Steel 3310 Cold Drawn
Supply condition
AISI/SAE 3310 · UNS G33100
Use for small-diameter shafts and pins needing close tolerance and better surface before carburizing.
Values for the Cold Drawn condition
Other 3310 tempers and conditions
3310 is listed in 9 conditions; see the grade overview at 3310.
- Spheroidize Annealed
- Annealed
- Normalized+Tempered
- Hot Rolled
- Normalized
- Cold Drawn
- Q&T 30-36 HRC (core, uncarburized)
- Carburized 58-62 HRC (double quench)
- Carburized 58-62 HRC (single quench)
Compare all 9 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
optimized for machining and cold work | Choose when heavy hobbing, broaching or cold heading of the blank is required before carburizing. | 400 | 620 | 28 | 170 HB | 5.7 % IACS |
AnnealedDefault full anneal, bar/forging stock for carburizing | Standard stocking condition: softest, most machinable state for rough-cutting gear blanks before carburizing. | 425 | 665 | 26 | 187 HB | — |
Normalized and tempered | Preferred pre-carburizing condition for large forgings: refined grain plus softening temper for cutting. | 480 | 720 | 24 | 17 HRC | 5.7 % IACS |
as-rolled bar | Lowest-cost mill condition; usually re-annealed or normalized before machining because as-rolled hardness is variable. | 520 | 780 | 20 | 21 HRC | 5.7 % IACS |
900–925 °C air cool | Grain refinement / structure homogenization of forgings; note the high Ni-Cr content makes this grade air-hardening, so normalized hardness is high. | 560 | 830 | 20 | 24 HRC | 5.6 % IACS |
Cold DrawnThis page Cold drawn (annealed and cold finished) bar | Use for small-diameter shafts and pins needing close tolerance and better surface before carburizing. | 650 | 760 | 14 | 20 HRC | 5.7 % IACS |
Direct hardened and tempered | For non-wearing structural parts (shafts, links) that need very high toughness at moderate strength without a hard case. | 790 | 1,050 | 17 | 33 HRC | — |
Carburized, double quenched and tempered | The service condition for aerospace gears and bearing races: hard wear-resistant case over a very tough low-carbon martensitic core. | 860 | 1,170 | 15 | 60 HRC | — |
Carburized, single quenched and tempered | Lower-cost route with less distortion than double quench; slightly coarser case structure and marginally lower core toughness. | 900 | 1,240 | 13 | 60 HRC | — |
What is 3310 Cold Drawn?
3310 Cold Drawn is 3310 supplied in the Cold Drawn condition — use for small-diameter shafts and pins needing close tolerance and better surface before carburizing. 3310 Cold Drawn has a yield strength of 650 MPa (94.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 79% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 14% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). 3310 Cold Drawn 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). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Cold Drawn is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High strength — 650 MPa (94.3 ksi), better than 79% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 65/100, better than 78% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 93% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 2.6 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 87% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 22/100, worse than 81% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 33 W/m·K (19.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 80% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 14%, worse than 75% of steel grades
3310 Cold Drawn properties
Typical room-temperature values for 3310 Cold Drawn; 23 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 3310 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
3310 Cold Drawn 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).
Mechanical13
3310 Cold Drawn has a yield strength of 650 MPa (94.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 79% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 14% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
3310 Cold Drawn is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 33 W/m·K (19.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 80% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
3310 Cold Drawn has an electrical resistivity of 3×10⁻⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (15/100), better than 75% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 3310 Cold Drawn takes about 36 MJ of energy and emits 2.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 89% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability7
3310 Cold Drawn's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades); weldability poor (22/100); formability poor (30/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 3310 Cold Drawn
Is 3310 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed/spheroidized state with sharp carbide tooling and rigid setups; the high-Ni matrix is gummy and work-hardens, so use positive rake, generous feed and flood coolant, and finish-grind after carburizing.
Can 3310 be welded?
Poor weldability — the alloy air-hardens; if welding is unavoidable use low-hydrogen or matching filler, 250–300 °C preheat, low interpass restraint and immediate post-weld temper, and never weld carburized surfaces.
Can 3310 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge at 1100–1200 °C, finish above 950 °C and slow-cool or normalize plus temper; cold forming is limited to mild bends/heading in the annealed condition.
What surface finishes work on 3310?
No corrosion resistance of its own: after tempering apply black oxide, manganese phosphate, or cadmium/zinc-nickel plate with hydrogen-embrittlement bake; case-carburized surfaces are typically hard-ground and honed.
3310 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 | 0.08 – 0.13 | 0.1 |
| Mn | 0.45 – 0.6 | 0.52 |
| Si | 0.2 – 0.35 | 0.27 |
| Niprimary source of core toughness and hardenability | 3.25 – 3.75 | 3.5 |
| Cr | 1.4 – 1.75 | 1.57 |
| P0.015 max for electric-furnace E3310 | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| S0.015 max for electric-furnace E3310 | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
3310 Cold Drawn — frequently asked
What is 3310 Cold Drawn used for?
3310 Cold Drawn is typically used for aircraft gearbox gears, high-toughness shafts, helicopter transmission pinions, bearing races, splined couplings and heavy-duty gear sets. In short: highest core toughness; aerospace gear heritage; hardest of family to machine.
What is the yield strength of 3310 Cold Drawn?
3310 Cold Drawn has a typical yield strength of 650 MPa (94.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 79% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 3310 Cold Drawn easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed/spheroidized state with sharp carbide tooling and rigid setups; the high-Ni matrix is gummy and work-hardens, so use positive rake, generous feed and flood coolant, and finish-grind after carburizing.
Can 3310 Cold Drawn be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (22/100). Poor weldability — the alloy air-hardens; if welding is unavoidable use low-hydrogen or matching filler, 250–300 °C preheat, low interpass restraint and immediate post-weld temper, and never weld carburized surfaces.
What surface finishes work on 3310 Cold Drawn?
No corrosion resistance of its own: after tempering apply black oxide, manganese phosphate, or cadmium/zinc-nickel plate with hydrogen-embrittlement bake; case-carburized surfaces are typically hard-ground and honed.
Can 3310 Cold Drawn be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge at 1100–1200 °C, finish above 950 °C and slow-cool or normalize plus temper; cold forming is limited to mild bends/heading in the annealed condition.
What is the maximum service temperature of 3310 Cold Drawn?
3310 Cold Drawn is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- SAE J404 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Alloy Steels — SAE International (2021)
- ASTM A29/A29M — Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought, General Requirements — ASTM (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 4A — Steel Heat Treating Fundamentals and Processes (carburizing) — ASM International (2013)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 16 — Machining (machinability ratings) — ASM International (1989)
- GB/T 3077 — (12Cr2Ni4A ) — SAC / (2015)
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.