Steel 56Mn4
EN 56Mn4
56Mn4 (1.1233, AISI 1552) is a medium-carbon steel with about 0.56 % C and roughly 1 % Mn, the manganese addition giving deeper hardenability than plain carbon grades at the same carbon level.
Reference datasheet — 56Mn4 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 +A condition
56Mn4 tempers and conditions
56Mn4 is supplied in 9 conditions, soft to hard. +A 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Treated for high shearability | Choose for strip/blank that must be blanked, sheared or fine-punched with clean edges before hardening. | 380 | 650 | 17 | 195 HB | — |
+ADefault Annealed | Standard stock condition for machining, cold forming and as the starting state before hardening. | 400 | 690 | 15 | 205 HB | — |
Hot rolled | Cheapest bar/wire-rod condition when the part will be re-heat-treated anyway. | 470 | 830 | 12 | 24 HRC | — |
Normalized | Uniform fine pearlitic structure for consistent machining and predictable response to induction hardening. | 480 | 800 | 13 | 22 HRC | — |
Induction hardened | The main reason this grade exists: hard wear-resistant induction case on a tough core for bearing races, pins and gear teeth. | 600 | 900 | 10 | 60 HRC | — |
Cold drawn | Pick for close-tolerance bright bar with raised strength and good surface for turned/wear parts. | 700 | 850 | 8 | 25 HRC | — |
+QT 28–32 HRC | Tough through-hardened condition for shafts and highly stressed machined parts. | 800 | 1,000 | 12 | 30 HRC | — |
+QT 38–42 HRC | Higher-strength through-hardened condition for wear-loaded links, cams and chain parts. | 1,080 | 1,280 | 9 | 40 HRC | — |
+QT 48–52 HRC | Maximum practical through-hardness for springs, blades and heavily worn small sections. | 1,450 | 1,700 | 6 | 50 HRC | — |
What is 56Mn4?
56Mn4 (1.1233, AISI 1552) is a medium-carbon steel with about 0.56 % C and roughly 1 % Mn, the manganese addition giving deeper hardenability than plain carbon grades at the same carbon level. It is stocked as bar, strip and coil in annealed, normalized, quenched-and-tempered (30, 40 and 50 HRC) and induction-hardened conditions; annealed material runs 400 MPa yield, 690 MPa tensile, 15 % elongation and 205 HB. Engineers choose it for bearing races and induction-hardened wear parts. Weldability is poor (CE ≈ 0.75–0.8), corrosion resistance is nil (score 10) and service is limited to 350 °C; C45E is the more weldable substitute. 56Mn4 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). 56Mn4 has a yield strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — weaker than 60% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).
What is 56Mn4 used for?
- Bearing races
- Induction-hardened shafts
- Rollers
- Wear bushings
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 55 MPa·√m (50.1 ksi·√in), worse than 82% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 77% of steel grades
56Mn4 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 56Mn4-+A; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
56Mn4 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
56Mn4 has a yield strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — weaker than 60% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).
Thermal6
56Mn4 is rated for continuous service to 350°C (662 °F). It conducts heat at 46 W/m·K (26.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 71% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12.3 µm/m·K (6.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
56Mn4 conducts electricity at 8.5 % IACS, better than 63% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 56Mn4 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
56Mn4's machinability is fair (48/100, worse than 57% of steel grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability fair (45/100).
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. 56Mn4 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 56Mn4
Is 56Mn4 easy to machine?
Machine in the +A/+S condition with carbide inserts, ~120–180 m/min; above ~35 HRC switch to CBN or grinding.
Can 56Mn4 be welded?
Poor weldability (CE ≈ 0.75–0.8): preheat 250–350 °C, low-hydrogen consumables and immediate stress relief/temper, or avoid welding altogether.
Can 56Mn4 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold blank, shear and lightly bend only in +A/+S strip with generous radii (≥2t); hot form 850–1100 °C, then slow-cool or normalize before hardening.
56Mn4 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 | 0.52 – 0.6 | 0.56 |
| Sisome strip specs allow ≤0.40 only | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.9 – 1.2 | 1.05 |
| Pmax; 0.025 for cold-rolled strip (EN 10132-4) | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Smax; 0.025 for cold-rolled strip | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Crresidual | ≤ 0.4 | 0.1 |
| Niresidual | ≤ 0.4 | 0.1 |
| Moresidual | ≤ 0.1 | 0.03 |
| Curesidual | ≤ 0.3 | 0.15 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 56Mn4?
No anodizing — protect with zinc/manganese phosphate + oil, black oxide, zinc or hard-chrome plating; hardened surfaces polish and grind well but rust quickly unbare.
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 56Mn4 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.1233
- Similar grades
- 1552
How much does 56Mn4 cost?
56Mn4 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.
56Mn4 — frequently asked
What is 56Mn4 used for?
56Mn4 is typically used for bearing races, induction-hardened shafts, rollers and wear bushings. In short: deeper hardenability than 1045; induction-hardening wear grade; poor weldability, no corrosion resistance.
What is the yield strength of 56Mn4?
56Mn4 has a typical yield strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — weaker than 60% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 56Mn4 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (48/100, worse than 57% of steel grades). Machine in the +A/+S condition with carbide inserts, ~120–180 m/min; above ~35 HRC switch to CBN or grinding.
Can 56Mn4 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Poor weldability (CE ≈ 0.75–0.8): preheat 250–350 °C, low-hydrogen consumables and immediate stress relief/temper, or avoid welding altogether.
What surface finishes work on 56Mn4?
No anodizing — protect with zinc/manganese phosphate + oil, black oxide, zinc or hard-chrome plating; hardened surfaces polish and grind well but rust quickly unbare.
Can 56Mn4 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold blank, shear and lightly bend only in +A/+S strip with generous radii (≥2t); hot form 850–1100 °C, then slow-cool or normalize before hardening.
What is the maximum service temperature of 56Mn4?
56Mn4 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 56Mn4 +A and 56Mn4-IH?
+A is the default condition — standard stock condition for machining, cold forming and as the starting state before hardening. IH: the main reason this grade exists: hard wear-resistant induction case on a tough core for bearing races, pins and gear teeth. Yield strength is 400 MPa in +A versus 600 MPa in IH.
How much does 56Mn4 cost?
56Mn4 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 10083-2 Steels for quenching and tempering — non-alloy steels — CEN (2006)
- EN 10132-4 Cold rolled narrow steel strip for heat treatment — spring and other applications — CEN (2000)
- SAE J403 / AISI 1552 chemical composition of carbon steels — SAE International (2014)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Stahlschlüssel (Key to Steel) — material 1.1233 — Verlag Stahlschlüssel Wegst (2019)
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.