Steel 11SMn37 · supply condition
Steel 11SMn37-CD
Properties of the CD condition, compared with the other 11SMn37 tempers.
Standard stock condition for automatic-lathe work: best surface, tight tolerance (h9/h11) and highest strength.
What is 11SMn37-CD?
11SMn37-CD is 11SMn37 supplied in the CD condition — standard stock condition for automatic-lathe work: best surface, tight tolerance (h9/h11) and highest strength. 11SMn37-CD has a yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 9% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). 11SMn37-CD has a density of 7.87 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 91% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F). HR is the default condition FabDigit quotes; CD is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 95/100, 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
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 40/100, worse than 96% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 9%, worse than 93% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 250°C (482 °F), worse than 85% of steel grades
11SMn37-CD properties
Typical room-temperature values for 11SMn37-CD — 13 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 11SMn37 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
11SMn37-CD has a density of 7.87 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 91% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Mechanical14
11SMn37-CD has a yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 9% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
11SMn37-CD 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
11SMn37-CD conducts electricity at 10.5 % IACS, better than 89% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (8/100), worse than 99% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 11SMn37-CD takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability7
11SMn37-CD's machinability is excellent (95/100, better than 100% of steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability poor (25/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 11SMn37 tempers and conditions
11SMn37 is also supplied in 5 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 11SMn37 overview.
- HRDefaultCheapest form, black scaled surface and loose tolerance — pick when the part will be fully machined from oversize stock.280 MPa yield · 125 HB
- SHChoose when parts are machined off-centre or slender and must stay straight after stock removal.480 MPa yield · 180 HB
- CDStandard stock condition for automatic-lathe work: best surface, tight tolerance (h9/h11) and highest strength.420 MPa yield · 170 HB
- CRCold-rolled flats, hexagons and shaped sections where a bright, dimensionally accurate profile is needed.410 MPa yield · 165 HB
- AnnealedSoftest condition, used when heavy cold heading, staking or deep upsetting follows machining.250 MPa yield · 118 HB
Working with 11SMn37-CD
Is 11SMn37 easy to machine?
Benchmark free-cutting steel: run high speeds with sharp positive-rake carbide or HSS, light feeds give short chips; expect ~30–40 % higher metal-removal rates than 1.0402/C22.
Can 11SMn37 be welded?
Not recommended — 0.32–0.42 % S causes hot cracking and porosity; if unavoidable use low-hydrogen consumables, preheat and accept reduced joint properties.
Can 11SMn37 be formed, bent or molded?
Only light cold forming (knurling, staking, small upsets); transverse bending and heavy heading crack along the MnS stringers — use annealed stock and generous radii.
What surface finishes work on 11SMn37?
Zinc or Zn-Ni plating, black oxide, phosphate or nickel are standard; polishing shows inclusion pull-out, and case hardening is possible (carbonitriding) but gives shallow, uneven cases.
11SMn37 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CEN 10087 max | ≤ 0.14 | 0.09 |
| Sikept low to preserve machinability | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Mnforms MnS chip breakers | 1 – 1.5 | 1.25 |
| Pintentionally high | ≤ 0.11 | 0.07 |
| Sfree-cutting addition | 0.32 – 0.42 | 0.37 |
| Fe | balance | — |
11SMn37-CD — frequently asked
What is 11SMn37-CD used for?
11SMn37-CD is typically used for screw machine turned parts, fasteners and threaded inserts, hydraulic and pneumatic fittings, bushings and spacers, small shafts and pins and instrument and connector bodies. In short: free-machining sulfurized bar.
What is the yield strength of 11SMn37-CD?
11SMn37-CD has a typical yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 11SMn37-CD easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (95/100, better than 100% of steel grades). Benchmark free-cutting steel: run high speeds with sharp positive-rake carbide or HSS, light feeds give short chips; expect ~30–40 % higher metal-removal rates than 1.0402/C22.
Can 11SMn37-CD be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Not recommended — 0.32–0.42 % S causes hot cracking and porosity; if unavoidable use low-hydrogen consumables, preheat and accept reduced joint properties.
What surface finishes work on 11SMn37-CD?
Zinc or Zn-Ni plating, black oxide, phosphate or nickel are standard; polishing shows inclusion pull-out, and case hardening is possible (carbonitriding) but gives shallow, uneven cases.
Can 11SMn37-CD be formed, bent or molded?
Only light cold forming (knurling, staking, small upsets); transverse bending and heavy heading crack along the MnS stringers — use annealed stock and generous radii.
What is the maximum service temperature of 11SMn37-CD?
11SMn37-CD 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 11SMn37-HR and 11SMn37-SH?
HR is the default condition — cheapest form, black scaled surface and loose tolerance — pick when the part will be fully machined from oversize stock. SH: choose when parts are machined off-centre or slender and must stay straight after stock removal. Yield strength is 280 MPa in HR versus 480 MPa in SH.
Can FabDigit make parts in 11SMn37-CD?
Yes — 11SMn37-CD is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- EN 10087 — Free-cutting steels, technical delivery conditions — CEN (1998)
- EN 10277-3 — Bright steel products, free-cutting steels — CEN (2008)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Stahlschlüssel / Key to Steel — 1.0736 — Verlag Stahlschlüssel Wegst (2019)
- Free-cutting steel bright bar datasheets (11SMn37 / 11SMnPb37) — European bright bar producers (2022)
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.