Steel 41CrS4
EN 41CrS4
41CrS4 (1.7039, SAE 5140) is the sulfurized free-machining version of 41Cr4, a chromium through-hardening steel in the EN 10083-3 family.
Reference datasheet — 41CrS4 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 16-40 condition
41CrS4 tempers and conditions
41CrS4 is supplied in 12 conditions, soft to hard. +QT 16-40 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 12 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spheroidize annealed | Pick when carbide spheroidization is needed for the best chip control, cold heading of bolts, or thread rolling before quench and temper. | 400 | 650 | 23 | 195 HB | — |
Annealed | Softest supply condition for deep drilling, broaching and cold forming before hardening. | 420 | 680 | 20 | 205 HB | — |
Normalized | Uniform ferrite-pearlite structure for stock removal and dimensional stability before final heat treatment. | 460 | 780 | 17 | 235 HB | — |
Hot rolled | Cheapest mill condition, bought when the user performs its own annealing, normalizing or Q&T. | 480 | 800 | 16 | 22 HRC | 8 % IACS |
+QT | Largest Q&T section class of EN 10083-3 for this grade; used for big forged shafts. | 500 | 770 | 18 | 22 HRC | — |
+QT | Heavy-section bar class; accept lower core strength on large diameters. | 550 | 820 | 17 | 24 HRC | — |
+QT | Medium-section Q&T class for larger shafts and flanged parts where full hardening depth is limited. | 620 | 870 | 16 | 27 HRC | — |
Cold drawn | Bright, close-tolerance bar for automatic-lathe turned parts that are hardened afterwards or used as-drawn. | 650 | 800 | 9 | 250 HB | — |
Treated to a specified hardness range | Order when the drawing calls out a hardness band rather than a tensile class, typical for machined hydraulic and gearbox parts. | 700 | 950 | 15 | 30 HRC | — |
+QT 16-40Default +QT | Standard stocked condition: best strength/toughness balance for machined shafts, gears and couplings. | 720 | 980 | 14 | 31 HRC | — |
+QT | Highest-strength Q&T class for small-diameter shafts, pins and high-strength fasteners. | 870 | 1,100 | 12 | 36 HRC | — |
Supplied with specified (standard) hardenability band; typically… | Order +H when Jominy hardenability must be guaranteed; as-quenched martensite gives peak hardness and must be tempered before service. | 1,500 | 1,950 | 2 | 56 HRC | — |
What is 41CrS4?
41CrS4 (1.7039, SAE 5140) is the sulfurized free-machining version of 41Cr4, a chromium through-hardening steel in the EN 10083-3 family. The 0.02–0.04 % sulfur gives short chips and longer tool life on parts that are heavily machined before hardening; in the default +QT condition it holds about 720 MPa yield, 980 MPa tensile, 14 % elongation and 300 HB (31 HRC). Bar is supplied in +A, +AC, +N and section-graded +QT tempers from ≤16 mm to 160–250 mm. Sulfur lowers transverse toughness and makes welding poor, and there is no corrosion resistance; use 41Cr4 where weldability or transverse ductility matters. 41CrS4 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). 41CrS4 has a yield strength of 720 MPa (104 ksi) and a tensile strength of 980 MPa (142 ksi) — stronger than 82% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 14% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is 41CrS4 used for?
- shafts
- machined fasteners
- hydraulic parts
Advantages
- High strength — 720 MPa (104 ksi), better than 82% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), worse than 78% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 77% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 14%, worse than 75% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 65 MPa·√m (59.2 ksi·√in), worse than 75% of steel grades
41CrS4 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 41CrS4-+QT 16-40; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
41CrS4 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
41CrS4 has a yield strength of 720 MPa (104 ksi) and a tensile strength of 980 MPa (142 ksi) — stronger than 82% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 14% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
41CrS4 is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °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
41CrS4 conducts electricity at 7.7 % IACS, worse than 65% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 41CrS4 takes about 27 MJ of energy and emits 2.1 kg of CO₂ — less than 59% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability8
41CrS4's machinability is good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades); weldability poor (25/100); 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. 41CrS4 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 41CrS4
Is 41CrS4 easy to machine?
Sulfide inclusions give good chip breaking and tool life — turn in +A/+AC at ~150–200 m/min carbide; in +QT (≈30 HRC) drop to 100–140 m/min with rigid setups and positive rake.
Can 41CrS4 be welded?
Poor: 0.02–0.04 % S plus ~0.6 % carbon equivalent promotes hot cracking and hard HAZ — avoid welding, or preheat 250–350 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables and post-weld temper.
Can 41CrS4 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold head or thread-roll only in the +AC/+A condition; hot forge 1050–850 °C, then normalize before quenching from 830–860 °C in oil and tempering 540–680 °C.
41CrS4 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CEN 10083-3 | 0.38 – 0.45 | 0.41 |
| Si | ≤ 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.6 – 0.9 | 0.75 |
| Cr | 0.9 – 1.2 | 1.05 |
| Sdeliberate free-machining addition (vs ≤0.035 max in 41Cr4) | 0.02 – 0.04 | 0.03 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 41CrS4?
No inherent corrosion resistance — phosphate + oil, black oxide, zinc or Zn-Ni plate (bake to avoid hydrogen embrittlement above 1000 MPa); induction hardening and nitriding are both practicable, hard-chrome plating for shaft journals.
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 41CrS4 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.7039
- Similar grades
- 5140
How much does 41CrS4 cost?
41CrS4 is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
41CrS4 — frequently asked
What is 41CrS4 used for?
41CrS4 is typically used for shafts, machined fasteners and hydraulic parts. In short: free-machining 41Cr4; best chip control in family; poor weldability from sulfur.
What is the yield strength of 41CrS4?
41CrS4 has a typical yield strength of 720 MPa (104 ksi) and a tensile strength of 980 MPa (142 ksi) — stronger than 82% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 12 listed tempers.
Is 41CrS4 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades). Sulfide inclusions give good chip breaking and tool life — turn in +A/+AC at ~150–200 m/min carbide; in +QT (≈30 HRC) drop to 100–140 m/min with rigid setups and positive rake.
Can 41CrS4 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Poor: 0.02–0.04 % S plus ~0.6 % carbon equivalent promotes hot cracking and hard HAZ — avoid welding, or preheat 250–350 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables and post-weld temper.
What surface finishes work on 41CrS4?
No inherent corrosion resistance — phosphate + oil, black oxide, zinc or Zn-Ni plate (bake to avoid hydrogen embrittlement above 1000 MPa); induction hardening and nitriding are both practicable, hard-chrome plating for shaft journals.
Can 41CrS4 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold head or thread-roll only in the +AC/+A condition; hot forge 1050–850 °C, then normalize before quenching from 830–860 °C in oil and tempering 540–680 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of 41CrS4?
41CrS4 is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does 41CrS4 cost?
41CrS4 is a budget-cost steel ($), 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 (2019)
- EN 10277 Bright steel products — technical delivery conditions — CEN (2018)
- GB/T 3077 (40Cr comparable grade) — SAC (2015)
- 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)
- 41CrS4 / 1.7039 engineering steel datasheet — Lucchini RS / Böhler (2022)
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.