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42CrMo4 (4140) Engineering Steel

1.7225

  • EN1.7225
  • EN42CrMo4
  • AISI4140
  • UNSG41400

The most widely used chromium-molybdenum quenched and tempered steel. In the QT condition it offers high strength, good toughness and fatigue strength with uniform hardening in medium sections. The standard shaft and gear steel of machine building.

01Material Properties

  • Rm 900–1100 MPa (+QT, ≤ 100 mm)
  • Good toughness and fatigue strength
  • Medium to good hardenability
  • Induction / flame surface hardening
  • Suitable for nitriding
  • Good machinability in QT condition

02Applications

  • Shafts, axles, crankshafts
  • Gears and pinions
  • High-strength bolts (10.9 / 12.9)
  • Hydraulic and pneumatic cylinder parts
  • Die holders and machine bodies

03Delivery Condition

  • Quenched and tempered (+QT) or soft annealed (+A, max. 241 HB); peeled / ground bar.

04Heat Treatment

Typical values

Soft annealing
680–720 °C; max. 241 HB
Normalising
825–865 °C, air
Hardening
830–860 °C; oil or polymer
Tempering (QT)
540–660 °C, 1–2 h
After QT (+QT)
Rm 900–1100 MPa, Rp0.2 ≥ 650 MPa (≤ 100 mm)
Surface hardening
Induction / flame; nitriding possible

Heat treatment cycle (schematic)

02004006008001000Austenitise845°1. Austenitise — 845 °C2. Quench — 60 °CTemper600°3. Temper — 600 °C4. Cool — 25 °CTime (schematic, not to scale)°C
Stages and temperatures are typical values; soaking times depend on section size.

Tempering diagram (approximate)

1020304050607001002003004005006007000 °C → 55 HRC200 °C → 52 HRC300 °C → 49 HRC400 °C → 45 HRC500 °C → 40 HRC550 °C → 36 HRC600 °C → 32 HRC650 °C → 28 HRC700 °C → 24 HRCTempering temperature (°C)Hardness (HRC)
Approximate hardness versus tempering temperature after hardening from the typical austenitising temperature.

Values are approximate and for information only; they vary with section size, heat and furnace conditions. Binding values are determined from the manufacturer’s data under laboratory conditions.

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