Steel C20C
EN 1.0411
C20C is a low-carbon case-hardening and cold-heading steel (1.0411, AISI 1020, JIS S20C) supplied untreated, annealed, normalized, spheroidize-annealed for cold forming (+AC) and cold-drawn.
Reference datasheet — C20C 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 +U+C condition
C20C tempers and conditions
C20C is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. +U+C 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Fully softened ferrite-pearlite condition for maximum ductility before deep drawing or heavy machining of blanks. | 240 | 395 | 32 | 111 HB | — |
Hot rolled | Cheapest as-rolled bar/coil for welded structures, machined parts and blanks that will be carburized later. | 250 | 420 | 28 | 116 HB | — |
Spheroidize annealed | Spheroidized wire rod/bar with the lowest work-hardening rate — the standard EN 10263-3 delivery state for severe cold heading and cold extrusion. | 250 | 400 | 33 | 112 HB | — |
Normalized | Uniform fine-grained structure with the best toughness/strength balance; typical for machined shafts and welded parts before carburizing. | 300 | 440 | 28 | 126 HB | — |
Light drawn | Only a few percent reduction to clean the surface and set size while keeping nearly annealed formability for subsequent heading. | 320 | 430 | 22 | 122 HB | — |
+U+CDefault Untreated and cold drawn | Standard bright cold-drawn bar/wire: tight tolerances, good straightness and higher yield strength for turned and cold-headed parts. | 390 | 470 | 15 | 131 HB | — |
Spheroidized and cold drawn | Best combination for multi-station cold formers: spheroidized structure plus drawn size/surface, giving low heading loads and few head cracks. | 400 | 470 | 16 | 135 HB | — |
Carburized and hardened | Final service condition for pins, bushings and small gears: 0.3–1.0 mm hard case on a tough, still-ductile low-carbon core. | 400 | 600 | 13 | 60 HRC | — |
What is C20C?
C20C is a low-carbon case-hardening and cold-heading steel (1.0411, AISI 1020, JIS S20C) supplied untreated, annealed, normalized, spheroidize-annealed for cold forming (+AC) and cold-drawn. Engineers use it for carburized gears, sprockets and pins that need a hard wear surface over a tough core, and for multi-blow cold-headed fasteners; the default condition gives 390 MPa yield, 470 MPa tensile, 15 % elongation and 131 HB (73 HRB). Weldability is excellent (CE ≈ 0.30) but service is limited to about 350 °C and there is no corrosion resistance. Specify 11SMn30 where free-cutting matters, or 16MnCr5 for deeper, more heavily loaded cases. C20C has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,460°C (2,660 °F). C20C has a yield strength of 390 MPa (56.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) — weaker than 64% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is C20C used for?
- gears
- camshafts
- small pins
- sprockets
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 51.9 W/m·K (30 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10.8 % IACS, better than 94% of steel grades
- Readily welded — 90/100, better than 90% of steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 65/100, better than 81% of steel grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
C20C properties
Typical room-temperature values for C20C-+U+C; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
C20C has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,460°C (2,660 °F).
Mechanical16
C20C has a yield strength of 390 MPa (56.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) — weaker than 64% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
C20C is rated for continuous service to 350°C (662 °F). It conducts heat at 51.9 W/m·K (30 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.7 µm/m·K (6.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C20C conducts electricity at 10.8 % IACS, better than 94% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C20C takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
C20C's machinability is good (60/100, better than 83% of steel grades); weldability excellent (90/100); formability good (65/100).
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. C20C is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C20C
Is C20C easy to machine?
Cold-drawn condition cuts best; annealed/spheroidized stock is gummy and smears — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed and generous coolant, or switch to 1215/11SMn30 if free-machining is critical.
Can C20C be welded?
Excellent weldability by MIG/TIG/stick/resistance with CE ≈ 0.30; no preheat needed below ~25 mm, use ER70S-6 / E7018 fillers.
Can C20C be formed, bent or molded?
Very good cold formability — +AC or +AC+C rod is designed for multi-blow cold heading and cold extrusion; hot forge 1100–1250 °C.
C20C 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CEN 10263-3 C20C | 0.17 – 0.24 | 0.2 |
| Si | ≤ 0.3 | 0.2 |
| Mn | 0.3 – 0.6 | 0.45 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Curesidual, max | ≤ 0.25 | 0.1 |
| Crresidual, max | ≤ 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Niresidual, max | ≤ 0.3 | 0.08 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on C20C?
No natural corrosion protection: specify zinc or zinc-nickel plating, phosphate + oil, black oxide, hot-dip galvanizing or paint; polishes only to a modest luster.
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 C20C in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
How much does C20C cost?
C20C 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.
C20C — frequently asked
What is C20C used for?
C20C is typically used for gears, camshafts, small pins and sprockets. In short: cold-heading carburizing grade; excellent weldability; tough core after carburizing.
What is the yield strength of C20C?
C20C has a typical yield strength of 390 MPa (56.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) — weaker than 64% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is C20C easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, better than 83% of steel grades). Cold-drawn condition cuts best; annealed/spheroidized stock is gummy and smears — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed and generous coolant, or switch to 1215/11SMn30 if free-machining is critical.
Can C20C be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (90/100). Excellent weldability by MIG/TIG/stick/resistance with CE ≈ 0.30; no preheat needed below ~25 mm, use ER70S-6 / E7018 fillers.
What surface finishes work on C20C?
No natural corrosion protection: specify zinc or zinc-nickel plating, phosphate + oil, black oxide, hot-dip galvanizing or paint; polishes only to a modest luster.
Can C20C be formed, bent or molded?
Very good cold formability — +AC or +AC+C rod is designed for multi-blow cold heading and cold extrusion; hot forge 1100–1250 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of C20C?
C20C is rated for continuous use to about 350°C (662 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between C20C +U+C and C20C-CH?
+U+C is the default condition — standard bright cold-drawn bar/wire: tight tolerances, good straightness and higher yield strength for turned and cold-headed parts. CH: final service condition for pins, bushings and small gears: 0.3–1.0 mm hard case on a tough, still-ductile low-carbon core. Yield strength is 390 MPa in +U+C versus 400 MPa in CH.
How much does C20C cost?
C20C 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
- EN 10263-3 Steel rod, bars and wire for cold heading and cold extrusion — Case hardening steels — CEN (2017)
- EN 10084 Case hardening steels — Technical delivery conditions — CEN (2008)
- ASTM A108 / SAE J403 (AISI 1020) — ASTM / SAE (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4 Heat Treating (carburizing of low-carbon steels) — ASM International (1991)
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.