The ductile baseline for fine blanking — C ≤0.12%, Mn ≤0.60%, elongation ≥38%. Supplied spheroidized so seat recliner plates, door lock ratchets and complex fine-blanked geometries shear clean on the first stroke.
SAE1010 is the lowest-carbon grade in the SAE 10xx series that still sees widespread structural use. Its job is not strength — it is formability. Every 0.05% of carbon you add trades elongation for hardness, and SAE1010 keeps that trade at the minimum.
SAE1020 (0.18–0.23% C) is stronger and harder but less ductile. SAE1010 is the call when the part geometry is complex — deep draws, tight bend radii, fine-blanked features — and the as-blanked surface must stay smooth.
Choose 1010 for complex geometry; 1020 for mild strength.SPCC is a JIS commercial-quality cold-rolled sheet for general forming and panels. SAE1010 is specified under SAE/ASTM with a tighter carbon cap and is aimed at precision components — fine blanking, machining, case hardening. For blanks that become mechanisms, use SAE1010.
1010 for precision blanks; SPCC for panels and sheet.SAE1035 (0.32–0.38% C) is hardenable and used for gears and shafts after quenching. SAE1010 cannot through-harden meaningfully — it is either used in the soft state or case-carburized for a wear-resistant surface over a tough core.
1010 for soft/case-hardened parts; 1035 for through-hardened parts.Low carbon and controlled residuals keep the material ductile and responsive to spheroidizing. Actual heat chemistry confirmed on MTC.
| Element | SAE1010 (%) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | ≤ 0.12 | Primary hardening element; kept low for maximum ductility |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.30 – 0.60 | Deoxidizer; mild solid-solution strengthening |
| Phosphorus (P) | ≤ 0.040 | Residual; controlled for toughness and shear-face quality |
| Sulfur (S) | ≤ 0.050 | Residual; controlled for formability |
Reference: SAE J403 / ASTM A109. Values typical per standard, actual confirmed on MTC. Compare with other cold-rolled grades in our cold-rolled steel standards comparison.
SAE1010 is most commonly supplied spheroidized for blanking and forming. Case-carburized properties depend on the customer's heat treat cycle.
| Condition | Tensile (typ.) | Yield (typ.) | Elongation (typ.) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spheroidized (soft annealed) | 310 – 380 MPa | 180 – 240 MPa | ≥ 38% | Fine blanking, cold forming, deep drawing |
| Cold-rolled (full hard) | 450 – 600 MPa | 350 – 480 MPa | 5 – 12% | Simple stampings, flat parts requiring rigidity |
| Case-carburized (customer HT) | — | — | — | Wear-resistant surface, tough core (case 0.3–1.0 mm) |
Indicative only. Mechanical values depend on gauge, annealing cycle and test direction. Typical per standard, actual confirmed on MTC. Read our guide to reading the MTC for what each value means.
Chemistry ranges overlap but are not identical. Confirm against your governing standard before substitution.
| Standard | Grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SAE / ASTM | SAE1010 / AISI 1010 | Base reference (SAE J403 / ASTM A109) |
| GB (China) | 10# (approx.) | GB/T 699; C 0.07–0.14% |
| JIS (Japan) | S10C (approx.) | JIS G4051; C 0.08–0.13% |
| DIN / EN (Germany) | C10 / CK10 (1.0301) | EN 10083; C 0.07–0.13% |
Equivalents are approximate. For regulated or safety-critical parts, confirm full chemistry against your governing spec and the MTC.
1.5–3.0 mm spheroidized strip, fine-blanked into recliner gear plates and sector teeth. The ≥38% elongation ensures the tooth roots do not crack during blanking, and the low carbon keeps the part tough enough to withstand repeated seat adjustment cycles. See our seat recliner fine blanking guide.
2.0–4.0 mm strip, fine-blanked to ratchet tooth geometry, then often case-carburized for wear resistance at the contact surfaces. SAE1010's clean shear face means the ratchet teeth engage smoothly without secondary machining. See our door lock fine blanking guide.
0.8–2.5 mm strip for brackets, connectors and mounting plates with multiple pierced features and tight bend radii. The spheroidized condition extends progressive-die tool life and produces parts that hold dimensional tolerance through subsequent forming operations.
SAE1010 is the substrate of choice for parts that need a hard wear surface over a tough, shock-resistant core — pins, shafts, levers and small gears. Carburized to 0.3–1.0 mm case depth, then quenched and tempered per the customer's specification.
Full cycle conditioning the carbide structure for clean fine blanking and cold forming — the difference between a clean shear face and a torn one. Read more in our spheroidizing guide.
Multi-pass rolling to your gauge tolerance, with controlled surface finish for blanking and forming. Thickness tolerances agreed per order and documented on the MTC.
Width tolerance and burr managed on our line — coils for progressive dies, sheets for blanking feeders. Narrow widths from 6 mm; burr direction confirmed at quoting.
For fine blanking, edge condition and surface cleanliness directly affect tool life and shear-face quality. We inspect both before dispatch and document findings on the inspection report.
These grade families share material, processing or application territory with SAE1010.
SAE1010 / SAE1035 / SAE1078 grades optimized for clean shear faces and tight-tolerance blanks.
SPCC / SPCD / SPCE / DC01–DC06 deep-drawing and commercial-quality cold-rolled grades.
SAE1035 / SAE1050 / C45E grades, hardenable for load-bearing machined and blanked components.
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