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Steel 8620 Stress Relieved

Heat-treated state

AISI/SAE 8620 · UNS G86200 · EN 1.6523, 21NiCrMo2 · JIS SNCM220 · GB 20CrNiMo

Pick for cold-finished bar that must stay straight and dimensionally stable through heavy machining.

CNC machiningSheet metalStandard cost $$

Values for the Stress Relieved condition

Other 8620 tempers and conditions

8620 is listed in 10 conditions; see the grade overview at 8620.

Compare all 10 conditionsHide
Condition · open for datasheetBest forYield MPaTensile MPaElong. %HardnessConductivity
austenitized ~900 °C, air cooled
Use to homogenize forgings/bar and get uniform grain size and good toughness before carburizing.3606302610 HRC8 % IACS
binder-jetted / L-PBF and sintered 8620 powder
Use for additively made gear-steel prototypes and small-lot parts that will subsequently be carburized or Q&T.380640611 HRC7 % IACS
HRDefault
Hot rolled
Standard stocked condition for bar and plate that will be machined and then carburized or Q&T.38563528183 HB—
full/subcritical anneal, softest machining condition
Pick for maximum machinability, deep cold forming or before re-heat-treatment.38554031149 HB—
Hot isostatic pressed
Pick when residual porosity from printing/sintering must be closed for fatigue-critical gear or shaft parts.4307201814 HRC8 % IACS
Stress RelievedThis page
cold finished + 550–650 °C stress relief
Pick for cold-finished bar that must stay straight and dimensionally stable through heavy machining.5006601812 HRC8 % IACS
Cold drawn
Choose for close-tolerance, good-finish bar with higher yield strength where no further heat treatment is planned.55069015205 HB—
Cold rolled
Sheet and strip form for stamped, then carburized parts; better surface and thickness tolerance than hot rolled.5607001315 HRC8 % IACS
Quenched and tempered
Choose when the whole section must carry load (shafts, arbors) rather than only a carburized surface.8501,0501531 HRC—
gas carburized, quenched, low tempered (case 58–63 HRC)
The main reason to specify 8620: hard wear/pitting-resistant case on a tough core for gears, splines and pins.8501,1001060 HRC—

What is 8620 Stress Relieved?

8620 Stress Relieved is 8620 heat treated to Stress Relieved — pick for cold-finished bar that must stay straight and dimensionally stable through heavy machining. 8620 Stress Relieved has a yield strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 660 MPa (95.7 ksi) — stronger than 63% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). 8620 Stress Relieved 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). HR is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Stress Relieved is available on request or by drawing note.

Advantages

  • Easy to machine — 67/100, better than 95% of steel grades
  • Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades

8620 Stress Relieved properties

Typical room-temperature values for 8620 Stress Relieved; 23 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 8620 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.

Physical3

8620 Stress Relieved 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).

Density7.85 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³
Melting Point (Solidus)1,425°C2,597 °F
Liquidus Temperature1,505°C2,741 °F

Mechanical14

8620 Stress Relieved has a yield strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 660 MPa (95.7 ksi) — stronger than 63% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).

Elastic (Young's) Modulus205 GPa29.7 Msi
Shear Modulus80 GPa11.6 Msi
Bulk Modulus160 GPa23.2 Msi
Poisson's Ratio0.29
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)660 MPa95.7 ksi
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)500 MPa72.5 ksi
Elongation at Break18%
Reduction in Area50%
Shear Strength400 MPa58 ksi
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)310 MPa45 ksi
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)85 MPa·√m77.4 ksi·√in
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)80 J59 ft·lbf
Hardness, Brinell195 HB
Hardness, Rockwell B92 HRB

Thermal6

8620 Stress Relieved is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 46.6 W/m·K (26.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 74% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.6 µm/m·K (6.44 µin/in·°F).

Thermal Conductivity46.6 W/m·K26.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Specific Heat Capacity475 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)11.6 µm/m·K6.4 µin/in·°F
Latent Heat of Fusion270 J/g116 BTU/lb
Max Service Temperature (continuous)400°C752 °F
Min Service Temperature-40°C-40 °F

Electrical3

8620 Stress Relieved conducts electricity at 8 % IACS, better than 55% of steel grades.

Electrical Conductivity8 % IACS
Electrical Resistivity2.2×10⁻⁷ Ω·m8.66 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 SummaryRusts readily in humid air and water; no resistance to acids or chlorides. Requires oil, phosphate, black oxide, zinc/nickel plating or paint; alkaline environments and dry oil-lubricated service are acceptable.

Sustainability4

Producing a kilogram of 8620 Stress Relieved takes about 30 MJ of energy and emits 2.1 kg of CO₂ — more than 56% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.

Embodied Energy (primary production)30 MJ/kg12,898 BTU/lb
Embodied Carbon (primary production)2.1 kg CO₂/kg
Embodied Water60 L/kg7.2 gal/lb
Typical Recycled Content30%

Manufacturability7

8620 Stress Relieved's machinability is good (67/100, better than 95% of steel grades); weldability good (60/100); formability fair (45/100).

MachinabilityGood67/100
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)70%
WeldabilityGood60/100
Formability (cold)Fair45/100
Brazeability / SolderabilityGood65/100
PolishabilityVery good70/100
Anodizing Responsen/a — ferrous alloy; use zinc/zinc-nickel plating, black oxide, phosphate or nitriding instead

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

Working with 8620 Stress Relieved

Is 8620 easy to machine?

Machines well at ~65 % of AISI 1212 in HR/annealed condition; finish-machine before carburizing and allow grinding stock for case distortion.

Can 8620 be welded?

Weldable with low-hydrogen consumables at 0.20 % C; preheat 150–250 °C, use matching low-alloy filler and post-weld stress relieve; never weld a carburized surface.

Can 8620 be formed, bent or molded?

Cold heading and moderate bending are fine in annealed/HR condition; hot forge 1150–1230 °C and normalize afterwards to restore grain size.

What surface finishes work on 8620?

No anodizing (ferrous); protect with black oxide, phosphate, zinc or zinc-nickel plating, or oil — post-carburizing grinding gives the final gear-tooth finish.

8620 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
Cheat analysis, SAE/ASTM A290.18 – 0.230.2
Mn0.7 – 0.90.8
Si0.15 – 0.350.25
Ni0.4 – 0.70.55
Cr0.4 – 0.60.5
Mo0.15 – 0.250.2
P≤ 0.04—
Smax; 8620H/resulfurized variants differ≤ 0.04—
Febalance—

8620 Stress Relieved — frequently asked

What is 8620 Stress Relieved used for?

8620 Stress Relieved is typically used for gears, ring gears and camshafts. In short: best carburizing steel.

What is the yield strength of 8620 Stress Relieved?

8620 Stress Relieved has a typical yield strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 660 MPa (95.7 ksi) — stronger than 63% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.

Is 8620 Stress Relieved easy to machine?

Reasonably — machinability is rated good (67/100, better than 95% of steel grades). Machines well at ~65 % of AISI 1212 in HR/annealed condition; finish-machine before carburizing and allow grinding stock for case distortion.

Can 8620 Stress Relieved be welded?

Yes — weldability is rated good (60/100). Weldable with low-hydrogen consumables at 0.20 % C; preheat 150–250 °C, use matching low-alloy filler and post-weld stress relieve; never weld a carburized surface.

What surface finishes work on 8620 Stress Relieved?

No anodizing (ferrous); protect with black oxide, phosphate, zinc or zinc-nickel plating, or oil — post-carburizing grinding gives the final gear-tooth finish.

Can 8620 Stress Relieved be formed, bent or molded?

Cold heading and moderate bending are fine in annealed/HR condition; hot forge 1150–1230 °C and normalize afterwards to restore grain size.

What is the maximum service temperature of 8620 Stress Relieved?

8620 Stress Relieved 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.

What is the difference between 8620-HR and 8620-CR?

HR is the default condition — standard stocked condition for bar and plate that will be machined and then carburized or Q&T. CR: sheet and strip form for stamped, then carburized parts; better surface and thickness tolerance than hot rolled. Yield strength is 385 MPa in HR versus 560 MPa in CR.

Can FabDigit make parts in 8620 Stress Relieved?

Yes — 8620 Stress Relieved 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

  1. ASTM A29/A29M — Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought — ASTM International (2020)
  2. SAE J404 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Alloy Steels — SAE International (2021)
  3. GB/T 3077 (20CrNiMo) — SAC (2015)
  4. EN 10084 — Case hardening steels (1.6523 / 21NiCrMo2-2) — CEN (2008)
  5. ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
  6. ASM Handbook Vol.4 — Heat Treating (carburizing) — ASM International (1991)
  7. MatWeb / MMPDS typical property listings for AISI 8620 — MatWeb / Battelle (2023)
  8. Binder-jet and L-PBF low-alloy 8620 powder data sheets — ExOne / Desktop Metal (2022)
  9. 20CrNiMo — Mysteel / 1688 (2026)

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.