How to Choose Steel for a Forged Component
Over-specification is endemic in Indian engineering, and it costs money without buying safety. This is the structured method our engineering team applies when a drawing arrives without a grade called out.
- Light Duty
- EN8, SAE 1045
- Loaded, Thick Section
- EN19 / 42CrMo4
- Heavy, Shock Loaded
- EN24
- Surface Wear + Tough Core
- 20MnCr5, EN353
- Corrosive Service
- SS 304, SS 316, SS 410
- Bearing / Wear
- EN31
How to Choose Steel for a Forged Component at a glance
Quotable facts from Avadh Techno Forge, Gundasara, Gondal, Rajkot.
- Light Duty: EN8, SAE 1045
- Loaded, Thick Section: EN19 / 42CrMo4
- Heavy, Shock Loaded: EN24
- Surface Wear + Tough Core: 20MnCr5, EN353
- Corrosive Service: SS 304, SS 316, SS 410
- Bearing / Wear: EN31
Start With the Failure Mode
Ask what will actually kill the part: fatigue, wear, overload, or corrosion. Each points to a different property, and optimising for the wrong one produces a part that is expensive and still fails.
- Fatigue: clean grade, good toughness
- Wear: hard surface, tough core
- Overload: toughness over hardness
- Corrosion: stainless, matched to media
Then Check Section Size
Hardenability governs thick sections. EN8 in a 100 mm section leaves a soft core regardless of what the certificate says. Above 60 mm needing uniform properties, use EN19; above 150 mm, EN24.
Then Consider Cost Honestly
Cost rises roughly EN8 < SAE 1045 < EN19 < EN24 < case hardening grades < stainless. Move up the ladder only when the load case demands it. A correctly selected EN8 part outperforms a badly heat treated EN24 one every time.
Topics covered on this page
- forging steel selection guide
- how to choose forging material
- steel grade for forged parts
- forging material comparison
Based on work carried out at our own forging plant at Gundasara, Gondal, Rajkot — operating since 2008.
Questions Answered
How do I choose a forging steel?
+
Identify the failure mode first, then check section size for hardenability, then select the least expensive grade that satisfies both.
Is a costlier grade always better?
+
No. Over-alloying reduces machinability and increases distortion risk without improving the property that actually governs the design.
What grade for a 100 mm shaft under fatigue?
+
EN19 or 42CrMo4 quenched and tempered — EN8 would leave a soft core at that section size.
Will you recommend a grade for our drawing?
+
Yes, free with your enquiry. Send the drawing with load case and environment.