Steel 5160 Oil Quenched
Heat-treated state
AISI/SAE 5160 · UNS G51600 · EN 55Cr3, 1.7176
Intermediate process condition only — must be tempered promptly; brittle and crack-prone as quenched.
Values for the Oil Quenched condition
Other 5160 tempers and conditions
5160 is listed in 11 conditions; see the grade overview at 5160.
- Annealed
- Spheroidize Annealed
- Normalized
- Hot Rolled
- Cold Drawn
- Q&T 650C
- Q&T
- Q&T 425C
- Oil Quenched
- Q&T 315C
- Q&T 205C
Compare all 11 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault full anneal ~815 °C, slow cool | Softest condition for machining, bending and forming before hardening; most commonly stocked bar/flat condition. | 275 | 725 | 17 | 197 HB | — |
subcritical, spheroidal carbides | Choose for maximum cold formability/upsetting and best tool life when machining before hardening. | 340 | 660 | 22 | 183 HB | 7.8 % IACS |
855 °C, air cool | Uniform fine pearlitic structure; used to refine grain and homogenize forgings before final hardening. | 530 | 957 | 17.5 | 27 HRC | 7.8 % IACS |
as-rolled bar / flat / coil | Lowest-cost mill condition for parts that will be heat treated after machining or forming. | 550 | 900 | 14 | 25 HRC | 7.8 % IACS |
cold-finished annealed bar | Pick for close size tolerance and straight, bright bar for machined parts prior to hardening. | 700 | 860 | 10 | 24 HRC | 7.8 % IACS |
high temper (≈30 HRC) | Softest tempered condition — maximum ductility/toughness where moderate strength is sufficient. | 895 | 1,005 | 20 | 31 HRC | 7.6 % IACS |
Quenched and tempered | General-purpose high-toughness structural condition for shafts, links and heavy-duty machined parts. | 1,160 | 1,310 | 12 | 42 HRC | — |
medium temper (≈50 HRC) | Balanced strength/toughness level often used for heavy springs, torsion bars and impact tools. | 1,640 | 1,790 | 9 | 50 HRC | 7 % IACS |
Oil QuenchedThis page Oil Quenched (as-quenched, untempered martensite) | Intermediate process condition only — must be tempered promptly; brittle and crack-prone as quenched. | 1,750 | 2,200 | 1 | 63 HRC | 6.6 % IACS |
medium-low temper (≈53–55 HRC) | High strength with slightly improved toughness over a 205 °C temper; typical for knives and cutting edges. | 1,770 | 2,000 | 6 | 54 HRC | 6.8 % IACS |
oil quenched, low temper (≈58–60 HRC) | Maximum hardness/wear resistance for blades and wear parts; low toughness, use only in thin sections. | 1,790 | 2,220 | 4 | 58 HRC | — |
What is 5160 Oil Quenched?
5160 Oil Quenched is 5160 heat treated to Oil Quenched — intermediate process condition only — must be tempered promptly; brittle and crack-prone as quenched. 5160 Oil Quenched has a yield strength of 1,750 MPa (254 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,200 MPa (319 ksi) — stronger than 99% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). 5160 Oil Quenched has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Oil Quenched is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High strength — 1,750 MPa (254 ksi), better than 99% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 8/100, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 5/100, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 2/100, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 1%, worse than 99% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 150°C (302 °F), worse than 99% of steel grades
5160 Oil Quenched properties
Typical room-temperature values for 5160 Oil Quenched; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 5160 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
5160 Oil Quenched has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical13
5160 Oil Quenched has a yield strength of 1,750 MPa (254 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,200 MPa (319 ksi) — stronger than 99% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
5160 Oil Quenched is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °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
5160 Oil Quenched conducts electricity at 6.6 % IACS, worse than 76% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (8/100), worse than 99% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 5160 Oil Quenched takes about 30 MJ of energy and emits 2.2 kg of CO₂ — more than 56% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability8
5160 Oil Quenched's machinability is not recommended (8/100, worse than 100% of steel grades); weldability not recommended (5/100); formability not recommended (2/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 5160 Oil Quenched
Is 5160 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed/spheroidized state (~200 HB) with rigid setups and carbide tooling; above ~40 HRC expect grinding or hard-turning with CBN.
Can 5160 be welded?
Poor weldability due to high carbon equivalent — preheat 250–350 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables and temper immediately after welding; avoid welding on finished springs.
Can 5160 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1150–1200 °C and cool slowly; cold bend only when annealed, then oil quench 830–860 °C and temper 400–540 °C for spring properties (shot peen for fatigue).
What surface finishes work on 5160?
Not anodizable; protect with phosphate + oil, black oxide, paint or zinc/nickel plating (bake to avoid hydrogen embrittlement at high hardness); polishes well when hardened.
5160 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 | 0.56 – 0.64 | 0.6 |
| Mn | 0.75 – 1 | 0.88 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Cr | 0.7 – 0.9 | 0.8 |
| Pmax, SAE bar practice | ≤ 0.04 | — |
| Smax, SAE bar practice | ≤ 0.04 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
5160 Oil Quenched — frequently asked
What is 5160 Oil Quenched used for?
5160 Oil Quenched is typically used for leaf springs, suspension components and blades. In short: spring-tempered toughness.
What is the yield strength of 5160 Oil Quenched?
5160 Oil Quenched has a typical yield strength of 1,750 MPa (254 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,200 MPa (319 ksi) — stronger than 99% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 11 listed tempers.
Is 5160 Oil Quenched easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (8/100, worse than 100% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed/spheroidized state (~200 HB) with rigid setups and carbide tooling; above ~40 HRC expect grinding or hard-turning with CBN.
Can 5160 Oil Quenched be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (5/100). Poor weldability due to high carbon equivalent — preheat 250–350 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables and temper immediately after welding; avoid welding on finished springs.
What surface finishes work on 5160 Oil Quenched?
Not anodizable; protect with phosphate + oil, black oxide, paint or zinc/nickel plating (bake to avoid hydrogen embrittlement at high hardness); polishes well when hardened.
Can 5160 Oil Quenched be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1150–1200 °C and cool slowly; cold bend only when annealed, then oil quench 830–860 °C and temper 400–540 °C for spring properties (shot peen for fatigue).
What is the maximum service temperature of 5160 Oil Quenched?
5160 Oil Quenched is rated for continuous use to about 150°C (302 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in 5160 Oil Quenched?
Yes — 5160 Oil Quenched 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 / J1249 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Alloy Steels — SAE International (2021)
- ASTM A689 — Carbon and Alloy Steel Bars for Springs — ASTM (2021)
- 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)
- GB/T 1222 — (55CrMnA equivalent) — SAC (2016)
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.