Steel 9254-CR (Cold rolled)
Supply condition
AISI/SAE 9254 · UNS G92540
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%.
Values for the CR condition
Other 9254 tempers and conditions
9254 is listed in 8 conditions; see the grade overview at 9254.
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 |
CRThis page 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-CR?
9254-CR is 9254 supplied in the CR condition — 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%. 9254-CR has a yield strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,100 MPa (160 ksi) — stronger than 90% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 206 GPa (29.9 Msi). 9254-CR 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). HR is the default condition FabDigit quotes; CR is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High strength — 900 MPa (131 ksi), better than 90% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 8%, worse than 95% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 93% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 45 MPa·√m (41 ksi·√in), worse than 90% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 34/100, worse than 86% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 20/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
9254-CR properties
Typical room-temperature values for 9254-CR; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 9254 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
9254-CR 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-CR has a yield strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,100 MPa (160 ksi) — stronger than 90% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 206 GPa (29.9 Msi).
Thermal6
9254-CR is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °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-CR 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-CR 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-CR's machinability is poor (34/100, worse than 86% of steel grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability poor (30/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 9254-CR
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.
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.
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 | — |
9254-CR — frequently asked
What is 9254-CR used for?
9254-CR 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-CR?
9254-CR has a typical yield strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,100 MPa (160 ksi) — stronger than 90% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 9254-CR easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (34/100, worse than 86% 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-CR 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-CR?
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-CR 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-CR?
9254-CR is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °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.
Can FabDigit make parts in 9254-CR?
Yes — 9254-CR 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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.