Steel SNC415
JIS SNC415
SNC415 is a nickel-chromium case-hardening steel (JIS G 4102 family, close to AISI 3115 and related to 3310) with low base carbon and Ni for core toughness.
Reference datasheet — SNC415 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 A condition
SNC415 tempers and conditions
SNC415 is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. A is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 8 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spheroidize annealed | Softest condition, used when the part is cold headed, cold extruded or deep-formed before carburizing. | 360 | 570 | 30 | 155 HB | 7.2 % IACS |
ADefault Solution annealed | Standard stocked/soft condition for machining gear blanks before carburizing. | 420 | 640 | 25 | 170 HB | — |
Hot rolled | Cheapest mill condition for forging stock or parts that will be fully heat treated later. | 460 | 700 | 21 | 14 HRC | 7 % IACS |
Normalized | Grain-refined, more uniform condition for forgings prior to machining and carburizing. | 510 | 760 | 20 | 17 HRC | 7 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Bright, close-tolerance bar for automatic-lathe parts (pins, small shafts) that are later carburized. | 660 | 790 | 12 | 21 HRC | 7 % IACS |
Quenched and tempered | Use when the JIS G 4053 core mechanical requirements (≥780 MPa) must be certified, or for uncarburized through-hardened parts. | 660 | 850 | 19 | 26 HRC | — |
Carburized, quenched and low-temperature tempered | Final service condition for gears and splines: hard 58–62 HRC case over a tough ~30–40 HRC core. | 780 | 1,050 | 12 | 60 HRC | — |
Carburized, hardened and shot peened | Pick for highly loaded transmission gears where root bending fatigue governs; peening adds compressive residual stress. | 900 | 1,150 | 10 | 60 HRC | 6.5 % IACS |
What is SNC415?
SNC415 is a nickel-chromium case-hardening steel (JIS G 4102 family, close to AISI 3115 and related to 3310) with low base carbon and Ni for core toughness. Engineers choose it over plain chromium carburizing steels when the core must absorb shock behind a hard case; it is available as hot-rolled, annealed, spheroidize-annealed, normalized, cold-drawn, quenched-and-tempered and carburized-and-tempered bar. Default values are 420 MPa yield, 640 MPa tensile, 25 % elongation, 170 HB (86 HRB) and a machinability score of 55. The Ni-bearing matrix machines gummy and the steel has no corrosion resistance; SNCM415 adds molybdenum where deeper hardenability is required. SNC415 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). SNC415 has a yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 640 MPa (92.8 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is SNC415 used for?
- Transmission and reduction gears
- Pinion and drive shafts
- Splined shafts
- Gear pump shafts
- Cam followers and rollers
- Machine tool spindles
- Chain sprockets
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 65/100, better than 78% of steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 25%, better than 77% of steel grades
SNC415 properties
Typical room-temperature values for SNC415-A; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
SNC415 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
SNC415 has a yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 640 MPa (92.8 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
SNC415 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 42 W/m·K (24.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 56% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12.2 µm/m·K (6.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
SNC415 conducts electricity at 7 % IACS, worse than 74% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of SNC415 takes about 30 MJ of energy and emits 2.1 kg of CO₂ — more than 56% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
SNC415's machinability is good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades); weldability good (55/100); formability good (60/100).
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. SNC415 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with SNC415
Is SNC415 easy to machine?
Machine soft (annealed ~170 HB) with carbide at moderate speed and generous feed; the gummy Ni-bearing matrix smears at low feeds, and after carburizing only grinding/hard-turning with CBN is practical.
Can SNC415 be welded?
Low carbon makes it weldable with low-hydrogen electrodes, but Ni-Cr hardenability calls for 150–250 °C preheat and post-weld stress relief; never weld a carburized surface.
Can SNC415 be formed, bent or molded?
Good hot forging at 1100–1200 °C followed by normalizing; cold heading and upsetting are feasible in the spheroidize-annealed condition.
SNC415 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C | 0.12 – 0.18 | 0.15 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.35 – 0.65 | 0.5 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Ni | 2 – 2.5 | 2.25 |
| Cr | 0.2 – 0.5 | 0.35 |
| Curesidual, max | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on SNC415?
Carburize 900–930 °C, oil quench, temper 150–200 °C, then grind; protect with phosphate + oil, black oxide, zinc or Ni plating (bake after plating to avoid hydrogen embrittlement).
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 SNC415 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Similar grades
- 31153310
How much does SNC415 cost?
SNC415 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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.
SNC415 — frequently asked
What is SNC415 used for?
SNC415 is typically used for transmission and reduction gears, pinion and drive shafts, splined shafts, gear pump shafts, cam followers and rollers and machine tool spindles. In short: tougher core than Cr grades; nickel-chromium carburizing steel; good cold-heading stock.
What is the yield strength of SNC415?
SNC415 has a typical yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 640 MPa (92.8 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is SNC415 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades). Machine soft (annealed ~170 HB) with carbide at moderate speed and generous feed; the gummy Ni-bearing matrix smears at low feeds, and after carburizing only grinding/hard-turning with CBN is practical.
Can SNC415 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (55/100). Low carbon makes it weldable with low-hydrogen electrodes, but Ni-Cr hardenability calls for 150–250 °C preheat and post-weld stress relief; never weld a carburized surface.
What surface finishes work on SNC415?
Carburize 900–930 °C, oil quench, temper 150–200 °C, then grind; protect with phosphate + oil, black oxide, zinc or Ni plating (bake after plating to avoid hydrogen embrittlement).
Can SNC415 be formed, bent or molded?
Good hot forging at 1100–1200 °C followed by normalizing; cold heading and upsetting are feasible in the spheroidize-annealed condition.
What is the maximum service temperature of SNC415?
SNC415 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 SNC415-A and SNC415 CHT-SP?
A is the default condition — standard stocked/soft condition for machining gear blanks before carburizing. CHT-SP: pick for highly loaded transmission gears where root bending fatigue governs; peening adds compressive residual stress. Yield strength is 420 MPa in A versus 900 MPa in CHT-SP.
How much does SNC415 cost?
SNC415 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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 G 4053 — Low-alloyed steels for machine structural use — Japanese Industrial Standards Committee (2016)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4 — Heat Treating (carburizing of Ni-Cr steels) — ASM International (1991)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16 — Machining (machinability ratings of alloy steels) — ASM International (1989)
- SAE J404 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Alloy Steels (3115/3310 reference) — 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.