Steel 4340M Normalized
Heat-treated state
AISI/SAE 4340M · UNS K44220 · AMS 6419 · also 300M
Normalize ~925 °C then temper for uniform grain and moderate hardness — a machining/stock condition and a grain-refining step before final hardening.
Values for the Normalized condition
Other 4340M tempers and conditions
4340M is listed in 9 conditions; see the grade overview at 4340M.
Compare all 9 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed (AMS 6417 / spheroidize annealed bar) | Softest supply condition — pick for rough machining, deep drilling and forming before final quench and temper. | 690 | 930 | 15 | 26 HRC | 36 W/m·K |
Cold rolled | Thin strip/sheet condition for parts that will be formed then hardened; limited availability and limited cold-work capability. | 830 | 1,000 | 9 | 30 HRC | 7 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Small-diameter annealed bar/wire cold drawn to size for tight tolerance and better surface before heat treatment; rarely stocked in this grade. | 860 | 1,030 | 10 | 31 HRC | 7 % IACS |
NormalizedThis page Normalized & Tempered | Normalize ~925 °C then temper for uniform grain and moderate hardness — a machining/stock condition and a grain-refining step before final hardening. | 965 | 1,240 | 12 | 40 HRC | — |
HRDefault Hot rolled | Mill product as rolled or forged — air-hardened martensite, too hard and brittle to machine; always annealed or normalized before use. | 1,150 | 1,550 | 6 | 47 HRC | 7 % IACS |
Q&T 1790 MPa | Slightly higher temper for parts where fracture toughness and ductility matter more than peak strength. | 1,520 | 1,790 | 11 | 51 HRC | 7 % IACS |
Quenched and tempered | The standard 300M service condition (AMS 6419): highest strength/toughness balance for landing gear, actuator rods and shafts. | 1,620 | 1,930 | 10 | 54 HRC | — |
VAR / CEVM premium-melt bar | Consumable-electrode vacuum remelted stock — choose for fatigue- and fracture-critical aerospace parts needing best transverse ductility and low inclusion count. | 1,640 | 1,930 | 12 | 54 HRC | 7 % IACS |
Q&T 2070 MPa | Maximum-strength condition for weight-critical rocket motor cases and springs; accept lower toughness and high notch sensitivity. | 1,720 | 2,070 | 8 | 56 HRC | — |
What is 4340M Normalized?
4340M Normalized is 4340M heat treated to Normalized — normalize ~925 °C then temper for uniform grain and moderate hardness — a machining/stock condition and a grain-refining step before final hardening. 4340M Normalized has a yield strength of 965 MPa (140 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,240 MPa (180 ksi) — stronger than 91% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). 4340M Normalized 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). HR is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Normalized is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 75/100, better than 94% of steel grades
- High strength — 965 MPa (140 ksi), better than 91% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited formability — 5/100, worse than 99% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 12/100, worse than 96% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 40 MPa·√m (36.4 ksi·√in), worse than 92% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 30/100, worse than 89% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 2.6 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 87% of steel grades
4340M Normalized properties
Typical room-temperature values for 4340M Normalized; 10 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 4340M reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
4340M Normalized 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
4340M Normalized has a yield strength of 965 MPa (140 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,240 MPa (180 ksi) — stronger than 91% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
4340M Normalized is rated for continuous service to 290°C (554 °F). It conducts heat at 34 W/m·K (19.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 77% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.7 µm/m·K (6.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
4340M Normalized conducts electricity at 7 % IACS, worse than 74% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (14/100), better than 70% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 4340M Normalized takes about 36 MJ of energy and emits 2.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 89% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability8
4340M Normalized's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 89% of steel grades); weldability not recommended (12/100); formability not recommended (5/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 4340M Normalized
Is 4340M easy to machine?
Rough machine in the annealed condition (≈40% of B1112) with carbide and rigid setups; at 52–56 HRC only hard turning with CBN, creep-feed or plunge grinding is practical — grind gently to avoid re-tempering burn and grinding cracks.
Can 4340M be welded?
Not weldable in the hardened state; if welding is unavoidable use electron-beam or GTAW with matching filler, 260–320 °C preheat/interpass, and immediately re-austenitize, quench and temper the whole part.
Can 4340M be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge/upset at 1050–1200 °C with finish above 900 °C, then normalize and anneal; no meaningful cold forming above the annealed condition — bend and straighten only warm and re-stress-relieve.
What surface finishes work on 4340M?
Shot peen highly stressed fillets, then low-hydrogen-embrittlement cadmium or IVD aluminium plating (or HVOF WC-Co on journals) with a 190 °C/23 h bake within 4 h of plating; chrome plating requires strict bake and peening control.
4340M 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 | 0.4 – 0.46 | 0.43 |
| Sikey modification vs 4340 — raises temper resistance | 1.45 – 1.8 | 1.6 |
| Mn | 0.6 – 0.9 | 0.75 |
| Cr | 0.7 – 0.95 | 0.82 |
| Ni | 1.65 – 2 | 1.83 |
| Mo | 0.3 – 0.45 | 0.38 |
| Vgrain refinement | 0.05 – 0.1 | 0.07 |
| P | ≤ 0.01 | 0.01 |
| S | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.35 | 0.1 |
| Fe | balance |
4340M Normalized — frequently asked
What is 4340M Normalized used for?
4340M Normalized is typically used for aircraft landing gear cylinders and axles, arresting hooks, high-strength airframe fittings, rocket motor cases, torsion bars and high-strength drive shafts. In short: high-strength aerospace bar.
What is the yield strength of 4340M Normalized?
4340M Normalized has a typical yield strength of 965 MPa (140 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,240 MPa (180 ksi) — stronger than 91% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 4340M Normalized easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 89% of steel grades). Rough machine in the annealed condition (≈40% of B1112) with carbide and rigid setups; at 52–56 HRC only hard turning with CBN, creep-feed or plunge grinding is practical — grind gently to avoid re-tempering burn and grinding cracks.
Can 4340M Normalized be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (12/100). Not weldable in the hardened state; if welding is unavoidable use electron-beam or GTAW with matching filler, 260–320 °C preheat/interpass, and immediately re-austenitize, quench and temper the whole part.
What surface finishes work on 4340M Normalized?
Shot peen highly stressed fillets, then low-hydrogen-embrittlement cadmium or IVD aluminium plating (or HVOF WC-Co on journals) with a 190 °C/23 h bake within 4 h of plating; chrome plating requires strict bake and peening control.
Can 4340M Normalized be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge/upset at 1050–1200 °C with finish above 900 °C, then normalize and anneal; no meaningful cold forming above the annealed condition — bend and straighten only warm and re-stress-relieve.
What is the maximum service temperature of 4340M Normalized?
4340M Normalized is rated for continuous use to about 290°C (554 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 4340M-HR and 4340M-VAR?
HR is the default condition — mill product as rolled or forged — air-hardened martensite, too hard and brittle to machine; always annealed or normalized before use. VAR: consumable-electrode vacuum remelted stock — choose for fatigue- and fracture-critical aerospace parts needing best transverse ductility and low inclusion count. Yield strength is 1,150 MPa in HR versus 1,640 MPa in VAR.
Can FabDigit make parts in 4340M Normalized?
Yes — 4340M Normalized is available for CNC machining and sheet metal; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- AMS 6419 — Steel Bars, Forgings, Tubing 1.6Si-0.82Cr-1.8Ni-0.40Mo-0.08V, Consumable Electrode Melted, 1930 MPa — SAE International (2020)
- AMS 6417 — 300M Steel Bars and Forgings, Normalized and Tempered / Annealed — SAE International (2019)
- MMPDS-2023, Chapter 2 (Low-Alloy Ultrahigh-Strength Steels) — Battelle / FAA (2023)
- Aerospace Structural Metals Handbook — 300M — CINDAS (2015)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- 300M (UNS K44220) alloy steel bar data — Carpenter Technology / Aubert & Duval (2022)
- 40CrNi2Si2MoVA (2015)
- 300M/40CrNi2Si2MoVA — 1688 / Mysteel (2026)
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.