Steel 5130-CR (Cold rolled)
Supply condition
AISI/SAE 5130 · UNS G51300
Strip/sheet form with good surface and thickness tolerance for blanked or formed parts that are later hardened.
Values for the CR condition
Other 5130 tempers and conditions
5130 is listed in 9 conditions; see the grade overview at 5130.
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 |
CRThis page 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-CR?
5130-CR is 5130 supplied in the CR condition — strip/sheet form with good surface and thickness tolerance for blanked or formed parts that are later hardened. 5130-CR has a yield strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — stronger than 74% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 13% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). 5130-CR 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). HR is the default condition FabDigit quotes; CR is available on request or by drawing note.
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
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 13%, worse than 78% of steel grades
5130-CR properties
Typical room-temperature values for 5130-CR; 21 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 5130 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
5130-CR 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-CR has a yield strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — stronger than 74% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 13% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
5130-CR is rated for continuous service to 350°C (662 °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-CR 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-CR 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-CR's machinability is fair (54/100, better than 54% of steel grades); weldability fair (42/100); formability fair (40/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 5130-CR
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.
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.
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 | — |
5130-CR — frequently asked
What is 5130-CR used for?
5130-CR is typically used for shafts, gears and bolts. In short: chromium spring-steel bar.
What is the yield strength of 5130-CR?
5130-CR has a typical yield strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — stronger than 74% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 5130-CR easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (54/100, better than 54% 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-CR be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (42/100). 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-CR?
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-CR 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-CR?
5130-CR 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.
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.
Can FabDigit make parts in 5130-CR?
Yes — 5130-CR 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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.