What 1.7228 steel is, and where it is used
1.7228 is the EN material number for the steel named 50CrMo4 in EN 10027-1. It is one of the chromium-molybdenum steels for quenching and tempering listed in EN 10083-3:2006.
Chromium at 0.90 to 1.20 % raises hardenability and tempering resistance. Molybdenum at 0.15 to 0.30 % reduces the risk of temper embrittlement. Carbon at 0.46 to 0.54 % is what separates this grade from 42CrMo4, which runs 0.38 to 0.45 % C with almost the same chromium and molybdenum.
The extra carbon gives higher hardness and tensile strength after quenching and tempering, and better resistance to surface wear. It also reduces impact toughness and makes the steel harder to weld. 1.7228 is normally specified for parts under high static load that see wear at the working surface. Where impact toughness or weldability drives the design, 42CrMo4 is the usual alternative.
Typical applications
- Heavily loaded transmission shafts, pinion shafts and spindles
- Gear blanks, ring gears and gear wheels for mining and cement drives
- Axles, torsion bars and suspension springs
- Drill collars, subs and other oilfield downhole tooling
- Hot and cold work die holders, mandrels and press tooling bodies
- Rolls, sleeves and bushings in heavy rolling equipment
These parts are forged rather than cast or machined from plate. Forging closes porosity, refines the grain and lines the grain flow up with the load path.
Equivalent grades and standards for 1.7228
Source National standard cross-references. Equivalents are close but not identical. Name the governing standard on the order.
| Region / standard | Designation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EN 10083-3 (Europe) | 50CrMo4, 1.7228 | Governing standard for this page |
| DIN 17200 / DIN 1652 (Germany) | 50CrMo4, W.-Nr. 1.7228 | Superseded by EN 10083-3 |
| AISI / SAE (USA) | 4150, UNS G41500 | Closest US equivalent, also 4150H for hardenability |
| ASTM (USA) | A29 / A322 / A331 grade 4150 | Bar and tubing delivery conditions |
| BS 970 (UK) | 708M50, 708A47 | Approximate |
| AFNOR (France) | 48CD4, 50CD4, 48CrMo4 | Approximate |
| JIS (Japan) | SCM 445 | Approximate. SCM 440 is nearer 42CrMo4 |
| GB/T 3077 (China) | 50CrMo, 50CrMoA | Approximate |
| UNI (Italy) | 50CrMo4 | Direct |
| ISO 683-1 / 683-18 | 50CrMo4 | Direct |
| AS 1444 (Australia) | 4150, X4150 | Approximate |
AISI 4150 and 50CrMo4 differ mainly in the sulfur and phosphorus limits and in the manganese range. State on the purchase order which standard governs.
Chemical composition of 1.7228 (50CrMo4)
Source EN 10083-3:2006, ladle analysis, % by mass.
| Element | Min % | Max % | Role in this grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 0.46 | 0.54 | Sets attainable hardness and strength |
| Silicon (Si) | – | 0.40 | Deoxidiser, raises yield strength |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.50 | 0.80 | Hardenability, ties up sulfur |
| Phosphorus (P) | – | 0.025 | Residual, kept low for toughness |
| Sulfur (S) | – | 0.035 | Residual, lower limits available on request |
| Chromium (Cr) | 0.90 | 1.20 | Hardenability and tempering resistance |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 0.15 | 0.30 | Resists temper embrittlement |
| Iron (Fe) | Balance | – | |
Product analysis tolerances to EN 10083-1 apply. Restricted limits of S max 0.015 % and P max 0.020 % are available for sour service or low temperature duty. State the requirement with the enquiry so the correct heat is selected.
Mechanical properties of 1.7228 in the +QT condition
Source EN 10083-3:2006, quenched and tempered (+QT). The values below are the minima given in the standard for the stated ruling section. They apply to the test piece, not to every position in a finished forging.
Tensile strength by section size
| Nominal diameter (mm) | to 16 | 16 to 40 | 40 to 100 | 100 to 160 | 160 to 250 | 250 to 330 | 330 to 500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rm (MPa) | 1100–1300 | 1000–1200 | 900–1100 | 850–1000 | 750–950 | 750 | 700 |
Yield strength by section size
| Nominal diameter (mm) | to 16 | 16 to 40 | 40 to 100 | 100 to 160 | 160 to 250 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Re min. (MPa) | 900 | 780 | 700 | 650 | 550 |
For flat products the corresponding thickness bands are to 8, 8 to 20, 20 to 60, 60 to 100 and 100 to 160 mm.
Yield strength, heavy forged sections
| Nominal thickness (mm) | to 160 | 160 to 330 | 330 to 500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Re min. (MPa) | 550 | 540 | 490 |
Ductility
| Nominal diameter (mm) | to 16 | 16 to 40 | 40 to 100 | 100 to 160 | 160 to 250 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A min. (%), L0 = 5.65 √S0 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
| Z min. (%), reduction of area | 40 | 45 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| A min. (%), transverse | 9 to 11 depending on section | ||||
Hardness in the annealed condition
Soft annealed material (+A) is delivered at a maximum of about 248 HB. This is the normal condition for rough machining before final quench and temper.
EN 10083-3 does not fix Charpy V-notch values for this grade. Impact requirements are agreed at order. State the energy, test temperature and specimen orientation with the enquiry and we will confirm what is achievable for your ruling section.
Physical properties of 50CrMo4
Source Typical published values for low-alloy Cr-Mo steels. Indicative for design, not certified values.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Density | 7.85 g/cm³ (7850 kg/m³) |
| Modulus of elasticity | approx. 210 GPa |
| Shear modulus | approx. 80 GPa |
| Poisson's ratio | approx. 0.29 |
| Thermal conductivity | approx. 42 W/(m·K) |
| Specific heat capacity | approx. 460 J/(kg·K) |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 200 °C | approx. 11.5 × 10⁻⁶ /K |
| Magnetic | Yes, ferromagnetic |
| Corrosion resistance | None. Protective coating or oil required |
Forging and heat treatment of 1.7228
Our shop practice Parameters used in our own forge and heat treatment shop. Adjust for section size and furnace.
| Operation | Temperature | Cooling and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Forging | 1050 to 1150 °C, finish above about 850 °C | Slow cool in furnace or ash. This grade is flake sensitive in heavy sections |
| Normalising (+N) | 840 to 880 °C | Air cool. Refines forged grain |
| Soft annealing (+A) | 680 to 720 °C | Furnace cool. Delivers max 248 HB for machining |
| Stress relieving | 550 to 650 °C | Slow cool, after rough machining |
| Hardening | 830 to 870 °C | Oil or polymer quench |
| Tempering (+QT) | 540 to 680 °C | Lower temperature for higher strength. Avoid 300 to 400 °C |
Two points on heavy forgings
Tempering between 300 and 400 °C should be avoided. 50CrMo4 is prone to temper embrittlement in this range, and the loss of impact energy does not show up on a hardness check.
Ruling section limits what can be reached. A 1100 MPa tensile band is achievable at 16 mm but not at 400 mm, because the quench cannot cool the core fast enough. Mark on the drawing where the test specimen is to be taken from: surface, mid-radius or core.
1.7228 / 50CrMo4 forged forms we manufacture
The items below are open-die forged or ring rolled at our Jiangyin works, then heat treated, rough machined to your allowance and inspected before shipment.
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Forged bars
Round, square, rectangular flat and hexagonal bars in 50CrMo4, forged and turned or peeled to your tolerance.
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Seamless rolled rings
Ring rolled and forged rings, plain or profiled, for gear rims, bearing races, flanges and slew rings.
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Shafts and spindles
Stepped shafts, pinion shafts, spindles and gear shafts, straightened and ultrasonically tested along the full length.
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Discs, blocks and plates
Upset forged discs and blanks, and forged rectangular blocks for die holders and tooling bases.
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Hollow bars and sleeves
Trepanned or mandrel forged hollow bars, sleeves, bushes and bushings with bored and honed bores.
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Cylinders and housings
Forged cylinder bodies, barrels, casings, shells, hubs and housings for pressure and drive equipment.
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Gear blanks
Ring gears, gear wheels and pinion blanks, forged with grain flow following the tooth root.
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Flanges and tube sheets
Forged flanges, forged tube sheets and other flat forged components to your drawing.
Our open-die forging capability for 1.7228
Our factory Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd., Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China.
| Product form | Dimensional range | Weight per piece |
|---|---|---|
| Forged round bar | Ø 80 to 1200 mm, length to 12 000 mm | 50 kg to 30 t |
| Forged square / flat bar | 100 to 1000 mm thickness, width to 1500 mm | 50 kg to 25 t |
| Seamless rolled ring | OD 300 to 5000 mm, height to 1500 mm | 50 kg to 20 t |
| Forged shaft | Ø 100 to 1200 mm, length to 12 000 mm | 100 kg to 30 t |
| Forged disc / block | OD to 3000 mm, thickness to 1000 mm | 50 kg to 25 t |
| Hollow bar / sleeve | OD 200 to 2500 mm, ID from 80 mm | 50 kg to 20 t |
What we do in house
- Open-die forging on hydraulic presses with manipulators
- Radial-axial ring rolling for seamless rolled rings
- Normalising, annealing, quenching and tempering in our own furnaces
- Rough and finish machining: turning, boring, milling, drilling
- Ultrasonic, magnetic particle and dye penetrant inspection
- Spectrometer chemical analysis and a mechanical test laboratory
Steel supply
1.7228 is melted by our qualified steel suppliers as EAF + LF + VD. ESR remelted material is available where cleanliness or macrostructure requirements call for it. Each heat arrives with its own certificate. Traceability is kept from heat number through to the finished forging.
Testing and certification supplied with 1.7228 forgings
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal supplies EN 10204 3.1 inspection certificates as standard with every 1.7228 order. Where an independent witness is required, we arrange EN 10204 3.2 certification with TÜV, SGS, BV, Lloyd's Register or your own inspector.
| Test | Reference | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical analysis | Heat and product analysis | Standard |
| Tensile test | EN ISO 6892-1 | Standard |
| Hardness | Brinell, EN ISO 6506 | Standard |
| Charpy V-notch impact | EN ISO 148-1 | On request. Temperature and orientation to be agreed |
| Ultrasonic testing | EN 10228-3 or ASTM A388 | On request. Quality class to be stated |
| Magnetic particle inspection | EN 10228-1 or ASTM A275 | On request |
| Grain size and microstructure | ASTM E112 | On request |
| Dimensional report | Per drawing | Standard |
| Certification | EN 10204 3.1 / 3.2 | 3.1 standard, 3.2 on request |
Forgings are shipped shot blasted and oiled, in seaworthy steel or fumigation-free wooden packing, from Shanghai or Zhangjiagang port.
How to request a quotation for 1.7228 forgings
Send the five items below to sales@steelforgepieces.com. We normally return a price and lead time within one working day.
- Grade and standard. "1.7228" or "50CrMo4", plus the governing standard (EN 10083-3) and any customer specification.
- Shape and size. A drawing if you have one, otherwise the rough forged dimensions: OD, ID, length or thickness, and the machining allowance.
- Delivery condition. +QT, +N or +A, with the required hardness or tensile band and the test position in the section.
- Testing and certification. UT class, MPI, impact requirements, EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2, and any third-party witness.
- Quantity and destination. Piece count or annual tonnage, plus the destination port for a CIF price.
If the grade is not yet fixed, describe the duty instead. We can advise between 1.7228, 42CrMo4 and 34CrNiMo6 based on section size, load case and toughness requirement.
Questions and answers about 1.7228
What is 1.7228 steel?
1.7228 is the EN material number for 50CrMo4, a chromium-molybdenum steel supplied for quenching and tempering under EN 10083-3. Composition is 0.46 to 0.54 % carbon, 0.90 to 1.20 % chromium and 0.15 to 0.30 % molybdenum. Carbon runs about 0.08 % above 42CrMo4, which raises attainable hardness and tensile strength and improves wear resistance. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. forges 1.7228 into bars, rings, shafts, discs and sleeves at its works in Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China.
What is the AISI equivalent of 1.7228?
The closest AISI/SAE equivalent is AISI 4150, UNS G41500. Other common equivalents are 708M50 or 708A47 in BS 970, 48CD4 or 50CD4 in AFNOR, SCM 445 in JIS, and 50CrMo4 in ISO 683-1 and ISO 683-18. These grades are close but not identical. Name the governing standard on the purchase order.
What is the difference between 1.7228 and 1.7225 (50CrMo4 and 42CrMo4)?
Carbon content. 1.7225 / 42CrMo4 runs 0.38 to 0.45 % C. 1.7228 / 50CrMo4 runs 0.46 to 0.54 % C. Chromium and molybdenum are almost the same in both. The extra carbon in 1.7228 gives higher attainable hardness, higher tensile strength and better wear resistance, with lower impact toughness and poorer weldability. 42CrMo4 remains the usual choice for large tough shafts. 50CrMo4 is used where surface hardness and strength matter more than impact toughness.
What tensile strength can 1.7228 reach after quenching and tempering?
In the +QT condition to EN 10083-3, 1.7228 reaches 1100 to 1300 MPa up to 16 mm, 1000 to 1200 MPa from 16 to 40 mm, 900 to 1100 MPa from 40 to 100 mm, 850 to 1000 MPa from 100 to 160 mm and 750 to 950 MPa from 160 to 250 mm. Heavy forged sections of 250 to 500 mm are normally supplied at 700 to 750 MPa. What a forging actually reaches depends on ruling section, so specify the test position when ordering.
Is 1.7228 / 50CrMo4 weldable?
1.7228 is classed as difficult to weld because of its carbon and chromium content and its high carbon equivalent. Welding is possible with preheat of about 300 to 400 °C, matched low-hydrogen consumables and immediate post-weld heat treatment, but it is normally avoided on load-bearing parts. Where a welded joint cannot be avoided, 42CrMo4 or a lower-carbon grade is usually the better material choice.
What are the forging temperatures for 50CrMo4?
50CrMo4 is forged from about 1050 to 1150 °C, with forging finished above about 850 °C. Cool slowly in furnace or in ash to avoid quench cracks and flakes. Forgings are then normalised at 840 to 880 °C or soft annealed at 680 to 720 °C before final quenching and tempering.
Who manufactures 1.7228 / 50CrMo4 forgings in China?
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. is an open-die forging factory at No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China that manufactures 1.7228 / 50CrMo4 forged bars, seamless rolled rings, shafts, discs, blocks, sleeves and hollow bars. Single pieces are supplied up to about 30 tonnes, with EN 10204 3.1 certification, ultrasonic testing to EN 10228-3 and in-house quench and temper heat treatment. Contact sales@steelforgepieces.com or +86 189 2135 9659.
What certification is supplied with 1.7228 forgings?
EN 10204 3.1 inspection certificates are supplied as standard. These cover heat analysis, product analysis on request, mechanical test results in the delivered condition, heat treatment records and non-destructive testing reports. EN 10204 3.2 certification with a third-party inspector such as TÜV, SGS, BV or Lloyd's Register is arranged when stated on the order.
Datasheet reference
Last reviewed by the technical sales and metallurgy team, Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. Standard data reproduced from EN 10083-3:2006.
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. "1.7228 (50CrMo4) Alloy Steel Forgings:
Composition, Mechanical Properties and Available Forms." steelforgepieces.com,
7 September 2026, https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Alloy-Steel/1.7228.html