Steel 60CrMo3-2 +H (Hardened)
Grade
EN 60CrMo3-2
Maximum-hardness martensitic state for wear surfaces; must normally be stress-relieved/tempered before service because of brittleness.
Values for the +H condition
Other 60CrMo3-2 tempers and conditions
60CrMo3-2 is listed in 8 conditions; see the grade overview at 60CrMo3-2.
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 | — |
+HThis page 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 +H?
60CrMo3-2 +H is 60CrMo3-2 in the +H grade — maximum-hardness martensitic state for wear surfaces; must normally be stress-relieved/tempered before service because of brittleness. 60CrMo3-2 +H has a yield strength of 1,800 MPa (261 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,250 MPa (326 ksi) — stronger than 99% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi). 60CrMo3-2 +H 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). +QT is the default condition FabDigit quotes; +H is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High strength — 1,800 MPa (261 ksi), better than 99% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 5/100, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 5/100, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 2/100, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 1%, worse than 99% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 20 MPa·√m (18.2 ksi·√in), worse than 99% of steel grades
60CrMo3-2 +H properties
Typical room-temperature values for 60CrMo3-2 +H; 14 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 60CrMo3-2 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
60CrMo3-2 +H 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 +H has a yield strength of 1,800 MPa (261 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,250 MPa (326 ksi) — stronger than 99% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
60CrMo3-2 +H is rated for continuous service to 180°C (356 °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 +H 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 +H 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 +H's machinability is not recommended (5/100, worse than 100% of steel grades); weldability not recommended (5/100); formability not recommended (2/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 60CrMo3-2 +H
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.
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.
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 | — |
60CrMo3-2 +H — frequently asked
What is 60CrMo3-2 +H used for?
60CrMo3-2 +H 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 +H?
60CrMo3-2 +H has a typical yield strength of 1,800 MPa (261 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,250 MPa (326 ksi) — stronger than 99% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 60CrMo3-2 +H easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (5/100, worse than 100% 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 +H be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (5/100). 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 +H?
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 +H 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 +H?
60CrMo3-2 +H is rated for continuous use to about 180°C (356 °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 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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.