17Cr3
1.7016Chrome case-hardening steel — the simplest Cr-alloyed carburizing grade in EN 10084. 0.7-1.0% Cr gives better hardenability and wear resistance than unalloyed C20 but less than 16MnCr5. Used for smaller gears, camshafts, spindles, pins, and bushings with medium wear requirements. ≈ SAE 5117.
International equivalents
| Flag | Standard | Country | Grade | Number | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 | SAE | USA | SAE 5117 | — | REF |
| 🇪🇺 | EN | Europe | 17Cr3 / 17CrS3 | 1.7016 / 1.7014 | 100% |
| 🇫🇷 | AFNOR | France | 18C3 | — | 95% |
Sources: SAE J404, EN 10084:2008, AFNOR
Chemical composition comparison (wt%)
Side-by-side: 17Cr3 (EN) (EN 10084:2008) vs 18C3 (AFNOR)
| Element | 17Cr3 (EN) | 18C3 (AFNOR) | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 0.14–0.2% | — | — |
| Si | 0–0.4% | — | — |
| Mn | 0.6–0.9% | — | — |
| P | 0–0.025% | — | — |
| S | 0–0.035% | — | — |
| Cr | 0.7–1% | — | — |
Mechanical properties
Case Hardened
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 800–1050 | MPa |
| Yield Strength | 450–520 | MPa |
| Elongation | ≥ 10 | % |
| Hardness HRC | 58–62 | HRC |
| Elastic Modulus | ≥ 210 | GPa |
| Density | ≥ 7.85 | g/cm3 |
Annealed
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness HB | ≤ 174 | HB |
Heat treatment
| Process | Temperature | Medium | Holding Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| carburizing | 880–980 °C | — | — | Case depth 0.8-1.5mm typical |
| core_hardening | 860–900 °C | oil | — | — |
| case_hardening | 780–820 °C | oil | — | Surface HRC 58-62 |
| tempering | 150–200 °C | air | — | Low temper to retain case hardness |
Compatibility verdict
17Cr3 and 18C3: 95% composition match
Close equivalents but NOT identical.
Related materials
50CrV4
1.8160Chromium-vanadium spring/tool steel — identical alloy system to 51CrV4 (1.8159) but recognized as a separate grade in some standards. Dual use: heavy-duty springs (EN 10089) AND cold work tools (knives, shear blades). V improves temper resistance and grain refinement. UTS 1200-1500 QT. Used for heavy leaf springs, stabilizer bars, torsion bars, and cold work cutting tools.
51CrMoV4
1.7701CrMoV alloyed spring steel — THE European automotive suspension spring material. CrMo gives deep hardenability for large coil springs, V adds grain refinement and secondary hardening for fatigue resistance. UTS 1350-1600 MPa QT. Used for hot-formed coil springs (cars, trucks), leaf springs, torsion bars, and stabilizer bars. Excellent sag resistance to 200°C.
20MnCr5
1.7147Manganese-chromium case-hardening steel with higher core strength than 16MnCr5. Used for heavily loaded gears, shafts, camshafts, and transmission components requiring high surface hardness with tough core. Popular in automotive and heavy machinery.
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