Steel 86B30
EN 86B30 · UNS G86301
86B30 is a boron-treated low-carbon Ni-Cr-Mo alloy steel (UNS G86301) in the SAE-AISI 86xx family, where boron gives hardenability close to plain 8630 at reduced alloy content.
Reference datasheet — 86B30 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 QT540 condition
86B30 tempers and conditions
86B30 is supplied in 10 conditions, soft to hard. QT540 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 10 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solution annealed | Pick for maximum machinability and cold-forming before final quench and temper. | 375 | 565 | 29 | 156 HB | — |
Normalized | Use to homogenize forgings and give uniform medium strength before machining or final Q&T. | 430 | 650 | 23 | 187 HB | — |
Hot rolled | Cheapest supply form for parts that will be forged and heat treated afterwards. | 450 | 690 | 22 | 13 HRC | 8.1 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Choose for close-tolerance bright bar with raised yield strength and good surface finish. | 590 | 700 | 15 | 17 HRC | 8 % IACS |
Q&T 650 °C | Soft, tough condition for impact-loaded or low-temperature service parts and easier machining. | 690 | 775 | 23 | 22 HRC | — |
QT540Default Q&T 540 °C | Standard commercial quenched and tempered condition, tempered at 540 °C to ~30-32 HRC and 880 MPa yield, for the best strength/toughness compromise in structural and automotive parts. | 880 | 970 | 17 | 32 HRC | — |
Induction Hardened & Tempered | Select when a wear-resistant surface with a tough Q&T core is needed on shafts, pins and splines. | 880 | 970 | 12 | 53 HRC | 7.5 % IACS |
Q&T 425 °C | Balance of strength and moderate ductility for shafts and gear blanks. | 1,100 | 1,170 | 13 | 40 HRC | — |
Q&T 315 °C | High-strength condition for wear-loaded links, pins and forged fittings. | 1,240 | 1,380 | 10 | 44 HRC | — |
Q&T 205 °C | Highest strength/hardness condition; use only where toughness demand is low. | 1,360 | 1,550 | 9 | 48 HRC | — |
What is 86B30?
86B30 is a boron-treated low-carbon Ni-Cr-Mo alloy steel (UNS G86301) in the SAE-AISI 86xx family, where boron gives hardenability close to plain 8630 at reduced alloy content. Supplied hot-rolled, annealed, normalized, cold-drawn, quenched-and-tempered (QT205–QT650) and intercritically quenched-and-tempered (IQT), it is used for structural components, automotive parts and fasteners, with reference properties of 880 MPa yield, 970 MPa tensile, 17 % elongation and 302 HB (32 HRC). It has no corrosion resistance, is limited to about 400 °C service and needs preheat plus post-weld temper; 8630 is the direct alternative in heavier sections. 86B30 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). 86B30 has a yield strength of 880 MPa (128 ksi) and a tensile strength of 970 MPa (141 ksi) — stronger than 89% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 17% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is 86B30 used for?
- structural components
- automotive parts
- fasteners
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
- High strength — 880 MPa (128 ksi), better than 89% of steel grades
86B30 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 86B30-QT540; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
86B30 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).
Mechanical16
86B30 has a yield strength of 880 MPa (128 ksi) and a tensile strength of 970 MPa (141 ksi) — stronger than 89% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 17% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
86B30 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °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
86B30 conducts electricity at 7.8 % IACS, worse than 57% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 86B30 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
86B30's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades); weldability fair (40/100); formability poor (25/100).
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. 86B30 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 86B30
Is 86B30 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed or normalized state (≈65–70 % of 1212); in Q&T at 30+ HRC use rigid setups, coated carbide, low feed rates and flood coolant.
Can 86B30 be welded?
Carbon equivalent ~0.6–0.7: preheat 200–300 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables and PWHT/temper after welding to avoid cold cracking; the weld HAZ loses boron's hardenability benefit unevenly.
Can 86B30 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1100–1200 °C with finish above 950 °C; cold forming only in the spheroidized-annealed condition, followed by quench and temper (oil quench from ~860 °C).
86B30 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C | 0.28 – 0.33 | 0.3 |
| Mn | 0.7 – 0.9 | 0.8 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Ni | 0.4 – 0.7 | 0.55 |
| Cr | 0.4 – 0.6 | 0.5 |
| Mo | 0.15 – 0.25 | 0.2 |
| Bboron addition for hardenability; effective (soluble) boron requires N-fixing with Ti/Al | 5×10⁻⁴ – 0 | 0 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | |
| S | ≤ 0.04 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 86B30?
No inherent corrosion resistance — specify phosphate + oil, zinc plating (with bake-out for hydrogen embrittlement above ~1000 MPa), black oxide or painting; polishes well after hardening.
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 86B30 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- G86301
How much does 86B30 cost?
86B30 is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 90% 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.
86B30 — frequently asked
What is 86B30 used for?
86B30 is typically used for structural components, automotive parts and fasteners. In short: boron version of 8630; same hardenability, less alloy; quench-and-temper structural grade.
What is the yield strength of 86B30?
86B30 has a typical yield strength of 880 MPa (128 ksi) and a tensile strength of 970 MPa (141 ksi) — stronger than 89% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is 86B30 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed or normalized state (≈65–70 % of 1212); in Q&T at 30+ HRC use rigid setups, coated carbide, low feed rates and flood coolant.
Can 86B30 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (40/100). Carbon equivalent ~0.6–0.7: preheat 200–300 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables and PWHT/temper after welding to avoid cold cracking; the weld HAZ loses boron's hardenability benefit unevenly.
What surface finishes work on 86B30?
No inherent corrosion resistance — specify phosphate + oil, zinc plating (with bake-out for hydrogen embrittlement above ~1000 MPa), black oxide or painting; polishes well after hardening.
Can 86B30 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1100–1200 °C with finish above 950 °C; cold forming only in the spheroidized-annealed condition, followed by quench and temper (oil quench from ~860 °C).
What is the maximum service temperature of 86B30?
86B30 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 86B30-QT540 and 86B30-A?
QT540 is the default condition — standard commercial quenched and tempered condition, tempered at 540 °C to ~30-32 HRC and 880 MPa yield, for the best strength/toughness compromise in structural and automotive parts. A: pick for maximum machinability and cold-forming before final quench and temper. Yield strength is 880 MPa in QT540 versus 375 MPa in A.
How much does 86B30 cost?
86B30 is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 90% 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
- SAE J404 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Alloy Steels — SAE International (2021)
- SAE J1268 — Hardenability Bands for Boron H-Steels — SAE International (2018)
- ASTM A29/A29M — Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought — ASTM International (2020)
- 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)
- Machinery's Handbook, 31st ed. — Industrial Press (2020)
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.