Steel 6152 · temper · default condition
Steel 6152 Annealed
Properties of the Annealed condition, compared with the other 6152 tempers.
Pick for machining, cold forming or coiling before final hardening; lowest strength, best workability.
What is 6152 Annealed?
6152 Annealed is 6152 in the Annealed temper — pick for machining, cold forming or coiling before final hardening; lowest strength, best workability. 6152 Annealed has a yield strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 670 MPa (97.2 ksi) — weaker than 55% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 23% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi). 6152 Annealed 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).
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 77% of steel grades
6152 Annealed properties
Typical room-temperature values for 6152 Annealed — 12 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 6152 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
6152 Annealed 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).
Mechanical13
6152 Annealed has a yield strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 670 MPa (97.2 ksi) — weaker than 55% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 23% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).
Thermal6
6152 Annealed is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °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
6152 Annealed conducts electricity at 7.5 % IACS, worse than 68% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (13/100), better than 66% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 6152 Annealed takes about 26 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 64% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability8
6152 Annealed's machinability is fair (50/100, worse than 53% of steel grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability fair (40/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 6152 tempers and conditions
6152 is also supplied in 5 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 6152 overview.
- AnnealedDefaultPick for machining, cold forming or coiling before final hardening; lowest strength, best workability.415 MPa yield · 197 HB
- Hardened & TemperedPick for leaf/coil springs and hand tools needing maximum elastic limit and fatigue strength at reduced ductility.1,450 MPa yield · 48 HRC
- Q&TGeneral-purpose high-strength condition for torsion bars, shafts and heavy springs balancing strength with toughness.1,180 MPa yield · 42 HRC
- NormalizedPick for a uniform fine-grained structure and mid-range strength before hardening, or for as-supplied hot-rolled bar refinement.615 MPa yield · 27 HRC
Working with 6152 Annealed
Is 6152 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed or normalized state (≈55 % of 1212); above ~40 HRC use carbide or CBN, rigid setups and light finishing passes, and expect grinding for final tolerances.
Can 6152 be welded?
Not recommended for structural joints — preheat 250–350 °C, low-hydrogen consumables and immediate post-weld temper are mandatory to avoid HAZ cracking; never weld in the spring-tempered condition.
Can 6152 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold coil, bend or blank in the annealed condition then harden; hot forming 950–1150 °C followed by full quench-and-temper gives the best spring properties.
What surface finishes work on 6152?
Not stainless: phosphate-and-oil, black oxide, shot peen (strongly recommended for fatigue), zinc or paint; avoid acid pickling/electroplating at high hardness or bake out hydrogen after plating.
6152 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Colder SAE 6152 range; modern 6150 is 0.48–0.53 | 0.45 – 0.55 | 0.5 |
| Mn | 0.6 – 0.9 | 0.75 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Cr | 0.8 – 1.1 | 0.95 |
| V0.15 % min per SAE | 0.15 – 0.25 | 0.18 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.04 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
6152 Annealed — frequently asked
What is 6152 Annealed used for?
6152 Annealed is typically used for heavy leaf springs, coil springs, torsion bars, truck and trailer suspension springs, spring clips and retainers and agricultural tines and tillage parts. In short: vanadium spring-steel bar.
What is the yield strength of 6152 Annealed?
6152 Annealed has a typical yield strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 670 MPa (97.2 ksi) — weaker than 55% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 6152 Annealed easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (50/100, worse than 53% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed or normalized state (≈55 % of 1212); above ~40 HRC use carbide or CBN, rigid setups and light finishing passes, and expect grinding for final tolerances.
Can 6152 Annealed be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Not recommended for structural joints — preheat 250–350 °C, low-hydrogen consumables and immediate post-weld temper are mandatory to avoid HAZ cracking; never weld in the spring-tempered condition.
What surface finishes work on 6152 Annealed?
Not stainless: phosphate-and-oil, black oxide, shot peen (strongly recommended for fatigue), zinc or paint; avoid acid pickling/electroplating at high hardness or bake out hydrogen after plating.
Can 6152 Annealed be formed, bent or molded?
Cold coil, bend or blank in the annealed condition then harden; hot forming 950–1150 °C followed by full quench-and-temper gives the best spring properties.
What is the maximum service temperature of 6152 Annealed?
6152 Annealed is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in 6152 Annealed?
Yes — 6152 Annealed is available for CNC machining and sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- SAE J404 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Alloy Steels — SAE International (2021)
- ASTM A231/A232 — Chromium-Vanadium Alloy Steel Spring Wire — ASTM (2020)
- EN 10089 — Hot-rolled steels for quenched and tempered springs (50CrV4 / 1.8159) — CEN (2002)
- GB/T 1222 — (50CrVA) — SAC (2016)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4 — Heat Treating — ASM International (1991)
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.