Steel 5130
AISI/SAE 5130 · UNS G51300
5130 (G51300, 30Cr) is a chromium low-alloy steel of the SAE 51xx family with moderate carbon content, giving good hardenability and toughness after quench and temper.
Values for the HR condition
5130 tempers and conditions
5130 is supplied in 9 conditions, soft to hard. HR is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 9 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
soft globular carbide structure | Supply condition for cold heading/upsetting of fasteners and deep cold forming of 5130 wire and bar. | 340 | 540 | 30 | 160 HB | 8.5 % IACS |
full/subcritical anneal, ~830 °C slow cool | Softest and most machinable/formable condition; used as supply state before final quench and temper. | 380 | 590 | 26 | 170 HB | 8.5 % IACS |
HRDefault Hot rolled | Cheapest stock form for parts that will be machined then heat treated; scaled surface and loose tolerances. | 415 | 635 | 22 | 187 HB | 8 % IACS |
870 °C, air cooled | Uniform fine-grained structure with better toughness than as-rolled; typical pre-machining condition for forgings. | 436 | 670 | 20.8 | 197 HB | 8 % IACS |
Cold rolled | Strip/sheet form with good surface and thickness tolerance for blanked or formed parts that are later hardened. | 570 | 690 | 13 | 207 HB | 8 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Bright, size-accurate bar with raised yield strength; best when parts are used without further heat treatment or only stress-relieved. | 580 | 680 | 12 | 200 HB | 45 W/m·K |
Tempered high for toughness | Choose when impact toughness and machinability matter more than peak strength (large shafts, forged levers). | 820 | 950 | 18 | 30 HRC | 7.5 % IACS |
Quenched and tempered | Standard service condition for shafts, bolts and steering/linkage parts needing high strength with useful toughness. | 900 | 1,030 | 16 | 33 HRC | — |
Tempered low for strength/wear | For high-strength pins, gear racks and wear surfaces in small sections; reduced toughness, machine before hardening. | 1,150 | 1,280 | 12 | 40 HRC | — |
What is 5130?
5130 (G51300, 30Cr) is a chromium low-alloy steel of the SAE 51xx family with moderate carbon content, giving good hardenability and toughness after quench and temper. It is used for medium-strength structural and machine parts and is supplied as hot-rolled, cold-rolled, cold-drawn, annealed, spheroidized and Q&T bar and sheet, including 28–32 HRC and 38–42 HRC conditions; the default annealed values are 415 MPa yield, 635 MPa tensile, 22 % elongation and 187 HB. It has no corrosion resistance, requires preheat and post-weld tempering to weld safely, and hardenability in heavy sections is limited — 4130 or 4140 are the usual step up. 5130 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). 5130 has a yield strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 635 MPa (92.1 ksi) — weaker than 56% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is 5130 used for?
- Shafts
- Gears
- Bolts
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 65/100, better than 78% of steel grades
5130 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 5130-HR; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
5130 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).
Mechanical16
5130 has a yield strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 635 MPa (92.1 ksi) — weaker than 56% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
5130 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 44 W/m·K (25.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 57% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12.2 µm/m·K (6.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
5130 conducts electricity at 8 % IACS, better than 55% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 5130 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability6
5130's machinability is good (58/100, better than 75% of steel grades); weldability fair (45/100); formability fair (50/100).
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. 5130 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 5130
Is 5130 easy to machine?
Machines best at 170–200 HB (annealed/normalized) with carbide tooling at ~120–180 m/min; above 35 HRC use rigid setups, coated carbide or grinding.
Can 5130 be welded?
Weldable with low-hydrogen/matching filler but preheat 200–300 °C, control interpass and post-weld temper (~600 °C) to avoid martensite cracking in the HAZ.
Can 5130 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in annealed/spheroidized state with generous radii; hot forge 1150–850 °C then normalize; oil quench from 855–870 °C, temper 200–650 °C to the target hardness.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit applies to 5130. Every 5130 part is priced by an engineer; design inside these and the quote comes back without a redesign loop.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Better58 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | P.2 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 180 / 210 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.8 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 5× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 1.6 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
Sheet metal
| Formability | Fair50 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Better45 / 100 |
5130 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C | 0.28 – 0.33 | 0.3 |
| Mn | 0.7 – 0.9 | 0.8 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Cr | 0.8 – 1.1 | 0.95 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | |
| Smax (0.015–0.035 for resulfurized 5130 variants) | ≤ 0.04 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 5130?
No corrosion resistance — finish with black oxide, phosphate+oil, zinc or hard chrome plating (bake to avoid hydrogen embrittlement above 1000 MPa), or paint; polishes and grinds well when hardened.
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).
Plating
CVD Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel 5130 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- G51300
- Similar grades
- 30Cr
How much does 5130 cost?
5130 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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.
5130 — frequently asked
What is 5130 used for?
5130 is typically used for shafts, gears and bolts. In short: chromium spring-steel bar.
What is the yield strength of 5130?
5130 has a typical yield strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 635 MPa (92.1 ksi) — weaker than 56% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 5130 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (58/100, better than 75% of steel grades). Machines best at 170–200 HB (annealed/normalized) with carbide tooling at ~120–180 m/min; above 35 HRC use rigid setups, coated carbide or grinding.
Can 5130 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). Weldable with low-hydrogen/matching filler but preheat 200–300 °C, control interpass and post-weld temper (~600 °C) to avoid martensite cracking in the HAZ.
What surface finishes work on 5130?
No corrosion resistance — finish with black oxide, phosphate+oil, zinc or hard chrome plating (bake to avoid hydrogen embrittlement above 1000 MPa), or paint; polishes and grinds well when hardened.
Can 5130 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in annealed/spheroidized state with generous radii; hot forge 1150–850 °C then normalize; oil quench from 855–870 °C, temper 200–650 °C to the target hardness.
What is the maximum service temperature of 5130?
5130 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 5130-HR and 5130-CD?
HR is the default condition — cheapest stock form for parts that will be machined then heat treated; scaled surface and loose tolerances. CD: bright, size-accurate bar with raised yield strength; best when parts are used without further heat treatment or only stress-relieved. Yield strength is 415 MPa in HR versus 580 MPa in CD.
How much does 5130 cost?
5130 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in 5130?
Yes — 5130 is available for CNC machining and sheet metal; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- SAE J404 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Alloy Steels — SAE International (2021)
- ASTM A29/A29M — Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought — ASTM (2020)
- GB/T 3077 (30Cr) — SAC (2015)
- 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)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16 — Machining — ASM International (1989)
- Mysteel / 1688 (2026)
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.