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Steel 50SiCrMo6 +H

Grade

EN 50SiCrMo6

+H = 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.

Budget cost $

Values for the +H 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 datasheetBest forYield MPaTensile MPaElong. %HardnessConductivity
Spheroidize annealed
Softest, most ductile delivery state — chosen for cold heading, cold coiling or deep machining of bar/wire.45071018210 HB—
Annealed
Pick for machining, straightening or cold work before final quench and temper.50079015235 HB43 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.5208001422 HRC8.1 % IACS
+HThis page
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.5709501129 HRC7.9 % IACS
Restricted (narrowed) hardenability band
Same as +H but with a tightened Jominy scatter band for reproducible distortion and hardness in mass-produced springs.5809501128 HRC8 % IACS
Hot rolled
Cheapest mill condition for spring makers who hot-form and then quench and temper in-house.6001,0001030 HRC7.9 % IACS
+QTDefault
Quenched and tempered
Standard service condition for leaf springs, torsion bars and hot-coiled springs — highest elastic limit and fatigue strength.1,5501,750749 HRC—

What is 50SiCrMo6 +H?

50SiCrMo6 +H is 50SiCrMo6 in the +H grade — choose when the spring maker must guarantee through-hardening of thick leaves/bars; delivered hot-rolled or annealed with a Jominy band. 50SiCrMo6 +H has a yield strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 950 MPa (138 ksi) — stronger than 74% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 11% and the elastic modulus is 206 GPa (29.9 Msi). 50SiCrMo6 +H 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; +H is available on request or by drawing note.

Advantages

  • Polishes to a fine finish — 65/100, better than 78% of steel grades

Limitations

  • Limited ductility — 11%, worse than 89% of steel grades
  • Difficult to weld — 19/100, worse than 87% of steel grades
  • Difficult to machine — 38/100, worse than 80% of steel grades
  • Low fracture toughness — 62 MPa·√m (56.4 ksi·√in), worse than 76% of steel grades

50SiCrMo6 +H properties

Typical room-temperature values for 50SiCrMo6 +H; 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 +H 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).

Density7.85 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³
Melting Point (Solidus)1,420°C2,588 °F
Liquidus Temperature1,490°C2,714 °F

Mechanical15

50SiCrMo6 +H has a yield strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 950 MPa (138 ksi) — stronger than 74% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 11% and the elastic modulus is 206 GPa (29.9 Msi).

Elastic (Young's) Modulus206 GPa29.9 Msi
Shear Modulus79 GPa11.5 Msi
Bulk Modulus160 GPa23.2 Msi
Poisson's Ratio0.29
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)950 MPa138 ksi
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)570 MPa82.7 ksi
Elongation at Break11%
Reduction in Area34%
Compressive Strength600 MPa87 ksi
Shear Strength580 MPa84.1 ksi
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)430 MPa62.4 ksi
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)62 MPa·√m56.4 ksi·√in
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)16 J11.8 ft·lbf
Hardness, Rockwell C29 HRC
Hardness, Vickers295 HV

Thermal6

50SiCrMo6 +H is rated for continuous service to 350°C (662 °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).

Thermal Conductivity42 W/m·K24.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Specific Heat Capacity470 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)12.3 µm/m·K6.8 µin/in·°F
Latent Heat of Fusion250 J/g107 BTU/lb
Max Service Temperature (continuous)350°C662 °F
Min Service Temperature-40°C-40 °F

Electrical3

50SiCrMo6 +H conducts electricity at 7.9 % IACS, better than 50% of steel grades.

Electrical Conductivity7.9 % IACS
Electrical Resistivity2.18×10⁻⁷ Ω·m8.58 µΩ·in
Magnetic Responseferromagnetic

Chemical & Environmental3

Corrosion resistance is not recommended (11/100), worse than 73% of steel grades.

Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)-0.62 V
Corrosion ResistanceNot recommended11/100
Chemical Resistance SummaryRusts freely in humid air and rapidly in chloride or acidic media; high-strength condition is susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement from acid pickling and electroplating, so phosphating/painting or zinc-flake coatings plus bake-out are standard.

Sustainability4

Producing a kilogram of 50SiCrMo6 +H takes about 30 MJ of energy and emits 2.1 kg of CO₂ — more than 56% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.

Embodied Energy (primary production)30 MJ/kg12,898 BTU/lb
Embodied Carbon (primary production)2.1 kg CO₂/kg
Embodied Water60 L/kg7.2 gal/lb
Typical Recycled Content25%

Manufacturability6

50SiCrMo6 +H's machinability is fair (38/100, worse than 80% of steel grades); weldability poor (19/100); formability poor (28/100).

MachinabilityFair38/100
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)38%
WeldabilityPoor19/100
Formability (cold)Poor28/100
PolishabilityGood65/100
Anodizing Responsen/a — ferrous alloy; use phosphate + paint, zinc-flake or Zn/Zn-Ni plating with hydrogen bake-out

Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.

Working with 50SiCrMo6 +H

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.

ElementSpec limit (wt %)Nominal
Chigher-carbon variant of 45SiCrMo60.46 – 0.540.5
Siraises elastic limit and relaxation resistance1.2 – 1.51.35
Mn0.5 – 0.90.7
Cr0.6 – 0.90.75
Mohardenability in thick sections, temper resistance0.15 – 0.30.22
P≤ 0.03—
S≤ 0.03—
Febalance—

50SiCrMo6 +H — frequently asked

What is 50SiCrMo6 +H used for?

50SiCrMo6 +H 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 +H?

50SiCrMo6 +H has a typical yield strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 950 MPa (138 ksi) — stronger than 74% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.

Is 50SiCrMo6 +H 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 +H be welded?

Not readily — weldability is rated poor (19/100). 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 +H?

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 +H 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 +H?

50SiCrMo6 +H is rated for continuous use to about 350°C (662 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.

Sources

  1. EN 10089 — Hot-rolled steels for quenched and tempered springs — CEN (2002)
  2. EN 10083-1/-3 — Steels for quenching and tempering (delivery conditions +A, +AC, +S, +QT, +H, +CH) — CEN (2006)
  3. EN 10027-2 — Numerical designation system (material number 1.8063) — CEN (2015)
  4. ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys (spring steels) — ASM International (1990)
  5. ASM Handbook Vol.19 — Fatigue and Fracture (spring steel fatigue data) — ASM International (1996)
  6. 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.