Steel C8C
EN 1.0213
A very low-carbon (~0.05–0.10% C) non-alloy steel intended for cold heading and cold extrusion applications, valued for its excellent formability and consistent chemistry for wire and fastener manufacture.
Reference datasheet — C8C 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
C8C tempers and conditions
C8C is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. +U+C 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spheroidize annealed | Pick when maximum cold-heading upset ratio and lowest die load are needed before drawing or forming. | 190 | 320 | 36 | 95 HB | — |
Hot rolled | Base hot-rolled wire rod as delivered from the rolling mill, for customers doing their own drawing or annealing. | 215 | 340 | 32 | 100 HB | — |
Spheroidize annealed then cold drawn | Best choice for severe multi-station cold heading/extrusion: annealed ductility retained with drawn size accuracy and lower strength than +U+C. | 335 | 410 | 14 | 120 HB | — |
+U+CDefault Cold drawn from untreated (as-rolled) condition | Standard stocked cold-drawn wire/bar: bright surface, close diameter tolerance and work-hardened strength for moderate-upset fasteners. | 385 | 460 | 11 | 135 HB | — |
What is C8C?
A very low-carbon (~0.05–0.10% C) non-alloy steel intended for cold heading and cold extrusion applications, valued for its excellent formability and consistent chemistry for wire and fastener manufacture. C8C has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,495°C (2,723 °F). C8C has a yield strength of 385 MPa (55.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) — weaker than 65% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 11% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is C8C used for?
- cold-headed fasteners
- wire products
- cold-formed pins and rivets
- small precision cold-forged parts
Advantages
- High electrical conductivity — 11 % IACS, better than 98% of steel grades
- Readily welded — 95/100, better than 97% of steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 82/100, better than 94% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 51 W/m·K (29.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 92% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 11%, worse than 89% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), worse than 78% of steel grades
C8C properties
Typical room-temperature values for C8C-+U+C; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
C8C has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,495°C (2,723 °F).
Mechanical15
C8C has a yield strength of 385 MPa (55.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) — weaker than 65% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 11% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
C8C is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 51 W/m·K (29.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 92% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12 µm/m·K (6.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C8C conducts electricity at 11 % IACS, better than 98% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C8C takes about 27 MJ of energy and emits 2.1 kg of CO₂ — less than 59% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
C8C's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades); weldability excellent (95/100); formability very good (82/100).
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. C8C is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C8C
Is C8C easy to machine?
Soft and gummy — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed and flood coolant to avoid built-up edge and stringy chips; expect poor chip breaking versus resulfurized grades.
Can C8C be welded?
Excellent by resistance, MIG/MAG, TIG and projection welding; carbon equivalent ~0.15 so no preheat or PWHT is required.
Can C8C be formed, bent or molded?
Designed for multi-station cold heading and cold extrusion; use phosphate + soap or polymer lubricant and specify +AC before high upset ratios to prevent head cracking.
C8C 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ccast/ladle analysis per EN 10263-2 | 0.06 – 0.1 | 0.08 |
| Silow-Si variants specified for galvanizing/wire drawing | ≤ 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Mn | 0.3 – 0.6 | 0.45 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Curesidual limit, restricted for cold-heading quality | ≤ 0.25 | 0.1 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on C8C?
No corrosion resistance of its own — electro-zinc, hot-dip galvanizing, zinc-flake or phosphate+oil is standard; carburizing/carbonitriding can be added for surface hardness.
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 C8C in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.0213
- Similar grades
- C8
How much does C8C cost?
C8C is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
C8C — frequently asked
What is C8C used for?
C8C is typically used for cold-headed fasteners, wire products, cold-formed pins and rivets and small precision cold-forged parts. In short: dedicated cold-heading grade; weldability score 95; poor free-machining behaviour.
What is the yield strength of C8C?
C8C has a typical yield strength of 385 MPa (55.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) — weaker than 65% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is C8C easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades). Soft and gummy — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed and flood coolant to avoid built-up edge and stringy chips; expect poor chip breaking versus resulfurized grades.
Can C8C be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (95/100). Excellent by resistance, MIG/MAG, TIG and projection welding; carbon equivalent ~0.15 so no preheat or PWHT is required.
What surface finishes work on C8C?
No corrosion resistance of its own — electro-zinc, hot-dip galvanizing, zinc-flake or phosphate+oil is standard; carburizing/carbonitriding can be added for surface hardness.
Can C8C be formed, bent or molded?
Designed for multi-station cold heading and cold extrusion; use phosphate + soap or polymer lubricant and specify +AC before high upset ratios to prevent head cracking.
What is the maximum service temperature of C8C?
C8C is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does C8C cost?
C8C is a budget-cost steel ($), 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 10263-2 Steel rod, bars and wire for cold heading and cold extrusion — steels not intended for heat treatment — CEN (2017)
- EN 10027-2 Designation systems for steels — numerical system (1.0213) — CEN (2015)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Machinery's Handbook (machinability ratings, low-carbon steels) — Industrial Press (2020)
- GB/T 6478 (ML08 comparable grade) — SAC (2015)
- Mysteel / SMM · (2026)
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.