Steel C45E Hot Rolled
Finish state
EN C45E · AISI/SAE 1045 equivalent, 1045 · GB 45#
Cheapest bar/plate stock where properties are not critical and parts will be heat treated later.
Values for the Hot Rolled condition
Other C45E tempers and conditions
C45E is listed in 7 conditions; see the grade overview at C45E.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
soft annealed (spheroidize/full anneal) | Softest condition for deep machining, cold forming or before hardening. | 320 | 580 | 20 | 170 HB | — |
Hot RolledThis page as hot rolled / as delivered | Cheapest bar/plate stock where properties are not critical and parts will be heat treated later. | 340 | 620 | 16 | 10 HRC | 10 % IACS |
NormalizedDefault normalized | Standard stock condition: uniform fine pearlitic structure, balanced strength and machinability. | 380 | 660 | 18 | 190 HB | — |
Quenched and tempered | General-purpose tough/strong condition for shafts, gears and fasteners; use for sections up to roughly 40 mm. | 520 | 760 | 15 | 21 HRC | — |
Induction/flame hardened | Pick when a hard, wear-resistant running surface is needed on a tough core (shaft journals, guide rails, gear teeth). | 520 | 760 | 14 | 56 HRC | 8.5 % IACS |
cold drawn (bright bar) | Bright, close-tolerance bar with raised yield strength for shafts and turned parts made without further heat treatment. | 560 | 720 | 10 | 215 HB | — |
Quenched and tempered to medium hardness | Higher-strength through-hardened condition for loaded shafts and gear blanks in thin/medium sections. | 750 | 950 | 12 | 30 HRC | — |
What is C45E Hot Rolled?
C45E Hot Rolled is C45E supplied in the Hot Rolled condition — cheapest bar/plate stock where properties are not critical and parts will be heat treated later. C45E Hot Rolled has a yield strength of 340 MPa (49.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — weaker than 76% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 16% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi). C45E Hot Rolled 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). Normalized is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Hot Rolled is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 49 W/m·K (28.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10 % IACS, better than 83% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 48 MPa·√m (43.7 ksi·√in), worse than 88% of steel grades
- Low strength — 340 MPa (49.3 ksi), worse than 76% of steel grades
C45E Hot Rolled properties
Typical room-temperature values for C45E Hot Rolled; 23 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are C45E reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
C45E Hot Rolled 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
C45E Hot Rolled has a yield strength of 340 MPa (49.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — weaker than 76% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 16% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
C45E Hot Rolled is rated for continuous service to 350°C (662 °F). It conducts heat at 49 W/m·K (28.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C45E Hot Rolled 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 C45E Hot Rolled takes about 24 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 97% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
C45E Hot Rolled's machinability is fair (52/100, better than 52% of steel grades); weldability fair (48/100); formability fair (45/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with C45E Hot Rolled
Is C45E easy to machine?
Machines well in +N or +C at ~120–180 m/min with carbide; annealed material can smear, and above ~30 HRC use coated carbide/CBN and rigid setups.
Can C45E be welded?
CE ≈ 0.55 — preheat 150–250 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables, control interpass and stress-relieve/re-temper afterwards to avoid martensitic cracking.
Can C45E be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge at 1100–850 °C then normalize; cold bending is limited (recommend bend radius ≥ 3t and annealed material).
What surface finishes work on C45E?
No anodizing; protect with oil, phosphate, black oxide, zinc or hard-chrome plating, nitriding for wear, and paint for outdoor service.
C45E 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 | 0.42 – 0.5 | 0.45 |
| Si | ≤ 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.5 – 0.8 | 0.65 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| SE grade: controlled max sulphur | ≤ 0.04 | — |
| Cr | ≤ 0.4 | — |
| Mo | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| NiCr+Mo+Ni ≤ 0.63 | ≤ 0.4 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
C45E Hot Rolled — frequently asked
What is C45E Hot Rolled used for?
C45E Hot Rolled is typically used for crankshafts, shafts and industrial bolts. In short: european medium-carbon bar.
What is the yield strength of C45E Hot Rolled?
C45E Hot Rolled has a typical yield strength of 340 MPa (49.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — weaker than 76% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is C45E Hot Rolled easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (52/100, better than 52% of steel grades). Machines well in +N or +C at ~120–180 m/min with carbide; annealed material can smear, and above ~30 HRC use coated carbide/CBN and rigid setups.
Can C45E Hot Rolled be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (48/100). CE ≈ 0.55 — preheat 150–250 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables, control interpass and stress-relieve/re-temper afterwards to avoid martensitic cracking.
What surface finishes work on C45E Hot Rolled?
No anodizing; protect with oil, phosphate, black oxide, zinc or hard-chrome plating, nitriding for wear, and paint for outdoor service.
Can C45E Hot Rolled be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge at 1100–850 °C then normalize; cold bending is limited (recommend bend radius ≥ 3t and annealed material).
What is the maximum service temperature of C45E Hot Rolled?
C45E Hot Rolled 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 C45E Normalized and C45E-QT?
Normalized is the default condition — standard stock condition: uniform fine pearlitic structure, balanced strength and machinability. QT: general-purpose tough/strong condition for shafts, gears and fasteners; use for sections up to roughly 40 mm. Yield strength is 380 MPa in Normalized versus 520 MPa in QT.
Can FabDigit make parts in C45E Hot Rolled?
Yes — C45E Hot Rolled 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
- EN 10083-2 Steels for quenching and tempering — Non-alloy steels — CEN (2006)
- EN 10277 Bright steel products — technical delivery conditions — CEN (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16 — Machining; Vol.19 — Fatigue and Fracture — ASM International (1996)
- 1.1191 / C45E datasheet — Böhler / Deutsche Edelstahlwerke (2022)
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.