Steel SUM22
JIS SUM22
SUM22 is a Japanese Industrial Standard resulfurized free-cutting steel comparable to AISI 1213, with low carbon and high sulfur for maximum chip breaking.
Reference datasheet — SUM22 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 CD condition
SUM22 tempers and conditions
SUM22 is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. CD is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solution annealed | Softest condition, chosen ahead of cold heading, thread rolling, staking or deep form operations. | 230 | 400 | 28 | 115 HB | — |
Hot rolled | Cheapest form for large-diameter stock or parts that will be fully machined; lowest strength, roughest surface. | 250 | 415 | 25 | 121 HB | — |
Cold drawn, stress relieved | Pick when slender or asymmetrically machined parts must stay straight after material removal. | 380 | 510 | 14 | 150 HB | 10 % IACS |
CDDefault Cold drawn | The standard stock condition for automatic-lathe work: tight tolerance, straight, high hardness for good chip control and finish. | 415 | 540 | 10 | 163 HB | — |
Carburized, quenched and tempered | Chosen for machined parts needing a wear-resistant surface (pins, small shafts) while keeping a tough low-carbon core. | 420 | 620 | 10 | 58 HRC | 9 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways SUM22 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
CDG | Cold drawn, ground and polished | Surface finish |
What is SUM22?
SUM22 is a Japanese Industrial Standard resulfurized free-cutting steel comparable to AISI 1213, with low carbon and high sulfur for maximum chip breaking. It is the default choice for automatic-lathe parts produced in volume: 415 MPa yield, 540 MPa tensile, 10 % elongation, 163 HB (84 HRB) and a machinability score of 92, supplied hot-rolled, cold-drawn, cold-drawn stress-relieved, cold-drawn and ground, annealed, or as cold-heading quality. Strength is modest and the grade is not suitable for welded or heavily cold-formed parts; Y20 or 1118 offer more strength with slightly lower machinability. SUM22 has a density of 7.87 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 92% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F). SUM22 has a yield strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) — weaker than 56% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is SUM22 used for?
- Screw machine parts
- Bushings
- Small fittings
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 92/100, better than 99% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 51 W/m·K (29.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 92% of steel grades
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10 % IACS, better than 83% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 10%, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 77% of steel grades
SUM22 properties
Typical room-temperature values for SUM22-CD; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
SUM22 has a density of 7.87 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 92% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical13
SUM22 has a yield strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) — weaker than 56% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
SUM22 is rated for continuous service to 350°C (662 °F). It conducts heat at 51 W/m·K (29.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 92% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.9 µm/m·K (6.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
SUM22 conducts electricity at 10 % IACS, better than 83% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (8/100), worse than 99% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of SUM22 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability7
SUM22's machinability is excellent (92/100, better than 99% of steel grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability fair (45/100).
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. SUM22 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with SUM22
Is SUM22 easy to machine?
Outstanding on multi-spindle and Swiss lathes — high speeds, short broken chips and bright finishes; keep feed high enough to stay above the built-up-edge range and use sulfurized or neat cutting oil.
Can SUM22 be welded?
Not recommended for structural welds: high sulfur causes hot cracking and porosity; if unavoidable use low-hydrogen filler, preheat and expect reduced joint properties.
Can SUM22 be formed, bent or molded?
Only mild cold bending/thread rolling in the annealed state; sulfide stringers make transverse bends and cold heading crack-prone.
SUM22 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 G 4804 max only | ≤ 0.13 | 0.1 |
| Mncombines with S as MnS chip breakers | 0.7 – 1 | 0.85 |
| PAISI 1213 permits 0.07–0.12 P for extra machinability | ≤ 0.04 | 0.03 |
| Sresulfurized free-machining addition | 0.24 – 0.33 | 0.28 |
| Sinot specified in JIS; kept low in rimmed/killed practice | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Curesidual limit | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on SUM22?
Take plating (zinc, Zn-Ni, electroless nickel), black oxide or phosphate readily; degrease well since inclusions can trap electrolyte and cause staining — no anodizing.
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 SUM22 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Similar grades
- 1213
How much does SUM22 cost?
SUM22 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.
SUM22 — frequently asked
What is SUM22 used for?
SUM22 is typically used for screw machine parts, bushings and small fittings. In short: highest machinability, score 92; benchmark automatic-lathe bar; low strength, not for welding.
What is the yield strength of SUM22?
SUM22 has a typical yield strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) — weaker than 56% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is SUM22 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (92/100, better than 99% of steel grades). Outstanding on multi-spindle and Swiss lathes — high speeds, short broken chips and bright finishes; keep feed high enough to stay above the built-up-edge range and use sulfurized or neat cutting oil.
Can SUM22 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Not recommended for structural welds: high sulfur causes hot cracking and porosity; if unavoidable use low-hydrogen filler, preheat and expect reduced joint properties.
What surface finishes work on SUM22?
Take plating (zinc, Zn-Ni, electroless nickel), black oxide or phosphate readily; degrease well since inclusions can trap electrolyte and cause staining — no anodizing.
Can SUM22 be formed, bent or molded?
Only mild cold bending/thread rolling in the annealed state; sulfide stringers make transverse bends and cold heading crack-prone.
What is the maximum service temperature of SUM22?
SUM22 is rated for continuous use to about 350°C (662 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between SUM22-CD and SUM22-A?
CD is the default condition — the standard stock condition for automatic-lathe work: tight tolerance, straight, high hardness for good chip control and finish. A: softest condition, chosen ahead of cold heading, thread rolling, staking or deep form operations. Yield strength is 415 MPa in CD versus 230 MPa in A.
How much does SUM22 cost?
SUM22 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 G 4804 — Sulfur and sulfur-composition free-cutting steels — Japanese Standards Association (2019)
- SAE J403 / ASTM A108 — carbon steel chemical compositions (1213) — SAE / ASTM (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16 — Machining — ASM International (1989)
- Chinese equivalent grade tables Y12/Y15 vs SUM22 (GB/T 8731) — SAC (2008)
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.