THIS CHROMIUM-MOLYBDENUM ALLOY STEEL IS OIL-HARDENING STEEL OF RELATIVELY HIGH HARDEN-ABILITY, AND IS AMONG THE MOST WIDELY USED AND VERSATILE MACHINERY STEEL. THE CHROMIUM CONTENTS PROVIDES GOOD HARDNESS PENETRATION AND THE MOLYBDENUM IMPARTS UNIFORMITY OF HARDNESS AND HIGH STRENGTH. 
THIS GRADE IS ESPECIALLY SUITABLE FOR FORGING AS IT HAS SELF-SCALING CHARACTERISTICS IT RESPONDS READILY TO HEAT TREATMENT AND IS COMPARATIVELY EASY TO MACHINE IN THE HEAT TREATED CONDITION. IN THE HEAT TREATED CONDITION TENSILE STRENGTHS OF 170,000 PSI. FOR SMALL SECTIONS AND 140,000 PSI. FOR LARGER SECTIONS ARE ATTAINABLE, ALL COMBINED WITH GOOD DUCTILITY AND RESISTANCE TO SHOCK. THIS STEEL RESISTS CREEP IN TEMPERATURES UP TO 540 DEGREES CELSIUS AND MAINTAIN ITS PROPERTIES EVEN AFTER LONG EXPOSURE AT THESE RELATIVELY HIGH WORKING TEMPERATURES. 
IN THE HARDENED AND TEMPERED CONDITION, THIS STEEL POSSESSES GOOD WEAR RESISTANCE. THE WEAR RESISTANCE CAN CONSIDERABLY INCREASED BY FLAME – OR INDUCTION HARDENING, OR ALTERNATIVELY, IT MAY BE NITRIDED.