Steel 9260 · temper · default condition
Steel 9260 Annealed
Properties of the Annealed condition, compared with the other 9260 tempers.
Pick for machining, cold forming or coiling before hardening; lowest hardness and best tool life.
What is 9260 Annealed?
9260 Annealed is 9260 in the Annealed temper — pick for machining, cold forming or coiling before hardening; lowest hardness and best tool life. 9260 Annealed has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 770 MPa (112 ksi) — stronger than 53% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). 9260 Annealed 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).
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 250°C (482 °F), worse than 85% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 20/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 6.6 % IACS, worse than 77% of steel grades
9260 Annealed properties
Typical room-temperature values for 9260 Annealed — 11 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 9260 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
9260 Annealed 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).
Mechanical14
9260 Annealed has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 770 MPa (112 ksi) — stronger than 53% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
9260 Annealed is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 43 W/m·K (24.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 51% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
9260 Annealed conducts electricity at 6.6 % IACS, worse than 77% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (11/100), worse than 73% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 9260 Annealed takes about 26 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 64% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
9260 Annealed's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability fair (45/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 9260 tempers and conditions
9260 is also supplied in 9 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 9260 overview.
- AnnealedDefaultPick for machining, cold forming or coiling before hardening; lowest hardness and best tool life.450 MPa yield · 220 HB
- Hardened & TemperedHighest strength/hardness condition for wear parts and high-load washers where ductility can be sacrificed.1,780 MPa yield · 55 HRC
- Q&T 315CNear-peak strength with slightly better toughness than a 205 °C temper; watch for temper embrittlement range.1,720 MPa yield · 53 HRC
- Q&TThe standard working condition for leaf and coil springs: maximum elastic limit with usable toughness (~45–48 HRC).1,500 MPa yield · 47 HRC
- Q&T 540CTough, high-yield condition for torsion bars and heavy sections where impact matters more than peak hardness.1,180 MPa yield · 40 HRC
- Q&T 650CSoftest quenched-and-tempered condition; used when machining after heat treatment or maximum ductility is required.880 MPa yield · 31 HRC
- NormalizedUse to homogenise structure and refine grain after forging, ahead of final quench and temper.620 MPa yield · 27 HRC
Working with 9260 Annealed
Is 9260 easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed/spheroidised state (~55 % of 1212) with rigid setups and sharp carbide; above 45 HRC use grinding, EDM or CBN turning.
Can 9260 be welded?
Poor weldability — carbon equivalent ≈0.9; if unavoidable, preheat 300–400 °C, low-hydrogen consumables, immediate post-weld temper, and accept loss of spring temper in the HAZ.
Can 9260 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot form or coil at 900–1000 °C, or cold coil in the annealed condition then oil quench from 860–880 °C and temper 400–500 °C; protect against decarburisation with controlled atmosphere or salt bath.
What surface finishes work on 9260?
No native corrosion resistance: shot peen then phosphate + oil, paint/powder coat, or Zn/Zn-Ni plate with a 190–220 °C hydrogen-relief bake; do not anodize.
9260 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/AISI 9260 heat analysis | 0.56 – 0.64 | 0.6 |
| Siprincipal strengthening/solid-solution element | 1.8 – 2.2 | 2 |
| Mn | 0.75 – 1 | 0.87 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.04 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
9260 Annealed — frequently asked
What is 9260 Annealed used for?
9260 Annealed is typically used for automotive leaf springs, coil springs, torsion bars, heavy-truck suspension springs, spring clips and retaining clips and agricultural tines and harrow springs. In short: premium spring bar.
What is the yield strength of 9260 Annealed?
9260 Annealed has a typical yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 770 MPa (112 ksi) — stronger than 53% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is 9260 Annealed easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades). Machine only in the annealed/spheroidised state (~55 % of 1212) with rigid setups and sharp carbide; above 45 HRC use grinding, EDM or CBN turning.
Can 9260 Annealed be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Poor weldability — carbon equivalent ≈0.9; if unavoidable, preheat 300–400 °C, low-hydrogen consumables, immediate post-weld temper, and accept loss of spring temper in the HAZ.
What surface finishes work on 9260 Annealed?
No native corrosion resistance: shot peen then phosphate + oil, paint/powder coat, or Zn/Zn-Ni plate with a 190–220 °C hydrogen-relief bake; do not anodize.
Can 9260 Annealed be formed, bent or molded?
Hot form or coil at 900–1000 °C, or cold coil in the annealed condition then oil quench from 860–880 °C and temper 400–500 °C; protect against decarburisation with controlled atmosphere or salt bath.
What is the maximum service temperature of 9260 Annealed?
9260 Annealed 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in 9260 Annealed?
Yes — 9260 Annealed 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 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Alloy Steels — SAE International (2021)
- ASTM A29/A29M — General Requirements for Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought — ASTM (2020)
- GB/T 1222 — (60Si2Mn) — SAC (2016)
- JIS G 4801 — Spring steels (SUP7) — JSA (2011)
- 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)
- SAE HS-788 Spring Design Manual — SAE International (1996)
- Mysteel / SMM (2026)
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.