Steel 32CDV13 QT-1080-1280
Heat-treated state · default condition
EN 32CDV13
QT-1080-1280 = q&T 1080–1280 MPa
Standard aerospace structural condition — best balance of 1180 MPa strength, toughness and weld repairability.
Values for the QT-1080-1280 condition
Other 32CDV13 tempers and conditions
32CDV13 is listed in 6 conditions; see the grade overview at 32CDV13.
- Annealed
- N
- QT-900-1100
- QT-1080-1280
- QT+Nitrided
- QT-1230-1420
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-1080-1280DefaultThis page 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 | — |
What is 32CDV13 QT-1080-1280?
32CDV13 QT-1080-1280 is 32CDV13 heat treated to QT-1080-1280 — standard aerospace structural condition — best balance of 1180 MPa strength, toughness and weld repairability. 32CDV13 QT-1080-1280 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). 32CDV13 QT-1080-1280 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).
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 QT-1080-1280 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 32CDV13 QT-1080-1280; 14 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 32CDV13 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
32CDV13 QT-1080-1280 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 QT-1080-1280 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 QT-1080-1280 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 QT-1080-1280 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 QT-1080-1280 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 QT-1080-1280'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. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 32CDV13 QT-1080-1280
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.
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.
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 | — |
32CDV13 QT-1080-1280 — frequently asked
What is 32CDV13 QT-1080-1280 used for?
32CDV13 QT-1080-1280 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 QT-1080-1280?
32CDV13 QT-1080-1280 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 QT-1080-1280 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 QT-1080-1280 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 QT-1080-1280?
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 QT-1080-1280 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 QT-1080-1280?
32CDV13 QT-1080-1280 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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.