Steel A48 Class 40-FH (Full hard)
Supply condition
ASTM A48 Class 40 · EN EN-GJL-250, GG25 · JIS FC250 · GB HT250
Pick for wear surfaces — ways, cam faces, cylinder bores — where a hard martensitic skin over an unchanged gray-iron core is wanted.
Values for the FH condition
Other A48 Class 40 tempers and conditions
A48 Class 40 is listed in 6 conditions; see the grade overview at A48 Class 40.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Use when maximum machinability is needed and the strength drop from decomposing pearlite is acceptable. | 165 | 230 | 0.9 | 165 HB | 2.4 % IACS |
Class 40C | Heavy-section castings; slower cooling coarsens graphite so strength and hardness fall to the class minimum. | 213 | 278 | 0.7 | 17 HRC | 2.3 % IACS |
Stress relieved | Choose for dimensionally critical machined parts (machine bases, valve bodies) to remove casting residual stress with almost no loss of strength. | 220 | 285 | 0.6 | 230 HB | 2.2 % IACS |
ACDefault Spheroidize annealed | Standard commercial supply condition for sand castings of medium wall thickness. | 225 | 293 | 0.6 | 235 HB | — |
FHThis page Full hard | Pick for wear surfaces — ways, cam faces, cylinder bores — where a hard martensitic skin over an unchanged gray-iron core is wanted. | 230 | 293 | 0.4 | 50 HRC | 2 % IACS |
Class 40A | Thin-section castings where faster cooling gives finer graphite and higher strength/hardness. | 240 | 310 | 0.5 | 23 HRC | 2.1 % IACS |
What is A48 Class 40-FH?
A48 Class 40-FH is A48 Class 40 supplied in the FH condition — pick for wear surfaces — ways, cam faces, cylinder bores — where a hard martensitic skin over an unchanged gray-iron core is wanted. A48 Class 40-FH has a yield strength of 230 MPa (33.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 293 MPa (42.5 ksi) — weaker than 97% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 0.4% and the elastic modulus is 125 GPa (18.1 Msi). A48 Class 40-FH has a density of 7.15 g/cm³ (0.258 lb/in³), lighter than 99% of steel grades. It melts at 1,150°C (2,102 °F). AC is the default condition FabDigit quotes; FH is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 1.7 kg CO₂/kg, better than 99% of steel grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 22/100, better than 90% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 0.4%, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 14 MPa·√m (12.7 ksi·√in), worse than 100% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 5/100, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 1/100, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Low stiffness — 125 GPa (18.1 Msi), worse than 99% of steel grades
A48 Class 40-FH properties
Typical room-temperature values for A48 Class 40-FH; 21 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are A48 Class 40 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
A48 Class 40-FH has a density of 7.15 g/cm³ (0.258 lb/in³), lighter than 99% of steel grades. It melts at 1,150°C (2,102 °F).
Mechanical14
A48 Class 40-FH has a yield strength of 230 MPa (33.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 293 MPa (42.5 ksi) — weaker than 97% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 0.4% and the elastic modulus is 125 GPa (18.1 Msi).
Thermal6
A48 Class 40-FH 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 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
A48 Class 40-FH conducts electricity at 2 % IACS, worse than 99% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (22/100), better than 90% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of A48 Class 40-FH takes about 18 MJ of energy and emits 1.7 kg of CO₂ — less than 100% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 90%.
Manufacturability8
A48 Class 40-FH's machinability is poor (15/100, worse than 98% of steel grades); weldability not recommended (5/100); formability not recommended (1/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with A48 Class 40-FH
Is A48 Class 40 easy to machine?
Machines easily and gives short broken chips — run dry or with air blast, use carbide (K10/K20) or CBN at high speed; expect abrasive wear from casting skin and hard edges, so break through the skin on the first cut.
Can A48 Class 40 be welded?
Poor weldability: repair only, using nickel or NiFe electrodes with 300–500 °C preheat, short stringer beads with peening, and slow cool to avoid white-iron/crack-prone HAZ.
Can A48 Class 40 be formed, bent or molded?
Not formable — shape is fixed in the mould; excellent green-sand/shell fluidity, low shrinkage (~1%) and good feeding, but control section transitions and cooling rate to keep hardness and strength uniform.
What surface finishes work on A48 Class 40?
Shot-blast then prime/paint or phosphate for corrosion protection; can be flame/induction hardened or nitrided for wear; not anodizable and graphite flakes limit polished or chrome-plated finishes.
A48 Class 40 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ctotal carbon; ASTM A48 does not fix composition — typical foundry practice for Class 40 / HT250 | 2.9 – 3.4 | 3.2 |
| Si | 1.6 – 2.3 | 1.9 |
| Mnpearlite stabilizer | 0.6 – 1 | 0.8 |
| P | ≤ 0.15 | 0.08 |
| S | ≤ 0.12 | 0.08 |
| Croptional, to raise strength/hardness in heavy sections | 0 – 0.35 | 0.2 |
| Cuoptional pearlite promoter | 0 – 0.6 | 0.2 |
| Fe | balance | — |
A48 Class 40-FH — frequently asked
What is A48 Class 40-FH used for?
A48 Class 40-FH is typically used for cylinder blocks, gearbox housings, brake drums and machine frames. In short: higher-strength gray iron class; excellent vibration damping; free-machining ferrous casting.
What is the yield strength of A48 Class 40-FH?
A48 Class 40-FH has a typical yield strength of 230 MPa (33.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 293 MPa (42.5 ksi) — weaker than 97% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is A48 Class 40-FH easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (15/100, worse than 98% of steel grades). Machines easily and gives short broken chips — run dry or with air blast, use carbide (K10/K20) or CBN at high speed; expect abrasive wear from casting skin and hard edges, so break through the skin on the first cut.
Can A48 Class 40-FH be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (5/100). Poor weldability: repair only, using nickel or NiFe electrodes with 300–500 °C preheat, short stringer beads with peening, and slow cool to avoid white-iron/crack-prone HAZ.
What surface finishes work on A48 Class 40-FH?
Shot-blast then prime/paint or phosphate for corrosion protection; can be flame/induction hardened or nitrided for wear; not anodizable and graphite flakes limit polished or chrome-plated finishes.
Can A48 Class 40-FH be formed, bent or molded?
Not formable — shape is fixed in the mould; excellent green-sand/shell fluidity, low shrinkage (~1%) and good feeding, but control section transitions and cooling rate to keep hardness and strength uniform.
What is the maximum service temperature of A48 Class 40-FH?
A48 Class 40-FH 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 A48 Class 40-AC and A48 Class 40-ANN?
AC is the default condition — standard commercial supply condition for sand castings of medium wall thickness. ANN: use when maximum machinability is needed and the strength drop from decomposing pearlite is acceptable. Yield strength is 225 MPa in AC versus 165 MPa in ANN.
Sources
- ASTM A48/A48M — Standard Specification for Gray Iron Castings — ASTM International (2022)
- GB/T 9439 (HT250) — SAC (2010)
- EN 1561 Founding — Grey cast irons (EN-GJL-250) — CEN (2011)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.15 — Casting — ASM International (2008)
- Machinery's Handbook, 31st ed. — Industrial Press (2020)
- Continuous cast gray iron bar stock datasheets (Class 40 grade) — bar-stock producers (2023)
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.