Steel C60
EN C60 · AISI/SAE 1060 · JIS S60C · GB 60
C60 (1.0601, AISI 1060, S60C) is an unalloyed high-carbon steel with about 0.60 % C that develops its hardness and wear resistance from quenching and tempering rather than alloying.
Reference datasheet — C60 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
C60 tempers and conditions
C60 is supplied in 11 conditions, soft to hard. +N is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 11 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spheroidize annealed | Pick for cold forming, deep drawing or best machinability before hardening. | 340 | 580 | 26 | 170 HB | 9.8 % IACS |
Treated for shearability | Use when coil or bar must be cropped/sheared cold into blanks without cracking. | 350 | 600 | 24 | 175 HB | 9.7 % IACS |
Annealed | Softest supply condition for heavy machining, cold sawing or before a hardening cycle. | 370 | 620 | 22 | 179 HB | 50 W/m·K |
Hot rolled | Cheapest stock form for parts that will be fully heat treated after machining. | 370 | 675 | 17 | 201 HB | 9.6 % IACS |
+NDefault Normalized | Default engineering condition: uniform fine pearlite, predictable strength, good base for later hardening. | 420 | 775 | 16 | 20 HRC | — |
Induction hardened | Use for shafts, gear teeth and rails needing a hard wear surface over a tougher pearlitic core. | 430 | 800 | 14 | 58 HRC | 9.3 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Straight, close-tolerance bar with raised yield strength for as-supplied shafts and pins. | 620 | 760 | 10 | 223 HB | — |
Quenched and tempered | Standard delivered strength class for shafts and machine parts needing strength plus usable toughness. | 620 | 900 | 11 | 29 HRC | — |
quenched, tempered ~400 °C | Choose for springs, blades and wear parts needing high strength with some remaining resilience. | 1,150 | 1,350 | 8 | 42 HRC | — |
quenched, tempered ~250 °C | Wear- and edge-retention condition for hand tools, knives and cutting/forming edges. | 1,500 | 1,800 | 4 | 53 HRC | — |
Hardened (as-quenched, 60–64 HRC, stress-relief temper only) | Maximum hardness for pure abrasion resistance; brittle, only for thin sections with light stress-relief. | 1,650 | 2,100 | 1 | 62 HRC | 8.2 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways C60 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
PD wire | Patented cold-drawn wire | Supply form |
What is C60?
C60 (1.0601, AISI 1060, S60C) is an unalloyed high-carbon steel with about 0.60 % C that develops its hardness and wear resistance from quenching and tempering rather than alloying. It is stocked annealed, normalized, cold-drawn, quenched-and-tempered to 40–45 HRC or 50–55 HRC, induction-hardened and as patented-drawn spring wire; the annealed default is 420 MPa yield, 775 MPa tensile, 16 % elongation and 229 HB (about 20 HRC), with service to 350 °C. Machinability is modest (score 45) and weldability is poor at CE ≈ 0.75, so it is not a grade for welded assemblies, and it has no corrosion resistance. Where welding or ductility governs, C45 is the usual step down. C60 has a density of 7.84 g/cm³ (0.283 lb/in³), lighter than 78% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F). C60 has a yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 775 MPa (112 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 16% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).
What is C60 used for?
- springs
- wear plates
- cutting tools
- high-strength shafts
- agricultural blades
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 48 W/m·K (27.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 9.6 % IACS, better than 78% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 50 MPa·√m (45.5 ksi·√in), worse than 86% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 20/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
C60 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C60-+N; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
C60 has a density of 7.84 g/cm³ (0.283 lb/in³), lighter than 78% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Mechanical17
C60 has a yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 775 MPa (112 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 16% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).
Thermal6
C60 is rated for continuous service to 350°C (662 °F). It conducts heat at 48 W/m·K (27.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.3 µm/m·K (6.28 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C60 conducts electricity at 9.6 % IACS, better than 78% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C60 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 2.1 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability6
C60's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability fair (35/100).
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. C60 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C60
Is C60 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed or normalized state with carbide tooling and generous coolant; above ~35 HRC switch to CBN/grinding.
Can C60 be welded?
Poor weldability (CE ≈ 0.75) — preheat 250–350 °C, low-hydrogen consumables and immediate post-weld temper, otherwise expect underbead cracking.
Can C60 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only when spheroidize annealed and with generous bend radii; hot forge 1100–850 °C and always cool slowly or normalize afterwards.
C60 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 10083-2 C60; AISI 1060 is 0.55–0.65 | 0.57 – 0.65 | 0.6 |
| Si | ≤ 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.6 – 0.9 | 0.75 |
| PC60E ≤0.030 | ≤ 0.05 | |
| SC60E ≤0.035; C60R 0.020–0.040 | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Crresidual | ≤ 0.4 | |
| Moresidual | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Niresidual; Cr+Mo+Ni ≤0.63 | ≤ 0.4 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on C60?
No corrosion resistance — protect with oil, black oxide, phosphate, zinc plating or paint; hardened surfaces take a fine polish and grind well.
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 C60 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- AISI / SAE
- 1060
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.0601
- GB (China)
- 60
- JIS
- S60C
How much does C60 cost?
C60 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.
C60 — frequently asked
What is C60 used for?
C60 is typically used for springs, wear plates, cutting tools, high-strength shafts and agricultural blades. In short: high hardness after quench-temper; wear and edge retention; not for welded structures.
What is the yield strength of C60?
C60 has a typical yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 775 MPa (112 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 11 listed tempers.
Is C60 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed or normalized state with carbide tooling and generous coolant; above ~35 HRC switch to CBN/grinding.
Can C60 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Poor weldability (CE ≈ 0.75) — preheat 250–350 °C, low-hydrogen consumables and immediate post-weld temper, otherwise expect underbead cracking.
What surface finishes work on C60?
No corrosion resistance — protect with oil, black oxide, phosphate, zinc plating or paint; hardened surfaces take a fine polish and grind well.
Can C60 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only when spheroidize annealed and with generous bend radii; hot forge 1100–850 °C and always cool slowly or normalize afterwards.
What is the maximum service temperature of C60?
C60 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 C60 +N and C60-HR?
+N is the default condition — default engineering condition: uniform fine pearlite, predictable strength, good base for later hardening. HR: cheapest stock form for parts that will be fully heat treated after machining. Yield strength is 420 MPa in +N versus 370 MPa in HR.
How much does C60 cost?
C60 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 10083-2 Steels for quenching and tempering — Non-alloy steels (C60, 1.0601) — CEN (2006)
- ASTM A576 / SAE J403 (AISI 1060) — ASTM / SAE (2017)
- JIS G 4051 (S60C) — JISC (2016)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4 — Heat Treating — 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.