Steel 60Cr3 +QT (Quenched and tempered)
Heat-treated state · default condition
EN 60Cr3
Standard service condition for springs, torsion bars and heavy-duty elastic parts: oil quench + 400–500 °C temper for maximum elastic limit and fatigue life.
Values for the +QT condition
Other 60Cr3 tempers and conditions
60Cr3 is listed in 10 conditions; see the grade overview at 60Cr3.
Compare all 10 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spheroidize annealed | Softest supply condition — choose for cold heading, cold extrusion or heavy cold forming of high-carbon bar and wire. | 410 | 690 | 21 | 183 HB | 46 W/m·K |
Treated for high shearability | Bar delivered soft with a controlled structure so blanks can be cold-sheared without cracking before forging or heading. | 420 | 700 | 19 | 10 HRC | 8.5 % IACS |
Annealed | Pick for machining, cold forming or deep drilling of bar before the final harden-and-temper cycle. | 440 | 730 | 17 | 197 HB | 46 W/m·K |
Supplied to a specified hardenability band | Order this when the hardened depth after your own quench must be guaranteed; the bar itself is shipped soft (annealed or hot rolled) with a certified Jominy curve. | 470 | 780 | 16 | 62 HRC | 8.5 % IACS |
Restricted (core) hardenability band | Narrowed hardenability scatter band for parts where core hardness after quenching must be reproducible batch-to-batch (heavy leaf springs, torsion bars). | 470 | 780 | 16 | 17 HRC | 9 % IACS |
Normalized | Grain refinement and structure homogenisation after forging, used as an intermediate condition before machining and final hardening. | 560 | 950 | 14 | 26 HRC | — |
Hot rolled | Cheapest stock form for leaf-spring flats and forging blanks; hardness is variable and it is normally annealed or heat treated before use. | 570 | 980 | 12 | 28 HRC | 8 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Close-tolerance bright bar for machined blanks; residual cold-work raises strength but must be relieved or fully heat treated before spring service. | 660 | 850 | 10 | 22 HRC | 8 % IACS |
+QTDefaultThis page Quenched and tempered | Standard service condition for springs, torsion bars and heavy-duty elastic parts: oil quench + 400–500 °C temper for maximum elastic limit and fatigue life. | 1,300 | 1,450 | 9 | 44 HRC | 44 W/m·K |
Q&T 48–52 HRC | Higher-hardness variant (temper ≈ 300–380 °C) for blades, wear plates and small high-stress springs where strength matters more than toughness. | 1,550 | 1,750 | 6 | 50 HRC | — |
What is 60Cr3 +QT?
60Cr3 +QT is 60Cr3 heat treated to +QT — standard service condition for springs, torsion bars and heavy-duty elastic parts: oil quench + 400–500 °C temper for maximum elastic limit and fatigue life. 60Cr3 +QT has a yield strength of 1,300 MPa (189 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,450 MPa (210 ksi) — stronger than 95% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 9% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). 60Cr3 +QT 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).
Advantages
- High strength — 1,300 MPa (189 ksi), better than 95% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 65/100, better than 78% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited formability — 8/100, worse than 97% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 9%, worse than 93% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 30/100, worse than 89% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 50 MPa·√m (45.5 ksi·√in), worse than 86% of steel grades
60Cr3 +QT properties
Typical room-temperature values for 60Cr3 +QT; 17 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 60Cr3 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
60Cr3 +QT 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).
Mechanical16
60Cr3 +QT has a yield strength of 1,300 MPa (189 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,450 MPa (210 ksi) — stronger than 95% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 9% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
60Cr3 +QT is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 44 W/m·K (25.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 57% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12.3 µm/m·K (6.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
60Cr3 +QT 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 60Cr3 +QT takes about 26 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 64% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
60Cr3 +QT's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 89% of steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability not recommended (8/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 60Cr3 +QT
Is 60Cr3 easy to machine?
Machine in +A/+AC condition (≈55–60% of 1212) with rigid setups and carbide tooling; after Q&T above ~45 HRC use grinding, hard turning with CBN or EDM.
Can 60Cr3 be welded?
Poor weldability (CE ≈ 0.9–1.0): if unavoidable, preheat 300–400 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables and temper immediately; welded joints lose spring properties.
Can 60Cr3 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1050–1150 °C then slow cool/anneal; cold coil or bend only in +AC/+A condition, then austenitize ~840 °C, oil quench and temper 400–500 °C, allowing for decarburization removal.
What surface finishes work on 60Cr3?
Shot peen springs after tempering for fatigue life, then phosphate + oil, zinc-rich paint or powder coat; avoid acid pickling and electroplating without hydrogen bake-out at these hardness levels.
60Cr3 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 | 0.55 – 0.65 | 0.6 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.7 – 1 | 0.85 |
| Crmain hardenability addition | 0.7 – 1 | 0.85 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
60Cr3 +QT — frequently asked
What is 60Cr3 +QT used for?
60Cr3 +QT is typically used for coil springs, leaf springs, torsion bars and clutch springs. In short: classic 5160 spring steel; high elastic limit; poor weldability.
What is the yield strength of 60Cr3 +QT?
60Cr3 +QT has a typical yield strength of 1,300 MPa (189 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,450 MPa (210 ksi) — stronger than 95% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is 60Cr3 +QT easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 89% of steel grades). Machine in +A/+AC condition (≈55–60% of 1212) with rigid setups and carbide tooling; after Q&T above ~45 HRC use grinding, hard turning with CBN or EDM.
Can 60Cr3 +QT be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Poor weldability (CE ≈ 0.9–1.0): if unavoidable, preheat 300–400 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables and temper immediately; welded joints lose spring properties.
What surface finishes work on 60Cr3 +QT?
Shot peen springs after tempering for fatigue life, then phosphate + oil, zinc-rich paint or powder coat; avoid acid pickling and electroplating without hydrogen bake-out at these hardness levels.
Can 60Cr3 +QT be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1050–1150 °C then slow cool/anneal; cold coil or bend only in +AC/+A condition, then austenitize ~840 °C, oil quench and temper 400–500 °C, allowing for decarburization removal.
What is the maximum service temperature of 60Cr3 +QT?
60Cr3 +QT 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.
Sources
- EN 10089 — Hot rolled steels for quenched and tempered springs — CEN (2002)
- EN 10083-3 — Steels for quenching and tempering, alloy steels — CEN (2006)
- SAE J404 / ASTM A689 (5160 spring steel bar) — SAE / ASTM (2019)
- 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)
- Machinery's Handbook, 31st ed. — Industrial Press (2020)
- GB/T 1222 — 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.