Steel 60# · heat-treated state
Steel 60# Hardened
Properties of the Hardened condition, compared with the other 60# tempers.
Maximum hardness for wear surfaces, blanking dies and knife-type parts; very brittle.
What is 60# Hardened?
60# Hardened is 60# heat treated to Hardened — maximum hardness for wear surfaces, blanking dies and knife-type parts; very brittle. 60# Hardened has a yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,100 MPa (305 ksi) — weaker than 67% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi). 60# Hardened has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Hardened is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High electrical conductivity — 10 % IACS, better than 82% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 48 W/m·K (27.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 1%, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 10/100, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 180°C (356 °F), worse than 98% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 20/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
60# Hardened properties
Typical room-temperature values for 60# Hardened — 9 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 60# temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
60# Hardened has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Mechanical13
60# Hardened has a yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,100 MPa (305 ksi) — weaker than 67% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
60# Hardened is rated for continuous service to 180°C (356 °F). It conducts heat at 48 W/m·K (27.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.7 µm/m·K (6.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
60# Hardened conducts electricity at 10 % IACS, better than 82% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 87% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 60# Hardened takes about 26 MJ of energy and emits 2.1 kg of CO₂ — less than 64% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability7
60# Hardened's machinability is not recommended (10/100, worse than 100% of steel grades); weldability poor (20/100); 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 60# tempers and conditions
60# is also supplied in 9 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 60# overview.
- AnnealedDefaultSoftest condition for machining, deep drawing of strip or before hardening.380 MPa yield · 190 HB
- HardenedMaximum hardness for wear surfaces, blanking dies and knife-type parts; very brittle.2,100 MPa tensile
- Q&T 45-50 HRCSpring / wear condition: high elastic limit and abrasion resistance, limited toughness.1,350 MPa yield · 47 HRC
- Q&T 35-40 HRCBalanced strength/wear level for rolls, gears in light service and heavy springs.1,000 MPa yield · 38 HRC
- CR Spring HardHeavily cold-rolled thin strip used as-supplied for flat springs, shims and clips.950 MPa yield · 38 HRC
- Q&T 28-32 HRCToughest hardened condition — shafts, cams and general machine parts needing strength plus ductility.750 MPa yield · 30 HRC
- Induction HardenedPick for shafts, rolls and rails needing a 55–62 HRC wear skin over a tough core.700 MPa yield · 58 HRC
- CDHigher yield and good surface/tolerance for shafts and pins without heat treatment.660 MPa yield · 24 HRC
- NormalizedStandard GB/T 699 property basis; uniform fine pearlite for general engineering parts.430 MPa yield · 241 HB
- HRCheapest mill condition for parts that will be re-heat-treated or lightly loaded.420 MPa yield · 235 HB
Working with 60# Hardened
Is 60# easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed or spheroidized condition with carbide tooling and firm feeds; above ~35 HRC switch to grinding or CBN.
Can 60# be welded?
Poor weldability (CE ≈ 0.75): preheat 250–350 °C, low-hydrogen consumables and immediate post-weld temper, otherwise underbead cracking is likely.
Can 60# be formed, bent or molded?
Cold-form only thin annealed strip with generous radii; hot forge 1150–850 °C then slow-cool or normalize to avoid a hard as-forged pearlitic skin.
What surface finishes work on 60#?
No corrosion resistance — specify oil, phosphate + oil, black oxide, zinc or nickel plating; bake after plating to avoid hydrogen embrittlement in hardened parts.
60# 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 | 0.57 – 0.65 | 0.61 |
| Si | 0.17 – 0.37 | 0.27 |
| Mn | 0.5 – 0.8 | 0.65 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.04 | — |
| Crresidual, max | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Niresidual, max | ≤ 0.3 | — |
| Curesidual, max | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
60# Hardened — frequently asked
What is 60# Hardened used for?
60# Hardened is typically used for flat and coil springs, saw blades, spring washers and retaining clips, cams and wear plates, rolls and rollers and light-duty shafts and pins. In short: high-carbon spring bar.
What is the yield strength of 60# Hardened?
60# Hardened has a typical yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,100 MPa (305 ksi) — weaker than 67% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is 60# Hardened easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (10/100, worse than 100% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed or spheroidized condition with carbide tooling and firm feeds; above ~35 HRC switch to grinding or CBN.
Can 60# Hardened be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Poor weldability (CE ≈ 0.75): preheat 250–350 °C, low-hydrogen consumables and immediate post-weld temper, otherwise underbead cracking is likely.
What surface finishes work on 60# Hardened?
No corrosion resistance — specify oil, phosphate + oil, black oxide, zinc or nickel plating; bake after plating to avoid hydrogen embrittlement in hardened parts.
Can 60# Hardened be formed, bent or molded?
Cold-form only thin annealed strip with generous radii; hot forge 1150–850 °C then slow-cool or normalize to avoid a hard as-forged pearlitic skin.
What is the maximum service temperature of 60# Hardened?
60# Hardened is rated for continuous use to about 180°C (356 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 60# Annealed and 60#-CD?
Annealed is the default condition — softest condition for machining, deep drawing of strip or before hardening. CD: higher yield and good surface/tolerance for shafts and pins without heat treatment. Yield strength is 380 MPa in Annealed versus 660 MPa in CD.
Can FabDigit make parts in 60# Hardened?
Yes — 60# Hardened 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
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4 — Heat Treating — ASM International (1991)
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.