Steel 52CrMoV4
EN 52CrMoV4
52CrMoV4 (1.7701) is a chromium-molybdenum-vanadium spring and tool steel in the EN 10083 family, close to AISI 6150, hardened by quench and temper with vanadium carbides that supply fatigue strength and hot hardness.
Reference datasheet — 52CrMoV4 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 +QT condition
52CrMoV4 tempers and conditions
52CrMoV4 is supplied in 9 conditions, soft to hard. +QT 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spheroidize annealed | Choose for cold heading, cold extrusion or heavy cold forming and for the best tool life in machining. | 420 | 700 | 22 | 190 HB | — |
Annealed | Pick for rough machining, deep drilling or forming before the customer's own hardening cycle. | 470 | 780 | 18 | 210 HB | 44 W/m·K |
Treated for high shearability | Order when bar must be cold-sheared to blanks on a header line without cracking; hardness held to a shear-friendly ceiling. | 480 | 800 | 16 | 19 HRC | 8.5 % IACS |
Supplied with hardenability requirement | Specify when the part is hardened by the buyer and end-quench hardenability must be guaranteed to the standard band; bar is normally shipped annealed or hot-rolled. | 520 | 850 | 15 | 58 HRC | 8.5 % IACS |
Restricted (narrow) hardenability band, core hardenability guaranteed | Pick for large safety-critical sections where core hardness after quenching must fall inside a tightened Jominy band lot to lot. | 520 | 850 | 15 | 58 HRC | 8.5 % IACS |
Normalized | Grain-refined intermediate condition used after forging and before final hardening; not a service condition for springs. | 600 | 950 | 14 | 29 HRC | 8.2 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Bright, size-tolerance bar for automatic-lathe parts that will be hardened afterwards. | 700 | 900 | 9 | 26 HRC | 8.2 % IACS |
+QTDefault Quenched and tempered | Standard as-supplied strength condition for shafts, torsion bars and machined spring/valve parts; best balance of strength and toughness. | 1,050 | 1,250 | 10 | 39 HRC | — |
Hardened and low-temperature tempered, 45–50 HRC | Final spring/tooling condition for leaf springs, torsion bars and hot-work punches where maximum fatigue strength and hot hardness are needed. | 1,450 | 1,650 | 7 | 48 HRC | — |
What is 52CrMoV4?
52CrMoV4 (1.7701) is a chromium-molybdenum-vanadium spring and tool steel in the EN 10083 family, close to AISI 6150, hardened by quench and temper with vanadium carbides that supply fatigue strength and hot hardness. In the default +QT condition it gives 1050 MPa yield, 1250 MPa tensile, 10% elongation and about 365 HB (39 HRC), with service to 400 °C; common forms are bar, wire, strip and forged blanks. Weldability is poor (CE ≈ 1.0) and cold formability limited, so machine and form in +A/+AC and heat treat afterwards. 51CrV4 is the nearest easier-to-process alternative. 52CrMoV4 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). 52CrMoV4 has a yield strength of 1,050 MPa (152 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,250 MPa (181 ksi) — stronger than 93% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is 52CrMoV4 used for?
- coil and leaf springs
- valve parts
- hot forging dies
- high-stress fasteners
Advantages
- High strength — 1,050 MPa (152 ksi), better than 93% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 10%, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 55 MPa·√m (50.1 ksi·√in), worse than 82% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 22/100, worse than 81% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 38/100, worse than 80% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 20/100, worse than 80% of steel grades
52CrMoV4 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 52CrMoV4-+QT; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
52CrMoV4 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
52CrMoV4 has a yield strength of 1,050 MPa (152 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,250 MPa (181 ksi) — stronger than 93% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
52CrMoV4 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °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
52CrMoV4 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 52CrMoV4 takes about 30 MJ of energy and emits 2.2 kg of CO₂ — more than 56% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
52CrMoV4's machinability is fair (38/100, worse than 80% of steel grades); weldability poor (22/100); formability poor (20/100).
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. 52CrMoV4 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 52CrMoV4
Is 52CrMoV4 easy to machine?
Machine in +A/+AC condition (carbide, 120–180 m/min) — above 40 HRC use coated carbide or CBN with rigid setups and light DOC.
Can 52CrMoV4 be welded?
Poor weldability (CE ≈ 1.0): if unavoidable, preheat 300–400 °C, use low-hydrogen or matching filler, slow cool and temper immediately after welding.
Can 52CrMoV4 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in +AC (spheroidized) state; hot forge 1050–850 °C followed by slow cooling or immediate annealing, harden 840–870 °C oil quench and temper 400–650 °C to the required strength.
52CrMoV4 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 | 0.48 – 0.55 | 0.52 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.7 – 1.1 | 0.9 |
| Cr | 0.9 – 1.2 | 1.05 |
| Mo | 0.15 – 0.3 | 0.22 |
| Vgrain refinement, temper resistance | 0.1 – 0.2 | 0.13 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Smax; higher for free-cutting variants | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 52CrMoV4?
Not anodizable; protect by shot peening plus zinc phosphate + oil, Zn-Ni or Cd-free plating (bake to avoid hydrogen embrittlement), nitriding or black oxide; polishes well at high hardness.
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 52CrMoV4 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.770110083
- Similar grades
- 6150
How much does 52CrMoV4 cost?
52CrMoV4 is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
52CrMoV4 — frequently asked
What is 52CrMoV4 used for?
52CrMoV4 is typically used for coil and leaf springs, valve parts, hot forging dies and high-stress fasteners. In short: high-fatigue spring steel; retains hot hardness; hardens to 45-50 HRC.
What is the yield strength of 52CrMoV4?
52CrMoV4 has a typical yield strength of 1,050 MPa (152 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,250 MPa (181 ksi) — stronger than 93% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 52CrMoV4 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (38/100, worse than 80% of steel grades). Machine in +A/+AC condition (carbide, 120–180 m/min) — above 40 HRC use coated carbide or CBN with rigid setups and light DOC.
Can 52CrMoV4 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (22/100). Poor weldability (CE ≈ 1.0): if unavoidable, preheat 300–400 °C, use low-hydrogen or matching filler, slow cool and temper immediately after welding.
What surface finishes work on 52CrMoV4?
Not anodizable; protect by shot peening plus zinc phosphate + oil, Zn-Ni or Cd-free plating (bake to avoid hydrogen embrittlement), nitriding or black oxide; polishes well at high hardness.
Can 52CrMoV4 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in +AC (spheroidized) state; hot forge 1050–850 °C followed by slow cooling or immediate annealing, harden 840–870 °C oil quench and temper 400–650 °C to the required strength.
What is the maximum service temperature of 52CrMoV4?
52CrMoV4 is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does 52CrMoV4 cost?
52CrMoV4 is a budget-cost steel ($), 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
- EN 10083-3 Steels for quenching and tempering — Alloy steels — CEN (2006)
- EN 10089 Hot-rolled steels for quenched and tempered springs — CEN (2002)
- EN 10027-2 / Werkstoff 1.7701 designation — CEN (2015)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.19 — Fatigue and Fracture — ASM International (1996)
- Cr-Mo-V spring steel 52CrMoV4 data sheet — European special steel producer (Böhler/Ovako-type) (2022)
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.