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Resources/Materials & grades/1215 / 11SMn37

Materials & grades

1215 / 11SMn37 / SUM23 free-machining steel: equivalents 240M07 (EN1B), 230M07 (EN1A) and 11C10S25

1215 is a resulphurized and rephosphorized low-carbon screw-machine steel with up to 0.09 % carbon, 0.26–0.35 % sulphur and 0.04–0.09 % phosphorus. It is rated about 136 % machinability against 1212 at 100 %, the best of the common non-leaded carbon steels.

Names by standard

What it is called in each region

RegionSystemDesignationStandardMatch
USAAISI/SAE1215SAE J403; ASTM A29 / A108 / A576Same material
UNSG12150—Same material
UKBS 970240M07Mitsubishi Materials pairs it with 11SMn37 and 1215; Total Materia pairs it with 11SMn37 and JIS SUM 25. BS 970 has been withdrawn in favour of European standards.BS 970-1Closest equivalent
BS 970 (1955 EN series)EN1BSuperseded name for 240M07.—Closest equivalent
BS 970230M07Smiths and Macsteel list it against SAE 1213 and 1215. Lower sulphur than 11SMn37.BS 970-1Closest equivalent
BS 970 (1955 EN series)EN1ASuperseded name for 230M07.—Closest equivalent
EUEN 10027-1 name11SMn37Carbon ≤0.14 %, manganese 1.00–1.50 %, sulphur 0.34–0.40 %.EN ISO 683-4 (formerly EN 10087)Closest equivalent
EN 10027-2 number1.0736Material number of 11SMn37.EN ISO 683-4Closest equivalent
EN 10027-1 name11SMn30 (1.0715)Lower-sulphur free-cutting steel (0.27–0.33 %), also listed against 1213 and 1215.EN ISO 683-4Closest equivalent
DIN (legacy)9SMn36 (1.0736) / 9SMn28 (1.0715)Superseded German names for 11SMn37 and 11SMn30.—Closest equivalent
IndiaIS 1570 (Part 3)11C10S25Carbon 0.08–0.15 %, manganese 0.80–1.20 %, sulphur 0.20–0.30 %.IS 1570 (Part 3):1979; IS 4431Closest equivalent
IS 1570 (old designation)11S25Superseded Indian name for 11C10S25.—Closest equivalent
JapanJIS G 4804SUM23Carbon ≤0.09 %, manganese 0.75–1.05 %, phosphorus 0.04–0.09 % and sulphur 0.26–0.35 %, the same as 1215.JIS G 4804Closest equivalent
JIS G 4804SUM22Lower-sulphur class (C ≤0.13 %, Mn 0.70–1.00 %, P 0.07–0.12 %, S 0.24–0.33 %) that Total Materia ties to 1213; Macsteel lists it with 1213 and 1215.JIS G 4804Closest equivalent
JIS G 4804SUM25Listed against 11SMn37 and 1215 in the AWS comparison. Limits: C ≤0.15 %, Mn 0.90–1.40 %, P 0.07–0.12 %, S 0.30–0.40 %, closer to 11SMn37 than to 1215.JIS G 4804Closest equivalent

On equivalence

  • 1215 has no exact European equivalent. 11SMn37 (1.0736) has more sulphur (0.34–0.40 %) and manganese (1.00–1.50 %), and allows carbon up to 0.14 % and phosphorus up to 0.11 %. 11SMn30 (1.0715) is closer on sulphur (0.27–0.33 %).
  • UK sources disagree. Mitsubishi Materials pairs 240M07 (EN1B) with 1215 and 230M07 (EN1A) with 1213. Smiths and Macsteel list 230M07 against both 1213 and 1215. BS 970 230M07 has a higher carbon limit (≤0.15 %) than 1215.
  • Indian 11C10S25 has a carbon range of 0.08–0.15 % and less sulphur (0.20–0.30 %) and manganese (0.80–1.20 %) than 11SMn37, and is the nearest IS 1570 (Part 3) steel.
  • JIS SUM23 matches the carbon, manganese, phosphorus and sulphur ranges of 1215 (Kobelco's JIS G 4804 table). SUM22 is listed against 1213 and 11SMn30. The AWS comparison puts SUM25 against 11SMn37 and 1215, but SUM25 has carbon up to 0.15 % and sulphur 0.30–0.40 %, so it is not a like-for-like match for 1215.
  • Some tables show 1213 or 12L13 against 11SMn30 and 11SMnPb30. 1213 has carbon ≤0.13 % and 1215 ≤0.09 %, so check which is meant.
  • Machinability percentages come from AISI-derived charts that put 1212 at 100 %. Some older tables use B1112 as 100 %; do not mix figures between the two scales.
  • Sources differ on case hardening 1215: Interlloy lists carburizing as possible, while Alro does not recommend it; 1117 is the usual free-machining carburizing grade.

Chemical composition

Composition limits, mass %

Element1215USA · SAE J403230M07UK · BS 970-1:198311SMn37 (1.0736)EU · EN 10277-3 / EN 10087 (now EN ISO 683-4)11SMn30 (1.0715)EU · EN ISO 683-411C10S25India · IS 1570 (Part 3):1979SUM23Japan · JIS G 4804
C≤0.09≤0.15≤0.14≤0.140.08–0.15≤0.09
Si—0.10–0.40≤0.05≤0.05≤0.10—
Mn0.75–1.050.90–1.301.00–1.500.90–1.300.80–1.200.75–1.05
P0.04–0.09≤0.07≤0.11≤0.11≤0.0600.04–0.09
S0.26–0.350.25–0.350.34–0.400.27–0.330.20–0.300.26–0.35

Mechanical properties

Strength and hardness

ConditionTensile strengthYield strengthElongationHardness
Cold drawn (1215)Typical values, 19–38 mm round; not minimumsMatWeb AISI 1215 cold drawn data (printout by Bud Industries)540 MPa78 ksi415 MPa60 ksi10 %167 HB
Cold drawn (230M07)Expected values for guidance, 6–50 mm bar; not minimumsMacsteel 230M07 data sheet460–550 MPa67–80 ksi360–440 MPa52–64 ksi8–15 %126–180 HB
Cold drawn +C (11SMn37 / 11SMn30)Specified, d >10–16 mmEN 10277-3 as tabulated by Roymech; ISO 683-7 per Swiss Steel490–760 MPa71–110 ksi≥410 MPa≥59 ksi≥7 %—
Cold drawn +C (11SMn37 / 11SMn30)Specified, d >16–40 mmEN 10277-3 as tabulated by Roymech; ISO 683-7 per Swiss Steel460–710 MPa67–103 ksi≥375 MPa≥54 ksi≥8 %—
Cold drawn +C (11SMn37 / 11SMn30)Specified, d >40–63 mmEN 10277-3 as tabulated by Roymech; ISO 683-7 per Swiss Steel400–650 MPa58–94 ksi≥305 MPa≥44 ksi≥9 %—
Hot rolled or normalized (11C10S25)Specified range, ruling sections up to 150 mmIS 1570 (Part 3):1979, Table 2370–490 MPa54–71 ksi—≥22 %—
Cold drawn (11C10S25)Specified minimum tensile, bars up to 20 mmIS 1570 (Part 3):1979, Table 3≥500 MPa≥72.5 ksi—≥8 %—
Cold drawn (11C10S25)Specified minimum tensile, bars >20–40 mmIS 1570 (Part 3):1979, Table 3≥440 MPa≥64 ksi—≥11 %—

In practice

Behaviour, heat treatment and uses

Characteristics

  • Machinability is rated about 136 % on the AISI scale where 1212 is 100 %; MatWeb gives 135 %. 12L14 (170 %) is higher but contains lead.
  • Sulphur (0.26–0.35 %) and phosphorus (0.04–0.09 %) are both raised on purpose: sulphur breaks the chip and phosphorus embrittles it slightly and improves the finish.
  • Carbon is held to 0.09 % maximum, so strength comes mainly from cold drawing. It is not a hardening grade; it can be carburized or carbonitrided for a thin hard case, but the core stays soft.
  • Rated for screw-machine work: MatWeb describes it as rephosphorized and resulfurized, used for parts turned on automatic machines.
  • Weldability and forming are limited by the high sulphur, as Macsteel notes for the related 230M07.
  • Contains no added lead, so it is the usual non-leaded choice where lead is restricted.

Heat treatment

  • Reference schedule (Interlloy S1214 sheet, the free-cutting steel it lists against 230M07 and AISI 1213 and 1215):
  • Forging: heat to no more than about 1300 °C (2370 °F); do not forge below about 950 °C (1740 °F).
  • Normalizing: about 900–940 °C (1650–1725 °F), air cool.
  • Annealing: about 890–920 °C (1630–1690 °F), furnace cool.
  • Carburizing: about 900–920 °C (1650–1690 °F); core refine at 880–900 °C (1615–1650 °F); case harden from 760–790 °C (1400–1455 °F) with a water quench.
  • Tempering after carburizing: about 120–230 °C (250–445 °F).
  • Stress relieving: about 500–700 °C (930–1290 °F), air cool.

Typical uses

  • Screw-machine parts: bushings, spacers, couplings and fittings
  • Pins, studs and standoffs turned in high volume
  • Light-duty machinery components where strength is not critical
  • Parts that need a good turned finish at maximum cutting speed

Free-machining steels

Similar grades compared

GradeC %Mn %Tensile, first listed condition
1215 / 11SMn37≤0.090.75–1.05540 MPa
1117 / 15SMn130.14–0.201.00–1.30430 MPa
1144 / 44SMn280.40–0.481.35–1.65670 MPa
12L14 / 11SMnPb30≤0.150.85–1.15390 MPa

Composition from the US standard where one exists, otherwise the first standard listed on each grade's page. Strength conditions differ between grades; open a grade for its full table.

Questions answered

Common questions

What is the equivalent of 1215 steel?

The nearest names are 11SMn37 (1.0736) in Europe, 240M07 (EN1B) or 230M07 (EN1A) in the UK, 11C10S25 in India and SUM23 in Japan. None is identical to 1215, and sources disagree on the UK name.

What is the difference between 1215 and 12L14?

12L14 adds 0.15–0.35 % lead and allows up to 0.15 % carbon, and is rated about 170 % machinability against 1215's 136 %. 1215 has no added lead, so it avoids lead restrictions.

Is 1215 the same as 11SMn30?

No. 11SMn30 allows carbon up to 0.14 %, manganese 0.90–1.30 % and sulphur 0.27–0.33 %. 1215 is limited to 0.09 % carbon and has 0.75–1.05 % manganese, so substitution should be agreed with the buyer.

Can 1215 be heat treated?

Not to a high core hardness. Carbon is only 0.09 % maximum, so it can be carburized or carbonitrided to harden the surface, but through hardening is not available.

Is 1215 weldable?

It is not normally welded. The high sulphur and phosphorus limit weldability, as Macsteel states for the similar 230M07.

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Keep reading

12L14 / 11SMnPb3012L14 is a resulphurized and rephosphorized low-carbon steel with 0.15–0.35 % lead added, rated about 170 % machinability against 1212 at 100 %.1117 / 15SMn131117 is a resulphurized low-carbon steel with 0.14–0.20 % carbon, 1.00–1.30 % manganese and 0.08–0.13 % sulphur.1144 / 44SMn281144 is a resulphurized medium-carbon steel with 0.40–0.48 % carbon, 1.35–1.65 % manganese and 0.24–0.33 % sulphur.10181018 is a low-carbon, non-alloy steel with 0.15–0.20 % carbon and 0.60–0.90 % manganese, widely used as cold-drawn bar for machined and case-hardened parts.1010 / C10E1010 is a low-carbon steel with about 0.10 % carbon, supplied as bar, wire and sheet for cold-formed, carburized and welded parts.SAE / AISI numbersA four-digit SAE/AISI number such as 1045 or 4140 names a carbon or alloy steel by its chemistry: the first two digits identify the steel family and the last two give the nominal carbon content in hundredths of a percent.EN 10027 names and numbersEuropean steels carry two identifiers under EN 10027: a steel name (Part 1) such as S235JR, C45 or 42CrMo4 that describes the steel's use or chemistry, and a material number (Part 2) such as 1.0503 or 1.7225.BS 970 and the EN seriesBS 970 names steels with a six-character code such as 080M40, in which the first three digits give the steel type, the letter says how the steel is specified and the last two digits give the carbon content.IS 1570 and Indian designationsIndian steel names follow the letter-symbol code in IS 1762 (Part 1), which the IS 1570 schedules use: 45C8 means about 0.45% carbon, C for carbon steel and about 0.8% manganese, while alloy names such as 40Cr4Mo3 list each element with a multiplied content figure.JIS steel designationsJapanese JIS steel symbols start with S for steel and add letters for the steel family or its use, but the number means different things in different standards.

References

Sources

  1. ICAST: SAE J403 UNS G12150 — SAE J403 composition.
  2. MatWeb (printout): AISI 1215 steel, cold drawn, 19–38 mm round — Typical cold drawn properties; machinability 135 % based on AISI 1212 at 100 %.
  3. Total Materia: JIS SUM 23 (G 4804:2021) — Carbon, manganese and phosphorus limits; equivalents list SAE and AISI 1215.
  4. Total Materia: JIS SUM 22 (G 4804) — Carbon, manganese and phosphorus limits; equivalents list 1213, 230M07, 11SMn30.
  5. Total Materia: B.S. 240 M 07 — Equivalents EN1B, 11SMn37 and JIS SUM 25; carbon and manganese limits.
  6. Macsteel: bright bar 230M07 (EN1A) data sheet — BS 970-1:1983 composition limits and expected cold drawn properties for 230M07.
  7. Smiths Metal Centres: EN1A technical datasheet — 230M07 / EN1A composition, leaded (+Pb) option, cross-reference to SAE 1213 and 1215.
  8. Mitsubishi Materials: material cross reference list (carbon steel) — Pairs SUM22 with 230M07 (EN1A) and 1213, and 1.0736 / 9SMn36 with 240M07 (EN1B) and 1215.
  9. AWS: international standards comparison (EN 10087 free-cutting steels) — German-language cross-reference of 11SMn30, 11SMnPb30, 11SMn37, 11SMnPb37 with SAE, BS and JIS names.
  10. Swiss Steel Group (Steeltec): SwissCut technical datasheet, free-cutting steels — Melt analysis to EN ISO 683-4 and cold drawn properties to ISO 683-7 for 11SMn30, 11SMnPb30 and 11SMnPb37.
  11. Roymech: EN 10277 bright steel products, free-cutting steels — Composition and cold drawn properties of 11SMn30, 11SMnPb30, 11SMn37, 11SMnPb37, 15SMn13 and 44SMn28 by diameter band.
  12. IS 1570 (Part 3):1979 Schedules for wrought steels: carbon and carbon manganese free cutting steels (public copy) — Composition and tensile limits for 10C8S10, 14C14S14, 25C12S14, 40C10S18, 11C10S25 and 40C15S12.
  13. Interlloy: EN1A / free machining bright steel bar (S1214) datasheet — Related specifications (230M07, EN1A, SUM22, AISI 1213 and 1215) and the heat treatment schedule.
  14. Enerpac: metal machinability ratings chart (AISI, percent of a free-machining reference steel) — Lists 1018 78 %, 1117 91 %, 1144 76 % (annealed 85 %), 1212 100 %, 12L14 170 %, 1215 136 %. Its footnote still cites B1112 as the reference.
  15. Engineering Toolbox: machinability of metals — Same AISI ratings (1117 91 %, 1144 76 %, 1215 136 %, 12L14 170 %).
  16. PMPA Craftsman's Cribsheet 58: Relative machinability of materials — States that carbon and alloy steels are compared with 1212 at 100 %.
  17. Kobelco: wire rods and bars specification tables, JIS G 4804 sulfur and sulfur compound free-cutting steel (2008 revision) — JIS G 4804 limits for SUM22, SUM23, SUM24L, SUM25, SUM31 and SUM43: C, Mn, P, S and Pb.
  18. BBN Steel Stores: JIS G4804 equivalent material — Second source for JIS SUM23, SUM24L, SUM25, SUM31 and SUM43 C, Mn, P, S and Pb limits.
  19. Titanium Industries: carbon steel AISI 1215 — SAE J403 composition, 540 MPa / 415 MPa / 10 % / 167 HB minimums as listed and a 135 % machinability index.

Values summarize published limits and typical data. The governing standard and the current edition control; check them before specifying.