Steel 51100
AISI/SAE 51100 · ASTM A295
51100 is a carbon–chromium through-hardening bearing steel supplied to ASTM A295, with lower chromium than 52100 and correspondingly shallower hardenability.
Reference datasheet — 51100 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 Annealed condition
51100 tempers and conditions
51100 is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault Annealed (spheroidize annealed bar/tube) | Standard mill-supplied condition for machining, cold forming and subsequent through hardening. | 400 | 640 | 25 | 192 HB | 46 W/m·K |
Normalized (≈870 °C, air cooled) | Used to break up carbide networks in forgings before spheroidize annealing. | 520 | 900 | 12 | 26 HRC | 8 % IACS |
Hot rolled | As-rolled bar for forging or re-heat-treatment stock; hard and unsuitable for direct machining. | 550 | 900 | 12 | 27 HRC | 8 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Close-tolerance bright bar and wire for rollers, pins and cold-headed blanks. | 620 | 760 | 10 | 19 HRC | 8 % IACS |
quench + temper 300–400 °C | Tougher tempered condition for shafts, cams and wear parts where shock loading matters more than peak hardness. | 1,400 | 1,600 | 5 | 48 HRC | — |
oil quench + temper 180–230 °C | Slightly softer temper for better dimensional stability and impact tolerance in service to ~200 °C. | 1,700 | 2,050 | 2 | 60 HRC | — |
oil quench + low temper (150–180 °C) | Standard through-hardened bearing condition for maximum rolling-contact fatigue life and wear resistance. | 1,800 | 2,200 | 1 | 62 HRC | 36 W/m·K |
What is 51100?
51100 is a carbon–chromium through-hardening bearing steel supplied to ASTM A295, with lower chromium than 52100 and correspondingly shallower hardenability. It is a common alternative to 52100 for smaller or less demanding bearing components and is stocked as annealed, normalized, hot-rolled and cold-drawn bar at about 640 MPa tensile, 400 MPa yield, 25 % elongation and 192 HB, then hardened to 45–64 HRC. The listed maximum service temperature is 400 °C, but the alloy is effectively non-weldable at roughly 1 % C and has no inherent corrosion resistance. 52100 is the nearest alternative for heavier sections. 51100 has a density of 7.81 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of steel grades. It melts at 1,415°C (2,579 °F). 51100 has a yield strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) and a tensile strength of 640 MPa (92.8 ksi) — weaker than 60% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is 51100 used for?
- Small to medium bearing races
- Precision rollers
- Bearing balls
- Cam followers and track rollers
- Pump and gear shafts requiring high hardness
- Bushings and thrust washers
- Tooling pins and dies
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
- 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
51100 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 51100-Annealed; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
51100 has a density of 7.81 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of steel grades. It melts at 1,415°C (2,579 °F).
Mechanical16
51100 has a yield strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) and a tensile strength of 640 MPa (92.8 ksi) — weaker than 60% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
51100 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °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
51100 conducts electricity at 8 % IACS, better than 55% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 51100 takes about 34 MJ of energy and emits 2.4 kg of CO₂ — more than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability8
51100'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. 51100 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 51100
Is 51100 easy to machine?
Machine only in the spheroidize-annealed condition (~40 % of AISI 1212) with rigid setups and carbide tooling; hardened parts require grinding, honing or CBN hard turning.
Can 51100 be welded?
Effectively non-weldable in production — ~1 % C causes quench cracking; if repair is unavoidable, preheat 300–400 °C and post-weld temper immediately.
Can 51100 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold heading and upsetting are done spheroidize-annealed; hot forge 1050–1150 °C, finish above 900 °C and slow-cool then re-anneal to avoid carbide networks.
51100 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CASTM A295 grade 51100 | 0.98 – 1.1 | 1.03 |
| Mn | 0.25 – 0.45 | 0.35 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Crleaner than 52100 (1.30–1.60 Cr) | 0.9 – 1.15 | 1.02 |
| 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 51100?
Harden at 800–840 °C in oil, temper 150–180 °C, then grind and superfinish; protect with oil film, black oxide, manganese phosphate or thin dense chrome since the alloy has no inherent corrosion resistance.
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 51100 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- A295
How much does 51100 cost?
51100 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.
51100 — frequently asked
What is 51100 used for?
51100 is typically used for small to medium bearing races, precision rollers, bearing balls, cam followers and track rollers, pump and gear shafts requiring high hardness and bushings and thrust washers. In short: lower-Cr 52100 alternative; ASTM A295 bearing grade; hardens 45–64 HRC.
What is the yield strength of 51100?
51100 has a typical yield strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) and a tensile strength of 640 MPa (92.8 ksi) — weaker than 60% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is 51100 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 AISI 1212) with rigid setups and carbide tooling; hardened parts require grinding, honing or CBN hard turning.
Can 51100 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (12/100). Effectively non-weldable in production — ~1 % C causes quench cracking; if repair is unavoidable, preheat 300–400 °C and post-weld temper immediately.
What surface finishes work on 51100?
Harden at 800–840 °C in oil, temper 150–180 °C, then grind and superfinish; protect with oil film, black oxide, manganese phosphate or thin dense chrome since the alloy has no inherent corrosion resistance.
Can 51100 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold heading and upsetting are done spheroidize-annealed; hot forge 1050–1150 °C, finish above 900 °C and slow-cool then re-anneal to avoid carbide networks.
What is the maximum service temperature of 51100?
51100 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 51100 Annealed and 51100-CD?
Annealed is the default condition — standard mill-supplied condition for machining, cold forming and subsequent through hardening. CD: close-tolerance bright bar and wire for rollers, pins and cold-headed blanks. Yield strength is 400 MPa in Annealed versus 620 MPa in CD.
How much does 51100 cost?
51100 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 International (2014)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 4: Heat Treating — ASM International (1991)
- Machining Data Handbook / ASM Machining volume — ASM International (1989)
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.