Technical guides · Grade comparison
Compare steel grades without assuming they are interchangeable.
Before accepting an alternative grade, compare the standard and edition, product form, section size and delivery condition. Check the heat treatment, mechanical test results and further processing needed. The purchaser's approval rules still apply, even when two grade names are commonly cross-referenced.
Related designations can belong to different standards and supply routes. They are not automatically interchangeable, and the final material decision remains with the purchaser's engineering and specification authority.
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Before you order
What to include in your enquiry.
Check the details in this table, then use the guides below for more information.
| Decision area | Define in the inquiry | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Designation | Exact grade, standard, edition and product form | Identify what is actually being compared |
| Condition | As-rolled, normalized, annealed, QT or another ordered state | Separate grade identity from delivered properties |
| Section | Diameter, ruling section, sampling location and heat-treatment response | Test whether the proposed route fits the size |
| Alternative approval | Evidence package, deviation route and named approver | Keep substitution decisions auditable |
Guide library
Grade comparison guides
Find the guide for your material, process or inspection question.
42CrMo4 vs 4140 vs SCM440 for round bar RFQs
42CrMo4, SAE 4140, SCM440, and 42CrMo are related names from different standards. Compare the actual specifications before approving an alternative.
Open guideCK45, C45, and SAE 1045 round bar: compare the standard before the grade name
What changes when a drawing says CK45, C45, C45E, or SAE 1045—and how to write a purchase line that suppliers can quote consistently.
Open guide65Mn vs 42CrMoA grinding rod route review
65Mn and 42CrMoA grinding rods take different material and heat-treatment routes. Compare them through matched inspection and mill data.
Open guide35CrMo vs 42CrMo for fastener bars
35CrMo and 42CrMo are close enough to invite comparison, but the finished fastener, section, heat treatment, coating, and inspection decide suitability.
Open guide42CrMo4 vs CK45 for hydraulic cylinder rods
CK45/1045 and 42CrMo4/4140 can both appear in hydraulic rod quotations. Compare them using the actual load, section, process chain, and inspection.
Open guide4140 vs 4130 vs 4340 steel selection for industrial buyers
4130, 4140, and 4340 differ in chemistry and heat-treatment response. Compare them against the real section and required verification—not a grade ranking.
Open guideCK45 / 1045 hardening review and alloy-upgrade questions
A note such as “CK45 hardened” is too vague to quote. Identify the process, hardened depth, core requirement, section, test locations, and approval path.
Open guide1045 vs 4140 material choice for shafts and rods
1045 and 4140 can both suit shafts and rods. The choice depends on section size, load, heat treatment, fabrication, and the records required from the supplier.
Open guideProducts and enquiries
Find the product or send your requirements.
Your enquiry
Send the specifications you have agreed.
Send the grade or approved alternative, standard, dimensions, condition, processing, inspection, documents, quantity, destination, and drawings for review.