Steel SNC236
JIS SNC236
SNC236 is a JIS nickel-chromium through-hardening alloy steel cross-referenced to SAE 3140, where nickel and chromium provide hardenability and core toughness rather than carbon alone.
Reference datasheet — SNC236 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 QT condition
SNC236 tempers and conditions
SNC236 is supplied in 9 conditions, soft to hard. QT is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 9 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solution annealed | Softest condition — pick it for deep machining, cold straightening or before re-hardening. | 400 | 640 | 26 | 190 HB | — |
Hot rolled | Cheapest mill condition for parts that will be fully heat treated after rough machining. | 420 | 700 | 20 | 16 HRC | 8.2 % IACS |
Normalized | Uniform fine-grain structure for forgings before final Q&T, or for moderately loaded parts. | 520 | 790 | 22 | 20 HRC | — |
Cold drawn | Close-tolerance bright bar for shafts machined without further heat treatment. | 640 | 760 | 14 | 20 HRC | 8 % IACS |
QTDefault Quenched and tempered | Standard supply condition: best strength-to-toughness balance for shafts, axles and bolts. | 700 | 850 | 20 | 24 HRC | — |
Induction hardened | Use when journals or gear teeth need 50+ HRC wear surface over a tough Q&T core. | 750 | 900 | 17 | 54 HRC | 7.2 % IACS |
Q&T to 25–30 HRC | Tough, machinable hardness band for large shafts, couplings and flange bolting. | 760 | 900 | 19 | 27 HRC | — |
Q&T to 30–35 HRC | Higher-strength band for gears and connecting rods where wear and fatigue dominate. | 880 | 1,030 | 16 | 33 HRC | — |
Q&T to 35–40 HRC | Maximum practical strength band for small sections; watch the 450–550 °C temper-embrittlement range. | 1,080 | 1,220 | 13 | 38 HRC | — |
What is SNC236?
SNC236 is a JIS nickel-chromium through-hardening alloy steel cross-referenced to SAE 3140, where nickel and chromium provide hardenability and core toughness rather than carbon alone. Engineers specify it for moderately stressed shafts, gears and bolts, and it is stocked as hot-rolled, annealed, normalized, cold-drawn, induction-hardened and quenched-and-tempered bar in 25-30, 30-35 and 35-40 HRC bands. The default Q&T condition gives 700 MPa yield, 850 MPa tensile, 20 % elongation and about 250 HB (24 HRC), with service to 400 °C. It has no corrosion resistance and only conditional weldability, so a 4140-type Cr-Mo steel is the usual substitute when welding or stock availability governs. SNC236 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). SNC236 has a yield strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) and a tensile strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) — stronger than 81% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is SNC236 used for?
- shafts
- gears
- bolts
Advantages
- High strength — 700 MPa (102 ksi), better than 81% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 65/100, better than 78% of steel grades
SNC236 properties
Typical room-temperature values for SNC236-QT; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
SNC236 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).
Mechanical16
SNC236 has a yield strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) and a tensile strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) — stronger than 81% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
SNC236 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 44 W/m·K (25.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 57% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12.3 µm/m·K (6.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
SNC236 conducts electricity at 7.8 % IACS, worse than 57% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of SNC236 takes about 34 MJ of energy and emits 2.3 kg of CO₂ — more than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
SNC236's machinability is good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades); weldability fair (40/100); 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. SNC236 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with SNC236
Is SNC236 easy to machine?
Machines best at 200–260 HB in the Q&T condition with carbide tooling and rigid setups; above 35 HRC expect coated-carbide/CBN finishing and reduced feeds.
Can SNC236 be welded?
Weldable only with care — preheat 200–300 °C, low-hydrogen consumables, and post-weld temper below the last tempering temperature to restore toughness.
Can SNC236 be formed, bent or molded?
Forge at 1050–1200 °C and finish above 850 °C, then normalize; cold forming is limited to mild straightening in the annealed condition.
SNC236 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CJIS G4103 | 0.32 – 0.4 | 0.36 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.5 – 0.8 | 0.65 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Ni | 1 – 1.5 | 1.25 |
| Cr | 0.5 – 0.9 | 0.7 |
| Curesidual max | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on SNC236?
No corrosion resistance of its own — protect with black oxide, phosphate + oil, zinc or hard chrome; grinds and polishes cleanly for bearing journals.
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 SNC236 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Similar grades
- 3140
How much does SNC236 cost?
SNC236 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.
SNC236 — frequently asked
What is SNC236 used for?
SNC236 is typically used for shafts, gears and bolts. In short: nickel-chromium core toughness; multiple Q&T hardness bands; induction-hardenable journals.
What is the yield strength of SNC236?
SNC236 has a typical yield strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) and a tensile strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) — stronger than 81% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is SNC236 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades). Machines best at 200–260 HB in the Q&T condition with carbide tooling and rigid setups; above 35 HRC expect coated-carbide/CBN finishing and reduced feeds.
Can SNC236 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (40/100). Weldable only with care — preheat 200–300 °C, low-hydrogen consumables, and post-weld temper below the last tempering temperature to restore toughness.
What surface finishes work on SNC236?
No corrosion resistance of its own — protect with black oxide, phosphate + oil, zinc or hard chrome; grinds and polishes cleanly for bearing journals.
Can SNC236 be formed, bent or molded?
Forge at 1050–1200 °C and finish above 850 °C, then normalize; cold forming is limited to mild straightening in the annealed condition.
What is the maximum service temperature of SNC236?
SNC236 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.
What is the difference between SNC236-QT and SNC236-A?
QT is the default condition — standard supply condition: best strength-to-toughness balance for shafts, axles and bolts. A: softest condition — pick it for deep machining, cold straightening or before re-hardening. Yield strength is 700 MPa in QT versus 400 MPa in A.
How much does SNC236 cost?
SNC236 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
- JIS G4103 Nickel chromium molybdenum / nickel chromium steels — JSA (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4 — Heat Treating — ASM International (1991)
- ASM Handbook Vol.19 — Fatigue and Fracture — ASM International (1996)
- SAE J404 Chemical Compositions of SAE Alloy Steels (3140) — SAE International (2009)
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.