Steel 1060 · supply condition
Steel 1060-CR
Properties of the CR condition, compared with the other 1060 tempers.
Pick for thin strip and spring/shim stock where flat, close-tolerance, smooth-surface material is needed; hardness set by the amount of cold reduction.
What is 1060-CR?
1060-CR is 1060 supplied in the CR condition — pick for thin strip and spring/shim stock where flat, close-tolerance, smooth-surface material is needed; hardness set by the amount of cold reduction. 1060-CR has a yield strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) and a tensile strength of 830 MPa (120 ksi) — stronger than 81% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). 1060-CR has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F). HR is the default condition FabDigit quotes; CR is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 49 W/m·K (28.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of steel grades
- 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
- High electrical conductivity — 9.6 % IACS, better than 77% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 8%, worse than 95% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 45 MPa·√m (41 ksi·√in), worse than 90% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 20/100, worse than 80% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), worse than 77% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 77% of steel grades
1060-CR properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1060-CR — 9 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 1060 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
1060-CR has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Mechanical15
1060-CR has a yield strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) and a tensile strength of 830 MPa (120 ksi) — stronger than 81% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
1060-CR is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 49 W/m·K (28.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.3 µm/m·K (6.28 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1060-CR conducts electricity at 9.6 % IACS, better than 77% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 87% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1060-CR 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
1060-CR's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability poor (20/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 1060 tempers and conditions
1060 is also supplied in 8 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 1060 overview.
- HRDefaultDefault stock form for bar, plate and flat: cheapest, adequate strength, to be machined and then heat treated if hardness is needed.370 MPa yield · 201 HB
- HDWWire condition for coil and tension springs wound cold and only stress-relieved; strength rises sharply as diameter falls.1,300 MPa yield · 45 HRC
- Q&T 45-50HRCPick for blades, wear plates, dies and hand tools where hardness and wear resistance dominate and impact loading is low.1,250 MPa yield · 47 HRC
- Q&TGeneral-purpose hardened-and-tempered condition for springs, shafts and wear parts needing ~1000 MPa strength with some ductility.765 MPa yield · 33 HRC
- CRPick for thin strip and spring/shim stock where flat, close-tolerance, smooth-surface material is needed; hardness set by the amount of cold reduction.700 MPa yield · 250 HB
- CDChoose for bright, straight, close-tolerance bar with higher yield than hot rolled and good as-machined finish; residual stress can cause bow after heavy machining.670 MPa yield · 229 HB
- SA+CD1060 bar spheroidize-annealed to globular carbide then cold drawn — moderate strength with the best cold-formability and machinability attainable in a 0.60 %C steel.485 MPa yield · 183 HB
- NormalizedUse to refine and homogenize the structure of forgings and hot-rolled sections before machining or hardening; better strength than annealed with uniform properties.421 MPa yield · 229 HB
- AnnealedSoftest condition — use when the part must be heavily machined, cold formed or blanked before hardening.372 MPa yield · 179 HB
Working with 1060-CR
Is 1060 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed or normalized state with rigid setups, sharp carbide or coated-carbide tooling, moderate speed and generous coolant; above ~35 HRC switch to grinding or ceramic/CBN tooling.
Can 1060 be welded?
Poor weldability (CE ≈ 0.7–0.8): preheat 200–300 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables, keep interpass heat, and post-weld stress relieve/temper immediately or expect underbead cracking.
Can 1060 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in the annealed/spheroidized state and with generous bend radii; hot form 850–1100 °C, then normalize — heavy cold work needs intermediate anneals.
What surface finishes work on 1060?
No inherent corrosion resistance — oil, black oxide, phosphate, zinc plate, hard chrome or paint; hardened surfaces polish and hold a fine grind, and induction hardening plus grinding is common for wear surfaces.
1060 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 699 grade 60: 0.57–0.65 | 0.55 – 0.65 | 0.6 |
| MnGB 60: 0.50–0.80 | 0.6 – 0.9 | 0.75 |
| Sinot specified in AISI/SAE 1060; per GB/T 699 0.17–0.37 | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Pmax; GB/T 699 ≤0.035 | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Smax; GB/T 699 ≤0.035 | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Crresidual, GB/T 699 limit | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Niresidual, GB/T 699 limit | ≤ 0.3 | — |
| Curesidual, GB/T 699 limit | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
1060-CR — frequently asked
What is 1060-CR used for?
1060-CR is typically used for coil and leaf springs, knife blanks, wear plates, hand tools, shafts and agricultural blades and tines. In short: medium-high carbon bar.
What is the yield strength of 1060-CR?
1060-CR has a typical yield strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) and a tensile strength of 830 MPa (120 ksi) — stronger than 81% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 1060-CR easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed or normalized state with rigid setups, sharp carbide or coated-carbide tooling, moderate speed and generous coolant; above ~35 HRC switch to grinding or ceramic/CBN tooling.
Can 1060-CR be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Poor weldability (CE ≈ 0.7–0.8): preheat 200–300 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables, keep interpass heat, and post-weld stress relieve/temper immediately or expect underbead cracking.
What surface finishes work on 1060-CR?
No inherent corrosion resistance — oil, black oxide, phosphate, zinc plate, hard chrome or paint; hardened surfaces polish and hold a fine grind, and induction hardening plus grinding is common for wear surfaces.
Can 1060-CR be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in the annealed/spheroidized state and with generous bend radii; hot form 850–1100 °C, then normalize — heavy cold work needs intermediate anneals.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1060-CR?
1060-CR is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 1060-HR and 1060-HDW?
HR is the default condition — default stock form for bar, plate and flat: cheapest, adequate strength, to be machined and then heat treated if hardness is needed. HDW: wire condition for coil and tension springs wound cold and only stress-relieved; strength rises sharply as diameter falls. Yield strength is 370 MPa in HR versus 1,300 MPa in HDW.
Can FabDigit make parts in 1060-CR?
Yes — 1060-CR is available for CNC machining and sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- SAE J403 / ASTM A29 — Carbon and alloy steel bars, chemical composition — SAE / ASTM (2019)
- GB/T 699 (grade 60) — SAC (2015)
- EN 10083-2 / DIN 17200 — C60 quenched and tempered steel — CEN (2006)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.19 — Fatigue and Fracture — ASM International (1996)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4 — Heat Treating — ASM International (1991)
- Carbon steel property tables (1060 hot rolled / annealed / normalized / OQ&T) — MatWeb (2024)
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.