EN32B alloy steel

Introduction

We manufacture forging ingots, billets, and blooms in alloy steel specifically forEN32B, tailored for case hardening and wear-resistant engineering applications.

EN32B is a low carbon, case hardening steel designed to provide a hard, wear-resistant surface combined with a tough and ductile core. Due to its controlled carbon and manganese content, EN32B is ideal for components that require excellent surface hardness after carburizing while maintaining good shock and impact resistance internally. This grade is widely used in automotive, transmission, and general engineering applications.

Chemical composition

Element	Content (%)	Function / effect
Carbon (c)	0.10 – 0.18	Low core carbon for toughness and case hardening
Manganese (mn)	0.60 – 1.00	Improves hardenability, strength, and toughness
Sulfur (s)	Max 0.07	Improves machinability; controlled to limit brittleness
Phosphorus (p)	Max 0.05	Aids machinability; limited to maintain toughness
Silicon (si)	0.05 – 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 values, dependent on heat treatment and case depth)

• core tensile strength: approx. 400 – 550 MPa
• core yield strength: approx. 250 – 350 MPa
• core hardness: approx. 120 – 170 hb
• case hardness (after carburizing): up to 58 – 62 hrc
• impact toughness: good
• fatigue resistance: excellent for case-hardened components

Heat treatment

• annealing: improves machinability before final machining
• carburizing: introduces carbon at the surface to develop high surface hardness
• quenching: rapid cooling after carburizing to form hard martensitic case
• tempering: low temperature tempering to relieve stresses without reducing case hardness
• EN32B is primarily designed for case hardening applications and not for through hardening

Key features and benefits

• excellent case hardening response
• hard, wear-resistant surface with tough core
• good machinability before heat treatment
• high fatigue and contact strength
• ideal for dynamic and rotating components
• cost-effective case hardening steel

Typical applications

• gears and pinions
• camshafts and transmission parts
• bushes, rollers, and sleeves
• automotive and tractor components
• machine tool and general engineering parts

Equivalent steel grades

• EN32B (bs 970)
• aisi 1015 / 1020 (case hardening grades)
• is 1570 gr 15c8
• din c15

Why choose EN32B for your application?

EN32B is the ideal material when a hard, wear-resistant surface and a tough, shock-resistant core are required. Its excellent carburizing response, good machinability, and reliable performance make it a preferred choice for automotive and engineering components subjected to repeated contact and fatigue loading.

Comparison table for similar grades

Grade	Carbon (%)	Key applications	Heat treatment	Comments
EN32B	0.10 – 0.18	Gears, bushes, pinions	Carburizing + q&t	Excellent case hardening steel
EN32 a	0.10 – 0.15	Light duty gears	Carburizing	Lower hardenability
Aisi 1015	0.13 – 0.18	Automotive gears	Carburizing	American equivalent
C15	0.12 – 0.18	Engineering parts	Carburizing	European equivalent

Summary

EN32B is a low carbon case hardening steel designed for components that require high surface hardness and core toughness. With its balanced chemical composition and excellent heat treatment response,EN32B is widely used in gears, transmission parts, and other wear-resistant engineering applications.