15CrNi6 alloy steel

Introduction

we manufacture forging ingots, billets, and blooms in alloy steel specifically for 15CrNi6, tailored for case hardening applications.

15CrNi6 is a low carbon nickel–chromium alloy steel designed for components that require a hard, wear-resistant surface combined with a tough and shock-resistant core. It is widely used in automotive and general engineering applications subjected to moderate to heavy loads and repeated stress.

The presence of nickel provides excellent core toughness and fatigue resistance, while chromium improves hardenability and wear resistance after carburizing. 15CrNi6 offers good machinability in the annealed condition and maintains dimensional stability after heat treatment, making it suitable for forging and precision machining processes.

This steel offers a balanced combination of performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.

Chemical composition

Element	Content (%)	Function / effect
Carbon (c)	0.12 – 0.18	Enables case hardening and tough core
Manganese (mn)	0.50 – 0.80	Improves hardenability and strength
Silicon (si)	Max 0.40	Increases strength
Nickel (ni)	1.40 – 1.70	Improves toughness and fatigue resistance
Chromium (cr)	0.80 – 1.10	Improves hardenability and wear resistance
Phosphorus (p)	Max 0.025	Impurity; controlled for toughness
Sulphur (s)	Max 0.035	Impurity; controlled for machinability

Mechanical properties (typical, depending on condition & heat treatment)

• Core tensile strength: 700 – 900 MPa
• Core yield strength: 450 – 650 MPa
• Surface hardness (carburized): 58 – 62 HRC
• Core hardness: 180 – 220 HB
• Impact toughness: High
• Fatigue resistance: Very good

Heat treatment

• Annealing: used to improve machinability before carburizing.
• Carburizing: introduces carbon at high temperature to achieve a hard, wear-resistant surface.
• Quenching: rapid cooling to obtain a hard martensitic case.
• Tempering: relieves internal stresses while maintaining surface hardness and core toughness.

The heat treatment cycle can be adjusted based on required case depth and application needs.

Key features and benefits

• Excellent case hardening response
• Hard wear-resistant surface with tough core
• Good fatigue and impact resistance
• Good machinability in annealed condition
• Dimensional stability after heat treatment
• Suitable for forging and machining processes

Typical applications

• Gears and pinions
• Shafts and transmission components
• Camshafts and gear shafts
• Automotive and tractor parts
• General engineering components subjected to wear

Equivalent steel grades

15CrNi6 has several international equivalents, including:

• En 10084 – 15CrNi6
• Din 1.5757
• Bs en36 (application-based comparison)

Why choose 15CrNi6 for your application?

15CrNi6 provides a reliable combination of surface hardness, core toughness, and fatigue resistance. Its balanced nickel and chromium content makes it ideal for case-hardened components operating under moderate to heavy load conditions with long service life requirements.

Comparison table for similar grades

Grade	Carbon (%)	Key applications	Heat treatment	Comments
15CrNi6	0.12 – 0.18	Gears, shafts	Carburizing + q&t	Balanced ni-cr steel
En351	0.10 – 0.20	Automotive gears	Carburizing + q&t	Lower ni
En352	0.10 – 0.20	Heavy gears	Carburizing + q&t	Higher ni
En36	0.12 – 0.18	Heavy-duty gears	Carburizing	Widely used ni-cr steel

Summary

15CrNi6 is a low carbon nickel–chromium alloy steel optimized for case hardening applications in automotive and engineering industries. It delivers a hard, wear-resistant surface, a tough core, and dependable performance for a wide range of components.