BS 970 steels..

Important Notes:
1) BS 970 has been generally superseded by European based standards Notes on European Standards
2) All information on this page has been interpreted from the relevent Standard, Books eg Newnes Mech. Eng Pocket Book, Kempe's, Other Web Sites, and
Leaflets. This information is of a general nature for initial guidance. Selection of materials for use must be by communication with the suppliers and by
reference to the appropriate codes - The best standards to use are the European EN based standards -

Basic Steel Selection Based on BS 970

Typical selection of steels and useful notes

STEEL Notes
Carbon Steel
BS 970 230M07 A low carbon, free cutting, mild steel suitable for machining using automatic and CNC
(EN1A) machines. Available as rolled or normalised in round, flat or hexagon form
A mild steel used for general purposes. Suitable for lightly stressed fasteners ,shafts etc. Can
BS 970 070M20
be easilty machined and welded. Available hot rolled, normalised, cold drawn or turned.
(EN3A)
Supplied in Black round or square , bright round square, flat and hexagon.
BS 970 080M30 A medium strength steel. Used to make, shafts, racks, pinions, studs, bolts, nuts, rollers, etc.
(EN5/EN6) Supplied as square bar, or round bar or flat.
BS 970 080M40 A medium strength steel. Suitable for stressed pins, shafts studs, keys etc. Available as rolled
(EN8) or normalised. Supplied as square bar, or round bar or flat.
A hard wearing medium carbon steel which can be hardened. Available as hot rolled,
BS 970 070M55
normalised, Cold drawn or turned. Sections available black round, black square, bright round
(EN9)
and black flat.
A case hardening mild steel suitable for general engineering applications. When case
BS 970 080M15
hardened results in a hard surface with a tough core. Used for making gears cams and rollers
(EN32)
etc. Supplied as black round bar and sections
Alloy Steel
A manganese molydenum steel with good ductily and mechanical strength. Available in heat
BS 970 605M36
treated condition e.g (R,S,T).Supplied as black round or square bar and bright round or
(EN16)
square, and hexagons.
A 1% typical chromium molybdenum steel with higher molybdenum. Can be induction
BS 970 709M40 hardened. Used for gears, and high strength shafts etc. Suitable for higher strength
(EN19) applications when resistance to shock is required. Available annealed. Supplied as black round
or square bar and bright round or square, and hexagons.
A nickel chromium molybdenum steel with high strength and toughness. Used for gears axles
BS 970 817M40
and high strength studs. Supplied as rolled, annealed and hardened and tempered. Supplied
(EN24)
as black round or square bar and bright round or square, and hexagons
A high quality nickel chromium case hardening steel. Can be hardened to provide hard surface
BS 970 655M13
with a strong tough core. Used for high duty gears and shafts. Supplied in as-rolled condition in
(EN36)
black square and round bar and bright round.
A 3% chromium molybdenum nitriding steel. Provide good tough core strength with a hard
BS 970 722M24
nitrided surface for wear resistance. Supplied in as-rolled, annealed and hardened and
(EN40B)
tempered condition in black square and round bar.
Stainless Steel
Martensitic (Magnetic), can be hardened and tempered to give improved tensile strength. FM**
BS970 416S21
grade. Typical applications include cutlery, surgical instruments, fasteners, valves, spindles
(EN56)
and shafts.
BS 970 431S29 Martensitic (Magnetic). Supplied heat treated with a high tensile strength. Typical applications
(EN57) include cutlery, surgical instruments, fasteners, valves, spindles and shafts.
BS 970 430S15 Ferritic. Low Strength but good ductility. Used food processing and catering equipment and
typ (EN60) automotive trim,car exhaust systems etc.
Austenitic (Non-Magnetic)Cannot be heat treated but work hardens. Readily formed and
BS 970 Grade 304S15
welded,used mainly in domestic, dairy and decorative appliances general purpose grade for
(EN58-)
corrosion resistant applications. This grade is the most widely used of all stainless steels. Its
 chemical composition,provide the best all-round performance S.S. at relatively low cost. It has
excellent low temperature properties. Lower Carbon grades (S15 and less) have improved
weldability.
Austenitic (Non-Magnetic)Cannot be heat treated but work hardens. It offers high resistance to
BS 970 Grade 316S16 corrosion. Generally machined components and pipe fittings. This grade is almost as popular
(EN58J) as the 304 grade the increased Mo content makes the steel more suitable for resisting pitting
and crevice then 304 Grade. Lower Carbon grades (S15 and less) have improved weldability.
BS 970 Grade 321S12 Austenitic (Non-Magnetic)Cannot be heat treated but work hardens. Titanium stabilized, which
(EN58B-C) offers improved welding properties.
Austenitic (Non-Magnetic). Pocesses good resistance to scaling at high temperatures. For
BS 970 Grade 310S31
continuous high temperature service in the range 850 - 1000oC.

Sample Steels Specifications

Typical steels with general specifications notes

Important Note:
The values below are not comprehensive and must be used with extreme care.
The strength values e.g. the proof stress and yield stress, reduce as the section increases. In the tables below the relevant sections are often thin and so the
strength values are maximum values. Please refer to the relevant standards for important work..

BS Spec Composition % Yield Stress x Tensile Stress

Type Of Steel Condition 6 Elongation %
BS 970 C-Mn-Ni-Cr-Mo 10 Pa MPa
Low Carbon Steel 230M07 0,15C% 1,1%Mn Hot rolled 215 360 21
Low Carbon Steel 230M07 0,15C% 1,1%Mn HR -> CD (thin) 340 480 6

Low Carbon Steel 070M20 0,2C% 0,7%Mn Normalised 215 430 21

Low Carbon Steel 070M20 0,2C% 0,7%Mn HR->CD (thin) 440 560 10
Constructural Steel 080M40 0,4%C 0,8%Mn Normalised 280 550 16
Constructural Steel 080M40 0,4%C 0,8%Mn HR -> CD (thin) 530 660 7
Low Manganese 150M28 0,28%C 1,5%Mn Heat Treat(P) 355 587 20
Nickel Manganese 503M40 0,4%C -0,9%Mn 1,0%Cr Heat Treat(R) 525 700 min 17
Manganese Molybdenum 608M38 0,38%C 1,5%Mn 0,5%Mo Heat Treat 1000 1130 19
0,31%C 0,60%Mn 3,0%Ni
Nickel Chromium 633M31 Heat Treat(U) 755 927 23
1,0%Cr
0,4%C 0,55%Mn 1,2%Cr
Nickel-Chrom-Mo 817M40 Heat Treat (W) 940 1075 11
0,3%Mo
0,3%C 0,55%Mn 4,25%Ni
Nickel-Chrom-Mo 835M30 Hard'n +Temp 1470 1700 14
1,25%Cr 0,3%Mo
0,38%C 1,4%Mn 0,75%Ni
Mang-Ni-Chr-Mo 945M38 Heat Treat (V) 850 1040 2
0,5%Cr 0,20%Mo
0,08%C 1,0%Mn 13%Cr
Steel Ferritic 403S17 Softened 280 420 20
0,5%Ni
Stainless Martensitic 420S45 0,3%C 0,5%Mn 13,0%Cr Heat Treat (R) 525 700 15
0,12%C 0,8%Mn 8,5%Ni
18/8 Stainless Austenitic 302S25 Softened 278 618 50
18,0%Cr
0,12%C 0,8%MN 8,5%Ni
18/8 Stainless Austenitic 302S25 Cold work 803 896 30
18,0%Cr
0,05%C 0,8%Mn 8,5%Ni
18/8 St. (No Weld Decay) 321S20 Softened 278 649 45
18,0%Cr 1,6Ti
0,05C 0,8%Mn 8,5%Ni
18/8 St. (No Weld Decay) 321S20 Cold Worked 402 803 30
18,0%Cr 1,6Ti
 BS970 Numbering system explained

The BS970 code number is constructed as follows;

a) The first three symbols are a number code indicating the type of steel:

000 to 199 Carbon and carbon-manganese steels. The number represents the manganese content x 100

200 to 240 Free cutting steels. The second and third number indicate the sulphur content x 100

250 Silicon Manganese valve steels

300 to 499 Stainless and heat resisting steels

500 to 999 Alloy Steels

b) The fourth symbol is a letter code .

A The steel is supplied to a chemical compostion determine by analysis of the batch sample.

H The steel is supplied to a hardenability specification

M The steel is supplied to a Mechanical Property specification.

S The steel is a stainless steel

c) The fifth and sixth symbol is a number is the actual mean carbon content x 100

In addition to the above coding a condition coding may be applied. indicating the tensile strength range after heat treatment. This is used in conjunction with a
limiting section designation.

Table of BS 970: 1955 EN equivalents

* Steel No Relate to European Numbering system BS EN 10027-2 - I will add numbers as I locate them
BS970 1955 EN steel Equivalent BS970 1955 EN steel Equivalent

EN No BS 970 Name Note. * Steel No EN No BS 970 Name Note. *Steel No

1A 230M07 Low Carbon Free Cutting C 1.0715 39A 659M15 4.0% Ni/Cr
1B 240M07 Low Carbon Free Cutting C - 34 665M17
3A 070M20 '20' C 1.0402 35A 665A22 1.5% Ni/Mo
5 080M30 '30' C 1.1178/1.1179 35 665M23 1.5% Ni/Mo
5A 080A27 '30' C 35B 665A24 1.5% Ni/Mo
5B 080A30 '30' C 1.0528 361 805M17 0.5% Ni/Cr/Mo
8 080M40 '40'C 1.0503/1.0511 362 805M20 0.5% Ni/Cr/Mo
8A 080A35 '35'C 363 805M25 0.5% Ni/Cr/Mo
8B 080A37 '37'C 353 815M27 1.5% Ni/Cr/Mo
8C 080A40 '40'C 1.1186 354 820M27 1.75% Ni/Cr/Mo
8D 080A42 '42'C 355 822M17 2.0% Ni/Cr/Mo
9 070M55 '50'C 1.1209/1.0535 36C 832M13 3.0% Ni/Cr/Mo 1.6657
43A 080A50 '50'C 1,1206 351 635M15 0.75% Ni/Cr
43B 080A47 '47'C 352 637M17 1% Ni/Cr
43C 080A52 '52'C 36A 655M13 3.25% Ni/Cr
43D 080A62 '62'C 1.1221 39A 659M15 4.0% Ni/Cr
43E 080A67 '67'C 34 665M17 1.75% Ni/Mo
1A 220M07 Low Carbon FC** 35 665M23 1.75% Ni/Mo
1B 240M07 Low Carbon FC** 361 805M17 0.5% Ni/Cr/Mo
8M 212M36 '36' C FC** 1.0726 362 805M20 0.5% Ni/Cr/Mo 1.6522'3
15AM 216M36 '36' C' FC** 363 805M25 0.5% Ni/Cr/Mo
8BM 212A37 '37' C FC** 353 815M17 1.5% Ni/Cr/Mo
8DM 212M44 '42' C FC** ?1.0727 354 820M17 1.75% Ni/Cr/Mo
8M 212M44 '44' C FC** 355 822M17 2.0% Ni/Cr/Mo
12 503M40 1% Ni 36C 832M13 3.5% Ni/Cr/Mo 1.6657
12B 503A37 1% Ni 39B 835M15 4.0% Ni/Cr/Mo
12C 503A42 1% Ni 43 080A22 '52'Carbon
11 526M60 1% Cr 43E 080A67 '67'Carbon
18 530M40 1% Cr 1.7035 42 070A72 '52'Carbon
18A 530A30 1% Cr 1.8401 44 060A96 '96'Carbon 1.1274
18B 530A32 1% Cr 1.7033 45 250A53 Silico-Manganese '53'Carbon 1.0904
18C 530A36 1% Cr 45A 250A58 '58'Carbon
18D 530A40 1% Cr 1.7035 45A 250A61 '61'Carbon
31 534A99 1.5% Cr 47 735A50 1.0% Cr 1.8159
31 535A99 1.5% Cr 48 527A60 0.75% Cr/Va
16D 605M30 1.5% Mn/Mo (Water Hardening) Stainless Steels
16 605M36 1.0% Mn/Mo 1.7006 58A 302S25 CrNi 18/9 C 0,12 ..Aust 1.4828
16B 605A32 1.0% Mn/Mo 58M 303S41 CrNi 18/9 S bearing FM**..Aust
16C 605A37 1.0% Mn/Mo 1.5432 58E 304S15 CrNi 18/19 C 0,06 ..Aust 1.4301
16M 605A32 1.5% Mn/Mo(FC**) 58H 315S16 CrNiMo 17/10/1,5 C 0,07 ..Aust
111 640M40 1.25% Ni/Cr 58J 316S16 CrNiMo 17/11/2,5 C 0,07 ..Aust 1.4401
111A 640M40 1.25% Ni/Cr 58J 316S17 CrNiMo 17/12/2,5 +Ti C 0,08 ..Aust 1.4401
23 653M31 3.0% Ni/Cr 58B/58C 321S12 CrNi 18/9 +Ti C 0,08 ..Aust 1.4541
19A 708M40 1.0% Cr/Mo 1.7223 58B/58C 321S20 CrNi 18/9 +Ti C 0,12 ..Aust
19B 708A37 1.0% Cr/Mo 1.7220 58M 325S21 CrNi 18/9 +Ti +S FM** ..Aust 1.4305
19C 708A42 1.0% Cr/Mo 54 331S40 NiCrW 14/14/2,5..Valve
19 709M40 1.0% Cr/Mo (Higher Mo) 1.7225 54A 331S42 NiCrW 14/14/2,5 + Mo ..Valve
40B 722M24 3.0% Cr/Mo (Nitriding) 1.7361 58F/58G 347S17 Cr/Ni 18/9/Nb/C 0,08 ..Aus 1.4550
13 785M19 1.5% Mn/Ni/Mo 52 401S45 Si/Cr 3/8 ..Valve
110 816M40 1.0% Ni/Cr/Mo (Low Mo) 1.6582 56A 410S21 13CrC0,12 Mart 1.4006
24 817M40 1.0% Ni/Cr/Mo 1.6582/1.6565 56AM 416S21 13Cr C 0,12 S FM** ..Mart 1.4005
25 826M31 2.5% Ni/Cr/Mo (Medium C) 56AM 416S41 13Cr C 0,12 Se FM** ..Mart
26 826M40 2.5% Ni/Cr/Mo (High C) 1,6746 56BM 416S29 13Cr C 0,17 S FM** ..Mart
27 830M31 3.0% Ni/Cr/Mo 56C 416S37 13Cr C 0,24 S bearing FM** ..Mart
30B 835M30 4.0% Ni/Cr/Mo 1.6747 56B 420S29 13Cr C 0,17..Mart 1.4024
40C 897M39 3.25% Ni/Cr/Mo/Va (Nitriding) 56C 420S37 13Cr C 0,24 ..Mart 1.4021
41A 905M31 1.5% Cr/Al/Mo (Nitriding)(Medium C) 1.8509 56D 420S45 13Cr C 0,32..Mart 1.4028
41B 905M39 1.5% Cr/Al/Mo (Nitriding)(High C) 1.4016</TD<
60 430S15 17Cr C 0,10....Fer
100 945M38 1.5% Mn/Ni/Cr/Al/Mo tr>
100C 945A40 1.5% Mn/Ni/Cr/Al/Mo 1.6546 57 431S29 17Cr 2,5NI C 0,10....Mart 1.4057
351 635M15 0.75% Ni/Cr 59 443S65 CrNiSi 20,1.5,2..Valve
352 637M14 1.0% Ni/Cr
36A 655M13 3.25% Ni/Cr 1.5752
36A 655M13 3.25% Ni/Cr 1.5752
Stainless Steels ...Aus = Austenitic, Mart = Martensitic, Fe = Ferritic. FC** = Free Cutting..
FM** = Free machining

Relevant Steel Links

1. British Stainless Steel Association ..Properties /Relevant Standards

for Stainless Steels
2. Plymouth College ..Notes On Steels
3. Grade Alternatives... Mikra metal Stainless Steel Grades
4. Material Cross Reference List..Coromant- Sandvik Comprehensive
list of steels
5. Australian Stainless Steel Development Agency ..Contains physical
and mechanical properties
6. Key-To-Steel ..An excellent reference site for steel classifications and
properties.- registration required for full access
7. Casti Metals Black Book ..Download Document. A comprehensive
reference text on european metals including Ref to latest Standards

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Last Updated 18/10/2006