Steel 5160 · heat-treated state
Steel 5160 Hardened & Tempered
Properties of the Hardened & Tempered condition, compared with the other 5160 tempers.
Standard leaf/coil spring and blade condition: best combination of elastic limit and fatigue life.
What is 5160 Hardened & Tempered?
5160 Hardened & Tempered is 5160 heat treated to Hardened & Tempered — standard leaf/coil spring and blade condition: best combination of elastic limit and fatigue life. 5160 Hardened & Tempered has a yield strength of 1,400 MPa (203 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,550 MPa (225 ksi) — stronger than 96% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 9% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). 5160 Hardened & Tempered 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). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Hardened & Tempered is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High strength — 1,400 MPa (203 ksi), better than 96% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 9%, worse than 93% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 25/100, worse than 93% 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
5160 Hardened & Tempered properties
Typical room-temperature values for 5160 Hardened & Tempered — 13 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 5160 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
5160 Hardened & Tempered 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
5160 Hardened & Tempered has a yield strength of 1,400 MPa (203 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,550 MPa (225 ksi) — stronger than 96% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 9% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
5160 Hardened & Tempered is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 46 W/m·K (26.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 71% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12.3 µm/m·K (6.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
5160 Hardened & Tempered conducts electricity at 7.8 % IACS, worse than 58% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 87% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 5160 Hardened & Tempered takes about 30 MJ of energy and emits 2.2 kg of CO₂ — more than 55% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability8
5160 Hardened & Tempered's machinability is poor (25/100, worse than 93% of steel grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability fair (45/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 5160 tempers and conditions
5160 is also supplied in 11 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 5160 overview.
- AnnealedDefaultSoftest condition for machining, bending and forming before hardening; most commonly stocked bar/flat condition.275 MPa yield · 197 HB
- Q&T 205CMaximum hardness/wear resistance for blades and wear parts; low toughness, use only in thin sections.1,790 MPa yield · 58 HRC
- Q&T 315CHigh strength with slightly improved toughness over a 205 °C temper; typical for knives and cutting edges.1,770 MPa yield · 54 HRC
- Q&T 425CBalanced strength/toughness level often used for heavy springs, torsion bars and impact tools.1,640 MPa yield · 50 HRC
- Hardened & TemperedStandard leaf/coil spring and blade condition: best combination of elastic limit and fatigue life.1,400 MPa yield · 46 HRC
- Q&TGeneral-purpose high-toughness structural condition for shafts, links and heavy-duty machined parts.1,160 MPa yield · 42 HRC
- Q&T 650CSoftest tempered condition — maximum ductility/toughness where moderate strength is sufficient.895 MPa yield · 31 HRC
- NormalizedUniform fine pearlitic structure; used to refine grain and homogenize forgings before final hardening.530 MPa yield · 27 HRC
Working with 5160 Hardened & Tempered
Is 5160 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed/spheroidized state (~200 HB) with rigid setups and carbide tooling; above ~40 HRC expect grinding or hard-turning with CBN.
Can 5160 be welded?
Poor weldability due to high carbon equivalent — preheat 250–350 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables and temper immediately after welding; avoid welding on finished springs.
Can 5160 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1150–1200 °C and cool slowly; cold bend only when annealed, then oil quench 830–860 °C and temper 400–540 °C for spring properties (shot peen for fatigue).
What surface finishes work on 5160?
Not anodizable; protect with phosphate + oil, black oxide, paint or zinc/nickel plating (bake to avoid hydrogen embrittlement at high hardness); polishes well when hardened.
5160 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 | 0.56 – 0.64 | 0.6 |
| Mn | 0.75 – 1 | 0.88 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Cr | 0.7 – 0.9 | 0.8 |
| Pmax, SAE bar practice | ≤ 0.04 | — |
| Smax, SAE bar practice | ≤ 0.04 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
5160 Hardened & Tempered — frequently asked
What is 5160 Hardened & Tempered used for?
5160 Hardened & Tempered is typically used for leaf springs, suspension components and blades. In short: spring-tempered toughness.
What is the yield strength of 5160 Hardened & Tempered?
5160 Hardened & Tempered has a typical yield strength of 1,400 MPa (203 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,550 MPa (225 ksi) — stronger than 96% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 12 listed tempers.
Is 5160 Hardened & Tempered easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, worse than 93% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed/spheroidized state (~200 HB) with rigid setups and carbide tooling; above ~40 HRC expect grinding or hard-turning with CBN.
Can 5160 Hardened & Tempered be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Poor weldability due to high carbon equivalent — preheat 250–350 °C, use low-hydrogen consumables and temper immediately after welding; avoid welding on finished springs.
What surface finishes work on 5160 Hardened & Tempered?
Not anodizable; protect with phosphate + oil, black oxide, paint or zinc/nickel plating (bake to avoid hydrogen embrittlement at high hardness); polishes well when hardened.
Can 5160 Hardened & Tempered be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1150–1200 °C and cool slowly; cold bend only when annealed, then oil quench 830–860 °C and temper 400–540 °C for spring properties (shot peen for fatigue).
What is the maximum service temperature of 5160 Hardened & Tempered?
5160 Hardened & Tempered 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in 5160 Hardened & Tempered?
Yes — 5160 Hardened & Tempered 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 J404 / J1249 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Alloy Steels — SAE International (2021)
- ASTM A689 — Carbon and Alloy Steel Bars for Springs — 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)
- GB/T 1222 — (55CrMnA equivalent) — SAC (2016)
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.