Steel En16
En16 is a BS 970 manganese-molybdenum through-hardening alloy steel at about 0.36% C, supplied in annealed, normalized and the R to W quenched-and-tempered condition bands as well as cold drawn.
Reference datasheet — En16 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 T condition
En16 tempers and conditions
En16 is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. T 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
softened for machining/forming | Pick for heavy machining, cold forming or before re-hardening; lowest strength. | 400 | 640 | 24 | 190 HB | — |
Normalized | Uniform grain and medium strength for parts that will be finish heat treated or lightly loaded. | 480 | 760 | 20 | 20 HRC | — |
Hardened and tempered, 700–850 MPa | Lowest Q&T class — largest ruling sections and best ductility/toughness. | 560 | 775 | 20 | 20 HRC | — |
Cold drawn | Bright cold-drawn bar for close tolerance parts that will not be re-heat-treated. | 620 | 800 | 12 | 23 HRC | 8 % IACS |
Hardened and tempered, 770–930 MPa | Intermediate Q&T class where a little more strength than R is needed with good toughness. | 640 | 850 | 18 | 25 HRC | — |
TDefault Hardened and tempered, 850–1000 MPa | The standard stocked condition for En16 shafts, axles and general engineering parts. | 700 | 925 | 16 | 28 HRC | — |
Hardened and tempered, 1000–1150 MPa | High-strength class for smaller sections where toughness demands are moderate. | 880 | 1,075 | 14 | 34 HRC | — |
Solution heat treated (unstable) | Highest common Q&T class for En16 — small sections, highly stressed bolts and pins. | 960 | 1,150 | 13 | 36 HRC | — |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways En16 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
U | Hardened and tempered, 930–1080 MPa | Coating |
What is En16?
En16 is a BS 970 manganese-molybdenum through-hardening alloy steel at about 0.36% C, supplied in annealed, normalized and the R to W quenched-and-tempered condition bands as well as cold drawn. It is used for medium-duty shafts, axles and gears where uniform through-hardening and toughness are needed at moderate cost. Typical tempered properties are 700 MPa yield, 925 MPa tensile, 16% elongation and 275 HB (28 HRC), with a machinability rating of 50. It has no corrosion resistance as supplied and needs preheat and low-hydrogen practice to weld; 4140 or En19 is the usual alternative where higher hardenability is required. En16 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). En16 has a yield strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) and a tensile strength of 925 MPa (134 ksi) — stronger than 81% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 16% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is En16 used for?
- axle shafts
- gears
- crankshafts
- connecting rods
Advantages
- High strength — 700 MPa (102 ksi), better than 81% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 65/100, better than 78% of steel grades
En16 properties
Typical room-temperature values for En16-T; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
En16 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
En16 has a yield strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) and a tensile strength of 925 MPa (134 ksi) — stronger than 81% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 16% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
En16 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 42 W/m·K (24.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 56% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12.3 µm/m·K (6.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
En16 conducts electricity at 8 % IACS, better than 55% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of En16 takes about 29 MJ of energy and emits 2.3 kg of CO₂ — less than 53% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
En16's machinability is fair (50/100, worse than 53% of steel grades); weldability fair (35/100); formability poor (30/100).
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. En16 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with En16
Is En16 easy to machine?
Machines like 4140 at 250–300 HB — rigid setups, carbide inserts, 80–150 m/min turning; sulphur-bearing 605A/M free-cutting variants cut noticeably better.
Can En16 be welded?
Weldable with low-hydrogen consumables only: preheat 200–300 °C for the 0.36 %C Mn-Mo composition and stress relieve/temper below the last tempering temperature.
Can En16 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in the annealed condition; hot forge 1100–1200 °C, finish above 900 °C and slow-cool or normalize before hardening.
En16 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C605M36 grade carbon | 0.32 – 0.4 | 0.36 |
| Si | 0.1 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 1.3 – 1.7 | 1.5 |
| Mo | 0.22 – 0.32 | 0.27 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | |
| Smax (free-cutting 605A/M variants may run 0.12–0.20 S) | ≤ 0.04 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on En16?
No corrosion resistance as supplied — protect with oil, phosphate, black oxide, zinc/nickel plating or hard chrome; grind and polish well for shaft seal areas.
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
How much does En16 cost?
En16 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.
En16 — frequently asked
What is En16 used for?
En16 is typically used for axle shafts, gears, crankshafts and connecting rods. In short: mn-Mo alternative to 4140; good medium-section hardenability; free-cutting variants available.
What is the yield strength of En16?
En16 has a typical yield strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) and a tensile strength of 925 MPa (134 ksi) — stronger than 81% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is En16 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (50/100, worse than 53% of steel grades). Machines like 4140 at 250–300 HB — rigid setups, carbide inserts, 80–150 m/min turning; sulphur-bearing 605A/M free-cutting variants cut noticeably better.
Can En16 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (35/100). Weldable with low-hydrogen consumables only: preheat 200–300 °C for the 0.36 %C Mn-Mo composition and stress relieve/temper below the last tempering temperature.
What surface finishes work on En16?
No corrosion resistance as supplied — protect with oil, phosphate, black oxide, zinc/nickel plating or hard chrome; grind and polish well for shaft seal areas.
Can En16 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in the annealed condition; hot forge 1100–1200 °C, finish above 900 °C and slow-cool or normalize before hardening.
What is the maximum service temperature of En16?
En16 is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between En16-T and En16-W?
T is the default condition — the standard stocked condition for En16 shafts, axles and general engineering parts. W: highest common Q&T class for En16 — small sections, highly stressed bolts and pins. Yield strength is 700 MPa in T versus 960 MPa in W.
How much does En16 cost?
En16 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
- BS 970-1: Wrought steels for mechanical and allied engineering purposes (605M36 / En16) — BSI (1991)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16: Machining — ASM International (1989)
- EN16 / 605M36 alloy steel bar datasheet (UK stockists) — UK steel stockholders (2023)
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.