Steel 1074 · supply condition
Steel 1074-CR
Properties of the CR condition, compared with the other 1074 tempers.
Cold-rolled high-carbon strip with tight thickness and bright surface, for blanked parts hardened afterwards.
What is 1074-CR?
1074-CR is 1074 supplied in the CR condition — cold-rolled high-carbon strip with tight thickness and bright surface, for blanked parts hardened afterwards. 1074-CR has a yield strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — stronger than 86% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). 1074-CR 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). HR is the default condition FabDigit quotes; CR is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 75/100, better than 94% of steel grades
- High strength — 780 MPa (113 ksi), better than 86% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 48 W/m·K (27.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 9.6 % IACS, better than 77% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 6%, worse than 98% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 250°C (482 °F), worse than 85% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 18/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 35/100, worse than 83% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 77% of steel grades
1074-CR properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1074-CR — 11 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 1074 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
1074-CR 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).
Mechanical13
1074-CR has a yield strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — stronger than 86% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
1074-CR is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 48 W/m·K (27.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1074-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 1074-CR takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability6
1074-CR's machinability is fair (35/100, worse than 83% of steel grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability poor (18/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 1074 tempers and conditions
1074 is also supplied in 8 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 1074 overview.
- HRDefaultCheapest as-rolled bar/coil for parts that will be machined and then heat treated.380 MPa yield · 192 HB
- Q&T-58Low-temper condition for saw blades, scrapers, knives and wear parts where edge hardness matters more than toughness.1,800 MPa yield · 58 HRC
- SpringStandard supply condition for 1074/1075 flat spring, clip and blade stock; maximum elastic limit, low ductility.1,500 MPa yield · 49 HRC
- Q&TGeneral hardened-and-tempered condition (temper ~370–450 °C) for tools, blades and heavy springs needing strength with some toughness.1,150 MPa yield · 42 HRC
- CRCold-rolled high-carbon strip with tight thickness and bright surface, for blanked parts hardened afterwards.780 MPa yield · 26 HRC
- CDCold-drawn round bar or wire with higher yield and better straightness/finish than hot rolled.670 MPa yield · 235 HB
- Spher-CDSpheroidize-annealed 1074 bar/wire then cold drawn — globular carbide structure gives good cold-forming and machining behaviour with moderately raised strength.635 MPa yield · 217 HB
- NormalizedUniform fine pearlitic structure before hardening or for moderately strong as-supplied parts.435 MPa yield · 217 HB
- AnnealedSoftest condition; choose for deep blanking, forming or heavy machining before hardening.350 MPa yield · 174 HB
Working with 1074-CR
Is 1074 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed or hot-rolled state with rigid setups, carbide or coated HSS and generous coolant; above ~45 HRC use grinding, EDM or CBN.
Can 1074 be welded?
Poor weldability — 0.75 %C causes hard martensite and cracking; if unavoidable preheat 250–350 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables and temper immediately.
Can 1074 be formed, bent or molded?
Blank and form in annealed/cold-rolled state; spring-temper strip only tolerates gentle bends with large radii along the rolling direction — harden after forming for complex shapes (oil quench 800–830 °C, temper 350–450 °C).
What surface finishes work on 1074?
No inherent corrosion resistance: oil, phosphate, blueing, black oxide, paint or zinc plating; bake after electroplating to avoid hydrogen embrittlement, and polish easily to a bright edge when hardened.
1074 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CSAE J403 / ASTM A29 | 0.7 – 0.8 | 0.75 |
| Mn | 0.5 – 0.8 | 0.65 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Smax (0.050 for some bar products) | ≤ 0.04 | — |
| Sinot specified in J403 for non-Si grades; typical strip practice | 0.1 – 0.3 | 0.2 |
| Fe | balance | — |
1074-CR — frequently asked
What is 1074-CR used for?
1074-CR is typically used for flat springs and spring clips, coil springs, hand tool blanks, saw and scraper blades, shim and washer stock and retaining rings. In short: spring-steel sheet stock.
What is the yield strength of 1074-CR?
1074-CR has a typical yield strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — stronger than 86% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 1074-CR easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, worse than 83% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed or hot-rolled state with rigid setups, carbide or coated HSS and generous coolant; above ~45 HRC use grinding, EDM or CBN.
Can 1074-CR be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Poor weldability — 0.75 %C causes hard martensite and cracking; if unavoidable preheat 250–350 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables and temper immediately.
What surface finishes work on 1074-CR?
No inherent corrosion resistance: oil, phosphate, blueing, black oxide, paint or zinc plating; bake after electroplating to avoid hydrogen embrittlement, and polish easily to a bright edge when hardened.
Can 1074-CR be formed, bent or molded?
Blank and form in annealed/cold-rolled state; spring-temper strip only tolerates gentle bends with large radii along the rolling direction — harden after forming for complex shapes (oil quench 800–830 °C, temper 350–450 °C).
What is the maximum service temperature of 1074-CR?
1074-CR 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 1074-HR and 1074 Spring?
HR is the default condition — cheapest as-rolled bar/coil for parts that will be machined and then heat treated. Spring: standard supply condition for 1074/1075 flat spring, clip and blade stock; maximum elastic limit, low ductility. Yield strength is 380 MPa in HR versus 1,500 MPa in Spring.
Can FabDigit make parts in 1074-CR?
Yes — 1074-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 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Carbon Steels — SAE International (2014)
- ASTM A29/A29M — Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought — ASTM (2020)
- ASTM A684/A684M — High-Carbon Cold-Rolled Steel Strip — ASTM (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4 — Heat Treating — ASM International (1991)
- Machinery's Handbook (machinability ratings) — Industrial Press (2020)
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.