Steel GCr15 · temper · default condition
Steel GCr15 Annealed
Properties of the Annealed condition, compared with the other GCr15 tempers.
Standard as-supplied condition for bar, tube and wire: soft, uniform globular carbide structure for machining, cold forming and subsequent hardening.
What is GCr15 Annealed?
GCr15 Annealed is GCr15 in the Annealed temper — standard as-supplied condition for bar, tube and wire: soft, uniform globular carbide structure for machining, cold forming and subsequent hardening. GCr15 Annealed has a yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi). GCr15 Annealed has a density of 7.81 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 85/100, better than 99% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 45 MPa·√m (41 ksi·√in), worse than 90% of steel grades
GCr15 Annealed properties
Typical room-temperature values for GCr15 Annealed — 13 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every GCr15 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
GCr15 Annealed has a density of 7.81 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Mechanical16
GCr15 Annealed has a yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
GCr15 Annealed is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 44 W/m·K (25.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 57% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.9 µm/m·K (6.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
GCr15 Annealed conducts electricity at 7.2 % IACS, worse than 71% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (14/100), better than 70% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of GCr15 Annealed takes about 34 MJ of energy and emits 2.3 kg of CO₂ — more than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability8
GCr15 Annealed's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability fair (40/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other GCr15 tempers and conditions
GCr15 is also supplied in 6 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the GCr15 overview.
- AnnealedDefaultStandard as-supplied condition for bar, tube and wire: soft, uniform globular carbide structure for machining, cold forming and subsequent hardening.420 MPa yield · 195 HB
- Q&TFinal bearing condition: maximum hardness, wear and rolling-contact fatigue resistance; brittle, service limited to ~150 °C.1,800 MPa yield · 62 HRC
- Q&T 200CChoose when slightly lower hardness with better toughness and dimensional stability up to ~200 °C is needed (rollers, cams, heavy shock).1,650 MPa yield · 58 HRC
- Q&T 45HRCUsed for gauge bodies, mandrels and shafts where machinability and toughness matter more than maximum wear resistance.1,250 MPa yield · 44 HRC
Working with GCr15 Annealed
Is GCr15 easy to machine?
Machine in the spheroidized annealed condition (~195 HB) with carbide tools and rigid setups; hardened 60+ HRC parts require CBN hard turning or grinding.
Can GCr15 be welded?
Essentially unweldable in structural terms — 1 % C promotes quench cracking; if unavoidable, preheat 300–400 °C, low-hydrogen filler and immediate stress relief/temper.
Can GCr15 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold heading and ball blanking are done on spheroidized stock; hot forge 1050–1150 °C and cool slowly to avoid carbide network and flake cracking.
What surface finishes work on GCr15?
Grind and superfinish raceways; protect with oil, phosphate or black oxide (chrome/nickel plating needs bake-out to avoid hydrogen embrittlement).
GCr15 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 18254 | 0.95 – 1.05 | 1 |
| Cr | 1.4 – 1.65 | 1.5 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.25 – 0.45 | 0.35 |
| Niresidual | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Curesidual | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Moresidual | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| O12 ppm max, high-quality bearing steel | ≤ 0 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
GCr15 Annealed — frequently asked
What is GCr15 Annealed used for?
GCr15 Annealed is typically used for ball bearing rings and balls, roller and needle bearing races, precision machine-tool spindle bearings, cam followers and track rollers, hydraulic pump plungers and pistons and die and punch bushings. In short: bearing Cr-bearing steel.
What is the yield strength of GCr15 Annealed?
GCr15 Annealed has a typical yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is GCr15 Annealed easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades). Machine in the spheroidized annealed condition (~195 HB) with carbide tools and rigid setups; hardened 60+ HRC parts require CBN hard turning or grinding.
Can GCr15 Annealed be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Essentially unweldable in structural terms — 1 % C promotes quench cracking; if unavoidable, preheat 300–400 °C, low-hydrogen filler and immediate stress relief/temper.
What surface finishes work on GCr15 Annealed?
Grind and superfinish raceways; protect with oil, phosphate or black oxide (chrome/nickel plating needs bake-out to avoid hydrogen embrittlement).
Can GCr15 Annealed be formed, bent or molded?
Cold heading and ball blanking are done on spheroidized stock; hot forge 1050–1150 °C and cool slowly to avoid carbide network and flake cracking.
What is the maximum service temperature of GCr15 Annealed?
GCr15 Annealed is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in GCr15 Annealed?
Yes — GCr15 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
- ASTM A295 / A295M High-Carbon Anti-Friction Bearing Steel — ASTM (2014)
- ISO 683-17 / DIN EN ISO 683-17 (100Cr6) — ISO (2014)
- JIS G 4805 (SUJ2) — JISC (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.19 Fatigue and Fracture — ASM International (1996)
- 100Cr6 / 52100 bearing steel bar datasheet — Ovako / Sandvik (2021)
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.