17CrNiMo6 vs 42CrMo4: 16% composition overlap. Significantly different materials serving different application areas.
17CrNiMo6 vs 42CrMo4
Side-by-side chemical composition and mechanical property comparison.
Overview
17CrNiMo6
1.6587
Premium CrNiMo case hardening steel for demanding gear applications. Ni 1.2-1.5% + Mo 0.25-0.35% give excellent core toughness and deep hardenability — suitable for large gears up to 400mm ruling section. Surface HRC 60-63 after carburizing. THE wind turbine gearbox steel. Also used for large industrial gearboxes, mining equipment, and heavy truck transmissions.
42CrMo4
1.7225
High-strength quenched and tempered chromium-molybdenum steel. Widely used for shafts, gears, crankshafts, connecting rods, and high-strength bolts. Excellent hardenability and good fatigue resistance.
| 17CrNiMo6 | 42CrMo4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Material Number | 1.6587 | 1.7225 |
| Category | Alloy Steel | Alloy Steel |
| Standard | EN 10084 | EN 10083-3 |
Chemical composition (wt%)
| Element | 17CrNiMo6 | 42CrMo4 | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 0.15–0.21% | 0.38–0.45% | No overlap |
| Si | 0–0.4% | 0–0.4% | OK |
| Mn | 0.5–0.9% | 0.6–0.9% | OK |
| P | — | 0–0.025% | — |
Mechanical properties
| Property | 17CrNiMo6 | 42CrMo4 | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| hardness_hrc | 60–63 | 28–34 | HRC |
| tensile_strength | 1000–1300 | 900–1100 | MPa |
| yield_strength | 700–1000 | ≥ 650 | MPa |
Compatibility Assessment
17CrNiMo6 and 42CrMo4 have significantly different compositions (16% overlap). These materials are not interchangeable and serve different application areas.
Automated assessment based on composition analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 17CrNiMo6 the same as 42CrMo4?
17CrNiMo6 and 42CrMo4 have a 16% composition overlap. They are generally not directly interchangeable.
Can I replace 17CrNiMo6 with 42CrMo4?
Generally not recommended. The compositions differ significantly (16% overlap). These materials have different alloying concepts and are intended for different applications.
What is the difference between 17CrNiMo6 and 42CrMo4?
The main differences are in the following elements: C, Cr, Mo. 17CrNiMo6 is a Alloy Steel grade, while 42CrMo4 is a Alloy Steel grade.
Related Comparisons
View full data for each material:
Data provided for reference only. Always verify against the applicable specification for critical applications.
All data is for reference only. Equivalents indicate similarity, not identity. Always verify against the applicable specification for safety-critical applications. materialref.com accepts no liability for decisions based on this data.