What Steel Is Used for Forging?
Most forgings are made from a surprisingly small set of steels. Which one you need depends on three things: the load case, the section size, and whether wear or corrosion is involved.
Most forgings use a small set of steels: EN8 and SAE 1045 for general duty, EN19 (42CrMo4) for loaded thick sections, EN24 for shock loading, 20MnCr5 and EN353 for case-hardened gears, EN31 for bearings, and SS 304, 316, 410 or duplex where corrosion resistance is required.
- General duty
- EN8, SAE 1045, CK45
- Loaded parts
- EN19 / 42CrMo4
- Heavy duty
- EN24 / 34CrNiMo6
- Gears
- 20MnCr5, 16MnCr5, EN353
- Corrosion
- SS 304, SS 316, SS 410, duplex
- Bearings
- EN31 / 100Cr6
What Steel Is Used for Forging? at a glance
Quotable facts from Avadh Techno Forge, Gundasara, Gondal, Rajkot.
- EN8 and EN19 cover most Indian forging demand
- Case hardening grades reach 58–62 HRC case hardness
- EN19 is needed above roughly 60 mm section
- Every heat lot is spectro verified before production
- Stainless is handled on segregated tooling
The Everyday Grades
EN8 and SAE 1045 for general duty; EN19 (42CrMo4) for loaded and thick-section parts; EN24 for heavy shock-loaded work; 20MnCr5 and EN353 where a hard case over a tough core is needed; EN31 for bearing and wear components.
- EN8 / 1045: general duty
- EN19 / 42CrMo4: loaded parts
- EN24: heavy shock loading
- 20MnCr5 / EN353: case hardening
Stainless and Special Grades
SS 304 for general corrosion resistance, SS 316 where chlorides are present, SS 410 when hardness is also required, and duplex where chloride stress corrosion cracking threatens. Micro-alloyed grades reach full strength on air cooling, removing an entire heat treatment cycle.
The Selection Rule
Start from the failure mode, then check section size for hardenability, then pick the least expensive grade that satisfies both. Over-specifying an alloy grade reduces machinability and raises distortion risk without improving what actually governs the design.
People also ask
What is the difference between EN8 and EN19 for forging?
EN8 is unalloyed medium carbon steel that hardens only near the surface. EN19 adds chromium and molybdenum for hardenability, developing uniform properties through sections above about 60 mm.
Which steel is used for forged gears?
Case hardening grades — 20MnCr5 and 16MnCr5 for most transmission gears, EN353 for large modules and high torque — carburised to a 58–62 HRC case over a tough core.
Can stainless steel be forged?
Yes. SS 304, SS 316, SS 410 and duplex grades are all forged, in a narrower temperature window than carbon steel and with segregated handling to prevent carbon contamination.
Topics covered on this page
- EN8
- EN19
- 42CrMo4
- EN24
- 20MnCr5
- EN31
- SS 304
- SS 316
- duplex stainless
- hardenability
Based on work carried out at our own forging plant at Gundasara, Gondal, Rajkot — operating since 2008.
Questions Answered
Which steel is best for forging?
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There is no single best. EN8 for general duty, EN19 for loaded thick sections, 20MnCr5 for gears, SS 316 for corrosive service — chosen by load case, section size and environment.
Can any steel be forged?
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Most can, but forgeability varies. Low carbon steels forge most easily; high alloy and tool steels need tighter temperature control and more stages.
What is the most commonly forged steel in India?
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EN8 for general engineering and EN19 for loaded components, both widely available against mill certificates.
Do you verify the grade supplied?
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Yes, every incoming heat lot is spectro tested against its mill certificate before entering production.