1018 Steel at a Glance
- Grade type
- Low-carbon (mild) engineering steel, SAE/AISI 1018
- Nominal composition
- 0.15–0.20% C, 0.60–0.90% Mn, balance iron
- Equivalents
- 070M20 (BS 970), S20C (JIS), C15–C18 (DIN/EN)
- Supply conditions
- Hot rolled, normalised, bright (cold drawn / polished)
- Product forms
- Rounds, bright bars, hexagons
- Typical uses
- Studs, pins, shafts, brackets, weldments, carburised parts
What is 1018 steel?
1018 steel is a low-carbon steel with about 0.18% carbon and 0.60–0.90% manganese, used where good machinability, weldability and a clean cold-drawn finish matter more than high strength. It is one of the most widely specified general-purpose bar grades worldwide, sold under the SAE/AISI designation 1018 and matched closely by 070M20 (BS 970), S20C (JIS) and the C15–C18 range (DIN/EN).
The grade sits at the mild-steel end of the carbon range. With carbon kept low, 1018 cold-draws well into bright bar, welds without special precautions, and machines cleanly when supplied in the cold-drawn condition. It does not through-harden — the carbon is too low — but it carburises readily, so it is a common choice for case-hardened pins, bushes and low-stress wear parts that need a hard skin over a tough core.
Ambhe Ferro rolls 1018 in our own mill and finishes it on our bright-bar lines, so chemistry stays consistent heat to heat and every dispatch is backed by a mill test certificate. For higher strength in the same size, buyers usually step up to a medium-carbon grade — see the 1018 vs 1045 comparison below.
1018 steel chemical composition
| Element | Range (%) | Role in the grade |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 0.15–0.20 | Low carbon — keeps the steel soft, weldable and easy to cold-form |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.60–0.90 | Adds strength and aids deoxidation without hurting weldability |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.30 max | Residual from deoxidation |
| Sulphur (S) | 0.050 max | Kept low; not a free-cutting grade |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.040 max | Held low to protect ductility and weldability |
Exact ranges shift slightly between governing standards. Actual heat chemistry is confirmed on the mill test certificate supplied with every dispatch.
1018 steel mechanical properties
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 400–480 MPa |
| Yield strength | 220–310 MPa |
| Elongation | 15–25% |
| Hardness | 110–150 HB |
Cold drawing raises tensile and yield by work-hardening the surface, so bright 1018 bar tests stiffer and harder than the hot-rolled figures above. Because hardenability is low, 1018 is not used to reach high through-hardness — for that, buyers move to 1045 or an alloy grade. Guaranteed values for a specific heat are stated on the mill test certificate.
Physical properties
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Density | 7.87 g/cm³ |
| Modulus of elasticity | 190–210 GPa |
| Thermal conductivity | ~51.9 W/m·K |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion | ~11.5 µm/m·°C (0–100 °C) |
| Specific heat | ~486 J/kg·K |
What is 1018 steel equivalent to?
| Standard | Designation |
|---|---|
| AISI / SAE | 1018 |
| BS 970 | 070M20 |
| JIS (Japan) | S20C |
| DIN / EN | C15 – C18 range |
| Indian practice | Close to IS 2062 E250A mild steel for general fabrication |
These are nearest matches, not exact substitutions — carbon and manganese windows differ slightly between standards. For a like-for-like swap, confirm the property requirement against the mill test certificate. Indian buyers comparing 1018 to the structural mild-steel standard should read the 1018 vs A36 comparison.
1018 steel heat treatment
1018 cannot be effectively through-hardened because its carbon content is too low to form enough martensite. It is normally supplied and used in the as-rolled or cold-drawn condition. Where a hard, wear-resistant surface is needed, 1018 is carburised (case-hardened) to put carbon into the skin, then quenched and low-tempered.
| Operation | Temperature | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Forging | 1100–1250 | Cool slowly after forging |
| Normalising | 890–940 (air cool) | Refines grain, evens out properties |
| Annealing | 860–900 (furnace cool) | Softens for machining/forming |
| Carburising | 900–925 | Builds a high-carbon case for hardening |
| Case hardening / quench | Quench from 780–820 | Water or brine — low hardenability needs a fast quench |
| Tempering (case) | 150–200 | Relieves stress; keeps case hard |
Water-quenching complex shapes risks cracking; use a milder medium for intricate parts. Temper immediately after hardening.
What sizes and forms of 1018 are available?
Rounds (hot rolled)
23.5 mm – 80 mm diameter
Bright bars (cold drawn)
21 mm – 63.5 mm
Hexagons
23.5 mm – 52.5 mm across flats
RCS
55 mm, 63 mm, 75 mm
Standard length is 5–6 m; custom cut lengths are available on request or in multiples thereof. Non-standard sizes are often available make-to-order. MOQ is 5 MT per size.
Applications of 1018 steel
- General machined components — studs, pins, dowels, spacers and bushes turned on CNC and capstan lathes
- Low-stress shafts, spindles and rod where strength demand is modest
- Brackets, base plates and weldments for fabrication and construction
- Case-hardened (carburised) wear parts needing a hard skin over a tough core
- Cold-formed and cold-headed parts, including light fasteners where machinability is secondary
- Jigs, fixtures and general engineering stock held by machine shops and stockists
Why source 1018 from Ambhe Ferro
- We roll it, we don't just stock it. Heat-to-heat consistency from our own rolling mill and bright-bar lines.
- ISO 9001 certified with an in-house QC laboratory testing every heat.
- Heat-wise mill test certificate on every dispatch; third-party inspection (SGS, BV, TÜV) on request.
- Multiple supply conditions — hot rolled, annealed, normalised, bright (cold drawn / polished).
- Over 39 years serving the Mumbai–Pune–Nashik corridor, with quick dispatch from our two factories in MIDC Murbad, near Kalyan — about 80 km from Mumbai Port and JNPT.
How to order 1018 steel
Ambhe Ferro is an engineering-steel manufacturer with two factories in MIDC Murbad, near Kalyan — about 80 km from Mumbai Port and JNPT. We roll and finish 1018 steel at our units and dispatch quickly across the Mumbai–Pune–Nashik corridor and pan-India. Regular dispatches go to buyers in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Vasai–Virar, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Chakan, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Nagpur, Rajkot, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru; exports are arranged on request. Order as hot-rolled rounds, bright bars, hexagons or RCS against your size and tonnage, with a heat-wise mill test certificate on every dispatch.
Share the grade (1018), form, size, length, tonnage, required supply condition and delivery location, and we respond with pricing, availability and lead time within one working day. MOQ is 5 MT per size.
1018 steel — frequently asked questions
What is 1018 steel?
What is 1018 steel used for?
What is the chemical composition of 1018 steel?
What are the mechanical properties of 1018 steel?
What is 1018 steel equivalent to?
Can 1018 steel be hardened?
Is 1018 easy to weld and machine?
Where can I buy 1018 steel in India?
What is the minimum order quantity for 1018?
Does 1018 come with a mill test certificate?
Let's Talk 1018 Steel
Tell us your grade, form, size, and tonnage. We'll respond with pricing, availability, and lead time — and a mill test certificate on every heat.