16MnCr5 vs 8620
These two grades are listed as equivalents of each other: their chemistry windows overlap and they serve the same applications. They are not always identical — check the differences below before substituting, especially in certified designs.
16MnCr5
Alloy & Engineering Steel
16MnCr5 is the most common European case-hardening steel for small-to-medium gears — the EN counterpart of the 8620 concept with Mn-Cr instead of Ni-Mo.
Standards: DIN 1.7131 (16MnCr5) · AISI 5115 (near) · GB 16CrMnH (near)
8620
Alloy & Engineering Steel
8620 is the standard carburizing (case-hardening) gear steel of the Americas: a low-carbon Ni-Cr-Mo grade that forms a hard wear-resistant case over a tough core.
Standards: DIN 1.6523 (21NiCrMo2-2) · AISI 8620 · JIS SNCM220 · GB 20CrNiMo
Chemical composition compared (%)
| Element | 16MnCr5 | 8620 |
|---|---|---|
| C | 0.14–0.19 | 0.18–0.23 |
| Si | ≤0.40 | 0.15–0.35 |
| Mn | 1.00–1.30 | 0.70–0.90 |
| Cr | 0.80–1.10 | 0.40–0.60 |
| Ni | — | 0.40–0.70 |
| Mo | — | 0.15–0.25 |
Properties compared
| Property | 16MnCr5 | 8620 |
|---|---|---|
| Case hardness (carburized) | 58–64 HRC | 58–63 HRC |
| Core tensile | 650–950 MPa | 700–950 MPa |
| Density | 7.85 g/cm³ | 7.85 g/cm³ |
Sourcing either grade?
Nasteel stocks both families from Shenzhen with EN 10204 3.1 mill certificates by heat number.
Ask for a quotationSee full data sheets: 16MnCr5 · 8620. Substitution decisions for certified parts stay with the design authority.