1.2067 (102Cr6) vs 1.3505 (100Cr6)
Which Bearing Steel is Right for Your Forging Application?

Why This Comparison Matters to Forging Engineers

When sourcing forged bearing components or cold work tooling, engineers frequently encounter two grades that appear almost identical on paper: DIN 1.2067 (102Cr6) and DIN 1.3505 (100Cr6). Both are high-carbon, chromium-alloyed steels. Both achieve hardness in the 60–64 HRC range after quench and temper. Both are widely available from Chinese and European forging manufacturers.

Yet specifying the wrong grade — even with identical hardness targets — can lead to premature fatigue cracking in bearing rings, dimensional instability in cold forming dies, or unnecessary cost overruns when a lower-specification material would have performed identically. This article provides a metallurgist-level breakdown designed for procurement engineers, design engineers, and quality managers who need a defensible specification decision.

Both grades are available as open die forgings, seamless rolled rings, forged bars, discs, and custom machined components from Jiangsu Liangyi Co., Limited's facility in Jiangyin, Jiangsu Province, China.

Grade Overview: Global Standards & Classification

Understanding how each grade is classified across global standards is essential for international procurement. A buyer in Germany ordering to DIN, a client in the US specifying AISI, and a Japanese OEM ordering to JIS are frequently referring to the same — or equivalent — materials under different names. The cross-reference table below maps the full equivalency network for both grades.

Chemical Composition: The Key Differences Explained

The chemical difference between these two grades is subtle on paper — and consequential in practice. The primary distinction lies in chromium content: 1.3505 carries 1.35–1.65% Cr, roughly 50% more chromium than 1.2067's 0.90–1.15% range. This elevated chromium drives both hardenability and rolling contact fatigue performance. Meanwhile, 1.2067 allows a slightly higher carbon ceiling (up to 1.10%) that pushes carbide density and cold-work wear resistance higher.

The tighter P and S limits in 1.3505 reflect the bearing industry's stringent inclusion cleanliness requirements — even sub-micron sulfide stringers can initiate rolling contact fatigue cracks. This is why 1.3505 is governed by the dedicated bearing steel standard EN ISO 683-17, while 1.2067 sits under the broader tool steel standard EN ISO 4957.

Mechanical Properties: Full Comparison

Both grades achieve similar hardness targets after quench and temper, but differ significantly in other mechanical parameters. Values below are standard reference figures for forged material; always confirm specific lot values via Mill Test Certificate (EN 10204 3.1).

Heat Treatment Protocols: Step-by-Step Comparison

Despite similar chemistry, the two grades follow distinctly different heat treatment windows. Engineering the correct protocol — and confirming it with your forging supplier — is critical for achieving the intended mechanical performance and dimensional stability.

1.2067 / 102Cr6 — Recommended Heat Treatment Sequence

• Soft / Spheroidizing Annealing

  Heat to 780–810°C, furnace cool to 550–600°C at 10–20°C/hour, then air cool or isothermal cool at 680–720°C. Target delivery hardness: 170–210 HB. This step is mandatory before rough machining to reduce cutting forces and tool wear on a high-carbon grade.

• Austenitizing (Hardening)

  Heat to 820–850°C and hold. Use shorter soak times (10–15 min) compared to 1.3505, as 1.2067's lower Cr enables faster carbide dissolution. Oversoaking risks excessive retained austenite, dimensional growth, and reduced hardness.

• Quenching

  Oil quench preferred. Section size limited to approximately 30mm for full through-hardness with standard oil quench. For larger forgings, salt bath martempering at 160–200°C reduces distortion risk inherent to this relatively low-hardenability grade.

• Tempering

  Temper immediately after quenching. Range: 150–180°C for maximum hardness (61–64 HRC) and wear resistance. For improved toughness, temper at 180–220°C (58–62 HRC). Maximum sustained operating temperature in service: 150°C.

1.3505 / 100Cr6 — Recommended Heat Treatment Sequence

• Spheroidizing Annealing

  Cycle at 800–820°C with controlled cooling to produce a fine, uniform spheroidized carbide microstructure — the standard delivery condition for bearing ring forgings. Target: 179–207 HB. The spheroidized structure is critical for both machinability and optimal bearing fatigue life after final hardening.

• Austenitizing (Hardening)

  Heat to 830–870°C — higher than 1.2067 due to greater Cr content. A controlled soak of 15–30 min allows Cr carbides to partially dissolve, enriching the austenite matrix while maintaining fine residual carbide density critical for bearing wear resistance.

• Quenching

  Oil quench or bath quench. Higher hardenability than 1.2067 allows full through-hardness in sections up to approximately 60mm (ESR quality material). This is the primary reason 1.3505 is standard for large bearing inner and outer ring forgings.

• Tempering

  Temper at 150–180°C to achieve 58–65 HRC. Post-grind temper at 120–150°C may be applied to relieve grinding stresses. Maximum sustained operating temperature for precision bearing components: 120°C.

The Forging Process: Where Manufacturer Expertise Is Critical

Both 1.2067 and 1.3505 are high-carbon grades demanding significantly more process control during forging than low or medium-carbon structural steels. The risk of carbide network formation, forge cracking, and surface decarburization is elevated for both grades.

Shared Forging Parameters for Both Grades

The high carbon content (≥0.93% in both grades) makes these steels sensitive to forging temperature windows. The correct forging temperature range is 1050–1150°C, with finish forging not below 850°C. Post-forge annealing (isothermal or controlled furnace cool) is mandatory for both grades before final heat treatment — fast air cooling risks hard martensite formation at the surface and subsequent quench cracking.

The Critical Cross-Section Distinction

The key forging distinction is cross-section size and hardenability. For forgings above approximately 30mm effective section, 1.2067's lower hardenability means that through-hardened condition cannot be reliably achieved with standard oil quenching. For bearing ring forgings above 30mm wall thickness, 1.3505 is the correct and only appropriate specification.

For 1.3505 produced by ESR (Electroslag Remelting), inclusion cleanliness is substantially improved — oxygen content typically below 10 ppm, titanium below 15 ppm — enabling the higher rolling contact fatigue life ratings required by precision bearing manufacturers.

Application Suitability Matrix

The table below provides a quick-reference suitability guide for the most common industrial applications. Ratings are indicative and should be confirmed against your specific operating conditions, load cycle, and dimensional requirements.

Decision Guide: Which Grade Should You Choose?

Use the decision cards below to confirm which grade matches your application requirements. If your application appears in both lists, prioritize the card that matches your primary failure mode concern — abrasive wear versus rolling contact fatigue.

Procurement & Quality Checklist

The following checklist covers what to include in your forging inquiry or purchase order to ensure the delivered product matches your engineering intent.

Conclusion: Two Grades, One Correct Answer Per Application

The 1.2067 vs 1.3505 decision is not a quality comparison — both are engineering-grade high-carbon chromium steels produced to strict international standards. The correct choice depends entirely on your application's primary performance requirement.

If you need a cold work tool steel with maximum hardness, abrasive wear resistance, and sharp geometric retention in sections under 30mm — 1.2067 / 102Cr6 cold work tool steel forgings are the correct choice for dies, cutting tools, and knives where the dominant failure mode is surface wear, not contact fatigue.

If you need a bearing steel with excellent rolling contact fatigue life, consistent through-hardness in larger sections, and the traceability required by precision bearing supply chains — 1.3505 / 100Cr6 is the industry-standard answer.

At Jiangsu Liangyi Co., Limited, we manufacture custom forged parts in both grades — from 30 kg to 30,000 kg per piece, with ISO 9001:2015 quality management and EN 10204 3.1 MTC as standard. Our engineering team reviews your drawing and confirms the correct grade, heat treatment condition, and NDT specification before order confirmation. Free quotes within 24 hours.