Steel 50100
AISI/SAE 50100 · ASTM A295
50100 is the lowest-chromium carbon–chromium bearing steel in the AISI/ASTM A295 family (equivalent to JIS SUJ1), relying mainly on about 1 % carbon for hardness.
Reference datasheet — 50100 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 ANN condition
50100 tempers and conditions
50100 is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. ANN is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 8 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANNDefault Annealed | Standard as-supplied bar/tube condition for machining, cold forming and ball blanking before hardening. | 390 | 650 | 25 | 195 HB | 46 W/m·K |
Hot rolled | Mill hot-rolled bar not yet spheroidized — cheapest input when the user will anneal or forge in-house. | 490 | 850 | 14 | 25 HRC | 7.8 % IACS |
Normalized | Used to break up carbide network in forgings prior to spheroidizing; not a delivery condition for finishing. | 540 | 950 | 12 | 30 HRC | 7.6 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Close-tolerance bright bar and ball/roller wire for automatic machining and cold heading before hardening. | 590 | 760 | 12 | 20 HRC | 7.8 % IACS |
Hardened + stabilizing temper 230–250 °C | Dimensionally stabilized (S0/S1-type) condition when the bearing must run above ~150 °C, at the cost of hardness. | 1,650 | 1,900 | 3 | 57 HRC | — |
Through hardened & tempered 58–62 HRC | Slightly softer/tougher bearing condition for shock-loaded rollers and small races. | 1,800 | 2,150 | 1.5 | 60 HRC | — |
Martempered (marquenched) & tempered, ~60 HRC | Salt-bath martempering for thin races and balls where quench distortion and cracking must be minimized. | 1,800 | 2,150 | 1 | 60 HRC | 7 % IACS |
Through hardened & tempered 60–64 HRC | Standard finished bearing-race and ball condition — maximum wear and rolling-contact fatigue life on small sections. | 1,900 | 2,300 | 1 | 62 HRC | 36 W/m·K |
What is 50100?
50100 is the lowest-chromium carbon–chromium bearing steel in the AISI/ASTM A295 family (equivalent to JIS SUJ1), relying mainly on about 1 % carbon for hardness. It suits smaller-diameter, lighter-duty races and balls and is supplied annealed, normalized, hot-rolled or cold-drawn at about 650 MPa tensile, 390 MPa yield, 25 % elongation and 195 HB, then quenched and tempered to 58–64 HRC. Hardenability is shallow compared with 52100, the steel is effectively non-weldable, and bare surfaces have no corrosion resistance. Choose 51100 or 52100 for larger sections. 50100 has a density of 7.81 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F). 50100 has a yield strength of 390 MPa (56.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 650 MPa (94.3 ksi) — weaker than 64% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is 50100 used for?
- Small bearing races and balls
- Instrument bearings
- Needle roller and pin assemblies
- Light-duty cam followers
- Thin-section thrust washers
- Precision bushings
- Small guide rollers
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 88/100, better than 100% of steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 25%, better than 77% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 150°C (302 °F), worse than 99% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 12/100, worse than 96% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 45 MPa·√m (41 ksi·√in), worse than 90% of steel grades
50100 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 50100-ANN; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
50100 has a density of 7.81 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical16
50100 has a yield strength of 390 MPa (56.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 650 MPa (94.3 ksi) — weaker than 64% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
50100 is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 46 W/m·K (26.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 71% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.9 µm/m·K (6.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
50100 conducts electricity at 7.8 % IACS, worse than 57% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 50100 takes about 33 MJ of energy and emits 2.4 kg of CO₂ — more than 76% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability7
50100's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades); weldability not recommended (12/100); formability fair (40/100).
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. 50100 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 50100
Is 50100 easy to machine?
Machine only in the spheroidize-annealed condition (~40% of B1112) with rigid setups and carbide tooling; hardened parts require grinding, honing or CBN turning.
Can 50100 be welded?
Effectively non-weldable at 1% C — if unavoidable, preheat 300–400 °C, low-hydrogen process and immediate post-weld temper.
Can 50100 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold heading/ball blanking and cold ring rolling are done in the annealed state; hot forge 1050–1150 °C and finish above ~900 °C, then slow-cool and spheroidize.
50100 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CSUJ1 range 0.95–1.10 | 0.98 – 1.1 | 1.03 |
| Mn | 0.25 – 0.45 | 0.35 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| CrLowest Cr of the A295 family; JIS SUJ1 is higher at 0.90–1.20 | 0.4 – 0.6 | 0.5 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.02 | |
| Niresidual max | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Curesidual max | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Moresidual max | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 50100?
No anodizing; protect with preservative oil, black oxide, manganese phosphate or thin dense chrome, and lap/superfinish raceways to sub-0.1 µm Ra.
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 50100 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- A295
- Similar grades
- SUJ1
How much does 50100 cost?
50100 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.
50100 — frequently asked
What is 50100 used for?
50100 is typically used for small bearing races and balls, instrument bearings, needle roller and pin assemblies, light-duty cam followers, thin-section thrust washers and precision bushings. In short: leanest A295 bearing steel; for small, light-duty bearings; SUJ1 equivalent.
What is the yield strength of 50100?
50100 has a typical yield strength of 390 MPa (56.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 650 MPa (94.3 ksi) — weaker than 64% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 50100 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades). Machine only in the spheroidize-annealed condition (~40% of B1112) with rigid setups and carbide tooling; hardened parts require grinding, honing or CBN turning.
Can 50100 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (12/100). Effectively non-weldable at 1% C — if unavoidable, preheat 300–400 °C, low-hydrogen process and immediate post-weld temper.
What surface finishes work on 50100?
No anodizing; protect with preservative oil, black oxide, manganese phosphate or thin dense chrome, and lap/superfinish raceways to sub-0.1 µm Ra.
Can 50100 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold heading/ball blanking and cold ring rolling are done in the annealed state; hot forge 1050–1150 °C and finish above ~900 °C, then slow-cool and spheroidize.
What is the maximum service temperature of 50100?
50100 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 50100-ANN and 50100 QT60-64?
ANN is the default condition — standard as-supplied bar/tube condition for machining, cold forming and ball blanking before hardening. QT60-64: standard finished bearing-race and ball condition — maximum wear and rolling-contact fatigue life on small sections. Yield strength is 390 MPa in ANN versus 1,900 MPa in QT60-64.
How much does 50100 cost?
50100 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
- ASTM A295 / A295M — High-Carbon Anti-Friction Bearing Steel — ASTM (2014)
- JIS G 4805 — High carbon chromium bearing steels (SUJ1) — JSA (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys (bearing steels) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4 — Heat Treating (hardening of high-carbon bearing steels) — ASM International (1991)
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.