16MnCr5H
16MnCr5H Hardenability Controlled Alloy Bright Bar
Guaranteed hardenability band — consistent case depth on every batch, every time.
Also known as 1.7131H · 5115H
Overview
What 16MnCr5H is, and where it belongs
The "H" in 16MnCr5H stands for hardenability, and it changes what you are buying. Standard 16MnCr5 is supplied to a chemical composition. 16MnCr5H is supplied to a guaranteed hardenability band, verified by the Jominy end-quench test.
The distinction matters because chemistry alone does not fully predict hardening behaviour. Two heats can both sit inside the 16MnCr5 chemical limits — one near the top of the manganese and chromium ranges, one near the bottom — and harden to measurably different depths. For a shop running one gear on one fixed carburising cycle, that variation shows up as case depth drifting out of drawing tolerance between batches.
The H-grade removes that variable. The mill tests each heat by Jominy end-quench and certifies that the hardness-versus-distance curve falls inside a defined band. Buy 16MnCr5H and the carburising cycle proved on one batch stays valid on the next.
This is the grade that separates a general engineering supplier from an automotive-grade one, and it is the reason our traceability system exists. Every bundle carries its heat number, and the Jominy data for that heat is on the certificate supplied with it.
Chemistry
Chemical composition
As per EN 10084 / DIN 1.7131 with certified hardenability band (Jominy end-quench per heat). Values are percentage by weight.
| Element | Symbol | Min % | Max % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon | C | 0.140 | 0.190 |
| Silicon | Si | — | 0.250 |
| Manganese | Mn | 1.000 | 1.300 |
| Phosphorus | P | — | 0.035 |
| Sulphur | S | — | 0.035 |
| Chromium | Cr | 0.800 | 1.100 |
A dash in the minimum column means only an upper limit applies to that element.
Properties
Mechanical properties
Typical values in the Cold Drawn / Annealed (supplied soft for machining) condition. Certified values for your consignment appear on the test certificate.
- Hardness as supplied
- ≤ 220 HBAnnealed / soft, for machining
- Case hardness after carburising
- 58 – 62 HRC
- Core Tensile Strength
- 920 – 1150 MPaBlank carburised & hardened test, min per mill certificate
- Core Yield Strength
- 780 MPa minBlank carburised & hardened test
- Elongation (A5)
- 10 – 15%Core, blank carburised & hardened test
- Jominy Hardenability — J3/16
- 37 – 42 HRCHardness at 3/16 in. from the quenched end, certified per heat
- Jominy Hardenability — J7/16
- 27 – 32 HRCHardness at 7/16 in. from the quenched end, certified per heat — the defining feature of the H grade
Availability
Sizes and tolerances
We draw 16MnCr5H across the range below. Exact availability for a given size is confirmed on enquiry.
Round bar
8 – 65 mm
Nominal diameter
Hex bar
10 – 46 mm
Across flats (AF)
Tolerance bands
All bands are ISO 286 ‘h’ — the bar is never above nominal size. See exact values for your size.
Where it is used
Typical applications
- Automotive transmission gears and pinions
- Differential and final drive components
- Synchroniser hubs and gear blanks
- High-volume carburised parts on a fixed furnace cycle
- Any IATF 16949 controlled component
Application guides
Cross reference
International equivalents
Nearest designations under other standards. Equivalents are close but rarely identical — check the specific requirement that matters for your part.
Full equivalents chart| Standard | Designation |
|---|---|
| DIN / EN (Germany) | 16MnCr5H / 1.7131H |
| AISI / SAE (USA) | 5115H |
| JIS (Japan) | SCr415H |
| BS (UK) | 527H17 |
| IS (India) | 16Mn5Cr4H |
Processing
Heat treatment guidelines
Indicative parameters. Actual cycles depend on section size, furnace and the properties your drawing calls for.
- 01Soft annealing650 – 700 °C, furnace cool — gives ≤ 207 HB for machining
- 02Normalising880 – 920 °C, cool in still air
- 03Carburising880 – 980 °C. Because hardenability is certified, a proven cycle reproduces the same case depth on every batch.
- 04HardeningDirect or reheat quench from 820 – 860 °C in oil
- 05Tempering150 – 200 °C, air cool
Index relative to AISI 1212 = 100. Higher is faster to machine.
Identical to 16MnCr5 — machined soft at ≤ 207 HB before carburising. The H designation controls hardening behaviour, not cutting behaviour.
Weldability: Limited
Related grades
Chemical composition and mechanical properties shown are as per the applicable standard and are indicative. Actual values for your consignment are certified in the Mill Test Certificate supplied with each dispatch. Available sizes and tolerances are confirmed at the time of enquiry.
Need 16MnCr5H?
Send us the size and quantity — Round 8–65 mm · Hex 10–46 mm. We will confirm availability and come back with a price.