Steel 20MnCr4-2
EN 20MnCr4-2
20MnCr4-2 (1.3515) is a low-alloy manganese-chromium case-hardening bearing steel to EN ISO 683-17, carburized to give a hard, wear-resistant case over a tough core.
Reference datasheet — 20MnCr4-2 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
20MnCr4-2 tempers and conditions
20MnCr4-2 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 | Pick for cold extrusion, cold heading or deep-drawing of blanks that will later be carburized. | 320 | 500 | 26 | 165 HB | — |
Heat treated to a specified hardness range | Order when uniform bar-to-bar hardness is needed for automatic machining lines and predictable tool life. | 350 | 570 | 21 | 170 HB | — |
+ADefault Annealed | Standard stock condition for bar and tube: softest general-purpose state before machining and carburizing. | 360 | 590 | 22 | 180 HB | — |
Supplied with specified hardenability | Specify when the case/core hardness after carburizing must be guaranteed; mechanical properties as delivered are those of the annealed bar. | 360 | 590 | 22 | 41 HRC | 8.5 % IACS |
Treated for high shearability | Choose for wire/bar that is cold-sheared into slugs: hardness held in a band that gives clean, burr-free cut faces. | 400 | 630 | 18 | 190 HB | — |
Carburized, hardened and low-temperature tempered | The in-service condition: hard 58–62 HRC case over a tough 30–40 HRC core for bearing raceways, gears and pins. | 660 | 950 | 11 | 60 HRC | — |
What is 20MnCr4-2?
20MnCr4-2 (1.3515) is a low-alloy manganese-chromium case-hardening bearing steel to EN ISO 683-17, carburized to give a hard, wear-resistant case over a tough core. It is supplied as annealed (+A, +AC), normalized, treated-to-hardness or carburized and quenched-and-tempered bar and tube for bearing rings, rollers and small gears. Soft-condition values are about 360 MPa yield, 590 MPa tensile, 22 % elongation and 180 HB, with core service to roughly 400 °C and no corrosion resistance. It is weldable before carburizing but not after; 17MnCr5 is the nearest alternative when slightly higher core strength is wanted. 20MnCr4-2 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). 20MnCr4-2 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 22% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).
What is 20MnCr4-2 used for?
- Carburized bearing rings
- Rollers
- Small gears
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 65/100, better than 78% of steel grades
20MnCr4-2 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 20MnCr4-2-+A; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
20MnCr4-2 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
20MnCr4-2 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 22% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).
Thermal6
20MnCr4-2 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 44 W/m·K (25.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 57% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12.3 µm/m·K (6.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
20MnCr4-2 conducts electricity at 8.5 % IACS, better than 63% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (11/100), worse than 73% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 20MnCr4-2 takes about 30 MJ of energy and emits 2.2 kg of CO₂ — more than 56% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
20MnCr4-2's machinability is good (55/100, better than 62% 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. 20MnCr4-2 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 20MnCr4-2
Is 20MnCr4-2 easy to machine?
Machine in the +A/+AC/+TH soft condition (~60 % of 1212) and finish-grind after carburizing; expect gummy chips — use sharp positive geometry and coolant.
Can 20MnCr4-2 be welded?
Weldable before carburizing with low-hydrogen consumables and 150–250 °C preheat; welding after case hardening is not recommended.
Can 20MnCr4-2 be formed, bent or molded?
Spheroidized (+AC) bar cold-heads and cold-extrudes well; hot forge at 1100–850 °C followed by controlled cool or annealing.
20MnCr4-2 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 | 0.17 – 0.22 | 0.2 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.9 – 1.2 | 1.05 |
| Cr | 0.3 – 0.6 | 0.45 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Smax; bearing-quality orders often ≤0.015 | ≤ 0.04 | |
| Moresidual | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Niresidual | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Curesidual | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 20MnCr4-2?
No anodizing — protect with phosphate + oil, black oxide, or zinc/Zn-Ni plating (bake to avoid hydrogen embrittlement); raceways are hard-turned or ground and honed.
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 20MnCr4-2 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.3515
How much does 20MnCr4-2 cost?
20MnCr4-2 is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
20MnCr4-2 — frequently asked
What is 20MnCr4-2 used for?
20MnCr4-2 is typically used for carburized bearing rings, rollers and small gears. In short: case-hardening bearing steel; weldable before carburizing; good cold-heading formability.
What is the yield strength of 20MnCr4-2?
20MnCr4-2 has a typical yield strength of 360 MPa (52.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 590 MPa (85.6 ksi) — weaker than 72% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 20MnCr4-2 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades). Machine in the +A/+AC/+TH soft condition (~60 % of 1212) and finish-grind after carburizing; expect gummy chips — use sharp positive geometry and coolant.
Can 20MnCr4-2 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (55/100). Weldable before carburizing with low-hydrogen consumables and 150–250 °C preheat; welding after case hardening is not recommended.
What surface finishes work on 20MnCr4-2?
No anodizing — protect with phosphate + oil, black oxide, or zinc/Zn-Ni plating (bake to avoid hydrogen embrittlement); raceways are hard-turned or ground and honed.
Can 20MnCr4-2 be formed, bent or molded?
Spheroidized (+AC) bar cold-heads and cold-extrudes well; hot forge at 1100–850 °C followed by controlled cool or annealing.
What is the maximum service temperature of 20MnCr4-2?
20MnCr4-2 is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does 20MnCr4-2 cost?
20MnCr4-2 is a budget-cost steel ($), 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, alloy steels: ball and roller bearing steels — ISO/CEN (2014)
- EN 10084 — Case hardening steels: technical delivery conditions — CEN (2008)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4 — Heat Treating (carburizing) — ASM International (1991)
- Case-hardening / bearing steel bar datasheets (1.3515, 20MnCr5 class) — European long-product mills (2023)
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.