
| Simax only | ≤ 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.4 – 0.7 | 0.55 |
| Pmax; bearing quality often ≤0.015 | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Smax; low for cleanliness/fatigue | ≤ 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Cr | 1.15 – 1.45 | 1.3 |
| Mo | 0.2 – 0.3 | 0.25 |
| Ni | 3.2 – 3.6 | 3.4 |
| Curesidual max | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 18NiCrMo14-6?
Case-harden (900–950 °C carburize, oil or high-pressure gas quench, deep-freeze plus 150–180 °C temper), then hard-turn/grind and superfinish; protect with oil film, manganese phosphate, black oxide or thin dense chrome — 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 18NiCrMo14-6 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.3533
How much does 18NiCrMo14-6 cost?
18NiCrMo14-6 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.
18NiCrMo14-6 — frequently asked
What is 18NiCrMo14-6 used for?
18NiCrMo14-6 is typically used for aerospace bearing rings, critical carburized gears, main-shaft bearing races, planetary gear pinions, heavily loaded gear and pinion shafts and motorsport transmission gears. In short: high core toughness; deep-hardening Ni-Cr-Mo case steel; aerospace bearing grade.
What is the yield strength of 18NiCrMo14-6?
18NiCrMo14-6 has a typical yield strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 750 MPa (109 ksi) — stronger than 63% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is 18NiCrMo14-6 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades). Machine in the +AC/+A condition with rigid setups, sharp coated carbide and generous coolant; the high-Ni matrix work-hardens and produces gummy chips, and finish grinding is normally required after carburizing.
Can 18NiCrMo14-6 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Not a structural welding grade — high carbon equivalent means preheat 250–350 °C, low-hydrogen consumables and immediate stress relief; never weld a carburized part.
What surface finishes work on 18NiCrMo14-6?
Case-harden (900–950 °C carburize, oil or high-pressure gas quench, deep-freeze plus 150–180 °C temper), then hard-turn/grind and superfinish; protect with oil film, manganese phosphate, black oxide or thin dense chrome — no anodizing.
Can 18NiCrMo14-6 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1100–1200 °C with slow cooling and full anneal afterwards; cold heading/shearing only in the +S condition, and severe cold forming is not practical.
What is the maximum service temperature of 18NiCrMo14-6?
18NiCrMo14-6 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.
How much does 18NiCrMo14-6 cost?
18NiCrMo14-6 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.
Sources
- EN 10084 — Case hardening steels: technical delivery conditions — CEN (2008)
- ISO 683-17 — Heat-treatable steels, alloy steels and free-cutting steels, Part 17: Ball and roller bearing steels — ISO (2014)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4A/4D — Steel Heat Treating / Carburizing — ASM International (2014)
- Case-hardening bearing steel bar datasheets (Ovako / Ascometal / Böhler-type Ni-Cr-Mo carburizing grades) — European special steel producers (2022)
- (Mysteel / SMM / 1688 ) — Chinese steel market sources (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.