Steel 5015
AISI/SAE 5015 · UNS G50150
5015 is a low-carbon chromium case-hardening steel (AISI/SAE 5015, UNS G50150) carburized to produce a hard, wear-resistant case over a soft, ductile core.
Reference datasheet — 5015 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 A condition
5015 tempers and conditions
5015 is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. A is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hot rolled | Lowest-cost mill condition for parts that will be fully machined and then carburized. | 275 | 440 | 30 | 126 HB | 9.5 % IACS |
ADefault Solution annealed | Softest, most machinable and most formable condition; standard supply state before carburizing. | 285 | 415 | 32 | 121 HB | — |
Normalized | Uniform fine-grain structure for stable machining and predictable carburizing response. | 315 | 470 | 28 | 137 HB | 9.5 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Choose for close tolerance, straight bar and higher as-supplied strength on screw-machine parts. | 450 | 525 | 15 | 149 HB | 9.5 % IACS |
Quenched and tempered | For thin sections used without a case, where moderate strength plus good toughness is enough. | 470 | 640 | 20 | 14 HRC | 9.3 % IACS |
Carburized, reheat quenched and tempered (refined core) | Use when maximum core toughness and minimum distortion/retained austenite are required. | 520 | 720 | 16 | 59 HRC | 9 % IACS |
Carburized, direct quenched and low-temperature tempered (case 58–62 HRC) | Standard service condition: hard wear-resistant case over a tough low-carbon martensitic core. | 550 | 760 | 13 | 60 HRC | — |
What is 5015?
5015 is a low-carbon chromium case-hardening steel (AISI/SAE 5015, UNS G50150) carburized to produce a hard, wear-resistant case over a soft, ductile core. It is used for light-duty pins, small gears and cam followers and is supplied as hot-rolled, annealed, normalized and cold-drawn bar, with direct-quench, reheat-quench and core-tempered conditions on file. Default-condition values are 285 MPa yield, 415 MPa tensile, 32 % elongation and 121 HB (68 HRB), with a formability score of 74. Core strength is well below Ni-Cr-Mo grades such as 8615 or 8620, and the steel has no corrosion resistance, so a protective coating is required. 5015 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F). 5015 has a yield strength of 285 MPa (41.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) — weaker than 89% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 32% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is 5015 used for?
- pins
- small gears
- cam followers
Advantages
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 32%, better than 95% of steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 74/100, better than 89% of steel grades
- Readily welded — 78/100, better than 78% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 9.5 % IACS, better than 75% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 285 MPa (41.3 ksi), worse than 89% of steel grades
5015 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 5015-A; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
5015 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical13
5015 has a yield strength of 285 MPa (41.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) — weaker than 89% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 32% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
5015 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °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
5015 conducts electricity at 9.5 % IACS, better than 75% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 5015 takes about 30 MJ of energy and emits 2.2 kg of CO₂ — more than 56% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
5015's machinability is good (58/100, better than 75% of steel grades); weldability very good (78/100); formability very good (74/100).
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. 5015 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 5015
Is 5015 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed or normalized condition (~60 % of AISI 1212); soft low-carbon structure is gummy, so use sharp positive-rake tooling, high speed and generous coolant, and finish-grind after carburizing.
Can 5015 be welded?
Good weldability before carburizing (CE ≈ 0.30) by GMAW/GTAW with low-hydrogen consumables; never weld a carburized surface — the high-carbon case will crack.
Can 5015 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold heading, bending and light drawing are practical in the annealed state; hot work at 1050–1200 °C, finish above 850 °C, then normalize.
5015 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cheat analysis, SAE J404 | 0.12 – 0.17 | 0.15 |
| Mn | 0.3 – 0.5 | 0.4 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Cr | 0.3 – 0.5 | 0.4 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | |
| S | ≤ 0.04 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 5015?
No natural corrosion resistance — apply black oxide, manganese phosphate + oil, zinc or zinc-nickel plating (bake to avoid hydrogen embrittlement); case-hardened surfaces polish and grind well.
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 5015 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- G50150
How much does 5015 cost?
5015 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.
5015 — frequently asked
What is 5015 used for?
5015 is typically used for pins, small gears and cam followers. In short: entry-level carburizing steel; most formable in family; light-duty hard case.
What is the yield strength of 5015?
5015 has a typical yield strength of 285 MPa (41.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) — weaker than 89% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is 5015 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (58/100, better than 75% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed or normalized condition (~60 % of AISI 1212); soft low-carbon structure is gummy, so use sharp positive-rake tooling, high speed and generous coolant, and finish-grind after carburizing.
Can 5015 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (78/100). Good weldability before carburizing (CE ≈ 0.30) by GMAW/GTAW with low-hydrogen consumables; never weld a carburized surface — the high-carbon case will crack.
What surface finishes work on 5015?
No natural corrosion resistance — apply black oxide, manganese phosphate + oil, zinc or zinc-nickel plating (bake to avoid hydrogen embrittlement); case-hardened surfaces polish and grind well.
Can 5015 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold heading, bending and light drawing are practical in the annealed state; hot work at 1050–1200 °C, finish above 850 °C, then normalize.
What is the maximum service temperature of 5015?
5015 is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 5015-A and 5015 QT-CORE?
A is the default condition — softest, most machinable and most formable condition; standard supply state before carburizing. QT-CORE: for thin sections used without a case, where moderate strength plus good toughness is enough. Yield strength is 285 MPa in A versus 470 MPa in QT-CORE.
How much does 5015 cost?
5015 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
- SAE J404 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Alloy Steels — SAE International (2021)
- SAE J1268 — Hardenability Bands for Carbon and Alloy H Steels — SAE International (2019)
- ASTM A29/A29M — Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought — ASTM International (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4A — Steel Heat Treating Fundamentals and Processes (carburizing) — ASM International (2013)
- GB/T 3077 (15Cr equivalent) — SAC (2015)
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.