Steel 60CrMo3-2
EN 60CrMo3-2
60CrMo3-2 (1.7240) is the class -2 grade of the 60CrMo3 high-carbon chromium-molybdenum spring steel family, differing from 60CrMo3-1 in its specified property and heat-treatment condition.
Reference datasheet — 60CrMo3-2 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
60CrMo3-2 tempers and conditions
60CrMo3-2 is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. +QT is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 8 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spheroidize annealed | Softest and most ductile delivery state — pick for deep drawing, heavy cold forming or thread rolling of blanks. | 410 | 700 | 22 | 210 HB | — |
Treated for high shearability | Annealed strip with a carbide structure tuned for clean punching, slitting and shearing of thin sections without edge cracking. | 430 | 720 | 20 | 14 HRC | 8.5 % IACS |
Annealed | Choose for machining, blanking or cold forming of blanks that will be hardened afterwards. | 450 | 760 | 18 | 235 HB | — |
Normalized | Grain-refining condition for hot-rolled bar prior to machining or final hardening; not a service condition for springs. | 560 | 950 | 14 | 275 HB | — |
Cold drawn | Cold-worked bar or strip with raised strength and good surface/tolerance, used where forming is light and final hardening follows. | 820 | 980 | 7 | 30 HRC | 8 % IACS |
+QTDefault Quenched and tempered | Standard usable spring/saw-blade condition: oil or polymer quench from ~840–870 °C, temper 400–500 °C for maximum elastic limit and fatigue life. | 1,500 | 1,750 | 8 | 48 HRC | — |
Core hardened | Fully through-hardened section with only a low temper — used for saw-blade bodies, knives and wear strips needing high hardness right through the thickness. | 1,750 | 2,050 | 3 | 57 HRC | — |
Hardened | Maximum-hardness martensitic state for wear surfaces; must normally be stress-relieved/tempered before service because of brittleness. | 1,800 | 2,250 | 1 | 62 HRC | — |
What is 60CrMo3-2?
60CrMo3-2 (1.7240) is the class -2 grade of the 60CrMo3 high-carbon chromium-molybdenum spring steel family, differing from 60CrMo3-1 in its specified property and heat-treatment condition. It is used for heavy-duty springs and torsion bars and is supplied as bar, flat and forging stock in +QT, +A, +AC, +S, +H, +CH, +N and +C conditions. In +QT it provides 1500 MPa yield, 1750 MPa tensile, 8 % elongation and 48 HRC, with service to 300 °C. Weldability (15), formability (10) and corrosion resistance (12) are all low, so parts are shaped annealed, hardened and then coated; 60CrMo3-1 is the direct alternative. 60CrMo3-2 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). 60CrMo3-2 has a yield strength of 1,500 MPa (218 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,750 MPa (254 ksi) — stronger than 97% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is 60CrMo3-2 used for?
- heavy-duty springs
- torsion bars
- suspension components
- elastic couplings
Advantages
- High strength — 1,500 MPa (218 ksi), better than 97% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 8%, worse than 95% 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 — 28/100, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 91% of steel grades
60CrMo3-2 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 60CrMo3-2-+QT; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
60CrMo3-2 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
60CrMo3-2 has a yield strength of 1,500 MPa (218 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,750 MPa (254 ksi) — stronger than 97% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
60CrMo3-2 is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °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
60CrMo3-2 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 60CrMo3-2 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
60CrMo3-2's machinability is poor (28/100, worse than 91% 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. 60CrMo3-2 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 60CrMo3-2
Is 60CrMo3-2 easy to machine?
Machine in +A/+AC (≤248 HB) with carbide tooling; above 45 HRC use CBN/ceramic or grind, and expect rapid tool wear.
Can 60CrMo3-2 be welded?
Poor weldability (CE ≈ 0.9–1.0): preheat 250–350 °C, low-hydrogen consumables and immediate post-weld temper, or avoid welding entirely on spring parts.
Can 60CrMo3-2 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold-form only in the spheroidized/annealed state at generous radii; hot forge 1050–850 °C then slow-cool or anneal to prevent quench cracks.
60CrMo3-2 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cgives the ~62 HRC as-quenched potential | 0.55 – 0.65 | 0.6 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mnrange differs slightly between the -1/-2/-3 variants | 0.6 – 1 | 0.8 |
| CrCr3 in the name ≈ 0.75 % Cr | 0.6 – 0.9 | 0.75 |
| Motemper resistance and hardenability | 0.15 – 0.3 | 0.22 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Smax; ≤0.010 typical for strip | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 60CrMo3-2?
No stainless behaviour — protect by shot peening plus oiling, phosphating, black oxide, zinc/Zn-Ni plating or epoxy paint; shot peening also boosts fatigue life substantially.
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 60CrMo3-2 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
How much does 60CrMo3-2 cost?
60CrMo3-2 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
60CrMo3-2 — frequently asked
What is 60CrMo3-2 used for?
60CrMo3-2 is typically used for heavy-duty springs, torsion bars, suspension components and elastic couplings. In short: heavy-section spring steel; 48 HRC in +QT; better machining than 60CrMo3-1.
What is the yield strength of 60CrMo3-2?
60CrMo3-2 has a typical yield strength of 1,500 MPa (218 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,750 MPa (254 ksi) — stronger than 97% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 60CrMo3-2 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (28/100, worse than 91% of steel grades). Machine in +A/+AC (≤248 HB) with carbide tooling; above 45 HRC use CBN/ceramic or grind, and expect rapid tool wear.
Can 60CrMo3-2 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Poor weldability (CE ≈ 0.9–1.0): preheat 250–350 °C, low-hydrogen consumables and immediate post-weld temper, or avoid welding entirely on spring parts.
What surface finishes work on 60CrMo3-2?
No stainless behaviour — protect by shot peening plus oiling, phosphating, black oxide, zinc/Zn-Ni plating or epoxy paint; shot peening also boosts fatigue life substantially.
Can 60CrMo3-2 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold-form only in the spheroidized/annealed state at generous radii; hot forge 1050–850 °C then slow-cool or anneal to prevent quench cracks.
What is the maximum service temperature of 60CrMo3-2?
60CrMo3-2 is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does 60CrMo3-2 cost?
60CrMo3-2 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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 10132-4 — Cold-rolled narrow steel strip for heat treatment: spring steels — CEN (2000)
- EN 10083-3 — Steels for quenching and tempering: alloy steels — CEN (2006)
- 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 spring and saw steel strip datasheets (delivery conditions +A/+AC/+QT/+CH) — European strip producers (2023)
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.