Mild and Carbon Steel (Strip) - Precision Metals EU

Mild and Carbon Steel Grades

1.0330 / DC01 / CS4

1.0338 / DC04 / CS2

1.0347 / DC03 / CS3

1.0312 / DCO5 / CS1

1.0873 / DC06

1.1204 / C55S

1.1211 / C60S

1.1231 / C67S

1.1248 / C75S

1.1269 / C85S

1.1217 / C90S

1.1274 / C100S

1.1224 / C125S

1.5021 / 48Si7

1.8159 / 51CrV4

1.2235 / 80CrV2

1.5634 / 75Ni8

1.2002 / 125Cr2

1.2067 / 102Cr6

What are the benefits of using Mild and Carbon Steels?

Carbon Steel is an affordable, strong and durable material, offering shock resistant properties. It is also easily recycled and reused, making it a more environmentally friendly material choice

What are the disadvantages of using Mild and Carbon Steels?

While its strength is an advantage, this can also make Carbon Steels harder to work with compared to other steels. Carbon Steel, is also more susceptible to rust and corrosion, limiting its use for certain applications

Mild and Carbon Steel Overview

Carbon steel is so named because it contains higher amounts of carbon than other types of steel. This type of metal is generally softer than stainless steel yet stronger than aluminium. With its high carbon content, Carbon steel, is able to be hardened more easily than other types of steel. Although it is relatively thin, it can be punched or pressed thin, which makes it ideal for making thin metal parts. It has high tensile strength, meaning that the steel is less likely to bend or break when subjected to stress, and can withstand high amounts of pressure without being crushed. Its brilliance comes from the small portions of slag that are fused into the material during the manufacturing process, which helps to increase its resistance to corrosion. Plain Carbon Steel strip has a very wide range of applications because it is particularly adaptable to low cost techniques of metal forming such as presswork. These materials combine ease of fabrication with adequate strength and excellent finishing characteristics. As a result, they provide a good surface finish on the final article.

 

Our range of Carbon Steels can be broadly split into two categories:

LOW CARBON MILD STEELS
HIGH CARBON SPRING STEELS

 

Spring Steels are available in the annealed condition for hardening after forming, or in the hardened and tempered condition.

Low Carbon Mild Steels
Overview

The hardness or temper of cold rolled Mild Steel strip is determined by its analysis, the amount of cold rolling or by a final annealing process. Manufacturers select these steels to achieve the optimum mechanical properties for the forming operation, whether it be deep drawing, forming or flat blanking.

“Skin passed” is a very light rolling reduction after the annealing process to prevent the formation of deformation bands called stretcher strains, which can ruin surface appearance of the formed article.

Mild steels cannot be hardened except by cold working because their carbon content is too low for significant heat treatment reaction to take place. However, they can be case hardened to give a harder surface.

Low Carbon Steel Chemical Properties
COLD ROLLED LOW CARBON (MILD) STEEL CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
DESIGNATIONFORMER BRITISH STANDARD GRADE (Nearest Fit)TYPICAL CHEMICAL COMPOSITION %
NAMENUMBERCPSMnTi
DC011.0330CS40.120.0450.0450.6-
DC031.0347CS30.10.0350.0350.45-
DC041.0338CS20.080.030.030.4-
DC051.0312CS10.060.0250.0250.35-
DC061.0873-0.020.020.0250.250.3
Low Carbon Steel Mechanical Properties
COLD ROLLED LOW CARBON (MILD) STEEL MECHANICAL COMPOSITION
DESIGNATIONFORMER BRITISH STANDARD GRADE (nearest fit)Period GuaranteedDelivery ConditionSymbolRe N/mm2Rm N/mm2Elongation % min A80Hardness HV
NAMENUMBER
DC011.0330CS43 monthsAnnealedA-270-39028105 max
Skin passedLC280 max270-41028115 max
Work hardenedC290200-380290-4301895-125
C340250 min340-490-105-155
C390310 min390-540-117-172
C440360 min440-590-135-185
C490420 min490-640-155-200
C590520 min590-740-185-225
C690630 min690 min-215 min
DC031.0347CS36 monthsAnnealedA-270-37034100 max
Skin passedLC240 max270-37034110 max
Work hardenedC290210-355290-3902295-117
C340240 min340-440-105-130
C390330 min390-490-117-155
C440380 min440-540-135-172
C490440 min490-590-155-185
C590540 min590 min-185 min
DC041.0338CS26 monthsAnnealedA-270-3503895 max
Skin passedLC210 max270-35038105 max
Work hardenedC290220-325290-3502495-117
C340240 min340-440-105-130
C390350 min390-490-117-155
C440400 min440-540-135-172
C490460 min490-590-155-185
C590560 min590 min-185-215
DC051.0312CS16 monthsSkin passedLC180 max270-33040100 max
DC061.0873-6 monthsSkin passedLC80 max270-35038-
Low Carbon Steel Features and Applications
COLD ROLLED LOW CARBON (MILD) FEATURES
DESIGNATIONFORMER BRITISH STANDARD GRADE (Nearest Fit)TemperKey FeaturesApplications
NAMENUMBER
DCO11.033CS4Annealed & Skin PassedForming and BendingPress Formed and Bent Components
DCO11.033CS4Temper Rolled C290/ C340/ C390/ C440Forming and BendingPress Formed and Bent Components
Hard Rolled C490/ C590/ C690BlankingFlat Components, Shims, Washers
DCO31.0347CS3Annealed & Skin PassedDrawing quality, non-ageingShallow Drawn and Stretch Formed
DCO41.0338CS2Annealed & Skin PassedDeep drawing quality, non-ageingDeep Drawn and Stretch Formed
DCO51.0312CS1Annealed & Skin PassedExtra deep drawing quality, non-ageingSprings, clips, pressings and fasteners
DCO61.0873-Skin passedExtra deep drawing quality, non-ageingVery Deep Drawn Components, Automotive & Electrical Parts
High Carbon Spring Steels
Overview

High Carbon Steel is available in several options.

 

(a) Annealed:

Bright rolled Carbon Steels are often used in the annealed condition for forming components. These can then be batch heat treated to increase their hardness and spring characteristics.

 

To maintain a good surface condition, heat treatment should be carried out in a controlled atmosphere furnace at the appropriate temperature for the grade (see table) and oil quenched to achieve maximum hardness.

 

Tempering must then be carried out to reduce the strength/hardness of the material but considerably improve its toughness and ductility. Temperatures in the range of 300 – 450°C should be used to achieve the required final hardness. Alternatively, austempering is frequently carried out by quenching into a molten salt bath @ 350 – 450°C.

Our Sales and Technical staff will give additional heat treatment advice for your particular application upon request.

 

(b) Hardened & Tempered:

Hardened and Tempered Spring Steel has been heat treated in strip form at the mill prior to being supplied to the customer. Many applications do not require severe bending,= and forming, and it is often beneficial to use hardened and tempered strip in these cases.

 

The main benefits are:

  • No risk of distortion.
  • Uniformity of surface finish.
  • Constant mechanical properties.
  • These factors often mean reduced processing costs and a higher quality product.
  • Stress Relieving.

 

After severe deformation hardened & tempered spring steel requires a low temperature (250 – 300°C) stress relieving operation to “set” the components into shape. This will impart a coloured oxide finish ranging from bronze to blue which slightly improves corrosion resistance.

High Carbon Steel Chemical Properties
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF COLD ROLLED HIGH CARBON SPRING STEEL
DESIGNATIONTYPICAL CHEMICAL COMPOSITION %
NAMENUMBERCSiMnPSCrMoVNi
C55S1.12040.52-0.600.15-0.350.60-0.900.025 max0.025 max0.40 max0.1 max-0.40 max
C60S1.12110.57-0.650.15-0.350.60-0.900.025 max0.025 max0.40 max0.1 max-0.40 max
C67S1.12310.65-0.730.15-0.350.60-0.900.025 max0.025 max0.40 max0.1 max-0.40 max
C75S1.12480.70-0.800.15-0.350.60-0.900.025 max0.025 max0.40 max0.1 max-0.40 max
C85S1.12690.80-0.900.15-0.350.40-0.700.025 max0.025 max0.40 max0.1 max-0.40 max
C90S1.12170.85-0.950.15-0.350.40-0.700.025 max0.025 max0.40 max0.1 max-0.40 max
C100S1.12740.95-1.050.15-0.350.30-0.600.025 max0.025 max0.40 max0.1 max-0.40 max
C125S1.12241.20-1.300.15-0.350.30-0.600.025 max0.025 max0.40 max0.1 max-0.40 max
48Si71.50210.45-0.521.60-2.000.50-0.800.025 max0.025 max0.40 max0.1 max-0.40 max
56Si71.50260.52-0.601.60-2.000.60-0.900.025 max0.025 max0.40 max0.1 max-0.40 max
51CrV41.81590.47-0.550.40 max0.70-1.100.025 max0.025 max0.90-1.200.1 max0.10-0.25 max0.40 max
80CrV21.22350.75-0.850.15-0.350.30-0.500.025 max0.025 max0.40-0.600.1 max0.15-0.25 max0.40 max
75Ni81.56340.72-0.780.15-0.350.30-0.500.025 max0.025 max< 0.150.1 max-1.80-2.10
125Cr21.20021.20-1.300.15-0.350.25-0.400.025 max0.025 max0.40-0.600.1 max-0.40 max
102Cr61.20670.95-1.100.15-0.350.20-0.400.025 max0.025 max1.35-1.600.1 max-0.40 max
High Carbon Steel Mechanical Properties
Cold Rolled High Carbon Spring Steel Mechanical Properties
DESIGNATIONHardness for Delivery Condition (reference values)
NAMENUMBERAnnealed (+A) or annealed and skin passed (+LC) Rockwell ‘B' scaleQuenched and Tempered (+QT) Rockwell ‘C' scale
C55S1.120490 max34 - 50.5
C60S1.121191 max35 - 51.5
C67S1.123192 max38.5 - 54
C75S1.124893 max38.5 - 54
C85S1.126994 max38.5 - 55
C90S1.121794 max38.5 - 55
C100S1.127495 max38.5 - 57
C125S1.122497 max38.5 - 57
48Si71.502195 max38.5 - 50.5
56Si71.502696 max38.5 - 50.5
51CrV41.815994 max38.5 - 52.5
80CrV21.223595 max38.5 - 52.5
75Ni81.563493 max38.5 - 52.5
125Cr21.200297 max42 - 57
102Cr61.206797 max42 - 57
High Carbon Steel Features and Applications
COLD ROLLED HIGH CARBON SPRING STEEL FEATURES
DESIGNATIONTemperKey FeaturesApplications
NAMENUMBER
C55S1.1204Annealed & Skin PassedPress forming and blanking, hardenableSprings and High Strength Parts. E.g. Circlips & Automotive Clutch Plates, Wear Resistant Parts, Knives, Saw Blades
C60S1.1211
C67S1.1231
C75S1.1248
C85S1.1269
C90S1.1217
C100S1.1274
C125S1.1224Hardened & TemperedFlat or very simply formed shapes High fatigue and wear resistanceFlat Springs, Circlips, Automotive Clutch Plates, High Performance Springs, Machine Knife Blades, Doctor Blades
48Si71.5021
56Si71.5026
51CrV41.8159
80CrV21.2235
75Ni81.5634
125Cr21.2002
102Cr61.2067

All data is provided for informational purposes only. In no event will Precision Metals EU and its partners, be liable with respect to any action taken by any third party arising from using the information taken from our online or printed sources. Chemical and Mechanical Properties should not be construed as maximum or minimum values for specifications, nor should the information be used to assess suitability for a particular use or application. The information and data provided are deemed to be accurate to the best of our knowledge and may be revised anytime without notice, and assume no duty to update.