Steel FDCrV
FDCrV is a chromium-vanadium alloyed spring steel wire of the ASTM A232 class, drawn and oil-tempered, with about 0.55 % C plus Cr and V for higher strength and fatigue resistance than plain-carbon FDC.
Reference datasheet — FDCrV 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 OT condition
FDCrV tempers and conditions
FDCrV is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. OT 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solution annealed | Supply state for parts to be machined, hot-coiled or cold-formed and then quenched and tempered by the user. | 450 | 700 | 18 | 210 HB | — |
Quenched and tempered | Use for hot-coiled heavy springs, torsion bars and machined spring components made from the same Cr-V chemistry. | 900 | 1,100 | 10 | 35 HRC | — |
OTDefault Oil hardened and tempered wire, as supplied | Standard as-drawn-and-oil-tempered coil for cold-coiled static-duty compression, extension and torsion springs. | 1,520 | 1,700 | 7 | 49 HRC | — |
Shaved (peeled) oil-tempered wire, improved surface | Pick when decarburised/seam-free surface is needed and a step up in fatigue life is required without moving to VD grade. | 1,530 | 1,700 | 7 | 49 HRC | 8 % IACS |
oil tempered, coiled and stress-relieved (250–420 °C) | Standard finished-spring condition: stress relief after coiling restores elastic limit and reduces set/relaxation. | 1,580 | 1,720 | 6 | 49 HRC | 8 % IACS |
OT + SR + shot peened spring | Choose when the static-grade wire must survive occasional dynamic loading — peening adds compressive surface stress. | 1,580 | 1,720 | 6 | 50 HRC | 8 % IACS |
What is FDCrV?
FDCrV is a chromium-vanadium alloyed spring steel wire of the ASTM A232 class, drawn and oil-tempered, with about 0.55 % C plus Cr and V for higher strength and fatigue resistance than plain-carbon FDC. Engineers pick it for shock- and fatigue-loaded round-wire springs; it is stocked as OT, stress-relieved OT, stress-relieved and shot-peened OT, spring-hard, annealed and quenched-and-tempered wire. Default values are 1520 MPa yield, 1700 MPa tensile, 7 % elongation and about 49 HRC with service to 230 °C. It is effectively unweldable in the tempered state and has no corrosion resistance; move to FDSiCr (A401) when relaxation resistance or temperature margin is short. FDCrV 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). FDCrV has a yield strength of 1,520 MPa (220 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,700 MPa (247 ksi) — stronger than 97% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 7% and the elastic modulus is 206 GPa (29.9 Msi).
What is FDCrV used for?
- automotive valve-type springs
- medium-duty compression springs
- high-stress mechanical springs
Advantages
- High strength — 1,520 MPa (220 ksi), better than 97% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 18/100, worse than 97% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 7%, worse than 96% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 45 MPa·√m (41 ksi·√in), worse than 90% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 230°C (446 °F), worse than 88% of steel grades
FDCrV properties
Typical room-temperature values for FDCrV-OT; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
FDCrV 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).
Mechanical13
FDCrV has a yield strength of 1,520 MPa (220 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,700 MPa (247 ksi) — stronger than 97% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 7% and the elastic modulus is 206 GPa (29.9 Msi).
Thermal6
FDCrV is rated for continuous service to 230°C (446 °F). It conducts heat at 44 W/m·K (25.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 57% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
FDCrV conducts electricity at 8 % IACS, better than 55% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (14/100), better than 70% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of FDCrV takes about 32 MJ of energy and emits 2.3 kg of CO₂ — more than 70% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 28%.
Manufacturability7
FDCrV's machinability is poor (18/100, worse than 97% of steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); 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. FDCrV is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with FDCrV
Is FDCrV easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed condition (≈210 HB, ~55–60 % of 1212); at 45–53 HRC only grinding, EDM or CBN turning is practical.
Can FDCrV be welded?
Effectively unweldable in the tempered spring state — 0.55 % C creates hard martensite and destroys the temper; if unavoidable use preheat 300–350 °C, low-hydrogen filler and immediate PWHT at 480–550 °C.
Can FDCrV be formed, bent or molded?
Cold coil the OT wire at spring index ≥4; always stress-relieve 250–420 °C for 20–30 min after coiling; heavy sections are hot-coiled from annealed stock and then quenched/tempered.
FDCrV 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 10270-2 CrV grades | 0.51 – 0.59 | 0.55 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.7 – 1.1 | 0.9 |
| Cr | 0.9 – 1.2 | 1.05 |
| Vgrain refinement + temper resistance | 0.1 – 0.25 | 0.15 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Cumax, residual | ≤ 0.12 | 0.05 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on FDCrV?
No passive film — protect by zinc or zinc-nickel plating (bake 190–220 °C ≥4 h against hydrogen embrittlement), mechanical zinc, phosphate + oil, or epoxy/powder coat; shot peening is the usual fatigue-improving finish.
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 FDCrV in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Similar grades
- A232
How much does FDCrV cost?
FDCrV is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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.
FDCrV — frequently asked
What is FDCrV used for?
FDCrV is typically used for automotive valve-type springs, medium-duty compression springs and high-stress mechanical springs. In short: cr-V upgrade over FDC; shock and fatigue duty; 230 °C service limit.
What is the yield strength of FDCrV?
FDCrV has a typical yield strength of 1,520 MPa (220 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,700 MPa (247 ksi) — stronger than 97% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is FDCrV easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (18/100, worse than 97% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed condition (≈210 HB, ~55–60 % of 1212); at 45–53 HRC only grinding, EDM or CBN turning is practical.
Can FDCrV be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Effectively unweldable in the tempered spring state — 0.55 % C creates hard martensite and destroys the temper; if unavoidable use preheat 300–350 °C, low-hydrogen filler and immediate PWHT at 480–550 °C.
What surface finishes work on FDCrV?
No passive film — protect by zinc or zinc-nickel plating (bake 190–220 °C ≥4 h against hydrogen embrittlement), mechanical zinc, phosphate + oil, or epoxy/powder coat; shot peening is the usual fatigue-improving finish.
Can FDCrV be formed, bent or molded?
Cold coil the OT wire at spring index ≥4; always stress-relieve 250–420 °C for 20–30 min after coiling; heavy sections are hot-coiled from annealed stock and then quenched/tempered.
What is the maximum service temperature of FDCrV?
FDCrV is rated for continuous use to about 230°C (446 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between FDCrV-OT and FDCrV-A?
OT is the default condition — standard as-drawn-and-oil-tempered coil for cold-coiled static-duty compression, extension and torsion springs. A: supply state for parts to be machined, hot-coiled or cold-formed and then quenched and tempered by the user. Yield strength is 1,520 MPa in OT versus 450 MPa in A.
How much does FDCrV cost?
FDCrV is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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 10270-2 — Steel wire for mechanical springs, Part 2: Oil hardened and tempered spring steel wire — CEN (2011)
- EN 10083-3 — Steels for quenching and tempering, Part 3: Alloy steels (51CrV4) — CEN (2006)
- ASTM A232/A232M — Chromium-Vanadium Alloy Steel Valve-Spring Quality Wire — ASTM (2016)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- EN 13906-1 — Cylindrical helical springs, design and calculation — CEN (2013)
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.