Steel 9254
AISI/SAE 9254 · UNS G92540
9254 (G92540, 54SiCr6, 60Si2CrA) is a high-silicon chromium spring steel with about 0.55 % C, in which silicon raises the elastic limit and relaxation resistance while chromium adds hardenability.
Values for the HR condition
9254 tempers and conditions
9254 is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. HR is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 8 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
spheroidize/soft annealed | Choose the spheroidize/soft-annealed state at 240 HB for machining, cold forming or cold drawing, then quench and temper to reach final spring properties. | 480 | 830 | 20 | 240 HB | — |
HRDefault Hot rolled | Use as-rolled bar or coil, the most commonly stocked delivery state, for parts that will be hot formed, coiled or quenched and tempered afterwards; tolerance and surface are the loosest. | 620 | 1,030 | 12 | 31 HRC | 7.5 % IACS |
austenitized ~870 °C, air cooled | Use after austenitizing at about 870 °C and air cooling to homogenize the structure and remove hot-rolled banded segregation as a pre-treatment before final hardening. | 660 | 1,030 | 14 | 31 HRC | 7.5 % IACS |
Cold rolled | Pick annealed and skin-rolled cold rolled strip for thin leaf springs, washers and retaining rings needing tight thickness tolerance and good surface quality; elongation is limited to 8%. | 900 | 1,100 | 8 | 34 HRC | 7.5 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Choose annealed and cold drawn bar or wire for dimensional accuracy in cold-coiled springs or parts machined before heat treatment; ductility drops to 7% elongation. | 950 | 1,150 | 7 | 35 HRC | 7.5 % IACS |
Tempered higher for toughness | Pick this higher tempering temperature (42–46 HRC) when impact-loaded leaf springs or stabilizer bars need better toughness and fracture resistance, accepting 1500 MPa instead of 1950 MPa tensile. | 1,350 | 1,500 | 10 | 44 HRC | — |
Oil-tempered chrome-silicon spring wire | Choose oil-tempered chrome-silicon spring wire to ASTM A401 for high-stress helical springs: cold coil and stress relieve only, no hardening, but forming is limited at 50 HRC. | 1,650 | 1,900 | 7 | 50 HRC | 7.2 % IACS |
Quenched and tempered | Specify oil quenching from ~860 °C and tempering at 400–450 °C for the final spring state: highest elastic limit and fatigue strength at 48–52 HRC, with almost no formability or weldability. | 1,700 | 1,950 | 7 | 51 HRC | — |
What is 9254?
9254 (G92540, 54SiCr6, 60Si2CrA) is a high-silicon chromium spring steel with about 0.55 % C, in which silicon raises the elastic limit and relaxation resistance while chromium adds hardenability. It is selected for fatigue resistance and high yield strength after oil quenching and tempering, and is supplied as hot-rolled, cold-rolled and cold-drawn bar and strip, oil-tempered wire, and Q&T stock at 42–46 HRC; the default Q&T condition gives 620 MPa yield, 1030 MPa tensile, 12 % elongation and 300 HB (31 HRC). Weldability is poor, cold formability is low, and decarburized surface must be removed on fatigue parts; 5160 is the usual alternative when easier processing matters. 9254 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). 9254 has a yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,030 MPa (149 ksi) — stronger than 78% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 206 GPa (29.9 Msi).
What is 9254 used for?
- Heavy-duty coil springs
- Leaf springs
- Valve springs
- Torsion bars
- Stabilizer bars
- Clutch and suspension springs
- Spring washers and clips
Advantages
- High strength — 620 MPa (89.9 ksi), better than 78% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 50 MPa·√m (45.5 ksi·√in), worse than 86% 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
- Difficult to weld — 20/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 38/100, worse than 80% of steel grades
9254 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 9254-HR; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
9254 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
9254 has a yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,030 MPa (149 ksi) — stronger than 78% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 206 GPa (29.9 Msi).
Thermal6
9254 is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 44 W/m·K (25.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 57% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12 µm/m·K (6.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
9254 conducts electricity at 7.5 % IACS, worse than 67% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 9254 takes about 31 MJ of energy and emits 2.3 kg of CO₂ — more than 64% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability6
9254's machinability is fair (38/100, worse than 80% of steel grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability fair (35/100).
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. 9254 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 9254
Is 9254 easy to machine?
In the annealed or hot-rolled condition use carbide tooling at low to moderate speeds, roughly 40 % of 1212 rates; after quench and temper the material is essentially limited to grinding or CBN turning.
Can 9254 be welded?
At about 0.55 % C weldability is poor and the heat-affected zone hardens and cracks readily, so spring parts should not be welded. Where welding is unavoidable, preheat to 150–250 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables and temper immediately after welding.
Can 9254 be formed, bent or molded?
Small-diameter springs are cold-coiled from oil-tempered wire and stress relieved at 250–420 °C; large sections are hot-coiled at 850–950 °C and then quenched and tempered as a whole. Avoid cold forming high-hardness material.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit applies to 9254. Every 9254 part is priced by an engineer; design inside these and the quote comes back without a redesign loop.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Fair38 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | P.2 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 180 / 210 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.8 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 5× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 1.6 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
Sheet metal
| Formability | Better35 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Fair20 / 100 |
9254 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 | 0.51 – 0.59 | 0.55 |
| Sikey to temper stability and relaxation resistance | 1.2 – 1.6 | 1.4 |
| Mn | 0.6 – 0.8 | 0.7 |
| Crincreases hardenability | 0.6 – 0.8 | 0.7 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Smax (spring use usually held ≤ 0.025) | ≤ 0.04 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 9254?
Shot peen fatigue-critical parts, using stress peening where possible, then phosphate and paint or apply an epoxy or zinc-aluminum coating. Electroplating requires a strict hydrogen bake-out, and the decarburized layer should be removed by peeling or grinding.
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).
Plating
CVD Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel 9254 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- G92540
- Similar grades
- 54SiCr660Si2CrA
How much does 9254 cost?
9254 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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.
9254 — frequently asked
What is 9254 used for?
9254 is typically used for heavy-duty coil springs, leaf springs, valve springs, torsion bars, stabilizer bars and clutch and suspension springs. In short: high-silicon spring bar.
What is the yield strength of 9254?
9254 has a typical yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,030 MPa (149 ksi) — stronger than 78% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 9254 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (38/100, worse than 80% of steel grades). In the annealed or hot-rolled condition use carbide tooling at low to moderate speeds, roughly 40 % of 1212 rates; after quench and temper the material is essentially limited to grinding or CBN turning.
Can 9254 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). At about 0.55 % C weldability is poor and the heat-affected zone hardens and cracks readily, so spring parts should not be welded. Where welding is unavoidable, preheat to 150–250 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables and temper immediately after welding.
What surface finishes work on 9254?
Shot peen fatigue-critical parts, using stress peening where possible, then phosphate and paint or apply an epoxy or zinc-aluminum coating. Electroplating requires a strict hydrogen bake-out, and the decarburized layer should be removed by peeling or grinding.
Can 9254 be formed, bent or molded?
Small-diameter springs are cold-coiled from oil-tempered wire and stress relieved at 250–420 °C; large sections are hot-coiled at 850–950 °C and then quenched and tempered as a whole. Avoid cold forming high-hardness material.
What is the maximum service temperature of 9254?
9254 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.
What is the difference between 9254-HR and 9254-OT?
HR is the default condition — use as-rolled bar or coil, the most commonly stocked delivery state, for parts that will be hot formed, coiled or quenched and tempered afterwards; tolerance and surface are the loosest. OT: choose oil-tempered chrome-silicon spring wire to ASTM A401 for high-stress helical springs: cold coil and stress relieve only, no hardening, but forming is limited at 50 HRC. Yield strength is 620 MPa in HR versus 1,650 MPa in OT.
How much does 9254 cost?
9254 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in 9254?
Yes — 9254 is available for CNC machining and sheet metal; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. 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 A401/A401M — Chrome-Silicon Alloy Steel Spring Wire — ASTM (2020)
- ASTM A877/A877M — Cr-Si Alloy Steel Spring Wire and Springs — ASTM (2019)
- GB/T 1222 (55SiCr / 55SiCrA) — SAC (2016)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- SAE HS-795 Spring Design Manual — SAE International (1996)
- Mysteel / SMM (2026)
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.