Steel 54SiCr6
EN 54SiCr6
54SiCr6 (1.7102, AISI 9254) is a silicon-chromium spring steel from the EN 10083 alloy-steel family, in which silicon raises the elastic limit and relaxation resistance and chromium adds hardenability.
Reference datasheet — 54SiCr6 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
54SiCr6 tempers and conditions
54SiCr6 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 drawing or deep cold forming of blanks; spheroidized carbides give the softest, most ductile state. | 460 | 760 | 18 | 215 HB | — |
Annealed | Pick when the bar must be machined, straightened or cold formed before hardening; lowest strength, best chip formation. | 500 | 800 | 15 | 230 HB | — |
Treated for high shearability | Bar delivered at a controlled soft hardness so billets can be cold sheared without cracking prior to forging or hardening. | 500 | 830 | 14 | 21 HRC | 6.5 % IACS |
Treatable to a specified core hardness range | Delivered soft with a guarantee that after the agreed quench-and-temper cycle the core hardness falls in the contracted band (typically 44–50 HRC for this grade). | 520 | 860 | 13 | 47 HRC | 6.5 % IACS |
Treated to a specified hardness range | Intermediate pre-treated bar supplied inside an agreed hardness window for predictable machining and straightening behaviour. | 560 | 900 | 13 | 26 HRC | 6.5 % IACS |
Supplied with specified hardenability (Jominy) band | Order this when the spring or component is hardened by the buyer and a guaranteed Jominy hardenability band is required; mechanical values are those of the as-rolled/annealed delivery state. | 620 | 1,000 | 12 | 60 HRC | 6 % IACS |
Hot rolled | Cheapest delivery form for spring makers who austenitize and quench the coiled or formed part themselves. | 650 | 1,050 | 11 | 32 HRC | 6 % IACS |
+QTDefault Quenched and tempered | Standard in-service condition for coil/leaf springs: oil quench from ~870 °C, temper 400–480 °C to 44–51 HRC for maximum elastic limit and fatigue life. | 1,550 | 1,750 | 7 | 48 HRC | — |
Oil hardened and tempered spring wire | Continuously oil-hardened-and-tempered wire based on this chemistry for valve springs and small high-duty coil springs; highest tensile of all forms. | 1,750 | 1,950 | 6 | 52 HRC | 6 % IACS |
What is 54SiCr6?
54SiCr6 (1.7102, AISI 9254) is a silicon-chromium spring steel from the EN 10083 alloy-steel family, in which silicon raises the elastic limit and relaxation resistance and chromium adds hardenability. It is the standard choice for coil and leaf springs and torsion bars, supplied as hot-rolled bar, flat bar and oil-tempered wire in +A, +AC, +S, +H, +QT and OT conditions. Typical hardened-and-tempered properties are 1550 MPa yield, 1750 MPa tensile, 7 % elongation and 470 HB (48 HRC), with service limited to about 250 °C. It is effectively non-weldable and hard to machine at strength; 61SiCr7 is the nearest higher-carbon alternative. 54SiCr6 has a density of 7.8 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), lighter than 87% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F). 54SiCr6 has a yield strength of 1,550 MPa (225 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,750 MPa (254 ksi) — stronger than 97% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 7% and the elastic modulus is 206 GPa (29.9 Msi).
What is 54SiCr6 used for?
- coil springs
- leaf springs
- torsion bars
Advantages
- High strength — 1,550 MPa (225 ksi), better than 97% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 7%, worse than 96% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 95% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 35 MPa·√m (31.9 ksi·√in), worse than 94% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 25/100, worse than 93% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 91% of steel grades
54SiCr6 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 54SiCr6-+QT; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
54SiCr6 has a density of 7.8 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), lighter than 87% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Mechanical16
54SiCr6 has a yield strength of 1,550 MPa (225 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,750 MPa (254 ksi) — stronger than 97% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 7% and the elastic modulus is 206 GPa (29.9 Msi).
Thermal6
54SiCr6 is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 42 W/m·K (24.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 56% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
54SiCr6 conducts electricity at 6 % IACS, worse than 78% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 54SiCr6 takes about 31 MJ of energy and emits 2.2 kg of CO₂ — more than 64% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability8
54SiCr6's machinability is poor (25/100, worse than 93% of steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability not recommended (10/100).
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. 54SiCr6 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 54SiCr6
Is 54SiCr6 easy to machine?
Machine in +A/+AC/+S condition with carbide tooling and rigid setups; at 45–50 HRC only grinding, hard turning with CBN, or EDM are practical.
Can 54SiCr6 be welded?
Essentially not recommended — high C+Si gives cold-crack sensitivity; if unavoidable use 250–350 °C preheat, low-hydrogen filler and immediate post-weld temper, accepting loss of spring properties.
Can 54SiCr6 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot coil/forge at 1000–1150 °C or cold form only in the spheroidized (+AC) state; oil-tempered wire is coiled cold and stress relieved at 380–420 °C.
54SiCr6 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 | 0.51 – 0.59 | 0.55 |
| Siraises elastic limit and relaxation resistance | 1.2 – 1.6 | 1.4 |
| Mn | 0.5 – 0.8 | 0.65 |
| Crhardenability and temper resistance | 0.5 – 0.8 | 0.65 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 54SiCr6?
Shot peen springs after tempering for fatigue life, then phosphate + epoxy/zinc-flake coating; avoid acid pickling and electroplating at full strength due to hydrogen embrittlement risk.
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 54SiCr6 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.7102
- Similar grades
- 9254
How much does 54SiCr6 cost?
54SiCr6 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.
54SiCr6 — frequently asked
What is 54SiCr6 used for?
54SiCr6 is typically used for coil springs, leaf springs and torsion bars. In short: standard Si-Cr spring steel; high elastic limit; not for welded assemblies.
What is the yield strength of 54SiCr6?
54SiCr6 has a typical yield strength of 1,550 MPa (225 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,750 MPa (254 ksi) — stronger than 97% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 54SiCr6 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, worse than 93% of steel grades). Machine in +A/+AC/+S condition with carbide tooling and rigid setups; at 45–50 HRC only grinding, hard turning with CBN, or EDM are practical.
Can 54SiCr6 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Essentially not recommended — high C+Si gives cold-crack sensitivity; if unavoidable use 250–350 °C preheat, low-hydrogen filler and immediate post-weld temper, accepting loss of spring properties.
What surface finishes work on 54SiCr6?
Shot peen springs after tempering for fatigue life, then phosphate + epoxy/zinc-flake coating; avoid acid pickling and electroplating at full strength due to hydrogen embrittlement risk.
Can 54SiCr6 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot coil/forge at 1000–1150 °C or cold form only in the spheroidized (+AC) state; oil-tempered wire is coiled cold and stress relieved at 380–420 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of 54SiCr6?
54SiCr6 is rated for continuous use to about 250°C (482 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 54SiCr6 +QT and 54SiCr6-OT?
+QT is the default condition — standard in-service condition for coil/leaf springs: oil quench from ~870 °C, temper 400–480 °C to 44–51 HRC for maximum elastic limit and fatigue life. OT: continuously oil-hardened-and-tempered wire based on this chemistry for valve springs and small high-duty coil springs; highest tensile of all forms. Yield strength is 1,550 MPa in +QT versus 1,750 MPa in OT.
How much does 54SiCr6 cost?
54SiCr6 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 10089 — Hot rolled steels for quenched and tempered springs — CEN (2002)
- EN 10083-1/-3 — Steels for quenching and tempering (delivery conditions +A, +AC, +S, +H, +QT) — CEN (2006)
- EN 10270-2 — Steel wire for mechanical springs, oil hardened and tempered (VDSiCr) — CEN (2012)
- SAE J404 / J1249 — Chemical compositions and spring steel wire (9254) — SAE International (2009)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys (spring steels) — ASM International (1990)
- Spring steel bar 54SiCr6 (1.7102) datasheets — Ovako / Sidenor / Böhler (2022)
- (54SiCr6/9254/60Si2Mn) — Mysteel / 1688 (2025)
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.