EN41B

Gears: High surface hardness makes them ideal for wear-resistant gear components. Crankshafts and Camshafts: Suitable for parts exposed to cyclic stress and fatigue. Spindles and Mandrels: Used in high-precision machine tools requiring strength and wear resistance. Shafts and Axles: Common in automotive and industrial machinery for load-bearing applications. Valve Parts: Reliable in high-pressure and high-temperature environments. Bushings and Sleeves: Provide excellent wear resistance and low friction in moving parts. Dies and Tooling Components: Perform well in forming and extrusion operations. Piston Rods and Guide Rods: Used in hydraulic and pneumatic systems for their dimensional stability. Injection Mould Parts: Withstand repeated use with minimal surface wear. Machine Tool Spindles: Maintain precision under load and vibration.

We are a trusted dealer, stockist, and supplier of EN41B alloy steel, catering to clients across various industrial sectors. With a wide inventory and reliable sourcing, we provide EN41B in multiple forms including round bars, forged bars, and cut-to-size pieces, as per customer specifications. Whether you're in the automotive, aerospace, engineering, or tooling industry, we ensure timely delivery, competitive pricing, and quality assurance with every order. Our materials are tested and certified to meet international standards, ensuring durability and performance in demanding applications.

EN41B is known for its ability to achieve high surface hardness through heat treatment and nitriding, while maintaining a tough and strong core. Annealed Condition: Approximately 200–240 HB (Brinell Hardness). Nitrided Condition: Surface hardness can reach up to 65–70 HRC (Rockwell Hardness C), providing excellent wear resistance. Hardened and Tempered Condition: Typically achieves 300–400 HB, depending on tempering temperature. This combination of core strength and surface hardness makes EN41B ideal for components subjected to high wear, stress, and fatigue.

Annealing: Process: Heat to 820–850°C Cooling: Slow furnace cooling Purpose: Softens the steel, improves machinability Normalizing: Process: Heat to 870–900°C Cooling: Air cooling Purpose: Refines grain structure and enhances strength Hardening (Quenching): Process: Heat to 830–860°C Quench: In oil Purpose: Increases hardness and strength Tempering: Process: Reheat to 540–680°C after hardening Cooling: Air cool Purpose: Reduces brittleness and improves toughness Nitriding: Process: Heat to 500–530°C in a nitrogen-rich atmosphere Purpose: Produces a hard, wear-resistant surface (up to 65–70 HRC) without affecting the core

The hardening process for EN41B is designed to increase its surface and core strength while maintaining toughness. Initial Heating: Heat the steel to 830–860°C uniformly. This ensures the steel reaches its austenitizing temperature for transformation. Quenching: Quench immediately in oil to harden the material. This rapid cooling transforms the structure into martensite, increasing hardness. Tempering: Reheat the steel to 540–680°C, then air cool. This step relieves internal stresses, improves toughness, and reduces brittleness after hardening. Nitriding (Surface Hardening): For enhanced surface wear resistance, EN41B is often nitrided at 500–530°C. Produces a very hard surface (up to 65–70 HRC) while maintaining a ductile core.

EN41B can be welded, but due to its alloying elements and hardenability, special care is required to avoid cracking and maintain structural integrity. Preheating: Preheat to 250–300°C before welding to minimize thermal shock and reduce the risk of cracking. Welding Method: Suitable methods: TIG, MIG, or manual arc welding. Use low-hydrogen electrodes or filler rods compatible with alloy steels. Interpass Temperature: Keep interpass temperatures between 200–300°C during multi-pass welding. Post-Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT): After welding, slow cool the part and then stress relieve or temper at around 600–650°C to reduce residual stresses and restore mechanical properties. Precautions: Avoid welding in the hardened or nitrided condition. Clean all surfaces thoroughly to prevent inclusions or porosity.

EN41B offers moderate machinability, especially in its annealed or normalized condition. It contains alloying elements like chromium, molybdenum, and nickel, which improve strength but make it slightly tougher to machine compared to plain carbon steels. Best Machining Condition: Annealed (approx. 200–240 HB) More difficult after hardening or nitriding due to high surface hardness Recommended Tools: Use high-speed steel (HSS) or carbide-tipped tools Coolant Use: Ample cutting fluid or coolant is recommended to reduce tool wear and improve finish Tolerances: Maintain slower speeds and moderate feeds to achieve tight tolerances and smooth surface finish