Steel 20MnCr5 Normalized
Heat-treated state
EN 20MnCr5
Uniform fine ferrite–pearlite structure before machining and carburizing; reduces distortion scatter.
Values for the Normalized condition
Other 20MnCr5 tempers and conditions
20MnCr5 is listed in 8 conditions; see the grade overview at 20MnCr5.
Compare all 8 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
soft/spheroidize annealed (+A) | Softest condition, max hardness 217 HB — choose for heavy machining or cold forging of blanks. | 350 | 560 | 24 | 170 HB | — |
treated to hardness range (machinability-controlled delivery) | Ordered when a narrow bar hardness band is needed for stable automatic machining. | 390 | 620 | 21 | 10 HRC | 8.4 % IACS |
NormalizedThis page ~880–920 °C, air cool | Uniform fine ferrite–pearlite structure before machining and carburizing; reduces distortion scatter. | 420 | 680 | 20 | 190 HB | — |
HRDefault Hot rolled | Standard stock condition for gear blanks that will be machined then carburized. | 460 | 750 | 18 | 210 HB | — |
Cold rolled | Thin strip for stamped/deep-drawn parts that will be carburized (chain plates, small gears). | 560 | 720 | 10 | 17 HRC | 8.2 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Bright, size-accurate bar for automatic-lathe parts and shafts; higher strength, lower ductility. | 620 | 800 | 10 | 20 HRC | 8.2 % IACS |
Quenched and tempered | Through-hardened core condition (no carburizing) for medium-strength shafts; core values per EN 10084 for 11–30 mm sections. | 750 | 1,000 | 12 | 32 HRC | — |
Carburized and hardened | The service condition for gears: 58–62 HRC case over a tough 30–40 HRC core, high contact and bending fatigue strength. | 780 | 1,050 | 11 | 60 HRC | — |
What is 20MnCr5 Normalized?
20MnCr5 Normalized is 20MnCr5 heat treated to Normalized — uniform fine ferrite–pearlite structure before machining and carburizing; reduces distortion scatter. 20MnCr5 Normalized has a yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 680 MPa (98.6 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi). 20MnCr5 Normalized 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). HR is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Normalized is available on request or by drawing note.
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 250°C (482 °F), worse than 85% of steel grades
20MnCr5 Normalized properties
Typical room-temperature values for 20MnCr5 Normalized; 10 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 20MnCr5 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
20MnCr5 Normalized 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).
Mechanical15
20MnCr5 Normalized has a yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 680 MPa (98.6 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
20MnCr5 Normalized is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 44 W/m·K (25.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 57% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.1 µm/m·K (6.17 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
20MnCr5 Normalized conducts electricity at 8.2 % IACS, better than 61% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 20MnCr5 Normalized takes about 27 MJ of energy and emits 2.1 kg of CO₂ — less than 59% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
20MnCr5 Normalized's machinability is good (60/100, better than 83% of steel grades); weldability fair (45/100); formability good (55/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 20MnCr5 Normalized
Is 20MnCr5 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed or normalized state with carbide tooling (≈60% of 1212); finish-grind after carburizing since 60 HRC case is essentially unmachinable.
Can 20MnCr5 be welded?
Weldable only before carburizing — preheat 200–250 °C, low-hydrogen consumables, post-weld stress relief; never weld a case-hardened surface.
Can 20MnCr5 be formed, bent or molded?
Good hot forgeability at 1100–1200 °C and good cold-heading behaviour after spheroidize annealing; normalize after forging before machining.
What surface finishes work on 20MnCr5?
No anodizing; protect with oil, black oxide, Mn-phosphate or zinc plating (bake for hydrogen relief), and shot-peen gear roots to boost bending fatigue.
20MnCr5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CEN 10084 | 0.17 – 0.22 | 0.2 |
| Si | ≤ 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 1.1 – 1.4 | 1.25 |
| Cr | 1 – 1.3 | 1.15 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| S0.020–0.040 for the +S free-machining variant | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Fe | balance |
20MnCr5 Normalized — frequently asked
What is 20MnCr5 Normalized used for?
20MnCr5 Normalized is typically used for gears, industrial drive shafts and pins. In short: carburizing Cr-Mn bar.
What is the yield strength of 20MnCr5 Normalized?
20MnCr5 Normalized has a typical yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 680 MPa (98.6 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 20MnCr5 Normalized easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, better than 83% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed or normalized state with carbide tooling (≈60% of 1212); finish-grind after carburizing since 60 HRC case is essentially unmachinable.
Can 20MnCr5 Normalized be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). Weldable only before carburizing — preheat 200–250 °C, low-hydrogen consumables, post-weld stress relief; never weld a case-hardened surface.
What surface finishes work on 20MnCr5 Normalized?
No anodizing; protect with oil, black oxide, Mn-phosphate or zinc plating (bake for hydrogen relief), and shot-peen gear roots to boost bending fatigue.
Can 20MnCr5 Normalized be formed, bent or molded?
Good hot forgeability at 1100–1200 °C and good cold-heading behaviour after spheroidize annealing; normalize after forging before machining.
What is the maximum service temperature of 20MnCr5 Normalized?
20MnCr5 Normalized is rated for continuous use to about 250°C (482 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 20MnCr5-HR and 20MnCr5-CH?
HR is the default condition — standard stock condition for gear blanks that will be machined then carburized. CH: the service condition for gears: 58–62 HRC case over a tough 30–40 HRC core, high contact and bending fatigue strength. Yield strength is 460 MPa in HR versus 780 MPa in CH.
Can FabDigit make parts in 20MnCr5 Normalized?
Yes — 20MnCr5 Normalized is available for CNC machining and sheet metal; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- EN 10084 — Case hardening steels: technical delivery conditions — CEN (2008)
- EN 10277 — Bright steel products — CEN (2018)
- GB/T 3077 (20CrMn/20CrMnH ) — SAC (2015)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4 — Heat Treating (carburizing of Mn-Cr steels) — ASM International (1991)
- Case hardening steel 20MnCr5 (1.7147) bar datasheet — Ovako / Böhler-Uddeholm (2021)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.