Steel H08A
H08A is a low-carbon steel wire rod with tightly limited sulphur and phosphorus, supplied as the base wire for submerged-arc welding and as feedstock for drawn and copper-coated welding wires.
Reference datasheet — H08A 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.
H08A tempers and conditions
H08A is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
soft annealed (in-process, for heavy drawing) | Use the soft annealed in-process condition between cold-drawing passes to restore ductility to 38 % elongation so the rod can be drawn down to fine welding-wire gauges. | 210 | 370 | 38 | 105 HB | 11 % IACS |
As-welded deposit | Use the as-welded submerged-arc deposit properties, obtained with HJ431 or SJ101 flux, for joint design; actual values shift with flux grade and dilution ratio. | 360 | 480 | 28 | 145 HB | 10 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Choose cold-drawn bright wire in Φ1.6–5.0 mm for stainless or copper-lined feed systems and short-term use; drawing lifts tensile to 620 MPa but cuts elongation to 10 %. | 500 | 620 | 10 | 12 HRC | 11 % IACS |
Cold drawn, copper-coated welding wire | Pick the copper-coated cold-drawn wire as the standard finished delivery form; the coating improves contact-tip conduction and rust protection for use with HJ431/SJ101 flux. | 520 | 640 | 9 | 13 HRC | 10.5 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways H08A is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
HR-RodDefault | HR | Supply form |
What is H08A?
H08A is a low-carbon steel wire rod with tightly limited sulphur and phosphorus, supplied as the base wire for submerged-arc welding and as feedstock for drawn and copper-coated welding wires. Engineers choose it for the clean chemistry, which gives weld metal good resistance to hot cracking, and for its cold-drawability (formability score 88); it is stocked as hot-rolled rod, annealed rod, cold-drawn wire, copper-coated wire and as-welded deposit. Mechanically it is soft — about 260 MPa yield, 420 MPa tensile, 32 % elongation, 120 HB — and it has essentially no corrosion resistance (score 10), so wire must be copper- or phosphate-coated. Where higher deposit strength is required, a manganese-alloyed welding wire is the usual step up. H08A has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,500°C (2,732 °F). H08A has a yield strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) — weaker than 92% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 32% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is H08A used for?
- submerged arc welding
- base wire for coated electrodes
- general steel welding wire production
Advantages
- Readily welded — 98/100, better than 100% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 52 W/m·K (30 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 98% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 11 % IACS, better than 98% of steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 88/100, better than 98% of steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 32%, better than 95% of steel grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 40/100, worse than 96% of steel grades
- Low strength — 260 MPa (37.7 ksi), worse than 92% of steel grades
H08A properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
H08A has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,500°C (2,732 °F).
Mechanical13
H08A has a yield strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) — weaker than 92% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 32% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
H08A is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 52 W/m·K (30 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 98% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12 µm/m·K (6.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
H08A conducts electricity at 11 % IACS, better than 98% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of H08A takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability7
H08A's machinability is good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades); weldability excellent (98/100); formability excellent (88/100).
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. H08A is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with H08A
Is H08A easy to machine?
Very soft, low-carbon and low-sulphur, so it smears and raises burrs and tends to build up on the tool; use sharp, high positive rake tooling at high cutting speed. It is not intended as a machining steel.
Can H08A be welded?
This grade is the filler itself: pair with HJ431 or SJ101 flux for submerged-arc welding, or with the matching flux for CO₂ welding. The low carbon, sulphur and phosphorus give weld metal good hot-cracking resistance, and no preheat is needed on thin sections.
Can H08A be formed, bent or molded?
After pickling and coating, the rod is cold drawn continuously through multiple passes to φ0.8–5.0 mm. Work hardening is pronounced, so intermediate annealing is required for heavy reductions.
H08A 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 14957 H08A | ≤ 0.1 | 0.08 |
| Mn | 0.3 – 0.55 | 0.45 |
| Sinot Si-deoxidized; Si transferred from the flux | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| SClass A high-grade quality: tighter sulfur limit | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Crresidual element | ≤ 0.2 | 0.05 |
| Niresidual element | ≤ 0.3 | 0.05 |
| Cuno copper coating | ≤ 0.2 | 0.08 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on H08A?
Normally electroplated or electroless copper coated (0.2–0.4 µm class) to prevent rust and improve current transfer; phosphate plus soap coating is used as a drawing lubricant carrier.
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 H08A cost?
H08A 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.
H08A — frequently asked
What is H08A used for?
H08A is typically used for submerged arc welding, base wire for coated electrodes and general steel welding wire production. In short: standard SAW base wire; low sulphur and phosphorus; excellent cold-drawing behaviour.
What is the yield strength of H08A?
H08A has a typical yield strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) — weaker than 92% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is H08A easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades). Very soft, low-carbon and low-sulphur, so it smears and raises burrs and tends to build up on the tool; use sharp, high positive rake tooling at high cutting speed. It is not intended as a machining steel.
Can H08A be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (98/100). This grade is the filler itself: pair with HJ431 or SJ101 flux for submerged-arc welding, or with the matching flux for CO₂ welding. The low carbon, sulphur and phosphorus give weld metal good hot-cracking resistance, and no preheat is needed on thin sections.
What surface finishes work on H08A?
Normally electroplated or electroless copper coated (0.2–0.4 µm class) to prevent rust and improve current transfer; phosphate plus soap coating is used as a drawing lubricant carrier.
Can H08A be formed, bent or molded?
After pickling and coating, the rod is cold drawn continuously through multiple passes to φ0.8–5.0 mm. Work hardening is pronounced, so intermediate annealing is required for heavy reductions.
What is the maximum service temperature of H08A?
H08A 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.
How much does H08A cost?
H08A 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
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
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.