Steel 38Cr2
EN 38Cr2
38Cr2 (1.7003) is a low-alloy chromium steel from the EN 10083 family with modest hardenability, quenched and tempered for moderate-strength parts.
Reference datasheet — 38Cr2 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 condition
38Cr2 tempers and conditions
38Cr2 is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. +QT is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spheroidize annealed | Best condition for cold forming, cold heading and heavy machining before final hardening; lowest hardness of all supply states. | 330 | 570 | 23 | 175 HB | — |
Annealed | General stock condition for bar to be machined and then heat treated by the user. | 360 | 620 | 21 | 195 HB | — |
Normalized | Uniform fine pearlitic structure for forgings and blanks that will be machined, case hardened or later Q&T. | 400 | 670 | 19 | 205 HB | — |
+QTDefault Quenched and tempered | Standard delivery condition for finished shafts, pins and small forgings needing 700–950 MPa strength with 35 J minimum CVN. | 560 | 800 | 15 | 23 HRC | — |
Annealed then cold drawn | Choose for close-tolerance bright bar used as-drawn for lightly loaded shafts, pins and bushings without further heat treatment. | 560 | 720 | 10 | 215 HB | — |
+QT small section | Pick for bars up to ~16 mm where the full 550 MPa minimum yield and top of the Rm band are needed. | 620 | 880 | 14 | 28 HRC | — |
Supplied to specified hardenability band | Order this when the part is hardened by the user and the as-quenched Jominy hardness band must be guaranteed; typical as-quenched (untempered) surface hardness 49–57 HRC. | 1,700 | 2 | 53 HRC | — |
What is 38Cr2?
38Cr2 (1.7003) is a low-alloy chromium steel from the EN 10083 family with modest hardenability, quenched and tempered for moderate-strength parts. Typical +QT values are 560 MPa yield, 800 MPa tensile, 15 % elongation and 240 HB (23 HRC), with service to about 350 °C; it is stocked as bar and forging stock for shafts, small forgings, bolts and axles. Machinability is fair (score 50) and it is weldable with low-hydrogen consumables and 150–250 °C preheat, but there is no corrosion resistance and through-hardening is limited by section size. 46Cr2 is the next step up when higher tempered strength is needed. 38Cr2 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). 38Cr2 has a yield strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 800 MPa (116 ksi) — stronger than 73% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is 38Cr2 used for?
- shafts
- small forgings
- bolts
- axles
38Cr2 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 38Cr2-+QT; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
38Cr2 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
38Cr2 has a yield strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 800 MPa (116 ksi) — stronger than 73% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
38Cr2 is rated for continuous service to 350°C (662 °F). It conducts heat at 44 W/m·K (25.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 57% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12 µm/m·K (6.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
38Cr2 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 38Cr2 takes about 29 MJ of energy and emits 2.1 kg of CO₂ — less than 53% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
38Cr2's machinability is fair (50/100, worse than 53% of steel grades); weldability fair (35/100); formability poor (25/100).
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. 38Cr2 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 38Cr2
Is 38Cr2 easy to machine?
Machine in +A or +AC condition with carbide tooling (~60 % of 1212); after Q&T above 260 HB reduce speed 30–40 % and expect tool wear.
Can 38Cr2 be welded?
Weldable with low-hydrogen consumables at CE ≈ 0.6 — preheat 150–250 °C, control interpass, then stress relieve or re-temper; avoid welding fully hardened parts.
Can 38Cr2 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1100–850 °C then normalize or anneal; cold forming only in spheroidized (+AC) state, quench from 830–870 °C in oil and temper 540–680 °C.
38Cr2 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 | 0.35 – 0.42 | 0.38 |
| Simax only | ≤ 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.5 – 0.8 | 0.65 |
| Cr | 0.4 – 0.6 | 0.5 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Smax; lower S grades (+S) available for hardenability variants | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 38Cr2?
No inherent corrosion resistance — specify phosphate + oil, zinc plating, black oxide, nitriding or hard chrome; bake after plating to avoid hydrogen embrittlement.
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
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel 38Cr2 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.7003
How much does 38Cr2 cost?
38Cr2 is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
38Cr2 — frequently asked
What is 38Cr2 used for?
38Cr2 is typically used for shafts, small forgings, bolts and axles. In short: easiest-welding chromium Q&T grade; modest hardenability, small sections; good annealed machinability.
What is the yield strength of 38Cr2?
38Cr2 has a typical yield strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 800 MPa (116 ksi) — stronger than 73% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is 38Cr2 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (50/100, worse than 53% of steel grades). Machine in +A or +AC condition with carbide tooling (~60 % of 1212); after Q&T above 260 HB reduce speed 30–40 % and expect tool wear.
Can 38Cr2 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (35/100). Weldable with low-hydrogen consumables at CE ≈ 0.6 — preheat 150–250 °C, control interpass, then stress relieve or re-temper; avoid welding fully hardened parts.
What surface finishes work on 38Cr2?
No inherent corrosion resistance — specify phosphate + oil, zinc plating, black oxide, nitriding or hard chrome; bake after plating to avoid hydrogen embrittlement.
Can 38Cr2 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1100–850 °C then normalize or anneal; cold forming only in spheroidized (+AC) state, quench from 830–870 °C in oil and temper 540–680 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of 38Cr2?
38Cr2 is rated for continuous use to about 350°C (662 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does 38Cr2 cost?
38Cr2 is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 90% 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 10083-3 Steels for quenching and tempering — Alloy steels — CEN (2006)
- EN 10084 Case hardening steels / hardenability (+H) requirements — CEN (2008)
- 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 — ASM International (2013)
- Machinery's Handbook (machinability ratings) — Industrial Press (2020)
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.