Steel EN36-CR (Cold rolled)
Supply condition
BS EN36
Cold-rolled strip for stamped case-hardened parts needing tight thickness and good surface.
Values for the CR condition
Other EN36 tempers and conditions
EN36 is listed in 7 conditions; see the grade overview at EN36.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
full/sub-critical anneal, softest machining condition | Pick for maximum machinability and stress relief before carburizing or heavy cutting. | 400 | 610 | 22 | 180 HB | — |
HRDefault Hot rolled | Standard stock condition for carburizing-grade bar; machined then case hardened. | 450 | 700 | 18 | 200 HB | 6.5 % IACS |
air cooled from ~870–900 °C | Refines forging grain structure and gives uniform response to subsequent carburizing. | 480 | 720 | 18 | 210 HB | 6.5 % IACS |
CRThis page Cold rolled | Cold-rolled strip for stamped case-hardened parts needing tight thickness and good surface. | 560 | 760 | 12 | 225 HB | 6.5 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Cold-drawn bright bar for close-tolerance shafts and pins machined before carburizing. | 620 | 810 | 11 | 20 HRC | 6.5 % IACS |
Quenched and tempered | Use where the part runs uncarburized and needs a tough, high-strength through-hardened core. | 740 | 930 | 15 | 30 HRC | — |
case hardened, quenched and low-temperature tempered (case 58–62 HRC) | The intended service condition: hard wear-resistant case on a tough Ni-Cr core for gears and pinions. | 800 | 1,000 | 13 | 60 HRC | — |
What is EN36-CR?
EN36-CR is EN36 supplied in the CR condition — cold-rolled strip for stamped case-hardened parts needing tight thickness and good surface. EN36-CR has a yield strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 73% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi). EN36-CR has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F). HR is the default condition FabDigit quotes; CR is available on request or by drawing note.
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 250°C (482 °F), worse than 85% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 12%, worse than 84% of steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 6.5 % IACS, worse than 77% of steel grades
EN36-CR properties
Typical room-temperature values for EN36-CR; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are EN36 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
EN36-CR has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical16
EN36-CR has a yield strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 73% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).
Thermal6
EN36-CR is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 36 W/m·K (20.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 73% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12 µm/m·K (6.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
EN36-CR conducts electricity at 6.5 % IACS, worse than 77% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (14/100), better than 70% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of EN36-CR takes about 32 MJ of energy and emits 2.4 kg of CO₂ — more than 70% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability7
EN36-CR's machinability is fair (47/100, worse than 58% of steel grades); weldability poor (28/100); formability fair (40/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with EN36-CR
Is EN36 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed or normalized state with sharp carbide tooling and rigid setups; rough before carburizing and finish-grind afterwards since the 60 HRC case is grinding-only.
Can EN36 be welded?
Poor weldability — high hardenability means preheat 250–350 °C, low-hydrogen consumables and immediate post-weld tempering; avoid welding carburized zones entirely.
Can EN36 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1150–850 °C followed by slow cooling and normalizing; cold forming is limited to light bending in the annealed condition.
What surface finishes work on EN36?
No anodizing; protect with oil, phosphate, black oxide, zinc or hard-chrome plating, and bake after plating to avoid hydrogen embrittlement of the hardened case.
EN36 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CEN36A / 655M13 | 0.12 – 0.18 | 0.15 |
| Si | 0.1 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.35 – 0.6 | 0.45 |
| Ni | 3 – 3.75 | 3.4 |
| Cr | 0.7 – 1 | 0.85 |
| Moresidual only in EN36A; EN36C/832M13 variants add ~0.15–0.25 Mo | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Fe | balance | — |
EN36-CR — frequently asked
What is EN36-CR used for?
EN36-CR is typically used for gears, industrial drive shafts and pins. In short: carburizing Ni-Cr bar.
What is the yield strength of EN36-CR?
EN36-CR has a typical yield strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 73% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is EN36-CR easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (47/100, worse than 58% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed or normalized state with sharp carbide tooling and rigid setups; rough before carburizing and finish-grind afterwards since the 60 HRC case is grinding-only.
Can EN36-CR be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (28/100). Poor weldability — high hardenability means preheat 250–350 °C, low-hydrogen consumables and immediate post-weld tempering; avoid welding carburized zones entirely.
What surface finishes work on EN36-CR?
No anodizing; protect with oil, phosphate, black oxide, zinc or hard-chrome plating, and bake after plating to avoid hydrogen embrittlement of the hardened case.
Can EN36-CR be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1150–850 °C followed by slow cooling and normalizing; cold forming is limited to light bending in the annealed condition.
What is the maximum service temperature of EN36-CR?
EN36-CR is rated for continuous use to about 250°C (482 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between EN36-HR and EN36-CD?
HR is the default condition — standard stock condition for carburizing-grade bar; machined then case hardened. CD: cold-drawn bright bar for close-tolerance shafts and pins machined before carburizing. Yield strength is 450 MPa in HR versus 620 MPa in CD.
Can FabDigit make parts in EN36-CR?
Yes — EN36-CR 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
- BS 970-3: Wrought steels for mechanical and allied engineering purposes (655M13 / EN36) — BSI (1991)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4: Heat Treating (carburizing of Ni-Cr steels) — ASM International (1991)
- Nickel-chromium case hardening steel bar datasheets (EN36A/655M13) — European & Indian alloy bar mills (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.