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Steel 61SiCrV6 +N (Normalized)

Heat-treated state

EN 61SiCrV6

Uniform fine pearlitic structure for stock that will be re-austenitised; occasionally used for machining blanks.

Budget cost $

Values for the +N condition

Other 61SiCrV6 tempers and conditions

61SiCrV6 is listed in 7 conditions; see the grade overview at 61SiCrV6.

Compare all 7 conditionsHide
Condition · open for datasheetBest forYield MPaTensile MPaElong. %HardnessConductivity
Annealed
Pick for machining, cold drawing or cold forming of the blank before final hardening.50080015230 HB—
+NThis page
Normalized
Uniform fine pearlitic structure for stock that will be re-austenitised; occasionally used for machining blanks.6009501229 HRC5.9 % IACS
Hot rolled
Mill supply condition for bar and rod destined for hot coiling and subsequent quench-and-temper.7001,1001033 HRC5.8 % IACS
Cold drawn
Bright close-tolerance bar or pre-drawn wire for spring coiling before hardening.800950830 HRC5.8 % IACS
+QT
Tougher temper for heavy leaf/torsion springs and stabiliser bars where impact and shock matter more than peak stress.1,4001,550947 HRC—
+QT48Default
+QT
Standard hardened-and-tempered spring condition — best balance of elastic limit, sag resistance and fatigue life.1,6201,800750 HRC—
+QT
Maximum-stress temper for small-section, shot-peened valve and clutch springs; low toughness, very defect-sensitive.1,7801,950554 HRC—

What is 61SiCrV6 +N?

61SiCrV6 +N is 61SiCrV6 heat treated to +N — uniform fine pearlitic structure for stock that will be re-austenitised; occasionally used for machining blanks. 61SiCrV6 +N has a yield strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) and a tensile strength of 950 MPa (138 ksi) — stronger than 77% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). 61SiCrV6 +N has a density of 7.75 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), lighter than 93% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F). +QT48 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; +N is available on request or by drawing note.

Advantages

  • Polishes to a fine finish — 65/100, better than 78% of steel grades
  • High strength — 600 MPa (87 ksi), better than 77% of steel grades

Limitations

  • Difficult to machine — 32/100, worse than 87% of steel grades
  • Difficult to weld — 18/100, worse than 87% of steel grades
  • Limited service temperature — 250°C (482 °F), worse than 85% of steel grades
  • Limited ductility — 12%, worse than 84% of steel grades
  • Low electrical conductivity — 5.9 % IACS, worse than 79% of steel grades

61SiCrV6 +N properties

Typical room-temperature values for 61SiCrV6 +N; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 61SiCrV6 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.

Physical3

61SiCrV6 +N has a density of 7.75 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), lighter than 93% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).

Density7.75 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³
Melting Point (Solidus)1,420°C2,588 °F
Liquidus Temperature1,480°C2,696 °F

Mechanical16

61SiCrV6 +N has a yield strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) and a tensile strength of 950 MPa (138 ksi) — stronger than 77% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).

Elastic (Young's) Modulus205 GPa29.7 Msi
Shear Modulus79.5 GPa11.5 Msi
Bulk Modulus160 GPa23.2 Msi
Poisson's Ratio0.29
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)950 MPa138 ksi
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)600 MPa87 ksi
Elongation at Break12%
Reduction in Area35%
Compressive Strength950 MPa138 ksi
Shear Strength570 MPa82.7 ksi
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)420 MPa60.9 ksi
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)62 MPa·√m56.4 ksi·√in
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)28 J20.7 ft·lbf
Hardness, Brinell280 HB
Hardness, Rockwell C29 HRC
Hardness, Vickers294 HV

Thermal6

61SiCrV6 +N is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 35 W/m·K (20.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 75% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).

Thermal Conductivity35 W/m·K20.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Specific Heat Capacity470 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)11.5 µm/m·K6.4 µin/in·°F
Latent Heat of Fusion250 J/g107 BTU/lb
Max Service Temperature (continuous)250°C482 °F
Min Service Temperature-40°C-40 °F

Electrical3

61SiCrV6 +N conducts electricity at 5.9 % IACS, worse than 79% of steel grades.

Electrical Conductivity5.9 % IACS
Electrical Resistivity2.92×10⁻⁷ Ω·m11.5 µΩ·in
Magnetic Responseferromagnetic

Chemical & Environmental3

Corrosion resistance is not recommended (11/100), worse than 73% of steel grades.

Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)-0.6 V
Corrosion ResistanceNot recommended11/100
Chemical Resistance SummaryNo inherent corrosion resistance: rusts in humid air and water, attacked by acids and chlorides; highly susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement from acid pickling or electroplating (bake immediately). Requires oil, phosphate+oil, powder paint or Zn/Al-flake coating; stable in dry oils, greases and hydraulic fluids.

Sustainability4

Producing a kilogram of 61SiCrV6 +N takes about 27 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 59% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.

Embodied Energy (primary production)27 MJ/kg11,608 BTU/lb
Embodied Carbon (primary production)2 kg CO₂/kg
Embodied Water60 L/kg7.2 gal/lb
Typical Recycled Content30%

Manufacturability7

61SiCrV6 +N's machinability is poor (32/100, worse than 87% of steel grades); weldability poor (18/100); formability poor (25/100).

MachinabilityPoor32/100
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)28%
WeldabilityPoor18/100
Formability (cold)Poor25/100
Brazeability / SolderabilityPoor30/100
PolishabilityGood65/100
Anodizing Responsen/a — ferrous alloy; use phosphating, Zn-flake, oxide blackening or paint instead

Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.

Working with 61SiCrV6 +N

Is 61SiCrV6 easy to machine?

Machine only in the soft-annealed state (≤248 HB) with carbide tooling; at 48–52 HRC finish by grinding, EDM or CBN turning.

Can 61SiCrV6 be welded?

Not recommended — ~0.6 %C gives hard, crack-prone HAZ and destroys the spring temper; if unavoidable, preheat 300–350 °C and re-heat-treat the whole part.

Can 61SiCrV6 be formed, bent or molded?

Cold coil in the annealed or oil-tempered condition, or hot coil at 850–950 °C; harden from 860–880 °C in oil and temper 400–480 °C to the target hardness, then stress-relieve after coiling.

What surface finishes work on 61SiCrV6?

Always shot-peen springs for fatigue life; protect with phosphate + oil, Zn-flake or epoxy coating, and avoid acid pickling/electroplating unless a hydrogen-relief bake follows immediately.

61SiCrV6 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.

ElementSpec limit (wt %)Nominal
C≈0.61 % C per EN designation0.58 – 0.650.61
Sihigh Si raises elastic limit and sag resistance1.3 – 1.61.45
Mn0.5 – 0.80.65
Cr0.5 – 0.80.65
Vgrain refinement, temper resistance0.1 – 0.20.15
P≤ 0.03—
Smax; ≤0.015 for valve-spring quality≤ 0.03—
Febalance—

61SiCrV6 +N — frequently asked

What is 61SiCrV6 +N used for?

61SiCrV6 +N is typically used for high-performance valve springs, racing suspension springs and high-fatigue coil springs. In short: top-tier fatigue spring steel; vanadium-refined grain; high stress-relaxation resistance.

What is the yield strength of 61SiCrV6 +N?

61SiCrV6 +N has a typical yield strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) and a tensile strength of 950 MPa (138 ksi) — stronger than 77% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.

Is 61SiCrV6 +N easy to machine?

Not especially — machinability is rated poor (32/100, worse than 87% of steel grades). Machine only in the soft-annealed state (≤248 HB) with carbide tooling; at 48–52 HRC finish by grinding, EDM or CBN turning.

Can 61SiCrV6 +N be welded?

Not readily — weldability is rated poor (18/100). Not recommended — ~0.6 %C gives hard, crack-prone HAZ and destroys the spring temper; if unavoidable, preheat 300–350 °C and re-heat-treat the whole part.

What surface finishes work on 61SiCrV6 +N?

Always shot-peen springs for fatigue life; protect with phosphate + oil, Zn-flake or epoxy coating, and avoid acid pickling/electroplating unless a hydrogen-relief bake follows immediately.

Can 61SiCrV6 +N be formed, bent or molded?

Cold coil in the annealed or oil-tempered condition, or hot coil at 850–950 °C; harden from 860–880 °C in oil and temper 400–480 °C to the target hardness, then stress-relieve after coiling.

What is the maximum service temperature of 61SiCrV6 +N?

61SiCrV6 +N 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

  1. EN 10089 — Hot rolled steels for quenched and tempered springs — CEN (2002)
  2. EN 10270-2 — Steel wire for mechanical springs: oil hardened and tempered spring steel wire — CEN (2011)
  3. EN 13906-1 — Cylindrical helical springs, design and calculation — CEN (2013)
  4. ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys (spring steels) — ASM International (1990)
  5. Stahlschlüssel (Key to Steel) — Verlag Stahlschlüssel Wegst (2019)
  6. Si-Cr-V spring steel bar and oil-tempered valve spring wire datasheets — Ovako / Suzuki Garphyttan (2022)

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.