Steel E235
EN E235
Low-carbon (~0.17% C) non-alloy steel used for seamless circular tubes in general/mechanical engineering where moderate strength and good machinability/weldability are needed rather than pressure-code certification.
Reference datasheet — E235 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
E235 tempers and conditions
E235 is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. +N is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Softest condition — choose when the tube must be heavily bent, flared, expanded or further cold formed. | 215 | 360 | 30 | 110 HB | — |
Cold drawn, soft | Precision tube dimensions with near-annealed ductility — for hydraulic lines that still need bending and flaring. | 250 | 390 | 25 | 120 HB | — |
+NDefault Normalized | Standard supply condition for seamless mechanical tube: uniform fine-grain structure, guaranteed 235 MPa yield and 27 J Charpy. | 265 | 420 | 27 | 130 HB | — |
Hot rolled | Cheapest hot-finished seamless tube; use for non-critical structures where mechanical property scatter and mill scale are acceptable. | 270 | 430 | 25 | 135 HB | — |
Stress relieved | Cold-drawn strength with residual stresses removed — best choice when tubes are machined or bent without springback/distortion problems. | 340 | 450 | 15 | 145 HB | — |
Cold drawn | Precision tube per EN 10305-1 with tight tolerance and bright bore; highest strength but low ductility — avoid tight bends. | 420 | 500 | 10 | 160 HB | — |
What is E235?
Low-carbon (~0.17% C) non-alloy steel used for seamless circular tubes in general/mechanical engineering where moderate strength and good machinability/weldability are needed rather than pressure-code certification. E235 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). E235 has a yield strength of 265 MPa (38.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) — weaker than 92% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 27% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is E235 used for?
- mechanical tubing
- hydraulic tube stock
- machine frame tubes
- general engineering tube parts
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 65/100, better than 93% of steel grades
- Readily welded — 92/100, better than 93% of steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 80/100, better than 93% of steel grades
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10.7 % IACS, better than 91% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 265 MPa (38.4 ksi), worse than 92% of steel grades
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
E235 properties
Typical room-temperature values for E235-+N; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
E235 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
E235 has a yield strength of 265 MPa (38.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) — weaker than 92% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 27% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
E235 is rated for continuous service to 350°C (662 °F). It conducts heat at 50 W/m·K (28.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 87% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12 µm/m·K (6.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
E235 conducts electricity at 10.7 % IACS, better than 91% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of E235 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability6
E235's machinability is good (65/100, better than 93% of steel grades); weldability excellent (92/100); formability very good (80/100).
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. E235 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with E235
Is E235 easy to machine?
Machines easily with HSS or coated carbide but is gummy in the annealed state — use positive rake, high speed and coolant to avoid built-up edge; cold-drawn +C/+SR gives the cleanest chips and best surface.
Can E235 be welded?
Excellent weldability by MIG/TIG/SMAW/resistance methods with ER70S-6 class filler; CEV well below 0.40 so no preheat is needed for typical tube wall thicknesses.
Can E235 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold bends, flares and expands readily in +A/+N/+LC condition (bend radius ≈ 2–3×OD); +C tube should be stress relieved or annealed before severe forming.
E235 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 analysis, EN 10297-1 | ≤ 0.17 | 0.15 |
| Si | ≤ 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Mn | ≤ 1.2 | 0.8 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on E235?
No corrosion resistance in bare form — specify zinc plating, hot-dip galvanizing, phosphate+oil, e-coat or paint; polishes only to a moderate luster and will rust without a topcoat.
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 E235 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.0308
How much does E235 cost?
E235 is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
E235 — frequently asked
What is E235 used for?
E235 is typically used for mechanical tubing, hydraulic tube stock, machine frame tubes and general engineering tube parts. In short: good-machining mechanical tube; weldable without preheat; general engineering tube default.
What is the yield strength of E235?
E235 has a typical yield strength of 265 MPa (38.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) — weaker than 92% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is E235 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (65/100, better than 93% of steel grades). Machines easily with HSS or coated carbide but is gummy in the annealed state — use positive rake, high speed and coolant to avoid built-up edge; cold-drawn +C/+SR gives the cleanest chips and best surface.
Can E235 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (92/100). Excellent weldability by MIG/TIG/SMAW/resistance methods with ER70S-6 class filler; CEV well below 0.40 so no preheat is needed for typical tube wall thicknesses.
What surface finishes work on E235?
No corrosion resistance in bare form — specify zinc plating, hot-dip galvanizing, phosphate+oil, e-coat or paint; polishes only to a moderate luster and will rust without a topcoat.
Can E235 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold bends, flares and expands readily in +A/+N/+LC condition (bend radius ≈ 2–3×OD); +C tube should be stress relieved or annealed before severe forming.
What is the maximum service temperature of E235?
E235 is rated for continuous use to about 350°C (662 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does E235 cost?
E235 is a budget-cost steel ($), 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 10297-1 — Seamless circular steel tubes for mechanical and general engineering purposes, Part 1: Non-alloy and alloy steel tubes — CEN (2003)
- EN 10305-1 — Steel tubes for precision applications, Part 1: Seamless cold drawn tubes — CEN (2016)
- EN 10027-2 — Designation systems for steels, material numbers (1.0308) — CEN (2015)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.19 — Fatigue and Fracture — ASM International (1996)
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.