Technical Datasheet
SAE 1018
SAE 1018 Bright Bar
Low Carbon / General Purpose Steel
Kalika Enterprises
Bright Bar Manufacturer
Plot No. 12/1, Gut No. 182, Jogeshwari, MIDC Waluj, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra 431136, India
+91 94229 27509 · kalikaent9@gmail.com
Controlled-chemistry low carbon steel — the carburising and cold forming standard. SAE 1018 is what mild steel becomes when the chemistry is actually specified rather than left to a broad commercial range. Carbon is held between 0.15 and 0.20% and manganese between 0.60 and 0.90% — a narrow window that makes the steel behave the same way in every batch.
Also known as: AISI 1018 · C15
Key advantage
Uniform case depth after carburising
Because base carbon and manganese are held to a narrow band, every bar carburises the same way. Shops running heat treated low carbon parts in volume choose 1018 over general MS for exactly this reason — the batch comes out of the furnace consistent.
Chemical composition
SAE J403 / AISI 1018, certified per mill test certificate
| Element | Min % | Max % |
|---|---|---|
| C Carbon | 0.150 | 0.200 |
| Si Silicon | 0.100 | 0.250 |
| Mn Manganese | 0.600 | 0.900 |
| P Phosphorus | — | 0.040 |
| S Sulphur | — | 0.050 |
Mechanical properties
Cold Drawn
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 440 – 520 MPa |
| Yield Strength | 370 MPa min |
| Elongation (A5) | 15 – 20% |
| Hardness | 126 – 160 HB |
| Reduction of Area | 40% min |
Available sizes and tolerances
| Shape | Size range |
|---|---|
| Round | 6 – 65 mm |
| Hex (AF) | 7 – 46 mm |
| Tolerance | h9 / h10 / h11 |
| Standard lengths | 3, 4, 5, 6 metre or cut to size |
ISO 286 tolerance values (µm)
| Size (mm) | h9 | h10 | h11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| over 6 to 10 | −36 | −58 | −90 |
| over 10 to 18 | −43 | −70 | −110 |
| over 18 to 30 | −52 | −84 | −130 |
| over 30 to 50 | −62 | −100 | −160 |
| over 50 to 80 | −74 | −120 | −190 |
Typical applications
- Carburised pins, bushes and shafts
- Cold headed and cold formed parts
- Hydraulic and pneumatic components
- Precision machined assemblies
- Welded structural components
International equivalents
| AISI / SAE (USA) | 1018 |
| IS (India) | C15 / 15C8 |
| BS (UK) | 080A15 / EN3B |
| DIN (Germany) | C15 / CK15 (1.0401 / 1.1141) |
| JIS (Japan) | S15C / S20C |
Machinability index
70 Good
Relative to AISI 1212 = 100
Weldability
Excellent
Supply condition
Cold Drawn