Steel Y15Pb · temper
Steel Y15Pb-A
Properties of the A condition, compared with the other Y15Pb tempers.
Use when maximum ductility for cold heading, staking or crimping is needed after drawing.
What is Y15Pb-A?
Y15Pb-A is Y15Pb in the A temper — use when maximum ductility for cold heading, staking or crimping is needed after drawing. Y15Pb-A has a yield strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) — weaker than 94% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 26% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi). Y15Pb-A 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). CD is the default condition FabDigit quotes; A is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 93/100, better than 100% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 51 W/m·K (29.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 92% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10.5 % IACS, better than 89% of steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 26%, better than 82% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 12/100, worse than 96% of steel grades
- Low strength — 250 MPa (36.3 ksi), worse than 94% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 250°C (482 °F), worse than 85% of steel grades
Y15Pb-A properties
Typical room-temperature values for Y15Pb-A — 8 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every Y15Pb temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
Y15Pb-A 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
Y15Pb-A has a yield strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) — weaker than 94% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 26% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
Y15Pb-A is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 51 W/m·K (29.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 92% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.7 µm/m·K (6.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Y15Pb-A conducts electricity at 10.5 % IACS, better than 89% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 87% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Y15Pb-A takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
Y15Pb-A's machinability is excellent (93/100, better than 100% of steel grades); weldability not recommended (12/100); formability fair (50/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other Y15Pb tempers and conditions
Y15Pb is also supplied in 4 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the Y15Pb overview.
- CDDefaultStandard stock condition: bright, close-tolerance bar for automatic screw machines and CNC turning.450 MPa yield · 170 HB
- HRCheapest form for larger diameters that will be fully machined or subsequently cold drawn.280 MPa yield · 150 HB
- AUse when maximum ductility for cold heading, staking or crimping is needed after drawing.250 MPa yield · 130 HB
Working with Y15Pb-A
Is Y15Pb easy to machine?
Benchmark free-cutting steel — run 20–40 % faster than 1018 with high feeds, sharp positive geometry and light chip loads; excellent finish and short chips.
Can Y15Pb be welded?
Effectively non-weldable: sulfur and lead cause hot cracking and porosity; use mechanical joining or press/adhesive assembly.
Can Y15Pb be formed, bent or molded?
Limited cold formability — light knurling, staking and thread rolling are fine, but avoid sharp bends or deep cold heading; hot working above ~1000 °C risks hot shortness.
What surface finishes work on Y15Pb?
Plates well (zinc, zinc-nickel, electroless nickel) and takes black oxide or phosphate + oil; degrease thoroughly since inclusions can trap fluids and blister plating.
Y15Pb 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 | 0.1 – 0.18 | 0.14 |
| Si | ≤ 0.15 | 0.08 |
| Mn | 0.8 – 1.2 | 1 |
| Pdeliberately added for chip breaking | 0.05 – 0.1 | 0.07 |
| SMnS inclusions | 0.23 – 0.33 | 0.28 |
| Pbfinely dispersed lead | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Fe | balance | — |
Y15Pb-A — frequently asked
What is Y15Pb-A used for?
Y15Pb-A is typically used for screw-machine turned parts, hydraulic and pneumatic fittings, hose nipples and adapters, bushings and spacers, threaded studs and couplings and instrument and connector bodies. In short: leaded free-machining bar.
What is the yield strength of Y15Pb-A?
Y15Pb-A has a typical yield strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) — weaker than 94% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is Y15Pb-A easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (93/100, better than 100% of steel grades). Benchmark free-cutting steel — run 20–40 % faster than 1018 with high feeds, sharp positive geometry and light chip loads; excellent finish and short chips.
Can Y15Pb-A be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (12/100). Effectively non-weldable: sulfur and lead cause hot cracking and porosity; use mechanical joining or press/adhesive assembly.
What surface finishes work on Y15Pb-A?
Plates well (zinc, zinc-nickel, electroless nickel) and takes black oxide or phosphate + oil; degrease thoroughly since inclusions can trap fluids and blister plating.
Can Y15Pb-A be formed, bent or molded?
Limited cold formability — light knurling, staking and thread rolling are fine, but avoid sharp bends or deep cold heading; hot working above ~1000 °C risks hot shortness.
What is the maximum service temperature of Y15Pb-A?
Y15Pb-A is rated for continuous use to about 250°C (482 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Y15Pb-CD and Y15Pb-A?
CD is the default condition — standard stock condition: bright, close-tolerance bar for automatic screw machines and CNC turning. A: use when maximum ductility for cold heading, staking or crimping is needed after drawing. Yield strength is 450 MPa in CD versus 250 MPa in A.
Can FabDigit make parts in Y15Pb-A?
Yes — Y15Pb-A is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM A29/A29M — Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought (12L14 analogue) — ASTM (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16 — Machining — ASM International (1989)
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.