This online resource helps you find reliable data for foreign steel and alloy grades by name, offering composition tables, core performance numbers and visual charts. Use the steel grade decoder to verify material traits, compare candidates and prepare clear technical specifications.
Table of Contents
What the service delivers
- Direct lookup by grade name or common label
- Elemental composition by mass percent for quick assessment
- Key mechanical properties such as tensile strength and hardness
- Reference chart showing where the selected grade sits inside its material family
- Exportable image of the result set for reports and procurement
How to use the decoder
- Enter the grade code in English or your known alias and press Enter or click Search
- Scan the result table for composition and the summary panel for strength, typical service temperature and hardness
- Use the chart to check whether the grade matches your expected performance band
- Download the rendered page snapshot for documentation or to share with suppliers
The composition table lists major elements and their approximate mass percentages. Prioritize carbon, chromium, nickel and molybdenum for corrosion and heat resistance, and manganese and silicon for toughness and deoxidation. Hardness numbers and tensile strength are complementary. Hardness predicts wear resistance while tensile strength shows load capacity. Use both to match application needs.
Quick rules for material selection
- For structural load bearing choose steels with higher tensile strength and good toughness
- For corrosion resistance choose higher chromium and nickel content
- For high temperature service favor alloys with proven creep resistance and listed maximum service temperature
- When substituting, match chemical bounds, mechanical values and heat treatment state
Supported material groups
- Cemented carbides and hard metal grades
- Carbon and alloy steels used in general engineering
- Stainless steels and corrosion resistant alloys
- Tool steels, high speed steels and bearing steels
- Aluminum and non ferrous engineering alloys
- Nickel based superalloys and heat resistant materials
Representative reference table
| Grade | Common equivalent codes | Tensile strength, MPa | Typical service temp, °C | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbides and hard metals | ||||
| WC-6Co | ISO P30 / K10 | 1400 – 1550 | 800 – 900 | HRA 88.5 – 90.0 |
| WC-8Co | ISO P20 / K20 | 1550 – 1700 | 800 – 900 | HRA 87.5 – 88.5 |
| WC-10Co | ISO P10 / K30 | 1850 – 2100 | 800 – 900 | HRA 87.0 – 88.0 |
| TiC / TiCN grades | Tool inserts families | 1100 – 1400 (equiv) | 900 – 1200 | HV 1500 – 2200 |
| PCD (polycrystalline diamond) | Cutting grade | — (brittle) | ≤600 | ~1000 HV (very high) |
| CBN (cubic boron nitride) | PCBN | — | 800 – 1200 | ~98 HV (very high) |
| Carbon and structural steels | ||||
| AISI 1005 / 1010 | EN 1.0301 / 1.0032 | 300 – 420 | -40 – 450 | ~120 – 180 HB |
| AISI 1020 | EN 1.0402 | 400 – 520 | -40 – 450 | ~140 – 200 HB |
| AISI 1045 | EN 1.0503 | 570 – 750 | up to 450 | ~190 – 230 HB |
| SAE 1095 | High C steel | 700 – 1000 | up to 450 | HRC 56 – 66 |
| S235JR | EN S235JR | 360 – 510 | up to 400 | ~120 – 220 HB |
| S355JR | EN S355JR | 500 – 650 | up to 450 | ~150 – 240 HB |
| Alloy and engineering steels | ||||
| AISI 4130 (Chromoly) | EN 1.7218 / 34CrMo4 | 600 – 800 | up to 500 | ~200 – 280 HB |
| AISI 4140 / 42CrMo4 | EN 1.7225 | 700 – 1000 | up to 500 | ~220 – 320 HB |
| AISI 4340 | 34CrNiMo6 | 900 – 1200 | up to 500 | ~300 – 400 HB |
| EN 16MnCr5 (case hardening) | Case grades | 600 – 900 (core/quenched) | up to 450 | Core/HRC varying |
| Stainless steels | ||||
| AISI 304 / 304L | EN X5CrNi18-10 | 500 – 700 | up to 800 | ~150 – 220 HB |
| AISI 316 / 316L | EN X2CrNiMo17-12-2 | 480 – 700 | up to 850 | ~150 – 220 HB |
| AISI 321 | Stabilized | 500 – 720 | up to 850 | ~160 – 230 HB |
| AISI 410 | Martensitic | 450 – 900 | up to 650 | HRC 20 – 55 |
| AISI 430 | Ferritic | 450 – 600 | up to 750 | ~140 – 200 HB |
| AISI 17-4 PH | Precipitation hardening | 900 – 1200 | up to 300 | HRC 36 – 44 |
| Tool steels and bearing steels | ||||
| AISI D2 | EN 1.2379 | HRC equivalent 58 – 62 | up to 400 | HRC 58 – 62 |
| AISI O1 | Oil hardening | HRC 58 – 63 | ~250 | HRC 58 – 63 |
| AISI H13 | EN 1.2344 | 1200 – 1500 | 500 – 600 | HRC 48 – 55 |
| AISI M2 | High speed steel | HRC 62 – 66 (tempered) | up to 600 | HRC 62 – 66 |
| AISI 52100 | Bearing steel | 1800 – 2200 (apparent) | ~150 | HRC 60 – 66 |
| Aluminum alloys | ||||
| AA 1100 | Commercial purity | 80 – 140 | up to 150 | ~20 – 40 HB |
| AA 2024-T3 | Al-Cu | 420 – 470 | up to 150 | ~110 – 140 HB |
| AA 6061-T6 | Al-Mg-Si | 240 – 310 | up to 150 | ~95 – 120 HB |
| AA 7075-T6 | Al-Zn-Mg | 540 – 600 | up to 120 | ~150 – 190 HB |
| Copper and copper alloys | ||||
| Cu-ETP (C11000) | Electrolytic copper | 210 – 350 | up to 200 | ~40 – 60 HB |
| Brass C26000 | Yellow brass | 300 – 450 | up to 250 | ~70 – 120 HB |
| Bronze CuSn6 | Tin bronze | 350 – 550 | up to 250 | ~80 – 150 HB |
| Titanium alloys | ||||
| Ti Grade 2 | Commercially pure | 240 – 450 | up to 350 | ~120 – 160 HB |
| Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5) | Ti-6-4 | 900 – 1100 | up to 400 | ~330 – 380 HB |
| Nickel and superalloys | ||||
| Inconel 600 | NiCr | 550 – 900 | 700 – 900 | ~200 – 300 HB |
| Inconel 718 | Ni-Cr-Fe | 1100 – 1300 | 650 – 700 | ~300 – 400 HB |
| Hastelloy C276 | Ni-Mo-Cr | 700 – 900 | up to 900 | ~240 – 320 HB |
| Cobalt and heat-resistant alloys | ||||
| Stellite grades | Co-Cr families | 600 – 1000 | up to 1000 | HV 400 – 800 |
| Haynes alloys (e.g. Haynes 282) | Ni/Co based | 800 – 1100 | 800 – 1000 | ~260 – 360 HB |
| Magnesium alloys | ||||
| AZ31 | Mg-Al-Zn | 230 – 280 | up to 120 | ~60 – 80 HB |
| AZ91 | Mg-Al | 180 – 250 | up to 120 | ~60 – 90 HB |
| Cast irons and wear alloys | ||||
| Gray cast iron (GG-20) | — | 200 – 350 | up to 400 | ~150 – 220 HB |
| Ductile iron (EN GJS-500-7) | SG iron | 500 – 700 | up to 400 | ~180 – 250 HB |
| Powder metallurgy and specialty | ||||
| PM tool steels (M4, ASP2040) | PM HSS | 800 – 1600 | up to 600 | HRC 60 – 68 |
| PM stainless (martensitic) | — | 700 – 1000 | up to 500 | HRC 50 – 60 |
| Wrought and specialty alloys (misc) | ||||
| Monel 400 | Ni-Cu | 450 – 1100 | up to 450 | ~150 – 300 HB |
| C95400 (Cu-Al-Ni) | Wear bronze | 550 – 700 | up to 300 | ~150 – 250 HB |
| Bearing and spring steels | ||||
| 100Cr6 / AISI 52100 | EN 1.3505 | 1800 – 2200 (apparent) | ~150 | HRC 60 – 66 |
| EN 47 / SAE 1070 (spring) | Spring steel | 800 – 1500 | up to 300 | HRC 40 – 60 |
| Addendum — common engineering grades | ||||
| ASTM A36 | Structural carbon | 400 – 550 | ambient | ~120 – 160 HB |
| ASTM A572 Grade 50 | High-strength structural | 450 – 650 | ambient | ~140 – 200 HB |
Example conversions for US practice
Below are worked examples translated to imperial units for quick reference on American projects.
Example 1 – tensile and temperature conversion
Material with tensile strength 600 MPa has tensile strength about 87 ksi. Service temperature 500 degrees Celsius equals 932 degrees Fahrenheit. Use these converted values when preparing specifications for US based shops.
Example 2 – hardness and practical check
A carbide grade with HRA 88 translates to very high Vickers and a hardness appropriate for abrasive machining inserts. Confirm cutting parameters with supplier data and select coolant and feed accordingly.
Search tips and substitution checklist
- Match chemical composition ranges first
- Verify tensile strength and yield strength next
- Confirm heat treatment condition and delivered hardness
- Compare allowable operating temperature and corrosion requirements
- Request mill certificates and test reports before final acceptance
Data in the database are averaged and rounded for clarity and fast lookup. Charts use empirical envelopes based on typical industry behaviour. Values are suitable for preliminary selection and purchasing decisions. For final engineering and safety critical designs use supplier certificates, official material data sheets and laboratory tests.
Practical workflow for engineers and buyers
- Run a quick lookup to shortlist candidate grades
- Use the chart to see how tight the property window is
- Send shortlisted grades to vendors with required heat treatment and certification
- Keep the exported page snapshot together with procurement paperwork
This steel grade decoder speeds up grade identification, helps compare mechanical and chemical properties, and supports informed material selection. Use it as a reliable first step before supplier verification and testing.
Recommended books
- Charles J. Hellier, Materials Selection and Design, practical guidance on matching materials to applications
- George E. Totten, Steel Heat Treatment Handbook, essentials for heat treatment and property control
- Donald R. Askeland, The Science and Engineering of Materials, fundamentals of metals and alloys
- Robert F. Heine, Materials Science for Engineers, reference for mechanical properties and testing
Markus Fletcher — Structural Design Specialist
Expert in structural integrity, 3D modeling, and applied mathematics. Markus focuses on creating precise tools for construction professionals and DIY engineers.
