52100 / L1 Tool Steel - 1.3505 - 100Cr6 - JIS ~SUJ 2

52100 steel composition 

The composition of high carbon and chromium give this steel unique properties which makes it suitable for ball and roller bearings. It stands out with its high hardness, high fatigue strength and good stability.

What is 100cr6 steel?

100Cr6 is a DIN (German Industry Standard). This designation shows this steel grade contains 1.00% of carbon (100) and a mass fraction of 1.6% of chromium (Cr6).

Where can 52100 be used?

Though often used for ball bearings 52100 / L1 high carbon steel it is also used for tools, dies and molds, knife blades, machine components or precision machine parts.

Is 52100 steel stainless steel and corrosion resistant?

As a classic stainless steel contains a mass fraction of at least 10.5% chromium, 52100 with a mass fraction of chromium of 1.4 - 1.6% is not a stainless steel. With its low chromium content it has not the corrosion resistance like stainless steels and should be coated with a protective layer when used in corrosive environments.

The 52100 steel composition of high carbon and low chrome does not give this steel grade the protective oxide layer to protect it. It therefore is at a high risk of corroding when exposed for a longer time to moisture, saltwater or other corrosive agents. Maintenance and an added protective layer should be applied to protect parts to give them a longer service life.

52100 Steel pitting corrosion

The AISI 52100 steel should be protected with a surface treatment or coating. Removing salt or other contaminants may reduce pitting corrosion. Impurities and inclusions as well as chloride ions can promote pitting corrosion for the 52100.

To prevent pitting the material should be maintained regularly, the exposure to chloride and humidity minimized. If the former cannot be avoided a substitute should be considered.

52100 Steel atmospheric corrosion

The presence of water, sulfur dioxide, higher temperatures or the lack of maintenance to remove moisture and contaminants can result in accelerated corrosion.

52100 Steel oxidation

52100 carbon steel can suffer oxidation when exposed to high temperatures over a long time or when exposed to an environment containing a high amount of oxygen or gasses.

52100 Stress corrosion cracking

52100 alloy steel is susceptible to corrosion cracking in specific environments but can also be influenced by the heat treatment or what stresses parts are under too.

Is 52100 Steel magnetizable?

The iron in the 52100 tool steel gives this grade its ferromagnetic properties which makes this material magnetic.

52100 Steel heat treatment

Annealing 52100 steel

Heat the workpiece uniformly to a temperature of 1440°F (782°C) and soak for two hours. Slowly cool to a temperature of 1200°F (649°C) at 25°F (10°C) per hour and further cool to an ambient temperature in the furnace or air.

The slow cooling builds a ferritic pearlitic formation, this structure affects the softness of this grade and makes it more machinable. To prevent decarburization or oxidation 52100 should be annealed under controlled conditions or protected by a stainless steel wrap.

52100 Steel normalizing

Heat the parts uniformly to a temperature of  1700°F (927°C) and cool in still air after. This step can prepare the material for machining or further heat treatment and will give the 52100 a refined grain structure.

Care should be taken though to avoid or minimize decarburization and oxidation. As for annealing this material, normalizing should be done in a protective environment or it should be protected with a stainless steel wrap.

52100 Steel stress relieving

Stress relieving 51200 is done at a temperature of 1200°F (649°C) with a slow cooling to room temperature. 52100 has to be cooled down slowly so as not to develop residual stresses or change the microstructure.

Further, if 52100 has been hardened, the temperature used to relieve internal stresses should not exceed the tempering temperature as the material can soften.

Hardening 52100 steel

Hardening will give the 52100 steel mechanical properties needed when used in bearing applications. Heat the material slowly to a temperature of 1500-1550°F (816-843°C) and soak for about 10-30 minutes.

To vacuum or oil harden this material, use the higher temperatures mentioned here as well as the longer soaking time. Workpieces with a thickness up to 1 inch (25.4 mm) should be quenched in oil, parts under 1 inch should be quenched in water.

After the workpieces are quenched, they are cooled down to an ambient temperature and tempered immediately.

52100 steel hardness is between 627 - 745 BHN (60 - 68 HRC).

Quenching 52100 ball bearing steel

Most common media to quench 52100 in are the following:

• Water
• Oil

52100 Steel tempering

Heat the parts to a temperature range of 300-500°F (149-260°C) and hold for at least 2 hours, then air cool to an ambient temperature.

52100 Steel dimensional changes

Heat treatment, quenching, tempering, residual stresses but also machining, temperature changes as well as decarburization may cause dimensional changes to 52100. Proper machining and care during heat treatment may prevent dimensional changes.

52100 Steel sub-zero treatment

52100 has multiple benefits when treated at sub-zero temperatures.

As this treatment converts remaining austenite to martensite, 52100 benefits with a refined structure, which in turn can benefit the dimensional stability. This treatment can enhance the wear resistance which is needed when using 52100 as a steel ball for bearings.

52100 Steel Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM)

Used for intricate designs, hardened materials like 52100, wire and die-sinking EDM is advantageous. EDM does not use mechanical forces which suit the 52100 in its hardened condition and is easier to use than conventional machining processes.

52100 Steel surface treatment

Though 52100 has a good wear resistance and toughness, applying additional surface treatments can enhance the surface and improve appearance.

52100 Steel nitriding

This process introduces nitrogen into the surface of the material which enhances corrosion resistance and wear resistance.

52100 Steel carburizing

Carburization introduces additional carbon in the surface to give the material a harder surface and better wear resistance.

52100 Steel oxidizing

Oxidizing will give the material a black finish which in turn enhances corrosion resistance.

52100 Steels PVC and CVD coating

To improve wear resistance and reduce friction, both advantages when this material is used for bearings, the material can be coated by PVC (Physical Vapor Deposition) or CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition).

52100 Steel machinability

Spheroidized structures are preferred for most machining operations. To achieve improved machining performance, heat to a temperature of 1200°F (649°C) for a spheroidizing annealing process before the material is machined.

Forging 52100 steel

This material is forged at a temperature range of 1700-2200°F (927-1205°C). Do not let the temperature drop below 1700°F (925°C) and equalize, after forging is finished, at a temperature of 1375°F (745°C) for 4 to 6 hours. Finish this process off by cooling the parts down in air.

Welding 52100 steel

Welding 52100 is difficult due to the high carbon content. During the welding process the heat affected site will form a martensite which leads to the risk of cracking.

With care and correct procedures welding 52100 is achievable.

The site of the weld should be cleaned, degreaced and oxidation removed. Preheating, choice of electrodes or filler to match the base metal, choosing the right welding process and a possible post weld heat treatment should be considered.

52100 Steel wear resistance

The wear resistance for the 52100 steel is at 4 on a scale where 1 is low and 6 is high.

52100 Steel tensile strength

The tensile strength for 52100 is approx. 108,7 KSI (0.145KSI = 1MPa) on delivery. This value is the result from a tensile test to show how much force is needed before the material starts to stretch or elongate before it breaks.

52100 Steel yield strength

The yield strength shows how much stress needs to be applied before the material starts to deform and does not regain the original form. 

52100 Steel working hardness

The working hardness for the 52100 is at 627 - 659 BHN (60 - 64 HRC).

52100 Steel specific heat capacity

The specific heat capacity of 52100 at room temperature is at approx. 0.475 J/g-°C (0.114 BTU/lb-°F). This value shows how much heat is needed to heat 1lb of material by 1 Fahrenheit.

52100 Continuous TTT-diagram

This diagram shows micro changes over time at different temperatures. Those are important during heat treatment as they show information about the optimum conditions for processes such as hardening, annealing and normalizing.

52100 Isothermal TTT-diagram

This diagram shows the structural changes at micro level over time at a constant temperature. It shows at what temperature and after what time different phases, e.g., perlite, martensite or bainite start to build.

52100 Steel hot work

This material can be hot worked at a temperature range of 400-1000°F (205-538°C).

52100 Steel cold work

51200 steel can be cold worked in its annealed or normalized condition using conventional techniques.

52100 Steel Density

Typically the density of the 52100 is 0.282 lb/in3 (7.81 g/cc) at room temperature.

52100 Thermal conductivity

The heat conductivity for 52100 is at 46,6 W/(m*K) (323 BTU/(h-ft*°F)) at room temperature.

52100 Steel thermal expansion coefficient

The 52100 thermal expansion coefficient shows how much the material might expand or contract when the temperature is changed. 

This is very important information, especially when working with high temperatures, or where there are strong temperature changes during applications.

The thermal expansion coefficient is typically in the region of approx. 12.3 in/(in*F) at room temperature.

52100 Steel modulus of elasticity (Young’s Modulus)

The stress and strain modulus or modulus of elasticity (Young’s modulus) for 52100 is at 30,500 KSI (210 GPa).

Is 52100 a knife steel?

52100 is not only a bearing steel but also popular as a knife steel for e.g., hunting knives. It has a good edge retention and can be sharpened well. As the corrosion resistance for this steel grade is not high, knife blades should be kept dry, dust free and oiled.

52100 Steel Datasheet

As a 52100 steel supplier we provide you with the 52100 Ball Bearing Steel datasheet in PDF format.

52100 Steel Equivalent / Alternatives

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