Steel 50SiCrMo6 +CH
Heat-treated state
EN 50SiCrMo6
+CH = restricted (narrowed) hardenability band
Same as +H but with a tightened Jominy scatter band for reproducible distortion and hardness in mass-produced springs.
Values for the +CH condition
Other 50SiCrMo6 tempers and conditions
50SiCrMo6 is listed in 7 conditions; see the grade overview at 50SiCrMo6.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spheroidize annealed | Softest, most ductile delivery state — chosen for cold heading, cold coiling or deep machining of bar/wire. | 450 | 710 | 18 | 210 HB | — |
Annealed | Pick for machining, straightening or cold work before final quench and temper. | 500 | 790 | 15 | 235 HB | 43 W/m·K |
Treated for high shearability | Order when leaf-spring or bar blanks are cold-sheared: microstructure/hardness set to shear cleanly without cracking. | 520 | 800 | 14 | 22 HRC | 8.1 % IACS |
Supplied with specified hardenability | Choose when the spring maker must guarantee through-hardening of thick leaves/bars; delivered hot-rolled or annealed with a Jominy band. | 570 | 950 | 11 | 29 HRC | 7.9 % IACS |
+CHThis page Restricted (narrowed) hardenability band | Same as +H but with a tightened Jominy scatter band for reproducible distortion and hardness in mass-produced springs. | 580 | 950 | 11 | 28 HRC | 8 % IACS |
Hot rolled | Cheapest mill condition for spring makers who hot-form and then quench and temper in-house. | 600 | 1,000 | 10 | 30 HRC | 7.9 % IACS |
+QTDefault Quenched and tempered | Standard service condition for leaf springs, torsion bars and hot-coiled springs — highest elastic limit and fatigue strength. | 1,550 | 1,750 | 7 | 49 HRC | — |
What is 50SiCrMo6 +CH?
50SiCrMo6 +CH is 50SiCrMo6 heat treated to +CH — same as +H but with a tightened Jominy scatter band for reproducible distortion and hardness in mass-produced springs. 50SiCrMo6 +CH has a yield strength of 580 MPa (84.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 950 MPa (138 ksi) — stronger than 75% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 11% and the elastic modulus is 206 GPa (29.9 Msi). 50SiCrMo6 +CH 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). +QT is the default condition FabDigit quotes; +CH is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 65/100, better than 78% of steel grades
- High strength — 580 MPa (84.1 ksi), better than 75% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 11%, worse than 89% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 38/100, worse than 80% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), worse than 78% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 77% of steel grades
50SiCrMo6 +CH properties
Typical room-temperature values for 50SiCrMo6 +CH; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 50SiCrMo6 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
50SiCrMo6 +CH 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).
Mechanical15
50SiCrMo6 +CH has a yield strength of 580 MPa (84.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 950 MPa (138 ksi) — stronger than 75% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 11% and the elastic modulus is 206 GPa (29.9 Msi).
Thermal6
50SiCrMo6 +CH is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 42 W/m·K (24.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 56% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12.3 µm/m·K (6.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
50SiCrMo6 +CH conducts electricity at 8 % IACS, better than 55% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (11/100), worse than 73% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 50SiCrMo6 +CH takes about 30 MJ of energy and emits 2.1 kg of CO₂ — more than 56% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability6
50SiCrMo6 +CH's machinability is fair (38/100, worse than 80% of steel grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability poor (28/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 50SiCrMo6 +CH
Is 50SiCrMo6 easy to machine?
Machine in +A/+AC condition with carbide tooling and rigid setups; at 46–52 HRC only grinding, hard turning with CBN, or EDM are practical.
Can 50SiCrMo6 be welded?
Not recommended for load-bearing spring joints (C ≈ 0.5 %, high Si/Cr); if unavoidable use 250–350 °C preheat, low-hydrogen consumables and immediate post-weld temper.
Can 50SiCrMo6 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot-form/coil at 850–950 °C then oil quench ~860 °C and temper 400–480 °C to target hardness; cold coiling only from +AC wire followed by full heat treatment.
What surface finishes work on 50SiCrMo6?
Shot-peen highly stressed surfaces to restore fatigue life, then phosphate + epoxy paint or zinc-flake coating; avoid acid pickling/electroplating without a hydrogen bake-out.
50SiCrMo6 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chigher-carbon variant of 45SiCrMo6 | 0.46 – 0.54 | 0.5 |
| Siraises elastic limit and relaxation resistance | 1.2 – 1.5 | 1.35 |
| Mn | 0.5 – 0.9 | 0.7 |
| Cr | 0.6 – 0.9 | 0.75 |
| Mohardenability in thick sections, temper resistance | 0.15 – 0.3 | 0.22 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
50SiCrMo6 +CH — frequently asked
What is 50SiCrMo6 +CH used for?
50SiCrMo6 +CH is typically used for leaf springs, heavy-duty coil springs and clutch springs. In short: heavy-duty leaf spring grade; higher carbon than 46SiCrMo6; grinding-only after hardening.
What is the yield strength of 50SiCrMo6 +CH?
50SiCrMo6 +CH has a typical yield strength of 580 MPa (84.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 950 MPa (138 ksi) — stronger than 75% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is 50SiCrMo6 +CH easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (38/100, worse than 80% of steel grades). Machine in +A/+AC condition with carbide tooling and rigid setups; at 46–52 HRC only grinding, hard turning with CBN, or EDM are practical.
Can 50SiCrMo6 +CH be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Not recommended for load-bearing spring joints (C ≈ 0.5 %, high Si/Cr); if unavoidable use 250–350 °C preheat, low-hydrogen consumables and immediate post-weld temper.
What surface finishes work on 50SiCrMo6 +CH?
Shot-peen highly stressed surfaces to restore fatigue life, then phosphate + epoxy paint or zinc-flake coating; avoid acid pickling/electroplating without a hydrogen bake-out.
Can 50SiCrMo6 +CH be formed, bent or molded?
Hot-form/coil at 850–950 °C then oil quench ~860 °C and temper 400–480 °C to target hardness; cold coiling only from +AC wire followed by full heat treatment.
What is the maximum service temperature of 50SiCrMo6 +CH?
50SiCrMo6 +CH 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.
Sources
- EN 10089 — Hot-rolled steels for quenched and tempered springs — CEN (2002)
- EN 10083-1/-3 — Steels for quenching and tempering (delivery conditions +A, +AC, +S, +QT, +H, +CH) — CEN (2006)
- EN 10027-2 — Numerical designation system (material number 1.8063) — CEN (2015)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys (spring steels) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.19 — Fatigue and Fracture (spring steel fatigue data) — ASM International (1996)
- EN 13906-1 — Cylindrical helical springs, design and calculation — CEN (2013)
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.