Steel HRS · supply condition
Steel HRS-CR
Properties of the CR condition, compared with the other HRS tempers.
Pick for tight thickness tolerance, smooth paint-ready surface and better machined finish; costs more and has less ductility than HR.
What is HRS-CR?
HRS-CR is HRS supplied in the CR condition — pick for tight thickness tolerance, smooth paint-ready surface and better machined finish; costs more and has less ductility than HR. HRS-CR has a yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) — weaker than 73% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi). HRS-CR has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,495°C (2,723 °F). HR is the default condition FabDigit quotes; CR is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Readily welded — 95/100, better than 97% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 51.9 W/m·K (30 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of steel grades
- Easy to machine — 70/100, better than 96% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10.8 % IACS, better than 94% of steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 78/100, better than 91% of steel grades
HRS-CR properties
Typical room-temperature values for HRS-CR — 13 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every HRS temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
HRS-CR has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,495°C (2,723 °F).
Mechanical16
HRS-CR has a yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) — weaker than 73% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
HRS-CR is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 51.9 W/m·K (30 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.9 µm/m·K (6.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
HRS-CR conducts electricity at 10.8 % IACS, better than 94% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (11/100), worse than 73% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of HRS-CR takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 2.1 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability7
HRS-CR's machinability is very good (70/100, better than 96% of steel grades); weldability excellent (95/100); formability very good (78/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other HRS tempers and conditions
HRS is also supplied in 5 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the HRS overview.
- HRDefaultCheapest structural condition — pick for weldments, frames, brackets and plate where dimensional tolerance and surface finish don't matter.285 MPa yield · 130 HB
- CRPick for tight thickness tolerance, smooth paint-ready surface and better machined finish; costs more and has less ductility than HR.350 MPa yield · 145 HB
- EGChoose for indoor sheet metal enclosures needing a smooth, uniformly plated surface for painting; coating is too thin for outdoor exposure.300 MPa yield
- HRPOChoose when you want hot-rolled price and gauge but a clean, paint- or weld-ready surface without shot blasting.280 MPa yield · 125 HB
- GalvanizedUse outdoors or in damp service where painting is impractical; avoid where welding fume, high temperature or a Class-A paint finish is required.250 MPa yield · 120 HB
- GAPick when a galvanized part must be painted or spot-welded — matte Zn-Fe layer paints and welds better than spangled HDG but corrodes sooner.250 MPa yield
Working with HRS-CR
Is HRS easy to machine?
Free and easy at HSS/carbide speeds but gummy — use positive rake, sharp tooling and coolant; expect a poorer finish than cold-rolled or leaded grades and remove mill scale first to protect edges.
Can HRS be welded?
Prequalified for essentially all processes (SMAW/GMAW/FCAW/RSW) with E70/ER70S-6 consumables, no preheat below ~38 mm at RT; grind off scale, oil or zinc coating before welding and ventilate zinc fume.
Can HRS be formed, bent or molded?
Bends and rolls readily cold (min bend radius ≈ 1–1.5 t hot rolled, 0.5–1 t cold rolled); hot-rolled scale can crack and mark dies, and springback is low.
What surface finishes work on HRS?
No anodizing — blast or pickle then prime; typical finishes are phosphate + powder coat/e-coat, zinc plating, hot-dip galvanizing or black oxide/oil for temporary protection.
HRS 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CA36 plate ≤0.26; A1011 CS / Q235B typically 0.12–0.20 | ≤ 0.26 | 0.18 |
| Mnwider range for thicker plate | 0.3 – 1.2 | 0.7 |
| Si0.15–0.40 when silicon-killed | ≤ 0.4 | 0.2 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| S | ≤ 0.05 | 0.02 |
| Cu0.20 min if copper-bearing grade specified | ≤ 0.2 | 0.05 |
| Febalance, residual Cr/Ni/Mo typically <0.1 each | balance | — |
HRS-CR — frequently asked
What is HRS-CR used for?
HRS-CR is typically used for structural plate and base plates, bracket weldments, welded machine frames and skids, sheet-metal enclosures and panels, formed channels, angles and gussets and machine guards and platform floor plate. In short: workhorse hot-rolled plate.
What is the yield strength of HRS-CR?
HRS-CR has a typical yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) — weaker than 73% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is HRS-CR easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (70/100, better than 96% of steel grades). Free and easy at HSS/carbide speeds but gummy — use positive rake, sharp tooling and coolant; expect a poorer finish than cold-rolled or leaded grades and remove mill scale first to protect edges.
Can HRS-CR be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (95/100). Prequalified for essentially all processes (SMAW/GMAW/FCAW/RSW) with E70/ER70S-6 consumables, no preheat below ~38 mm at RT; grind off scale, oil or zinc coating before welding and ventilate zinc fume.
What surface finishes work on HRS-CR?
No anodizing — blast or pickle then prime; typical finishes are phosphate + powder coat/e-coat, zinc plating, hot-dip galvanizing or black oxide/oil for temporary protection.
Can HRS-CR be formed, bent or molded?
Bends and rolls readily cold (min bend radius ≈ 1–1.5 t hot rolled, 0.5–1 t cold rolled); hot-rolled scale can crack and mark dies, and springback is low.
What is the maximum service temperature of HRS-CR?
HRS-CR 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.
What is the difference between HRS-HR and HRS-CR?
HR is the default condition — cheapest structural condition — pick for weldments, frames, brackets and plate where dimensional tolerance and surface finish don't matter. CR: pick for tight thickness tolerance, smooth paint-ready surface and better machined finish; costs more and has less ductility than HR. Yield strength is 285 MPa in HR versus 350 MPa in CR.
Can FabDigit make parts in HRS-CR?
Yes — HRS-CR 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 A36/A36M Carbon Structural Steel — ASTM International (2019)
- ASTM A1011/A1011M Hot-Rolled Sheet and Strip, CS/SS/HSLAS — ASTM International (2018)
- ASTM A1008/A1008M Cold-Rolled Sheet, CS/SS/HSLAS — ASTM International (2021)
- ASTM A653/A653M Zinc-Coated (Galvanized/Galvannealed) Sheet — ASTM International (2020)
- GB/T 700 (Q235B) — SAC / (2006)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
- Machinery's Handbook, 31st ed. (machinability ratings) — Industrial Press (2020)
- worldsteel LCI data for steel products — World Steel Association (2023)
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.