Steel 20MnCrS5
EN 20MnCrS5
20MnCrS5 (1.7149) is the resulfurized, free-machining version of the 20MnCr5 manganese-chromium case-hardening steel of the EN 10084 family, with roughly 0.02–0.04% S for chip control.
Values for the HR condition
20MnCrS5 tempers and conditions
20MnCrS5 is supplied in 9 conditions, soft to hard. HR is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 9 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spheroidize annealed | Soft spheroidize-annealed 1.7149 bar/wire with globular carbides for maximum cold-formability and low tool wear before carburizing. | 320 | 480 | 25 | 150 HB | 44 W/m·K |
soft/spheroidise annealed, ≤217 HB | Pick for heavy chip removal, cold extrusion or hobbing before carburizing; guaranteed max hardness per EN 10084. | 370 | 580 | 24 | 180 HB | — |
880–920 °C, air cooled | Use to homogenise forgings and refine grain before carburizing; uniform machinability and low distortion. | 440 | 690 | 19 | 195 HB | 8 % IACS |
HRDefault Hot rolled | Standard stock form for gear-blank forging or rough machining before carburizing. | 450 | 700 | 18 | 200 HB | 8 % IACS |
Spheroidized & Cold Drawn | Spheroidize-annealed then cold-drawn 1.7149 bright bar: raised strength and close tolerances with good chip control from the sulfur addition. | 500 | 600 | 12 | 185 HB | 43 W/m·K |
Cold rolled | Cold-finished surface and tighter tolerance for stampings, strip parts and precision blanks. | 580 | 750 | 12 | 18 HRC | 8 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Choose for close tolerance, bright bar going straight to CNC turning of small shafts and pins. | 620 | 780 | 10 | 20 HRC | 8 % IACS |
Quenched and tempered | Reference core condition after 860–900 °C oil quench and low temper — the strength the carburized part's core reaches. | 800 | 1,150 | 9 | 36 HRC | — |
Carburized and hardened | Final service condition for gears and splines: 58–62 HRC wear-resistant case over a tough 30–42 HRC core. | 800 | 1,150 | 8 | 60 HRC | — |
What is 20MnCrS5?
20MnCrS5 (1.7149) is the resulfurized, free-machining version of the 20MnCr5 manganese-chromium case-hardening steel of the EN 10084 family, with roughly 0.02–0.04% S for chip control. It is specified where long turning or gear-hobbing runs precede carburizing, and is stocked as hot-rolled, cold-drawn and soft-annealed bar for gears, shafts and pins; reference properties are about 450 MPa yield, 700 MPa tensile, 18% elongation at 200 HB. Limits are no corrosion resistance, welding only with 200–250 °C preheat and stress relief, and sulfides that reduce transverse toughness — use 20MnCr5 where transverse fatigue governs. 20MnCrS5 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). 20MnCrS5 has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is 20MnCrS5 used for?
- Gears
- Shafts
- Pins
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 250°C (482 °F), worse than 85% of steel grades
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
20MnCrS5 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 20MnCrS5-HR; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
20MnCrS5 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
20MnCrS5 has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
20MnCrS5 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 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
20MnCrS5 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 20MnCrS5 takes about 30 MJ of energy and emits 2.1 kg of CO₂ — more than 56% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability6
20MnCrS5's machinability is good (60/100, better than 83% of steel grades); weldability fair (35/100); formability fair (48/100).
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. 20MnCrS5 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 20MnCrS5
Is 20MnCrS5 easy to machine?
Best turned/hobbed in the soft-annealed (≤217 HB) state; the 0.02–0.04 % S gives short chips and ~10 % better tool life than 20MnCr5, but finish carburized surfaces need grinding.
Can 20MnCrS5 be welded?
Weldable only with care — preheat ~200–250 °C, low-hydrogen consumables and post-weld stress relief; sulfur raises hot-cracking risk, so avoid welding on carburized zones.
Can 20MnCrS5 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold extrusion and upsetting are practical after spheroidise annealing; hot forge at 1100–1150 °C and normalize afterwards to control grain size before carburizing.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit applies to 20MnCrS5. Every 20MnCrS5 part is priced by an engineer; design inside these and the quote comes back without a redesign loop.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Excellent60 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | P.2 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 180 / 210 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.8 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 5× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 1.6 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
20MnCrS5 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 |
| Simax per EN 10084 | ≤ 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 1.1 – 1.4 | 1.25 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Sdeliberate S addition for machinability (the 'S' in the grade name) | 0.02 – 0.04 | 0.03 |
| Cr | 1 – 1.3 | 1.15 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 20MnCrS5?
No corrosion resistance as-machined — protect with oil, manganese phosphate, zinc or Zn-Ni plating (bake to avoid hydrogen embrittlement); shot peening after case hardening markedly raises bending fatigue.
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).
Plating
CVD Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel 20MnCrS5 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.714920MnCr5 + S
How much does 20MnCrS5 cost?
20MnCrS5 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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.
20MnCrS5 — frequently asked
What is 20MnCrS5 used for?
20MnCrS5 is typically used for gears, shafts and pins. In short: carburizing Cr-Mn-S bar.
What is the yield strength of 20MnCrS5?
20MnCrS5 has a typical yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 20MnCrS5 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, better than 83% of steel grades). Best turned/hobbed in the soft-annealed (≤217 HB) state; the 0.02–0.04 % S gives short chips and ~10 % better tool life than 20MnCr5, but finish carburized surfaces need grinding.
Can 20MnCrS5 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (35/100). Weldable only with care — preheat ~200–250 °C, low-hydrogen consumables and post-weld stress relief; sulfur raises hot-cracking risk, so avoid welding on carburized zones.
What surface finishes work on 20MnCrS5?
No corrosion resistance as-machined — protect with oil, manganese phosphate, zinc or Zn-Ni plating (bake to avoid hydrogen embrittlement); shot peening after case hardening markedly raises bending fatigue.
Can 20MnCrS5 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold extrusion and upsetting are practical after spheroidise annealing; hot forge at 1100–1150 °C and normalize afterwards to control grain size before carburizing.
What is the maximum service temperature of 20MnCrS5?
20MnCrS5 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 20MnCrS5-HR and 20MnCrS5-CH?
HR is the default condition — standard stock form for gear-blank forging or rough machining before carburizing. CH: final service condition for gears and splines: 58–62 HRC wear-resistant case over a tough 30–42 HRC core. Yield strength is 450 MPa in HR versus 800 MPa in CH.
How much does 20MnCrS5 cost?
20MnCrS5 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in 20MnCrS5?
Yes — 20MnCrS5 is available for CNC machining; 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 / EN 10083 related bright bar and heat-treatment delivery conditions — CEN (2018)
- 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 / 20MnCrS5 (1.7147/1.7149) datasheet — Deutsche Edelstahlwerke / Ovako (2021)
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.