Steel 50100 NORM
Heat-treated state
AISI/SAE 50100 · ASTM A295
NORM = normalized
Used to break up carbide network in forgings prior to spheroidizing; not a delivery condition for finishing.
Values for the NORM condition
Other 50100 tempers and conditions
50100 is listed in 8 conditions; see the grade overview at 50100.
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 |
NORMThis page 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 NORM?
50100 NORM is 50100 heat treated to NORM — used to break up carbide network in forgings prior to spheroidizing; not a delivery condition for finishing. 50100 NORM has a yield strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 950 MPa (138 ksi) — stronger than 70% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). 50100 NORM 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). ANN is the default condition FabDigit quotes; NORM is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 88/100, better than 100% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 10/100, worse than 99% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 35 MPa·√m (31.9 ksi·√in), worse than 94% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 93% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 30/100, worse than 89% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 12%, worse than 84% of steel grades
50100 NORM properties
Typical room-temperature values for 50100 NORM; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 50100 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
50100 NORM 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 NORM has a yield strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 950 MPa (138 ksi) — stronger than 70% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
50100 NORM is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 45 W/m·K (26 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 66% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.9 µm/m·K (6.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
50100 NORM conducts electricity at 7.6 % 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 50100 NORM 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 NORM's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 89% of steel grades); weldability not recommended (10/100); formability poor (20/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 50100 NORM
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.
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.
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 | — |
50100 NORM — frequently asked
What is 50100 NORM used for?
50100 NORM 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 NORM?
50100 NORM has a typical yield strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 950 MPa (138 ksi) — stronger than 70% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 50100 NORM easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 89% 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 NORM be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (10/100). 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 NORM?
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 NORM 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 NORM?
50100 NORM is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.