17CrNiMo6 vs 42CrMoS4: 40% composition overlap. Significantly different materials serving different application areas.
17CrNiMo6 vs 42CrMoS4
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.
42CrMoS4
1.7227
Free-cutting variant of 42CrMo4 with controlled sulfur content (0.020-0.040%). Improved machinability while maintaining essentially the same mechanical properties. Used for high-volume CNC machined components: gears, shafts, bolts, and automotive parts.
| 17CrNiMo6 | 42CrMoS4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Material Number | 1.6587 | 1.7227 |
| Category | Alloy Steel | Alloy Steel |
| Standard | EN 10084 | EN 10083-3 |
Chemical composition (wt%)
| Element | 17CrNiMo6 | 42CrMoS4 | 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 | 42CrMoS4 | 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 42CrMoS4 have significantly different compositions (40% 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 42CrMoS4?
17CrNiMo6 and 42CrMoS4 have a 40% composition overlap. They are generally not directly interchangeable.
Can I replace 17CrNiMo6 with 42CrMoS4?
Generally not recommended. The compositions differ significantly (40% overlap). These materials have different alloying concepts and are intended for different applications.
What is the difference between 17CrNiMo6 and 42CrMoS4?
The main differences are in the following elements: C, Cr, Mo. 17CrNiMo6 is a Alloy Steel grade, while 42CrMoS4 is a Alloy Steel grade.
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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.