Steel GCr15 Cold Drawn
Supply condition
GB GCr15 · AISI/SAE 52100 · EN 100Cr6 · JIS SUJ2
Pick for precise diameter, bright surface and higher strength on small bar/wire (ball and roller blanks) prior to hardening.
Values for the Cold Drawn condition
Other GCr15 tempers and conditions
GCr15 is listed in 7 conditions; see the grade overview at GCr15.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault spheroidize annealed bar/tube | Standard as-supplied condition for bar, tube and wire: soft, uniform globular carbide structure for machining, cold forming and subsequent hardening. | 420 | 700 | 22 | 195 HB | — |
as-rolled bar/plate | Cheapest mill form for parts that will be re-heat-treated; hardness and structure are non-uniform, machining is poor. | 550 | 900 | 12 | 25 HRC | 7.1 % IACS |
900–920 °C air cool (pre-treatment before spheroidizing) | Intermediate mill condition used to break up carbide networks/banding in forgings before spheroidize annealing; too hard for finish machining. | 650 | 1,100 | 10 | 34 HRC | 7 % IACS |
Cold DrawnThis page cold drawn annealed bar/wire, bright finish | Pick for precise diameter, bright surface and higher strength on small bar/wire (ball and roller blanks) prior to hardening. | 650 | 850 | 10 | 22 HRC | 7.2 % IACS |
Q&T high temper | Used for gauge bodies, mandrels and shafts where machinability and toughness matter more than maximum wear resistance. | 1,250 | 1,450 | 7 | 44 HRC | — |
Q&T 200–250 °C temper | Choose when slightly lower hardness with better toughness and dimensional stability up to ~200 °C is needed (rollers, cams, heavy shock). | 1,650 | 1,950 | 2 | 58 HRC | — |
Quenched and tempered | Final bearing condition: maximum hardness, wear and rolling-contact fatigue resistance; brittle, service limited to ~150 °C. | 1,800 | 2,200 | 1 | 62 HRC | — |
What is GCr15 Cold Drawn?
GCr15 Cold Drawn is GCr15 supplied in the Cold Drawn condition — pick for precise diameter, bright surface and higher strength on small bar/wire (ball and roller blanks) prior to hardening. GCr15 Cold Drawn has a yield strength of 650 MPa (94.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) — stronger than 79% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi). GCr15 Cold Drawn has a density of 7.81 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Cold Drawn is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 85/100, better than 99% of steel grades
- High strength — 650 MPa (94.3 ksi), better than 79% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 150°C (302 °F), worse than 99% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 40 MPa·√m (36.4 ksi·√in), worse than 92% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 10%, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 91% of steel grades
GCr15 Cold Drawn properties
Typical room-temperature values for GCr15 Cold Drawn; 23 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are GCr15 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
GCr15 Cold Drawn has a density of 7.81 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Mechanical16
GCr15 Cold Drawn has a yield strength of 650 MPa (94.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) — stronger than 79% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
GCr15 Cold Drawn is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 44 W/m·K (25.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 57% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.9 µm/m·K (6.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
GCr15 Cold Drawn conducts electricity at 7.2 % IACS, worse than 71% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (14/100), better than 70% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of GCr15 Cold Drawn takes about 34 MJ of energy and emits 2.3 kg of CO₂ — more than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability8
GCr15 Cold Drawn's machinability is fair (50/100, worse than 53% of steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability poor (25/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with GCr15 Cold Drawn
Is GCr15 easy to machine?
Machine in the spheroidized annealed condition (~195 HB) with carbide tools and rigid setups; hardened 60+ HRC parts require CBN hard turning or grinding.
Can GCr15 be welded?
Essentially unweldable in structural terms — 1 % C promotes quench cracking; if unavoidable, preheat 300–400 °C, low-hydrogen filler and immediate stress relief/temper.
Can GCr15 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold heading and ball blanking are done on spheroidized stock; hot forge 1050–1150 °C and cool slowly to avoid carbide network and flake cracking.
What surface finishes work on GCr15?
Grind and superfinish raceways; protect with oil, phosphate or black oxide (chrome/nickel plating needs bake-out to avoid hydrogen embrittlement).
GCr15 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CGB/T 18254 | 0.95 – 1.05 | 1 |
| Cr | 1.4 – 1.65 | 1.5 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.25 – 0.45 | 0.35 |
| Niresidual | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Curesidual | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Moresidual | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| O12 ppm max, high-quality bearing steel | ≤ 0 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
GCr15 Cold Drawn — frequently asked
What is GCr15 Cold Drawn used for?
GCr15 Cold Drawn is typically used for ball bearing rings and balls, roller and needle bearing races, precision machine-tool spindle bearings, cam followers and track rollers, hydraulic pump plungers and pistons and die and punch bushings. In short: bearing Cr-bearing steel.
What is the yield strength of GCr15 Cold Drawn?
GCr15 Cold Drawn has a typical yield strength of 650 MPa (94.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) — stronger than 79% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is GCr15 Cold Drawn easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (50/100, worse than 53% of steel grades). Machine in the spheroidized annealed condition (~195 HB) with carbide tools and rigid setups; hardened 60+ HRC parts require CBN hard turning or grinding.
Can GCr15 Cold Drawn be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Essentially unweldable in structural terms — 1 % C promotes quench cracking; if unavoidable, preheat 300–400 °C, low-hydrogen filler and immediate stress relief/temper.
What surface finishes work on GCr15 Cold Drawn?
Grind and superfinish raceways; protect with oil, phosphate or black oxide (chrome/nickel plating needs bake-out to avoid hydrogen embrittlement).
Can GCr15 Cold Drawn be formed, bent or molded?
Cold heading and ball blanking are done on spheroidized stock; hot forge 1050–1150 °C and cool slowly to avoid carbide network and flake cracking.
What is the maximum service temperature of GCr15 Cold Drawn?
GCr15 Cold Drawn is rated for continuous use to about 150°C (302 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in GCr15 Cold Drawn?
Yes — GCr15 Cold Drawn 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
- ASTM A295 / A295M High-Carbon Anti-Friction Bearing Steel — ASTM (2014)
- ISO 683-17 / DIN EN ISO 683-17 (100Cr6) — ISO (2014)
- JIS G 4805 (SUJ2) — JISC (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.19 Fatigue and Fracture — ASM International (1996)
- 100Cr6 / 52100 bearing steel bar datasheet — Ovako / Sandvik (2021)
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.