Material · Carbon, Alloy & Tool Steels
Carbon Steel 1045
The shaft steel: strong, cheap, induction-hardenable exactly where it counts.
Price index: $$
Instant quote onlineMaterial properties
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 625 MPa (cold drawn) |
| Yield strength | 530 MPa (cold drawn) |
| Hardness | 179–229 HB |
| Density | 7.85 g/cm³ |
Choose it when
The default steel for shafts, axles, gears and studs: strong baseline plus localized induction hardening to 54–58 HRC on journals and teeth, with the rest staying machinable and weldable.
Look elsewhere when
It through-hardens reliably only in thin sections — for large or through-loaded parts choose 4140 Q&T. When the same strength must come with corrosion resistance, 17-4 PH is the stainless answer.
Compatible finishes
As-Machined
The baseline finish: straight off the machine, fastest and cheapest.
Black Oxide
Black with zero dimensional change: the gauge-and-tool finish for precision steel.
Zinc Plating
The economy rust-stopper: sacrificial zinc keeps protecting even when scratched.
Nickel Plating (Electrolytic)
Bright, polishable nickel for decorative protection and contact underlayers.
Electroless Nickel Plating (ENP)
Plating without electricity: dead-uniform thickness everywhere, bores and threads included.
Hard Chrome Plating
The hardest plated surface in the shop: ~65 HRC chrome for sliding and abrasive service.
Powder Coating
Baked-on polymer armor: any RAL color, outdoor-proof, the toughest cosmetic coating.
Wet Painting
Any color, any gloss, any substrate: the flexible coat for plastics and appearance prototypes.
PTFE Coating (Teflon)
The slippery armor: fluoropolymer for low friction, non-stick release and chemical inertness.
Laser Marking
Permanent identification with zero dimensional change: serials, logos and codes burned in, not stuck on.
Typical applications
- Drive shafts and axles
- Gear blanks and sprockets
- Fixture bases and tooling plates
- Bolts, studs and pins
Compared with similar grades
| Property | Carbon Steel 1045 | Low-Carbon Steel 1018 | Structural Steel A36 | Alloy Steel 4140 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 625 MPa (cold drawn) | 440 MPa (cold drawn) | 400–550 MPa | ~1000 MPa (Q&T) |
| Yield strength | 530 MPa (cold drawn) | 370 MPa (cold drawn) | 250 MPa (min) | ~655–800 MPa (Q&T) |
| Hardness | 179–229 HB | 126 HB | ~120 HB | 28–32 HRC (pre-hard) |
| Density | 7.85 g/cm³ | 7.87 g/cm³ | 7.85 g/cm³ | 7.85 g/cm³ |
| Price index | $$ | $ | $ | $$ |
| Machinability | 3/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 |
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