Chinese Gear Steels.
International Equivalents.
Compare Chinese steel grades with USA, Germany / EN and UK references. Chemical composition, typical gear applications and material-selection notes in one place.
Material Reference
Highlighted rows are Chinese grades. International references appear beneath each grade. Equivalence is approximate — confirm the specified standard and material certificate before selection.
| Steel Grade / Equivalent | Chemical Composition % | Country / Standard | Typical Gear Use / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20Cr | C 0.18–0.24; Si 0.17–0.37; Mn 0.50–0.80; Cr 0.70–1.10; P/S ≤0.030 | China | General carburised gears; small/medium gears |
| USA — SAE 5120 | C 0.17–0.22; Mn 0.70–0.90; Cr 0.70–0.90 | USA | — |
| Germany / EN — 20Cr4 / 1.7027 | C 0.17–0.23; Si ≤0.40; Mn 0.60–0.90; Cr 0.90–1.20 | Germany / EN | — |
| UK — 527A20 | C 0.17–0.23; Si 0.10–0.35; Mn 0.50–0.80; Cr 0.90–1.20 | UK | — |
| 20CrMnTi | C 0.17–0.23; Si 0.17–0.37; Mn 0.80–1.10; Cr 1.00–1.30; Ti 0.04–0.10 | China | Common Chinese automotive / transmission gear steel |
| USA — SAE 8620 / SAE 8622 (approx.) | 8620: C 0.18–0.23; Mn 0.70–0.90; Ni 0.40–0.70; Cr 0.40–0.60; Mo 0.15–0.25. 8622: C 0.20–0.25; Mn 0.70–0.90; Ni 0.40–0.70; Cr 0.40–0.60; Mo 0.15–0.25 | USA | — |
| Germany / EN — 20MnCr5 / 1.7147 (approx.) | C 0.17–0.22; Si ≤0.40; Mn 1.10–1.40; Cr 1.00–1.30 | Germany / EN | — |
| UK — 805M20 / EN362 (approx.) | C 0.17–0.23; Si 0.10–0.35; Mn 0.70–0.90; Ni 0.40–0.70; Cr 0.40–0.60; Mo 0.15–0.25 | UK | — |
| 20CrMo | C 0.17–0.24; Si 0.17–0.37; Mn 0.40–0.70; Cr 0.80–1.10; Mo 0.15–0.25 | China | Carburised gears needing Cr-Mo steel |
| USA — SAE 4118 / SAE 4119 (approx.) | 4118: C 0.18–0.23; Mn 0.70–0.90; Cr 0.40–0.60; Mo 0.08–0.15. 4119: C 0.18–0.23; Mn 0.70–1.00; Cr 0.40–0.60; Mo 0.08–0.15 | USA | — |
| Germany / EN — 20MoCr4 / 1.7321 (approx.) | C 0.17–0.23; Si ≤0.40; Mn 0.60–0.90; Cr 0.70–1.10; Mo 0.15–0.25 | Germany / EN | — |
| UK — 708A20 (approx.) | C approx. 0.17–0.23; Mn approx. 0.70–1.00; Cr approx. 0.40–0.60; Mo approx. 0.08–0.15 | UK | — |
| 20CrNiMo | Low-carbon Ni-Cr-Mo case-hardening steel; exact chemistry to be confirmed to specified GB grade/certificate | China | Carburised gears requiring higher toughness |
| USA — SAE 8620 / SAE 8617 (approx.) | 8620: C 0.18–0.23; Mn 0.70–0.90; Ni 0.40–0.70; Cr 0.40–0.60; Mo 0.15–0.25. 8617: C 0.15–0.20; Mn 0.70–0.90; Ni 0.40–0.70; Cr 0.40–0.60; Mo 0.15–0.25 | USA | — |
| Germany / EN — 21NiCrMo2 / 1.6523 (approx.) | C 0.17–0.23; Si ≤0.40; Mn 0.65–0.95; Ni 0.40–0.70; Cr 0.35–0.70; Mo 0.15–0.25 | Germany / EN | — |
| UK — 805M20 (approx.) | C 0.17–0.23; Si 0.10–0.35; Mn 0.70–0.90; Ni 0.40–0.70; Cr 0.40–0.60; Mo 0.15–0.25 | UK | — |
| 17Cr2Ni2Mo / similar | Chinese grade used for high-load case-hardened gears; exact chemistry to be confirmed against the ordered GB grade/certificate | China | Large / heavily loaded carburised gears |
| USA — SAE 4320 / SAE 9310 (approx.) | 4320: C 0.17–0.22; Mn 0.45–0.65; Ni 1.65–2.00; Cr 0.40–0.60; Mo 0.20–0.30. 9310: C 0.08–0.13; Mn 0.45–0.65; Ni 3.00–3.50; Cr 1.00–1.40; Mo 0.08–0.15 | USA | — |
| Germany / EN — 18CrNiMo7-6 / 1.6587 | C 0.15–0.21; Si ≤0.40; Mn 0.50–0.90; Cr 1.50–1.80; Ni 1.40–1.70; Mo 0.25–0.35 | Germany / EN | — |
| UK — EN36 / 655M13 (approx.) | C 0.10–0.16; Si 0.10–0.35; Mn 0.40–0.70; Ni 3.00–3.75; Cr 0.60–1.10; Mo 0.10–0.25 | UK | — |
| 40Cr | C 0.37–0.44; Si 0.17–0.37; Mn 0.50–0.80; Cr 0.80–1.10; P/S ≤0.030 | China | Through-hardened gears, shafts and pinions |
| USA — SAE 5140 | C 0.38–0.43; Mn 0.70–0.90; Cr 0.70–0.90 | USA | — |
| Germany / EN — 41Cr4 / 1.7035 | C 0.38–0.45; Si ≤0.40; Mn 0.60–0.90; Cr 0.90–1.20 | Germany / EN | — |
| UK — 530M40 / 530A40 (approx.) | C approx. 0.36–0.44; Si 0.10–0.35; Mn approx. 0.60–1.00; Cr approx. 0.80–1.10 | UK | — |
| 42CrMo | C 0.38–0.45; Si 0.17–0.37; Mn 0.50–0.80; Cr 0.90–1.20; Mo 0.15–0.25 | China | Through-hardened high-strength gears, shafts and pinions |
| USA — SAE/AISI 4140 | C 0.38–0.43; Si 0.15–0.30; Mn 0.75–1.00; Cr 0.80–1.10; Mo 0.15–0.25 | USA | — |
| Germany / EN — 42CrMo4 / 1.7225 | C 0.38–0.45; Si ≤0.40; Mn 0.60–0.90; Cr 0.90–1.20; Mo 0.15–0.30 | Germany / EN | — |
| UK — EN19 / 708M40 | C 0.36–0.44; Si 0.10–0.35; Mn 0.70–1.00; Cr 0.90–1.20; Mo 0.15–0.25 | UK | — |
| 45# / 45 steel | C 0.42–0.50; Si 0.17–0.37; Mn 0.50–0.80; P/S ≤0.035 | China | Simple gears, racks, sprockets and lower-duty components |
| USA — SAE 1045 | C 0.43–0.50; Mn 0.60–0.90 | USA | — |
| Germany / EN — C45 / C45E / 1.0503 / 1.1191 | C 0.42–0.50; Si ≤0.40; Mn 0.50–0.80 | Germany / EN | — |
| UK — 080M46 / 070M46 (approx.) | C 0.43–0.50; Si 0.10–0.40; Mn 0.60–0.90 | UK | — |
Reference, Not a Material Specification.
Steel equivalence is approximate. Final material selection should be confirmed against the customer’s drawing, governing standard, heat-treatment requirement, hardness, case depth and mill/material certificate. Where the source document supplied only a material-family description rather than a complete chemistry, this reference flags that the exact ordered grade/certificate must be confirmed.
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