Steel 32CDV13
EN 32CDV13
32CDV13 is a chromium-molybdenum-vanadium low-alloy aerospace steel (proprietary/BS/AFNOR family), strengthened by quench and tempering and often gas nitrided for a hard surface.
Reference datasheet — 32CDV13 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 QT-1080-1280 condition
32CDV13 tempers and conditions
32CDV13 is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. QT-1080-1280 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed (soft, ~840 °C slow cool) | Supply condition for machining, deep drawing, tube bending and welded-assembly fabrication before final heat treatment. | 550 | 790 | 18 | 230 HB | — |
Normalized | Grain-refined intermediate condition for forgings and tube before quench-and-temper. | 700 | 950 | 15 | 30 HRC | 7.2 % IACS |
Q&T 900–1100 MPa | Lower-strength temper for heavy sections, welded assemblies and parts where impact toughness dominates. | 830 | 1,000 | 15 | 32 HRC | — |
QT-1080-1280Default Q&T 1080–1280 MPa | Standard aerospace structural condition — best balance of 1180 MPa strength, toughness and weld repairability. | 1,000 | 1,180 | 12 | 38 HRC | — |
Q&T + gas nitrided | Choose for gears, shafts and pistons needing 900–1100 HV wear-resistant surface plus tough 1180 MPa core. | 1,000 | 1,180 | 11 | 38 HRC | — |
Q&T 1230–1420 MPa | Highest strength condition for shafts and gear blanks; reduced toughness and higher hydrogen-embrittlement sensitivity. | 1,130 | 1,320 | 10 | 43 HRC | — |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways 32CDV13 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
CD-Annealed Tube | Cold drawn + annealed tube | Supply form |
What is 32CDV13?
32CDV13 is a chromium-molybdenum-vanadium low-alloy aerospace steel (proprietary/BS/AFNOR family), strengthened by quench and tempering and often gas nitrided for a hard surface. In the default temper it gives 1000 MPa yield, 1180 MPa tensile, 12 % elongation and 38 HRC (360 HB) with service to 450 °C, and is supplied mainly as cold-drawn annealed tube, bar and forging stock. It welds more readily than most steels at this strength level, but has no corrosion resistance and machines slowly (machinability 42). 4130 or 4140 is the usual alternative when nitriding and 450 °C capability are not required. 32CDV13 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). 32CDV13 has a yield strength of 1,000 MPa (145 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,180 MPa (171 ksi) — stronger than 92% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is 32CDV13 used for?
- aircraft tube structures
- landing gear parts
- high-strength welded frames
Advantages
- High strength — 1,000 MPa (145 ksi), better than 92% of steel grades
- High service temperature — 450°C (842 °F), better than 86% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 65/100, better than 78% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 12%, worse than 84% 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
32CDV13 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 32CDV13-QT-1080-1280; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
32CDV13 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).
Mechanical16
32CDV13 has a yield strength of 1,000 MPa (145 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,180 MPa (171 ksi) — stronger than 92% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
32CDV13 is rated for continuous service to 450°C (842 °F). It conducts heat at 34 W/m·K (19.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 77% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.8 µm/m·K (6.56 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
32CDV13 has an electrical resistivity of 2.6×10⁻⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (16/100), better than 79% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 32CDV13 takes about 34 MJ of energy and emits 2.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
32CDV13's machinability is fair (42/100, worse than 73% of steel grades); weldability good (60/100); formability fair (35/100).
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. 32CDV13 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 32CDV13
Is 32CDV13 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed state (≈230 HB) with coated carbide, rigid setups and generous coolant; at 38 HRC Q&T use low-speed carbide or grinding, and finish-grind after nitriding.
Can 32CDV13 be welded?
One of its selling points — TIG/GTAW with matched or low-alloy filler, preheat 150–250 °C, avoid moisture, then normalize or re-quench-and-temper the assembly (stress relieve at ≥ 30 °C below the final temper).
Can 32CDV13 be formed, bent or molded?
Bend, spin and cold-form only in the annealed condition; hot work 1100→900 °C followed by slow cooling or immediate annealing to avoid quench cracks.
32CDV13 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cdesignation 32 = 0.32 %C | 0.29 – 0.36 | 0.32 |
| Si | 0.1 – 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.4 – 0.7 | 0.55 |
| Cr | 2.8 – 3.3 | 3.05 |
| Mo | 0.7 – 1.2 | 0.9 |
| V | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Niresidual | ≤ 0.3 | |
| P | ≤ 0.02 | |
| Saerospace melts often ≤0.010 | ≤ 0.02 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 32CDV13?
No anodizing; protect with cadmium or zinc-nickel plating (bake 190 °C/23 h for hydrogen relief), phosphate + primer, or use the nitrided surface with post-oxidation for wear plus mild corrosion resistance.
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
How much does 32CDV13 cost?
32CDV13 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.
32CDV13 — frequently asked
What is 32CDV13 used for?
32CDV13 is typically used for aircraft tube structures, landing gear parts and high-strength welded frames. In short: weldable high-strength aerospace steel; nitridable, 450 °C service; high strength-to-weight tubing.
What is the yield strength of 32CDV13?
32CDV13 has a typical yield strength of 1,000 MPa (145 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,180 MPa (171 ksi) — stronger than 92% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 32CDV13 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (42/100, worse than 73% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed state (≈230 HB) with coated carbide, rigid setups and generous coolant; at 38 HRC Q&T use low-speed carbide or grinding, and finish-grind after nitriding.
Can 32CDV13 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (60/100). One of its selling points — TIG/GTAW with matched or low-alloy filler, preheat 150–250 °C, avoid moisture, then normalize or re-quench-and-temper the assembly (stress relieve at ≥ 30 °C below the final temper).
What surface finishes work on 32CDV13?
No anodizing; protect with cadmium or zinc-nickel plating (bake 190 °C/23 h for hydrogen relief), phosphate + primer, or use the nitrided surface with post-oxidation for wear plus mild corrosion resistance.
Can 32CDV13 be formed, bent or molded?
Bend, spin and cold-form only in the annealed condition; hot work 1100→900 °C followed by slow cooling or immediate annealing to avoid quench cracks.
What is the maximum service temperature of 32CDV13?
32CDV13 is rated for continuous use to about 450°C (842 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 32CDV13 QT-1080-1280 and 32CDV13-N?
QT-1080-1280 is the default condition — standard aerospace structural condition — best balance of 1180 MPa strength, toughness and weld repairability. N: grain-refined intermediate condition for forgings and tube before quench-and-temper. Yield strength is 1,000 MPa in QT-1080-1280 versus 700 MPa in N.
How much does 32CDV13 cost?
32CDV13 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 10085 — Nitriding steels (32CrMoV12-10) — CEN (2001)
- AFNOR NF A35-565 / AIR 9160 aerospace steel specifications — AFNOR / DGA (1990)
- 32CDV13 (32CrMoV12-10) technical data sheet — Aubert & Duval (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.19 — Fatigue and Fracture — ASM International (1996)
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.