EN 1.7131 (16MnCr5) Chromium Steel
EN 1.7131 steel is an alloy steel formulated for primary forming into wrought products. 1.7131 is the EN numeric designation for this material. 16MnCr5 is the EN chemical designation. It has a moderately low embodied energy and a moderately low base cost among EN wrought alloy steels.
The properties of EN 1.7131 steel include four common variations. This page shows summary ranges across all of them. For more specific values, follow the links immediately below. The graph bars on the material properties cards further below compare EN 1.7131 steel to: EN wrought alloy steels (top), all iron alloys (middle), and the entire database (bottom). A full bar means this is the highest value in the relevant set. A half-full bar means it's 50% of the highest, and so on.
Mechanical Properties
Brinell Hardness
140 to 170
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
190 GPa 27 x 106 psi
Poisson's Ratio
0.29
Shear Modulus
73 GPa 11 x 106 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
470 to 1390 MPa 69 to 200 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
250 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
420 °C 790 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
1460 °C 2660 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
1420 °C 2590 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
470 J/kg-K 0.11 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
45 W/m-K 26 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
13 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
7.3 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
8.3 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
2.2 % relative
Density
7.8 g/cm3 490 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
1.4 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
19 MJ/kg 8.3 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
51 L/kg 6.1 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
13 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
24 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
17 to 49 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
17 to 35 points
Thermal Diffusivity
12 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
14 to 41 points
Alloy Composition
Among alloy steels, the composition of EN 1.7131 steel is notable for containing a comparatively high amount of manganese (Mn). Manganese is used to improve hardenability, hot workability, and surface quality. There is some loss of ductility and weldability, however.
| Fe | 96.8 to 98.1 | |
| Mn | 1.0 to 1.3 | |
| Cr | 0.8 to 1.1 | |
| C | 0.14 to 0.19 | |
| Si | 0 to 0.3 | |
| Cu | 0 to 0.25 | |
| P | 0 to 0.025 | |
| S | 0 to 0.025 |
All values are % weight. Ranges represent what is permitted under applicable standards.
Followup Questions
Similar Alloys
Further Reading
EN 10297-1: Seamless circular steel tubes for mechanical and general engineering purposes - Technical delivery conditions - Part 1: Non-alloy and alloy steel tubes
EN 10263-3: Steel rod, bars and wire for cold heading and cold extrusion - Part 3: Technical delivery conditions for case hardening steels
ASM Specialty Handbook: Carbon and Alloy Steels, J. R. Davis (editor), 1996
Manufacture and Uses of Alloy Steels, Henry D. Hibbard, 2005
Ferrous Materials: Steel and Cast Iron, Hans Berns and Werner Theisen, 2008
Steels: Processing, Structure, and Performance, 2nd ed., George Krauss, 2015