Steel Y20
GB Y20
Y20 is a resulfurized free-machining carbon steel (GB grade, equivalent to AISI 1118) in which manganese sulfide inclusions break chips without lead additions.
Reference datasheet — Y20 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
Y20 tempers and conditions
Y20 is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. CD is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solution annealed | Softest state; choose when maximum ductility or minimum residual stress before deep machining is needed. | 260 | 450 | 28 | 135 HB | — |
Hot rolled | Cheapest form for large-diameter bar that will be fully machined or later heat treated. | 285 | 500 | 24 | 150 HB | — |
Normalized | Uniform fine pearlitic structure; used to refine grain after forging and improve machined surface finish. | 300 | 490 | 25 | 148 HB | 10.5 % IACS |
Cold Drawn + Stress Relieved | Pick when long slender parts must stay straight after heavy asymmetric machining. | 410 | 540 | 16 | 170 HB | 10 % IACS |
Quenched and tempered | Use for small-section shafts and fasteners that need higher strength with reasonable toughness. | 440 | 620 | 20 | 190 HB | 9.8 % IACS |
CDDefault Cold drawn | Standard stocked condition: tight tolerance bright bar with the best chip control and surface finish on automatic lathes. | 450 | 570 | 12 | 180 HB | — |
Carburized and hardened | Choose when the machined part needs a hard wear surface (pins, bushings, small gears) over a tough low-carbon core. | 480 | 700 | 12 | 59 HRC | 9.5 % IACS |
What is Y20?
Y20 is a resulfurized free-machining carbon steel (GB grade, equivalent to AISI 1118) in which manganese sulfide inclusions break chips without lead additions. It is chosen for high-volume turned parts that still need moderate strength: default values are 450 MPa yield, 570 MPa tensile, 12 % elongation, 180 HB (88 HRB), machinability score 78 and service to 400 °C. Bar is stocked hot-rolled, annealed, normalized, cold-drawn, cold-drawn stress-relieved, quenched-and-tempered and case-hardened. The sulfur that aids cutting rules out structural welding and lowers transverse ductility; use a plain low-carbon bar such as 1020 where welds are required. Y20 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). Y20 has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is Y20 used for?
- Shafts
- Gears
- Carburized parts
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 78/100, better than 97% of steel grades
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 50 W/m·K (28.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 87% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10 % IACS, better than 83% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 12%, worse than 84% of steel grades
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
Y20 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Y20-CD; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
Y20 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).
Mechanical15
Y20 has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
Y20 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 50 W/m·K (28.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 87% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.9 µm/m·K (6.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Y20 conducts electricity at 10 % IACS, better than 83% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (9/100), worse than 98% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Y20 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
Y20's machinability is very good (78/100, better than 97% of steel grades); weldability fair (35/100); 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. Y20 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Y20
Is Y20 easy to machine?
Excellent chip breaking on screw machines — run 20–30% higher speed than 1045; carbide at 150–250 m/min, HSS 30–45 m/min, light cuts risk built-up edge so keep feed ≥0.05 mm/rev.
Can Y20 be welded?
Not recommended for structural welds; high sulfur causes hot cracking and porosity — if unavoidable use low-hydrogen basic electrodes, preheat 100–150 °C and low heat input.
Can Y20 be formed, bent or molded?
Suitable for light bending and machining of hot/cold worked bar; avoid severe cold heading or transverse bending because MnS stringers split the material along the rolling direction.
Y20 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CGB/T 8731-2008 | 0.17 – 0.25 | 0.21 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Mnbinds S as MnS | 0.7 – 1 | 0.85 |
| Sfree-machining addition | 0.08 – 0.15 | 0.11 |
| P | ≤ 0.06 | 0.03 |
| Crresidual | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Niresidual | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Curesidual | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on Y20?
Bare surface rusts quickly — protect with oil, black oxide, phosphating, zinc or nickel plating; sulfide inclusions cause pinholes in bright plating and pullout in mirror polishing.
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 Y20 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Similar grades
- 1118
How much does Y20 cost?
Y20 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.
Y20 — frequently asked
What is Y20 used for?
Y20 is typically used for shafts, gears and carburized parts. In short: most formable Y-series grade; case-hardenable free-cutting bar; machinability score 78.
What is the yield strength of Y20?
Y20 has a typical yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is Y20 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (78/100, better than 97% of steel grades). Excellent chip breaking on screw machines — run 20–30% higher speed than 1045; carbide at 150–250 m/min, HSS 30–45 m/min, light cuts risk built-up edge so keep feed ≥0.05 mm/rev.
Can Y20 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (35/100). Not recommended for structural welds; high sulfur causes hot cracking and porosity — if unavoidable use low-hydrogen basic electrodes, preheat 100–150 °C and low heat input.
What surface finishes work on Y20?
Bare surface rusts quickly — protect with oil, black oxide, phosphating, zinc or nickel plating; sulfide inclusions cause pinholes in bright plating and pullout in mirror polishing.
Can Y20 be formed, bent or molded?
Suitable for light bending and machining of hot/cold worked bar; avoid severe cold heading or transverse bending because MnS stringers split the material along the rolling direction.
What is the maximum service temperature of Y20?
Y20 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 Y20-CD and Y20-A?
CD is the default condition — standard stocked condition: tight tolerance bright bar with the best chip control and surface finish on automatic lathes. A: softest state; choose when maximum ductility or minimum residual stress before deep machining is needed. Yield strength is 450 MPa in CD versus 260 MPa in A.
How much does Y20 cost?
Y20 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
- SAE J403 / ASTM A29 — Resulfurized carbon steels (1117, 1118) — SAE / ASTM (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16: Machining — ASM International (1989)
- Mysteel / 1688 (2026)
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.