EN42 carbon steel

Introduction

We manufacture forging ingots, billets, and blooms in carbon steel specifically for EN42, tailored for high hardness, wear-resistant, and spring-related applications. EN42 is a high carbon steel characterized by its very high hardness, excellent wear resistance, and good elastic properties after heat treatment. With a significantly higher carbon content than EN8, EN8D, and  EN9, this grade is suitable for components subjected to intense surface stress, friction, and repetitive loading. EN42 is widely used in springs, cutting components, and wear parts where durability and edge retention are critical.

Chemical composition

Element	Content (%)	Function / effect
Carbon (c)	0.70 – 0.85	Provides very high hardness, strength, and wear resistance
Manganese (mn)	0.55 – 0.75	Improves hardenability and toughness
Sulfur (s)	Max 0.050	Improves machinability; controlled to limit brittleness
Phosphorus (p)	Max 0.050	Aids machinability; excess reduces toughness
Silicon (si)	0.10 – 0.35	Increases elasticity and 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 section size)

• tensile strength: approx. 700 – 900 MPa
• yield strength: approx. 450 – 600 MPa
• hardness: approx. 220 – 300 hb (up to ~58 – 62 hrc after hardening)
• impact toughness: low to moderate (depends on tempering)
• elastic limit: high, suitable for spring applications fatigue resistance: excellent for cyclic and repetitive loads

Heat treatment

• annealing: softens the material for machinability and forming
• normalizing: refines grain structure and improves uniformity
• hardening: heating to ~780 – 820°c followed by oil or water quenching to achieve very high hardness
• tempering: essential to reduce brittleness and adjust elastic and mechanical properties
• EN42 shows excellent response to hardening and tempering for springs and wear parts

Key features and benefits

• very high hardness and wear resistance
• excellent elastic properties after heat treatment
• high fatigue strength for cyclic applications
• good edge retention
• ideal for springs and wear-intensive components
• cost-effective high carbon steel solution

Typical applications

• leaf springs and coil springs
• blades, scrapers, and cutting components
• wear plates and strips
• agricultural and industrial spring components
• high-stress mechanical parts

Equivalent steel grades

• EN42 (bs 970)
• aisi 1075 / 1080
• is 3195 gr 2
• din c75

why choose EN42 for your application?

EN42 is the ideal choice when very high hardness, wear resistance, and excellent elastic properties are required. Its superior response to heat treatment makes it perfect for springs, blades, and components subjected to repetitive stress and friction without the need for expensive alloy steels.

Comparison table for similar grades

Grade	Carbon (%)	Key applications	Heat treatment	Comments
EN42	0.70 – 0.85	Springs, blades, wear parts	Hardening & tempering	Very high hardness
EN9	0.50 – 0.60	Gears, shafts	Q&t	High strength
Aisi 1075	0.70 – 0.80	Springs, cutting parts	Hardening	American equivalent
C75	0.70 – 0.80	Spring steel	Hardened & tempered	European equivalent

Summary

EN42 is a high carbon steel designed for demanding applications where hardness, durability, and elastic performance are essential. With its high carbon content and excellent heat treatment response, EN42 is widely used in spring manufacturing, wear parts, and cutting applications across multiple industries.