Material Selection8–10 min read
303 Stainless vs 12L14 Steel vs C36000 Brass for Machined Parts
Compare cycle cost, corrosion requirements and joining limits before choosing free-machining stock.
Author: Mat Grades Editorial DeskRead Guide →
SAE 1215 Carbon Steel
Primary Designation:SAE 1215
Mat Grades internal verification confirms source-backed fidelity and data integrity. It does not constitute external certification or guaranteed lot conformity. Read engineering disclaimer →
Data Completeness:5 composition elements and 10 condition-specific property values cataloged.
Omitted fields represent unverified properties. "Missing is better than invented."
Key Engineering Properties
Representative source rows, qualified by their reported conditions. Inspect the tables below for all values, limits, and source notes.
Density
7.87 g/cm³TYPICAL · temperature not stated
Thermal Conductivity
51.9 W/(m·K)TYPICAL · temperature not stated
Specific Heat Capacity
486 J/(kg·K)TYPICAL · temperature not stated
Composition Excerpt
Fe BALANCE wt%Iron (balance)
Standard Elemental Basis: BALANCETensile Strength
≥ 540 MPaMINIMUM · Cold Drawn Bar (19 to 32 mm) · temperature not stated
Engineering Summary
SAE 1215 is a rephosphorized and resulfurized screw stock alloy engineered for maximum tool life and surface finish in high-speed automatic screw machine operations.
Recognized Aliases
Source-backed commercial trade name and short designations cataloged in canonical data.
SAE 1215 Carbon Steel Specifications & Designations
Standard Designations & Applicable Specifications — Semantically classified designations distinguishing primary standard identifiers, commercial trade names, and applicable specification references.
Direct Standard DesignationsDIRECT DESIGNATION
3 Primary IdentifiersScroll horizontally for full designation data
| System | Identifier | Standard System Name | Classification Notes & Provenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAEPRIMARY | 1215 | Society of Automotive Engineers | —Ref: Practical Data for Metallurgists, 19th edition |
| AISI | 1215 | American Iron and Steel Institute | —Ref: Practical Data for Metallurgists, 19th edition |
| UNS | G12150 | Unified Numbering System | —Ref: Practical Data for Metallurgists, 19th edition |
Applicable Specifications & Product Form ReferencesSPECIFICATION REFERENCE
1 Applicable StandardsScroll horizontally for full standard specifications
| Standards Body | Specification Code | Specification Title / Scope | Relationship Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAE | SAE 1215 Carbon Steel Engineering Datasheet | Applicable specification reference. | Specification Reference |
Engineering Notice: Applicable specifications establish manufacturing requirements, dimensional tolerances, and test criteria for specific product forms (e.g. bus bar, wire, plate, pipe). They represent applicable technical standards, not alternative or equivalent alloy grades.
SAE 1215 Carbon Steel Chemical Composition
Chemical Composition (Weight %) — Elemental limits and values from the cited source. Preserves exact semantic limits (minimums, maximums, and ranges).
Scroll horizontally for full elemental limits
| Element | Symbol | Atomic No. | Semantic Basis | Specified Value | Unit | Metallurgical Notes & Qualification | Data Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | Fe | 26 | BALANCE | Balance | wt% | Ref: Metallus | VERIFIED |
| Carbon | C | 6 | MAXIMUM | ≤ 0.09 | wt% | Ref: Metallus | VERIFIED |
| Manganese | Mn | 25 | RANGE | 0.75 – 1.05 | wt% | Ref: Metallus | VERIFIED |
| Phosphorus | P | 15 | MAXIMUM | ≤ 0.09 | wt% | Ref: Metallus | VERIFIED |
| Sulfur | S | 16 | RANGE | 0.26 – 0.35 | wt% | Ref: Metallus | VERIFIED |
* Elemental percentages are expressed in weight percent (wt%). Values represent applicable specification limits. Unspecified trace elements are not fabricated or assumed.Preserves exact semantic basis
Property Display UnitsSwitch between Canonical SI and Source / US Customary units:
SAE 1215 Carbon Steel Physical Properties
Source-specific physical properties. Test temperatures are shown only where reported.
Scroll horizontally for full property parameters
| Property Parameter | Canonical SI Value | Semantic Basis | Test Temperature / Context Range | Source Raw Reference | Source Reference | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 7.87 g/cm³ | TYPICAL | 7.87 g/cm³ | Metallus | VERIFIED | |
| Elastic Modulus | 205 GPa | TYPICAL | 205 GPa | Metallus | VERIFIED | |
| Poisson's Ratio | 0.29 dimensionless | TYPICAL | 0.29 dimensionless | Metallus | VERIFIED |
SAE 1215 Carbon Steel Thermal & Thermodynamic Properties
Phase change temperatures, thermal conductivity, specific heat, mean coefficients of thermal expansion across standardized temperature ranges, and recommended thermal processing windows.
Scroll horizontally for full property parameters
| Property Parameter | Canonical SI Value | Semantic Basis | Test Temperature / Context Range | Source Raw Reference | Source Reference | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specific Heat Capacity | 486 J/(kg·K) | TYPICAL | 486 J/(kg·K) | Metallus | VERIFIED | |
| Thermal Conductivity | 51.9 W/(m·K) | TYPICAL | 51.9 W/(m·K) | Metallus | VERIFIED |
SAE 1215 Carbon Steel Mechanical Properties
Contextual Mechanical Properties & Tempers: Engineering strength, ductility, and hardness values grouped by product form, temper, and section thickness. Mechanical properties are contextual and not isotropic averages.
Showing 4 of 4 conditions
Scroll horizontally for all conditions & tempers
| Product Form | Temper / Condition | Section Size | Tensile (UTS) | Yield Strength | Elongation | Shear Strength | Fatigue Strength | Hardness (Scales Preserved) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bar | Cold Drawn Bar (19 to 32 mm)Source values and qualifiersUltimate Tensile Strength: ≥ 540 MPa (MINIMUM)ASTM A108 / ASTM E8Metallus — p118, Estimated Minimum Properties for Cold Drawn Bars Reduction of Area: ≥ 35 % (MINIMUM)ASTM A108 / ASTM E8Metallus — p118, Estimated Minimum Properties for Cold Drawn Bars | — | ≥ 540 MPa | — | — | — | — | — | VERIFIED |
| Bar | Cold Drawn Bar (19 to 32 mm)Source values and qualifiersYield Strength: ≥ 415 MPa (MINIMUM)ASTM A108 / ASTM E8 (0.2% offset)Metallus — p118, Estimated Minimum Properties for Cold Drawn Bars | — | — | ≥ 415 MPa | — | — | — | — | VERIFIED |
| Bar | Cold Drawn Bar (19 to 32 mm)Source values and qualifiersElongation at Break: ≥ 10 % (MINIMUM)ASTM A108 / ASTM E8Metallus — p118, Estimated Minimum Properties for Cold Drawn Bars | — · in 50 mm (2 in) | — | — | ≥ 10 % | — | — | — | VERIFIED |
| Bar | Cold Drawn Bar (19 to 32 mm)Source values and qualifiersHB Hardness: ≤ 197 HB (TYPICAL)Metallus — p118, Estimated Minimum Properties for Cold Drawn Bars | — | — | — | — | — | — | ≤ 197 HB | VERIFIED |
Hardness Integrity Notice: Rockwell B (HRB), Rockwell F (HRF), and Superficial 30T (HR30T) scales are reported on their measured scales without cross-scale mathematical conversion.
Source: See fact-level citations
Practical Engineering & Fabrication Notes
By Mat Grades Editorial Desk · Updated 2026-11-14. Use alongside the specified product standard and supplier certificate.
Machining & shop-floor behavior
For SAE 1215 Carbon Steel, a qualified cutting-speed or tool-life recommendation is not supplied in the available record. A relevant hardness example is HB Hardness: maximum 197 HB (typical; Cold Drawn Bar (19 to 32 mm), Bar). Use that supplied condition for a trial of the difficult feature. Record tool changes, burr removal, unclamped dimensions and accepted parts per hour. Relative machinability ratings from different reference scales should not be compared as if they were one common test.
Weldability, brazing & joining
No qualified weld procedure, filler selection or preheat/interpass schedule is established by this material record. Obtain a procedure for the actual joint, supplied condition and section rather than copying one from a nearby grade. The first cataloged strength example is Ultimate Tensile Strength: minimum 540 MPa (minimum; Cold Drawn Bar (19 to 32 mm), Bar). Assess the final part after joining or thermal processing. Include distortion, cleanup and inspection in the quotation. A material designation or favorable process rating is a starting point for qualification, not evidence that an untested joint meets the drawing.
Corrosion & service environment
Plan corrosion protection and inspect how the finish affects threads, bearing fits and repaired surfaces. A steel strength value does not establish corrosion life. Where cyclic load or impact matters, retain the surface condition and the required toughness evidence with the material decision. The recorded thermal example is Thermal Conductivity: 51.9 W/(m·K) (typical; additional condition not stated). State the exposure and inspection access in the design record so that a change of installation or cleaning method triggers a review. The selected composition entries are C maximum 0.09 wt%, Mn 0.75–1.05 wt%. Chemistry documents identity; it does not establish fluid compatibility.
Selection trade-offs & applications
Use SAE 1215, AISI 1215, UNS G12150 to identify the candidate, then specify the product form and delivered condition separately. A specific component application is not asserted where the source record does not provide one. The related candidate SAE 1018 Carbon Steel is linked for comparison; its commonly compared relationship must be checked before substitution. Compare the complete route through machining, joining, finish and inspection. Keep the certificate, required test location and acceptance criteria with the first-article record. A later change of grade, condition or source should be assessed against that same requirement.
Technical references: Metallus
SAE 1215 Carbon Steel Equivalent & Comparable Grades
Comparable Grades & Cross-References: Carefully classified cross-reference relationships for SAE 1215 Carbon Steel. Comparable does not mean equivalent.
Scroll horizontally for relationship classifications & comparisons
| Related Material | Family | Relationship Classification | Metallurgical Notes & Differences | Status | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAE 1018 Carbon Steel | Steel | Commonly Compared | Rephosphorized and resulfurized fast-machining screw stock engineered for high-speed automated production.Materials serve different design priorities (e.g. higher strength vs superior corrosion resistance or cost). | VERIFIED |
SAE/AISI Free-Cutting Steel Cluster (11xx & 12xx Series)
Resulfurized and rephosphorized engineering steels optimized for automated machining speeds, broken chip formation, and high surface finish.
1215Current Grade
SAE 1215 Carbon Steel
Related Engineering & Metallurgy Guides
Contextual technical guides explaining degradation mechanisms, testing methodologies, and selection criteria relevant to SAE 1215 Carbon Steel.
Material Selection8–10 min read
Cold-Rolled vs Hot-Rolled Steel: Tolerances, Stress and Machining
Compare the supplied product route and finish rather than assuming rolling alone defines the grade.
Author: Mat Grades Editorial DeskRead Guide →
Corrosion & Surface Engineering15 min read
How to Remove Rust From Cast Iron: Methods, Science & Prevention
Cast iron is an indispensable alloy family renowned for superior vibration damping and castability, but its iron matrix and carbon microstructure make it susceptible to atmospheric rust. Restoring rusted cast iron requires understanding how mechanical and chemical methods interact with the underlying metal.
Author: Mat Grades Editorial DeskRead Guide →
Sources
Sources & Provenance Trail: Authoritative reference publications, standards specifications, and data registers cited across this material record.
MetallusPractical Data for Metallurgists, 19th edition
PRIMARY PRODUCER
Reviewed factual transcription from primary producer engineering technical literature.
MetallusPractical Data for Metallurgists, 19th edition
PRIMARY PRODUCER
Reviewed factual transcription from primary producer engineering technical literature.
MetallusPractical Data for Metallurgists, 19th edition
PRIMARY PRODUCER
Reviewed factual transcription from primary producer engineering technical literature.
MetallusPractical Data for Metallurgists, 19th edition
PRIMARY PRODUCER
Reviewed factual transcription from primary producer engineering technical literature.
Intellectual Property & Provenance Notice: Mat Grades cites technical literature from recognized industry associations and standards organizations. Underlying technical standards and publication data remain the intellectual property of their respective issuing organizations.