15C8 carbon steel

Introduction

We manufacture forging ingots, billets, and blooms in carbon steel specifically for 15C8, designed for low strength engineering applications where excellent formability, weldability, and machinability are required.

15C8 is a low carbon, unalloyed engineering steel known for its softness, high ductility, and good toughness. Due to its low carbon content, this grade does not harden significantly by quenching but is highly suitable for fabrication, cold forming, and case hardening applications.

This grade is widely used in general engineering and automotive applications where surface hardness is required along with a tough and ductile core.

Chemical composition

Element Content (%) Function / effect
Carbon (c) 0.12 – 0.18 Provides basic strength and good ductility
Manganese (mn) 0.30 – 0.60 Improves toughness and machinability
Sulphur (s) 0.050 max Controlled to maintain toughness
Phosphorus (p) 0.050 max Limited to prevent brittleness
Silicon (si) 0.10 – 0.35 Acts as deoxidizer and improves strength
Chromium (cr) Nil Not intentionally added
Nickel (ni) Nil Not present
Molybdenum (mo) Nil Not present
Other elements No significant alloying additions

Mechanical properties (typical – annealed / normalized condition)

  • Tensile strength: 370 – 460 MPa
  • Yield strength: 210 – 260 MPa
  • Elongation: 25 – 30 %
  • Hardness: 120 – 160 HB

Heat treatment

  • Annealing: improves softness and machinability
  • Normalizing: refines grain structure and improves uniformity
  • Case hardening: highly suitable for wear-resistant surfaces
  • Quenching & tempering: not effective due to low carbon content

Key features and benefits

  • Excellent formability and weldability
  • Soft and ductile core properties
  • Ideal for case hardening applications
  • Good machinability
  • Cost-effective and easily available

Typical applications

  • Case hardened gears
  • Pins, bolts, and studs
  • Shafts for light load applications
  • Automotive and agricultural components
  • General fabricated parts

Equivalent Steel Grades

15C8 Has Several International Equivalents, Including:

  • C15 / C15e (En Standard)
  • Din 1.0401 (German Standard)
  • Aisi 1015 (American Standard)

Why Choose 15C8 For Your Application?

15C8 Offers A Reliable And Economical Solution For Applications Where High Strength Is Not Required But Consistent Performance And Ease Of Machining Are ESSential. Its Balanced Composition Ensures Smooth ProceSSing, Reduced Tooling Wear, And Cost Savings In Production.

Comparison table for similar grades

Grade Carbon (%) Strength level Typical applications
C-10 0.08 – 0.12 Very low Deep drawn parts
15C8 0.12 – 0.18 Low Case hardened parts
C-20 0.17 – 0.23 Low–medium Engineering parts
20 c8 0.17 – 0.23 Low–medium Automotive parts
30C8 0.25 – 0.35 Medium Shafts & axles

Summary

15C8 carbon steel is a low carbon grade ideal for applications requiring excellent formability, weldability, and case hardening capability. It provides a tough and ductile core with hard, wear-resistant surfaces, making it a cost-effective and reliable choice for general engineering and automotive uses.