Steel MS1500
MS1500 is a cold-rolled martensitic advanced high-strength steel sheet (VDA MS-W 1500 / SAE J2745 martensitic class, sold commercially as Docol 1500M and equivalents) produced by in-line quenching from the austenite range to give a nearly fully martensitic matrix with about 1500 MPa minimum tensile strength.
Values for the CR condition
MS1500 tempers and conditions
MS1500 is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard. CR is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CRDefault Cold rolled | Standard stocked condition: bare cold-rolled martensitic sheet/coil for roll-formed or simply bent reinforcement parts that will be painted or e-coated. | 1,250 | 1,550 | 5 | 46 HRC | — |
Cold rolled, quenched and low-temperature stress relieved / tempered | Pick when slightly better bendability, flatness and reduced delayed-cracking/hydrogen sensitivity are needed and a small drop in tensile strength is acceptable. | 1,300 | 1,500 | 6 | 45 HRC | 8 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways MS1500 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
EG | Cold rolled + electrogalvanized zinc coating | Coating |
GI | Hot-dip galvanized (zinc coated) martensitic sheet | Coating |
What is MS1500?
MS1500 is a cold-rolled martensitic advanced high-strength steel sheet (VDA MS-W 1500 / SAE J2745 martensitic class, sold commercially as Docol 1500M and equivalents) produced by in-line quenching from the austenite range to give a nearly fully martensitic matrix with about 1500 MPa minimum tensile strength. It is chosen for mass-efficient anti-intrusion parts — door beams, bumper reinforcements, rocker and roof-rail inserts, seat and cargo structures — where high yield strength and dent/intrusion resistance matter more than stretch formability. Limits are very low total elongation (roll-forming or simple bending only, generous bend radii), HAZ softening and hydrogen-embrittlement sensitivity in welding, no useful strength above ~200 °C (tempering), and bare steel corrosion resistance requiring coating or paint. MS1500 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). MS1500 has a yield strength of 1,250 MPa (181 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,550 MPa (225 ksi) — stronger than 95% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 5% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is MS1500 used for?
- Door intrusion beams
- Bumper reinforcement beams
- Rocker (sill) reinforcements
- Roof-rail inserts
- B-pillar reinforcements
- Seat structure components
- Cargo and load-floor structures
Advantages
- High strength — 1,250 MPa (181 ksi), better than 95% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 5%, worse than 98% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 22/100, worse than 95% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 93% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 50 MPa·√m (45.5 ksi·√in), worse than 86% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 18/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
MS1500 properties
Typical room-temperature values for MS1500-CR; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
MS1500 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).
Mechanical12
MS1500 has a yield strength of 1,250 MPa (181 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,550 MPa (225 ksi) — stronger than 95% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 5% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
MS1500 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 83% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12 µm/m·K (6.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
MS1500 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 MS1500 takes about 30 MJ of energy and emits 2.3 kg of CO₂ — more than 56% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability5
MS1500's machinability is poor (22/100, worse than 95% of steel grades); weldability fair (50/100); formability poor (18/100).
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. MS1500 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with MS1500
Is MS1500 easy to machine?
Treat as ~46 HRC hardened steel: laser or waterjet cutting preferred; use coated carbide/CBN, rigid setups and low feeds for holes, and avoid punching thick gauges (die wear, edge cracking).
Can MS1500 be welded?
Resistance spot welding is standard with reduced current and longer hold/post-heat pulses; laser welding works but all fusion welds soften the HAZ, so design joints away from peak-load paths and keep hydrogen and restraint low.
Can MS1500 be formed, bent or molded?
Roll forming and simple air bending only — bend radius typically ≥3–4× thickness across the rolling direction, generous springback compensation (large elastic strains) and no deep drawing or stretch flanging.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit applies to MS1500. Every MS1500 part is priced by an engineer; design inside these and the quote comes back without a redesign loop.
Sheet metal
| Formability | Fair18 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Fair50 / 100 |
| Bendable | Yes |
MS1500 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ccontrols as-quenched martensite hardness | ≤ 0.25 | 0.21 |
| Si | ≤ 0.5 | 0.25 |
| Mnhardenability | ≤ 2 | 1.7 |
| P | ≤ 0.02 | 0.01 |
| S | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Aldeoxidation | 0.02 – 0.1 | 0.04 |
| Crproducer option for hardenability | ≤ 0.5 | 0.2 |
| Nb+Timicroalloying / grain refinement | ≤ 0.15 | 0.05 |
| Bboron for hardenability | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on MS1500?
Not anodizable; protect with zinc coating, zinc-rich primer, phosphate + e-coat or paint. Avoid acid pickling and standard cathodic electroplating without bake-out because of hydrogen embrittlement risk at this strength level.
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).
Plating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
How much does MS1500 cost?
MS1500 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 61% 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.
MS1500 — frequently asked
What is MS1500 used for?
MS1500 is typically used for door intrusion beams, bumper reinforcement beams, rocker (sill) reinforcements, roof-rail inserts, B-pillar reinforcements and seat structure components. In short: martensitic high-strength sheet.
What is the yield strength of MS1500?
MS1500 has a typical yield strength of 1,250 MPa (181 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,550 MPa (225 ksi) — stronger than 95% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is MS1500 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (22/100, worse than 95% of steel grades). Treat as ~46 HRC hardened steel: laser or waterjet cutting preferred; use coated carbide/CBN, rigid setups and low feeds for holes, and avoid punching thick gauges (die wear, edge cracking).
Can MS1500 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (50/100). Resistance spot welding is standard with reduced current and longer hold/post-heat pulses; laser welding works but all fusion welds soften the HAZ, so design joints away from peak-load paths and keep hydrogen and restraint low.
What surface finishes work on MS1500?
Not anodizable; protect with zinc coating, zinc-rich primer, phosphate + e-coat or paint. Avoid acid pickling and standard cathodic electroplating without bake-out because of hydrogen embrittlement risk at this strength level.
Can MS1500 be formed, bent or molded?
Roll forming and simple air bending only — bend radius typically ≥3–4× thickness across the rolling direction, generous springback compensation (large elastic strains) and no deep drawing or stretch flanging.
What is the maximum service temperature of MS1500?
MS1500 is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between MS1500-CR and MS1500 CR-SR?
CR is the default condition — standard stocked condition: bare cold-rolled martensitic sheet/coil for roll-formed or simply bent reinforcement parts that will be painted or e-coated. CR-SR: pick when slightly better bendability, flatness and reduced delayed-cracking/hydrogen sensitivity are needed and a small drop in tensile strength is acceptable. Yield strength is 1,250 MPa in CR versus 1,300 MPa in CR-SR.
How much does MS1500 cost?
MS1500 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 61% 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in MS1500?
Yes — MS1500 is available for 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
- VDA 239-100 — Sheet Steel for Cold Forming (MS-W grades) — VDA (2016)
- SAE J2745 — High Strength Martensitic Steel Sheet — SAE International (2019)
- Docol 1500M martensitic cold-rolled steel data sheet — SSAB (2023)
- Advanced High-Strength Steels Application Guidelines v7 — WorldAutoSteel (2021)
- 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.