EN 10083-1:1996 C55E Steel: Specifications & Listings
EN 10083-1:1996 C55E: A higher carbon special steel for quenching and tempering to EN 10083-1:1991 + A1:1996 (steel number 1.1203), with sulphur max. 0.035%. Supplied as semi-finished products, bars, rod, wide flats, sheet, plate and strip, and forgings (clause 1.1). Quenched and tempered tensile strength 800 to 950 MPa for ruling sections up to 16 mm.
Matched by chemical composition and mechanical properties, not a formal equivalence claim. Always verify against the applicable standard before substitution.
Chemical Composition (%)
C
Cr
Cr+Mo+Ni
Mn
Mo
Ni
P
S
Si
0.52-0.60
<=0.40
<=0.63
0.60-0.90
<=0.10
<=0.40
<=0.035
<=0.035
<=0.40
Mechanical Properties
Condition
Quenched and tempered, ruling section d <= 16 mm
Elongation
12% min
Hardness
Soft annealed: 229 HB max
Tensile Strength
800 to 950 MPa
Yield Strength
550 MPa min
More data from EN 10083-1:1996
From the standard
Other composition limitsTable 3 and its notes
Designation as printed
C55E
Steel number
1.1203
Pair grade
C55R has the same limits except sulphur, controlled 0.020 to 0.040
Availability
Printed in brackets: introduced for the first time in this standard and not available from stock in all countries (Table 3, note 6)
Improved machinability
Steels with lead or higher sulphur, up to about 0.100% S, may be supplied on request (Table 3, note 3)
Restricted options
Without hardenability or quenched and tempered or normalized property requirements, the carbon range may be restricted to 0.05% and/or the sum Cr + Mo + Ni to max. 0.45% by agreement (Table 3, note 5)
Elements not quoted in Table 3 are not intentionally added without the purchaser's agreement, other than for finishing the heat. With hardenability requirements, slight deviations within Table 4 are permitted except for carbon, phosphorus and sulphur.
Source: EN 10083-1:1991 + A1:1996 (DIN EN 10083-1:1996-10), Table 3 and its notes
Mechanical properties, quenched and tempered3 sections
Ruling section
Yield strength Re, min (MPa)
Tensile strength Rm (MPa)
Elongation A, min (%)
Reduction of area Z, min (%)
Impact KV, min (J)
d <= 16 mm, t <= 8 mm
550
800 to 950
12
30
-
16 mm < d <= 40 mm, 8 mm < t <= 20 mm
490
750 to 900
14
35
-
40 mm < d <= 100 mm, 20 mm < t <= 60 mm
420
700 to 850
15
40
-
Re is the upper yield strength or, if no yield phenomenon occurs, the 0.2% proof strength; A on gauge length 5.65 times the root of the original cross section; KV on longitudinal Charpy V-notch test pieces, average of 3 values, no single value below 70% of the minimum average value. Ruling sections as in Annex A. Sizes not listed are not covered by the standard.
Source: EN 10083-1:1991 + A1:1996 (DIN EN 10083-1:1996-10), Table 9
Mechanical properties, normalized3 sizes
Size
Yield strength Re, min (MPa)
Tensile strength Rm, min (MPa)
Elongation A, min (%)
d <= 16 mm, t <= 16 mm
370
680
11
16 mm < d <= 100 mm, 16 mm < t <= 100 mm
330
640
12
100 mm < d <= 250 mm, 100 mm < t <= 150 mm
300
620
12
Values also apply to the grades with hardenability requirements (+H, +HH, +HL). Sizes not listed are not covered by the standard.
Source: EN 10083-1:1991 + A1:1996 (DIN EN 10083-1:1996-10), Table 10
Maximum hardness by delivery conditionTable 8
Treated to improve shearability (+S), max
255 HB
Soft annealed (+A), max
229 HB
Values also apply to the grades with hardenability requirements (+H, +HH, +HL); not applicable to continuously cast slabs not further worked. Depending on the cast and the dimensions, particularly for the +HH grades, soft annealing may be necessary.
Source: EN 10083-1:1991 + A1:1996 (DIN EN 10083-1:1996-10), Table 8
Hardenability, end quench test (+H)Hardness band
Hardness band (HRC, minimum to maximum) by distance from the quenched end (mm)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
13
15
20
25
30
Distance from quenched end (mm)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
13
15
20
25
30
Maximum, HRC
65
64
63
62
60
57
52
45
37
36
35
34
33
32
30
29
Minimum, HRC
58
55
47
37
33
32
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
22
20
Applies when ordered as C55E+H. Provisional values for the non alloy steels; a manufacturer whose scatter for the H grade exceeds these limits informs the purchaser at ordering (Table 5, note 1). End quench test at 830 ± 5 deg C (Table 12).
Source: EN 10083-1:1991 + A1:1996 (DIN EN 10083-1:1996-10), Table 5
Tentative values; apply to both the E and R grade. The figure after the symbol gives the distances (mm) at which the limits apply.
Source: EN 10083-1:1991 + A1:1996 (DIN EN 10083-1:1996-10), Table 6
Heat treatmentTable 12
Quenching
805 to 845 deg C
Quenching agent
Oil or water
Tempering
550 to 660 deg C
End quench test
830 ± 5 deg C
Normalizing
825 to 865 deg C
Guidance values except the end quench test temperature, which is binding. Lower quenching temperatures generally for water, upper for oil; austenitizing at least 30 min, tempering at least 60 min (guide values).
Source: EN 10083-1:1991 + A1:1996 (DIN EN 10083-1:1996-10), Table 12
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