Steel 20Cr3
EN 20Cr3
20Cr3 (1.3559) is a low-carbon chromium case-hardening steel from the EN 10084 family, carburized to form a hard, wear-resistant case over a tough, ductile core.
Reference datasheet — 20Cr3 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
20Cr3 tempers and conditions
20Cr3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spheroidize annealed | Pick for cold heading, cold extrusion or deep-drawn ring blanks that need maximum cold formability. | 290 | 500 | 26 | 155 HB | — |
Treated for shearability | For wire and bar that is cold sheared into slugs before cold heading of bearing rollers. | 310 | 520 | 24 | 165 HB | 8 % IACS |
+ADefault Annealed | Standard stock condition for bar and tube that will be machined and then carburized. | 320 | 550 | 22 | 170 HB | — |
Treated to hardness range | Choose when automatic-lathe turning needs a narrow, repeatable hardness band and good chip breaking. | 400 | 620 | 18 | 180 HB | — |
Cold drawn | Bright, close-tolerance bar for automatic screw machining of small rollers and pins before carburizing. | 550 | 680 | 11 | 210 HB | — |
Hardenability-guaranteed (Jominy band), shown after direct hardening +… | Order +H when the Jominy hardenability band must be guaranteed for a defined case/core depth; properties listed are for the directly hardened and low-tempered condition. | 750 | 1,000 | 11 | 34 HRC | — |
Carburized and hardened | The functional condition for bearing rings, rollers and needles: hard 60–64 HRC case over a tough 30–42 HRC core. | 850 | 1,150 | 9 | 62 HRC | — |
What is 20Cr3?
20Cr3 (1.3559) is a low-carbon chromium case-hardening steel from the EN 10084 family, carburized to form a hard, wear-resistant case over a tough, ductile core. It is chosen for case-hardened bearing rings, rollers and pins and is supplied as bar, tube and forging stock in +A, +AC, +TH, +H, CH, +C and +S conditions. In the default condition the core gives roughly 320 MPa yield, 550 MPa tensile, 22 % elongation and 170 HB (86 HRB), with service to about 300 °C. Weldability is limited and the steel has no inherent corrosion resistance, so coating or oiling is required; 16MnCr5 is the usual alternative when bearing-quality cleanliness is not needed. 20Cr3 has a density of 7.83 g/cm³ (0.283 lb/in³), lighter than 80% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F). 20Cr3 has a yield strength of 320 MPa (46.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — weaker than 81% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is 20Cr3 used for?
- Case-hardened bearing races
- Rollers and pins for rolling bearings
- Heavy-duty industrial bearing components
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 320 MPa (46.4 ksi), worse than 81% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), worse than 78% of steel grades
20Cr3 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 20Cr3-+A; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
20Cr3 has a density of 7.83 g/cm³ (0.283 lb/in³), lighter than 80% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Mechanical15
20Cr3 has a yield strength of 320 MPa (46.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — weaker than 81% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
20Cr3 is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 44 W/m·K (25.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 57% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.9 µm/m·K (6.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
20Cr3 conducts electricity at 8 % IACS, better than 55% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 20Cr3 takes about 24 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 97% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
20Cr3's machinability is good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades); weldability fair (45/100); 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. 20Cr3 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 20Cr3
Is 20Cr3 easy to machine?
Machine in +A/+AC/+TH before carburizing with coated carbide at moderate speed; after case hardening only grinding, honing or CBN turning is practical.
Can 20Cr3 be welded?
Weldable only in the uncarburized state with 200–300 °C preheat and post-weld stress relief; never weld carburized surfaces.
Can 20Cr3 be formed, bent or molded?
Spheroidize-annealed (+AC) stock cold heads and cold extrudes well; hot forge at 1050–1150 °C and normalize at ~880 °C before carburizing.
20Cr3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cper EN ISO 683-17 case-hardening bearing steels | 0.17 – 0.23 | 0.2 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.3 – 0.6 | 0.45 |
| CrCr/4 ≈ 3 gives the '3' in 20Cr3 | 0.6 – 0.9 | 0.75 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Moresidual max | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Niresidual max | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Curesidual max | ≤ 0.3 | |
| O≤15 ppm total oxygen for bearing quality | ≤ 0 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 20Cr3?
Case-hardened parts are ground and honed to bearing finish; corrosion protection by oiling, manganese phosphating, black oxide or thin 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 20Cr3 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.3559
How much does 20Cr3 cost?
20Cr3 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.
20Cr3 — frequently asked
What is 20Cr3 used for?
20Cr3 is typically used for case-hardened bearing races, rollers and pins for rolling bearings and heavy-duty industrial bearing components. In short: bearing-grade case-hardening steel; hard case, tough core; good cold-heading in +AC.
What is the yield strength of 20Cr3?
20Cr3 has a typical yield strength of 320 MPa (46.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — weaker than 81% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is 20Cr3 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades). Machine in +A/+AC/+TH before carburizing with coated carbide at moderate speed; after case hardening only grinding, honing or CBN turning is practical.
Can 20Cr3 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). Weldable only in the uncarburized state with 200–300 °C preheat and post-weld stress relief; never weld carburized surfaces.
What surface finishes work on 20Cr3?
Case-hardened parts are ground and honed to bearing finish; corrosion protection by oiling, manganese phosphating, black oxide or thin Zn/Ni plating (no anodizing).
Can 20Cr3 be formed, bent or molded?
Spheroidize-annealed (+AC) stock cold heads and cold extrudes well; hot forge at 1050–1150 °C and normalize at ~880 °C before carburizing.
What is the maximum service temperature of 20Cr3?
20Cr3 is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 20Cr3 +A and 20Cr3-CH?
+A is the default condition — standard stock condition for bar and tube that will be machined and then carburized. CH: the functional condition for bearing rings, rollers and needles: hard 60–64 HRC case over a tough 30–42 HRC core. Yield strength is 320 MPa in +A versus 850 MPa in CH.
How much does 20Cr3 cost?
20Cr3 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 ISO 683-17 Heat-treatable steels – Ball and roller bearing steels — ISO/CEN (2014)
- EN 10084 Case hardening steels – Technical delivery conditions — CEN (2008)
- DIN 17230 Wälzlagerstähle — DIN (1980)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 – Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Machinery's Handbook (machinability ratings) — Industrial Press (2020)
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.