The high-carbon grade that balances hardness and toughness — C 0.68–0.75%, Mn 0.60–0.90%, quenched to 55–60 HRC. Supplied spheroidized for blanking saw blade bodies, springs, knife blanks and tape measures.
SAE1070 occupies the middle of the high-carbon range — enough carbon for 55–60 HRC cutting edges, but not so much that it turns brittle under flexural loads. That balance is why it serves both saw blades and springs, applications pulling in opposite directions on the hardness-toughness curve.
SAE1078 (0.72–0.85% C) reaches higher peak hardness for saw blades and cutting tools. SAE1070 (0.68–0.75% C) trades a small amount of hardness for better toughness and formability — the call for springs, tape measures and knife blades that must flex without snapping.
1078 for max edge hardness; 1070 for hardness + toughness.65Mn (0.90–1.20% Mn) adds manganese for deeper hardening in thicker sections — the grade for diaphragm springs and washers over 1.5 mm. SAE1070 is the leaner choice for thin strip (≤1.5 mm) where surface quality for cutting edges is prioritized.
1070 for thin-gauge blades; 65Mn for thicker springs.SK5 (0.80–0.90% C) is optimized for maximum edge hardness but is more brittle and less forgiving in heat treat. SAE1070 delivers most cutting performance with better toughness and lower cost — suitable for utility knives, saw blades and springs.
SK5 for premium edges; 1070 for versatile blades & springs.Carbon is the primary hardening element; manganese contributes to hardenability and deoxidation. Actual heat chemistry confirmed on MTC.
| Element | SAE1070 (%) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 0.68 – 0.75 | Primary hardening and edge-hardness element |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.60 – 0.90 | Hardenability and deoxidation |
| Phosphorus (P) | ≤ 0.040 | Residual; controlled for toughness |
| Sulfur (S) | ≤ 0.050 | Residual; controlled for shear-face quality |
Reference: SAE J403 / ASTM A682. Values typical per standard, actual confirmed on MTC.
Supplied spheroidized for blanking, or hardened-and-tempered to either cutting-edge hardness (low temper) or spring hardness (higher temper).
| Condition | Hardness (typ.) | Tensile (typ.) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spheroidized (soft annealed) | 160 – 200 HB | 540 – 640 MPa | Fine blanking, cold forming — part quenched afterwards |
| H&T — cutting edge (low temper) | 55 – 60 HRC | 1,400 – 1,700 MPa | Saw blade bodies, knife blanks, tape measures |
| H&T — spring (higher temper) | 45 – 52 HRC | 1,200 – 1,500 MPa | Flat springs, spring washers, clutch components |
Indicative only. Hardness depends on section size, quench medium and tempering temperature. Thin strip (≤1.0 mm) achieves the upper end. Typical per standard, actual confirmed on MTC.
Chemistry ranges overlap but are not identical. Confirm against your governing standard before substitution.
| Standard | Grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SAE / ASTM | SAE1070 / AISI 1070 | Base reference (SAE J403 / ASTM A682) |
| GB (China) | 70# (approx.) | GB/T 1222 / GB/T 699; C 0.67–0.75% |
| JIS (Japan) | S70C (approx.) | JIS G4051; carbon machine structural steel |
| DIN / EN (Germany) | C70 / CK70 (1.0761) | EN 10132-4; cold-rolled narrow strip for springs |
Equivalents are approximate. For safety-critical parts, confirm chemistry against your governing spec and the MTC.
0.6–2.0 mm strip, blanked into saw blade shapes with tooth profiles, then quenched and low-temperature tempered to 55–60 HRC. The balanced carbon gives a hard, wear-resistant tooth edge while retaining enough toughness to resist cracking under cutting loads. FB or FD surface finish specified for a uniform blade body. See our saw blade steel guide.
0.2–1.5 mm strip, formed in the spheroidized state, then quenched and tempered at 300–400°C to 45–52 HRC. SAE1070's toughness suits springs under repeated flexural cycles — seat mechanisms, appliance latches, electrical contact springs — without the brittleness of higher-carbon grades.
0.8–2.5 mm strip, blanked and ground to blade profiles, then heat treated to 55–58 HRC. SAE1070 takes a sharp edge and holds it better than medium-carbon steels, while being more forgiving in heat treat than higher-alloy tool steels. Common for utility knives, box cutters and entry-level pocket knives.
0.08–0.20 mm ultra-thin strip, hardened and tempered to spring temper, then printed with markings. The high carbon gives the blade stiffness and spring-back to remain straight when extended, while toughness prevents snapping when flexed or dropped. Narrow-width slitting from 6 mm is standard.
Full cycle conditioning the carbide structure for clean fine blanking and cold forming. Read more in our spheroidizing guide.
Multi-pass rolling to your gauge — down to 0.08 mm for tape measure blades — with controlled surface finish (FB / FC / FD). Thickness tolerances documented on the MTC.
Width tolerance and burr managed on our line — narrow coils from 6 mm for tape measures and progressive dies, sheets for blanking feeders.
H&T strip to a specified hardness band — cutting-edge temper (55–60 HRC) or spring temper (45–52 HRC). Flatness managed through tension leveling after heat treat.
These grade families share material, processing or application territory with SAE1070.
SAE1070 / SAE1078 / 65Mn grades for hardened parts, springs and cutting edges.
65Mn / 50CrV4 / C67S / C75S grades with high elastic limit and fatigue resistance.
SK5 / SK7 / T8A / T10A grades with wear resistance and edge hardness for cutting tools.
Include thickness × width, quantity, condition (spheroidized or H&T), surface finish (FB/FC/FD) and destination port. Reply within one working day.