Steel Y15 · supply condition · default condition
Steel Y15-CD
Properties of the CD condition, compared with the other Y15 tempers.
Standard stock condition: tight tolerance, straight, bright bar for automatic-lathe production of screws, pins and bushings.
What is Y15-CD?
Y15-CD is Y15 supplied in the CD condition — standard stock condition: tight tolerance, straight, bright bar for automatic-lathe production of screws, pins and bushings. Y15-CD has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) — stronger than 53% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi). Y15-CD 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).
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 95/100, better than 100% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 51 W/m·K (29.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 92% of steel grades
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10 % IACS, better than 82% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 10%, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 20/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
Y15-CD properties
Typical room-temperature values for Y15-CD — 12 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every Y15 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
Y15-CD 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).
Mechanical15
Y15-CD has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) — stronger than 53% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
Y15-CD is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 51 W/m·K (29.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 92% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.9 µm/m·K (6.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Y15-CD conducts electricity at 10 % IACS, better than 82% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (8/100), worse than 99% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Y15-CD takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability6
Y15-CD's machinability is excellent (95/100, better than 100% of steel grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability poor (30/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other Y15 tempers and conditions
Y15 is also supplied in 5 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the Y15 overview.
- CDDefaultStandard stock condition: tight tolerance, straight, bright bar for automatic-lathe production of screws, pins and bushings.450 MPa yield · 167 HB
- CHUse when the machined part needs a wear-resistant surface, e.g. small pins, bushes and cam followers.480 MPa yield · 60 HRC
- HRPick for larger diameters, subsequent machining from oversize stock or when maximum ductility is wanted.270 MPa yield · 130 HB
Working with Y15-CD
Is Y15 easy to machine?
Excellent — high speeds, small positive-rake tooling and light feeds give short broken chips and bright finish; ideal for CNC/cam automatics and threading.
Can Y15 be welded?
Avoid welding: high S and P cause hot cracking and porosity; if unavoidable use low-hydrogen filler, preheat 150 °C and expect reduced joint properties.
Can Y15 be formed, bent or molded?
Only light cold bending/knurling in the drawn state; anneal first for heading or upsetting, and orient bends across sulphide stringers with care.
What surface finishes work on Y15?
Not weather resistant — protect with oil, black oxide, zinc/nickel plating or phosphate; can be carburised and hard chrome plated for wear surfaces.
Y15 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 | 0.1 – 0.18 | 0.14 |
| Simax only | ≤ 0.15 | 0.08 |
| Mn | 0.8 – 1.2 | 1 |
| Pdeliberately rephosphorised for chip breaking | 0.05 – 0.1 | 0.07 |
| SMnS inclusions give free-cutting behaviour | 0.23 – 0.33 | 0.28 |
| Crresidual | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Niresidual | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Curesidual | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
Y15-CD — frequently asked
What is Y15-CD used for?
Y15-CD is typically used for screw machine parts, hose and pipe fittings, bolts, studs and threaded rod, bushings and spacers, shaft collars and keys and instrument and sensor housings. In short: free-machining carbon bar.
What is the yield strength of Y15-CD?
Y15-CD has a typical yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) — stronger than 53% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is Y15-CD easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (95/100, better than 100% of steel grades). Excellent — high speeds, small positive-rake tooling and light feeds give short broken chips and bright finish; ideal for CNC/cam automatics and threading.
Can Y15-CD be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Avoid welding: high S and P cause hot cracking and porosity; if unavoidable use low-hydrogen filler, preheat 150 °C and expect reduced joint properties.
What surface finishes work on Y15-CD?
Not weather resistant — protect with oil, black oxide, zinc/nickel plating or phosphate; can be carburised and hard chrome plated for wear surfaces.
Can Y15-CD be formed, bent or molded?
Only light cold bending/knurling in the drawn state; anneal first for heading or upsetting, and orient bends across sulphide stringers with care.
What is the maximum service temperature of Y15-CD?
Y15-CD 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 Y15-CD and Y15-A?
CD is the default condition — standard stock condition: tight tolerance, straight, bright bar for automatic-lathe production of screws, pins and bushings. A: softest condition for cold heading, staking or upsetting before final machining. Yield strength is 450 MPa in CD versus 240 MPa in A.
Can FabDigit make parts in Y15-CD?
Yes — Y15-CD is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM A29/A29M — Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought (grade 1215) — ASTM (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 16 — Machining (free-machining steels) — ASM International (1989)
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.