Steel 3J53
GB 3J53 · also Elinvar
3J53, also known as Elinvar, is an age-hardenable Fe-Ni-Cr constant-modulus alloy engineered so its elastic modulus stays nearly constant with temperature.
Reference datasheet — 3J53 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 ST condition
3J53 tempers and conditions
3J53 is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. ST is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
STDefault Solution annealed | Pick for stamping, coiling or machining of blanks before ageing to final elastic properties. | 330 | 760 | 35 | 172 HB | 2.2 % IACS |
Hot rolled | Mill feedstock for further forging, machining and heat treatment; not a functional elastic condition. | 400 | 800 | 28 | 15 HRC | 2.2 % IACS |
Solution treated and precipitation aged | Use for machined resonators, diaphragms and load cells needing near-zero modulus drift with good strength but no cold-work distortion. | 830 | 1,180 | 15 | 36 HRC | — |
Cold worked | Intermediate condition supplied for spring winding or forming immediately before customer ageing; cold-work level sets the final thermoelastic coefficient. | 1,000 | 1,150 | 5 | 34 HRC | 2.1 % IACS |
Cold worked then aged | Standard final condition for precision springs, hairsprings and tuning-fork resonators where the thermoelastic coefficient is trimmed to ~0. | 1,300 | 1,500 | 5 | 45 HRC | — |
What is 3J53?
3J53, also known as Elinvar, is an age-hardenable Fe-Ni-Cr constant-modulus alloy engineered so its elastic modulus stays nearly constant with temperature. Solution-treated values are about 330 MPa yield, 760 MPa tensile, 35 % elongation, 88 HRB and 155 GPa modulus; it is supplied as strip, wire and hot-rolled bar in solution-treated, cold-worked and aged conditions. Engineers choose it for hairsprings, balance springs and resonators where thermal frequency drift must be minimised. It is not stainless, machinability is low (score 35), and the thermoelastic coefficient depends on the cold-reduction and ageing schedule, so process control matters more than raw strength. 3J53 has a density of 8.14 g/cm³ (0.294 lb/in³), heavier than 97% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F). 3J53 has a yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — weaker than 78% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 35% and the elastic modulus is 155 GPa (22.5 Msi).
What is 3J53 used for?
- Watch/clock hairsprings
- Precision balance springs
- Tuning forks
- Frequency-critical mechanical resonators
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 40/100, better than 98% of steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 35%, better than 97% of steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 75/100, better than 90% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 65/100, better than 78% of steel grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 9 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 150°C (302 °F), worse than 99% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 12.6 W/m·K (7.28 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 99% of steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 2.2 % IACS, worse than 98% of steel grades
- Low stiffness — 155 GPa (22.5 Msi), worse than 97% of steel grades
3J53 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 3J53-ST; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
3J53 has a density of 8.14 g/cm³ (0.294 lb/in³), heavier than 97% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical15
3J53 has a yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — weaker than 78% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 35% and the elastic modulus is 155 GPa (22.5 Msi).
Thermal5
3J53 is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 12.6 W/m·K (7.28 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 99% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 7.9 µm/m·K (4.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
3J53 conducts electricity at 2.2 % IACS, worse than 98% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (40/100), better than 98% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 3J53 takes about 130 MJ of energy and emits 9 kg of CO₂ — more than 100% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 20%.
Manufacturability7
3J53's machinability is fair (35/100, worse than 84% of steel grades); weldability fair (50/100); formability very good (75/100).
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. 3J53 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 3J53
Is 3J53 easy to machine?
Machine in the solution-treated state with sharp carbide tools, low speed (≈15–25 m/min), heavy positive rake and flood coolant; the alloy work-hardens and galls like Invar, so finish-machine before ageing where possible.
Can 3J53 be welded?
TIG/plasma/electron-beam and resistance welding are used with matching or Ni-base filler under good shielding; Ti and Al oxidize readily, and joints must be re-solution-treated and aged to restore the constant-modulus behaviour.
Can 3J53 be formed, bent or molded?
Stamp, coil and deep-draw in the soft solution-treated condition; cold-reduction percentage before ageing is the key process variable that trims the thermoelastic coefficient to zero.
3J53 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nicontrols Curie point and thermoelastic coefficient | 41 – 43.5 | 42 |
| Cr | 5 – 6 | 5.5 |
| Tiγ' precipitation hardener | 2.2 – 2.7 | 2.4 |
| Al | 0.3 – 0.8 | 0.55 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.8 | 0.4 |
| Si | ≤ 0.5 | 0.3 |
| C | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| P | ≤ 0.02 | |
| S | ≤ 0.02 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 3J53?
Not stainless — passivate, electropolish or Ni/Cr/Au plate, or protect with oil; can be lapped and mirror-polished for resonator surfaces, and mild oxide from ageing is removed by pickling or electropolishing.
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 3J53 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- Elinvar
How much does 3J53 cost?
3J53 is a high-cost steel ($$$$), pricier than about 78% 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.
3J53 — frequently asked
What is 3J53 used for?
3J53 is typically used for watch/clock hairsprings, precision balance springs, tuning forks and frequency-critical mechanical resonators. In short: constant-modulus spring alloy; near-zero thermoelastic coefficient; invar-like machining behaviour.
What is the yield strength of 3J53?
3J53 has a typical yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — weaker than 78% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is 3J53 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, worse than 84% of steel grades). Machine in the solution-treated state with sharp carbide tools, low speed (≈15–25 m/min), heavy positive rake and flood coolant; the alloy work-hardens and galls like Invar, so finish-machine before ageing where possible.
Can 3J53 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (50/100). TIG/plasma/electron-beam and resistance welding are used with matching or Ni-base filler under good shielding; Ti and Al oxidize readily, and joints must be re-solution-treated and aged to restore the constant-modulus behaviour.
What surface finishes work on 3J53?
Not stainless — passivate, electropolish or Ni/Cr/Au plate, or protect with oil; can be lapped and mirror-polished for resonator surfaces, and mild oxide from ageing is removed by pickling or electropolishing.
Can 3J53 be formed, bent or molded?
Stamp, coil and deep-draw in the soft solution-treated condition; cold-reduction percentage before ageing is the key process variable that trims the thermoelastic coefficient to zero.
What is the maximum service temperature of 3J53?
3J53 is rated for continuous use to about 150°C (302 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 3J53-ST and 3J53-CW?
ST is the default condition — pick for stamping, coiling or machining of blanks before ageing to final elastic properties. CW: intermediate condition supplied for spring winding or forming immediately before customer ageing; cold-work level sets the final thermoelastic coefficient. Yield strength is 330 MPa in ST versus 1,000 MPa in CW.
How much does 3J53 cost?
3J53 is a high-cost steel ($$$$), pricier than about 78% 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
- Ni-Span-C alloy 902 datasheet (equivalent grade) — Special Metals Corporation (2004)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties of Fe-Ni Controlled-Expansion/Modulus Alloys — ASM International (1990)
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.