Steel A27 Grade 60-30
ASTM A27 Grade 60-30
ASTM A27 Grade 60-30 is a general-purpose structural cast carbon steel specified to 60 ksi minimum tensile and 30 ksi minimum yield, supplied annealed, normalized, or normalized and tempered.
Reference datasheet — A27 Grade 60-30 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 N condition
A27 Grade 60-30 tempers and conditions
A27 Grade 60-30 is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. N is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solution annealed | Pick when maximum machinability, lowest residual stress and best dimensional stability matter more than strength. | 240 | 450 | 31 | 125 HB | — |
As-cast | Lowest-cost option for light, non-critical castings where heat treatment is waived but 60-30 tensile/yield levels are still verified. | 250 | 455 | 25 | 130 HB | 10 % IACS |
Normalized and tempered | Use when weld-repaired or thick-section castings need residual stress relief and slightly higher toughness at equal strength. | 255 | 470 | 30 | 128 HB | 10 % IACS |
NDefault Normalized | Standard stocked/supplied condition: best combination of strength, toughness and uniform structure for general structural castings. | 260 | 485 | 28 | 131 HB | — |
What is A27 Grade 60-30?
ASTM A27 Grade 60-30 is a general-purpose structural cast carbon steel specified to 60 ksi minimum tensile and 30 ksi minimum yield, supplied annealed, normalized, or normalized and tempered. Default values are 260 MPa yield, 485 MPa tensile, 28 % elongation, 131 HB (73 HRB), service to 425 °C and a machinability score of 58. It is chosen for sand-cast frames and brackets where weldability and ductility matter more than strength. It has no corrosion resistance and rusts bare within days; A27 Grade 70-36 is the next step up in strength. A27 Grade 60-30 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). A27 Grade 60-30 has a yield strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 485 MPa (70.3 ksi) — weaker than 92% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 203 GPa (29.4 Msi).
What is A27 Grade 60-30 used for?
- machinery frames
- structural castings
- railroad and mining equipment parts
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 28%, better than 89% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 50 W/m·K (28.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 87% of steel grades
- Readily welded — 88/100, better than 87% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10 % IACS, better than 83% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 260 MPa (37.7 ksi), worse than 92% of steel grades
A27 Grade 60-30 properties
Typical room-temperature values for A27 Grade 60-30-N; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
A27 Grade 60-30 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).
Mechanical16
A27 Grade 60-30 has a yield strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 485 MPa (70.3 ksi) — weaker than 92% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 203 GPa (29.4 Msi).
Thermal6
A27 Grade 60-30 is rated for continuous service to 425°C (797 °F). It conducts heat at 50 W/m·K (28.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 87% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.9 µm/m·K (6.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
A27 Grade 60-30 conducts electricity at 10 % IACS, better than 83% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of A27 Grade 60-30 takes about 22 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 99% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 90%.
Manufacturability8
A27 Grade 60-30's machinability is good (58/100, better than 75% of steel grades); weldability excellent (88/100); 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. A27 Grade 60-30 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with A27 Grade 60-30
Is A27 Grade 60-30 easy to machine?
Machines like ~1020–1025 wrought steel at ~65 % of AISI 1212; remove the sand/scale skin with a first heavy cut to protect carbide edges, and expect gummy chips in the annealed condition.
Can A27 Grade 60-30 be welded?
Excellent weldability with SMAW/GMAW/FCAW using E7018-class filler; preheat 100–150 °C for heavy sections and stress-relieve or re-normalize after major weld repair.
Can A27 Grade 60-30 be formed, bent or molded?
Green sand, no-bake or shell molding with generous risering — steel shrinks ~2 % and needs strong feeding; avoid abrupt section changes and hot spots.
A27 Grade 60-30 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cmax for Grades 60-30 / 65-35 per A27 Table 1 | ≤ 0.3 | 0.25 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.7 | 0.6 |
| Si | ≤ 0.8 | 0.5 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| S | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Curesidual element | ≤ 0.5 | — |
| Crresidual element | ≤ 0.5 | — |
| Niresidual element | ≤ 0.5 | — |
| Moresidual element | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Vresidual element; total residuals ≤ 1.00 % | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
What surface finishes work on A27 Grade 60-30?
Shot blast to SSPC-SP6 then prime/paint, zinc plate or hot-dip galvanize; bare surfaces rust within days in humid air.
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
How much does A27 Grade 60-30 cost?
A27 Grade 60-30 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.
A27 Grade 60-30 — frequently asked
What is A27 Grade 60-30 used for?
A27 Grade 60-30 is typically used for machinery frames, structural castings and railroad and mining equipment parts. In short: entry-level structural cast steel; best weldability in family; highest ductility A27 tier.
What is the yield strength of A27 Grade 60-30?
A27 Grade 60-30 has a typical yield strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 485 MPa (70.3 ksi) — weaker than 92% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is A27 Grade 60-30 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (58/100, better than 75% of steel grades). Machines like ~1020–1025 wrought steel at ~65 % of AISI 1212; remove the sand/scale skin with a first heavy cut to protect carbide edges, and expect gummy chips in the annealed condition.
Can A27 Grade 60-30 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (88/100). Excellent weldability with SMAW/GMAW/FCAW using E7018-class filler; preheat 100–150 °C for heavy sections and stress-relieve or re-normalize after major weld repair.
What surface finishes work on A27 Grade 60-30?
Shot blast to SSPC-SP6 then prime/paint, zinc plate or hot-dip galvanize; bare surfaces rust within days in humid air.
Can A27 Grade 60-30 be formed, bent or molded?
Green sand, no-bake or shell molding with generous risering — steel shrinks ~2 % and needs strong feeding; avoid abrupt section changes and hot spots.
What is the maximum service temperature of A27 Grade 60-30?
A27 Grade 60-30 is rated for continuous use to about 425°C (797 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between A27 Grade 60-30-N and A27 Grade 60-30-A?
N is the default condition — standard stocked/supplied condition: best combination of strength, toughness and uniform structure for general structural castings. A: pick when maximum machinability, lowest residual stress and best dimensional stability matter more than strength. Yield strength is 260 MPa in N versus 240 MPa in A.
How much does A27 Grade 60-30 cost?
A27 Grade 60-30 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
- ASTM A27/A27M — Standard Specification for Steel Castings, Carbon, for General Application — ASTM International (2020)
- Steel Castings Handbook, 6th ed. — Steel Founders' Society of America / ASM International (1995)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
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.