Steel MS1500 · supply condition · default condition
Steel MS1500-CR
Properties of the CR condition, compared with the other MS1500 tempers.
Standard stocked condition: bare cold-rolled martensitic sheet/coil for roll-formed or simply bent reinforcement parts that will be painted or e-coated.
What is MS1500-CR?
MS1500-CR is MS1500 supplied in the CR 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. MS1500-CR 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). MS1500-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).
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 96% 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 87% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 18/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
MS1500-CR properties
Typical room-temperature values for MS1500-CR — 10 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every MS1500 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
MS1500-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).
Mechanical12
MS1500-CR 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-CR 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-CR 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-CR takes about 30 MJ of energy and emits 2.3 kg of CO₂ — more than 55% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability5
MS1500-CR's machinability is poor (22/100, worse than 96% 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.
Other MS1500 tempers and conditions
MS1500 is also supplied in 3 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the MS1500 overview.
- CRDefaultStandard 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 MPa yield · 46 HRC
Working with MS1500-CR
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.
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.
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 | — |
MS1500-CR — frequently asked
What is MS1500-CR used for?
MS1500-CR 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-CR?
MS1500-CR 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 4 listed tempers.
Is MS1500-CR easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (22/100, worse than 96% 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-CR 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-CR?
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-CR 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-CR?
MS1500-CR 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in MS1500-CR?
Yes — MS1500-CR is available for sheet metal with instant online pricing. 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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.