1020 Round Bars – AISI / SAE 1020 Steel Round Bar (C22 / S20C)
ASC LLP, Mumbai, supplies 1020 steel round bars in hot-rolled, cold-drawn (bright), turned and forged condition, from 6 mm to 500 mm diameter. In addition, every lot comes with a mill test certificate. See also our full range of carbon steel bars.
What is AISI 1020 Steel?
AISI / SAE 1020 (UNS G10200) is a low-carbon steel with about 0.20% carbon. As a result, it is soft, ductile and easy to machine, bend and weld, while still being stronger than the lowest-carbon grades.
Because its carbon is low, 1020 cannot be through-hardened in useful sections. Instead, it is often carburised (case hardened) to give a hard surface over a tough core, for example on pins and light gears. For higher strength without case hardening, 1045 bars are normally used.
1020 Round Bar – Quick Facts
- Grade: AISI / SAE 1020, UNS G10200
- Carbon: 0.18–0.23%, with 0.30–0.60% manganese
- Standards: ASTM A29 for hot-wrought bars, while A108 covers cold-finished bars
- Equivalents: C22 (1.0402), C22E (1.1151), JIS S20C and IS 1570 C20
- Sizes: 6 mm to 500 mm diameter; in addition, square, flat and hex bars
- Key features: excellent weldability and machinability; suitable for carburising
Forms of 1020 Steel Bar We Supply
- Hot-rolled (black) round bar: economical, so it suits fabrication and forging.
- Bright bar (cold drawn): close tolerance and smooth finish; moreover, higher yield strength from cold work.
- Turned and polished bar: for shafts and precision parts.
- Forged round bar: similarly, for large diameters and rings.
- Square, flat and hex bars: for frames, keys and fasteners.
Hot Rolled vs Cold Drawn 1020 Steel Bar
| Feature | Hot rolled | Cold drawn (bright) |
| Surface | Mill scale, so it is rougher | Smooth and bright |
| Tolerance | Wider | Close, therefore less machining |
| Strength | Lower | Higher yield from cold work |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
Heat Treatment & Carburising of 1020
- Normalising: about 915 °C, then air cool to refine the grain.
- Annealing: 855–900 °C with slow furnace cooling, which gives the softest condition.
- Carburising: 900–925 °C, followed by quenching, so the surface becomes hard while the core stays tough.
- Through-hardening: not effective, because the carbon is too low; therefore 1045 or 4140 is used instead.
1020 Round Bar Specifications
| Item | Details |
| Grade | AISI / SAE 1020, UNS G10200 |
| Standards | ASTM A29 (hot-wrought); in addition, ASTM A108 (cold-finished) |
| Diameter | 6 mm to 500 mm; larger sizes as forgings |
| Length | Mill lengths of 3 – 6 m, or alternatively cut to length |
| Condition | As rolled, normalised, annealed or cold drawn |
| Certificate | EN 10204 3.1; also 3.2 on request |
AISI 1020 Chemical Composition
| Element | 1020 (%) |
| Carbon (C) | 0.18 – 0.23 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.30 – 0.60 |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.10 – 0.35 (typical) |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.040 max |
| Sulphur (S) | 0.050 max |
| Iron (Fe) | Balance |
ASTM A29 sets the carbon, manganese, phosphorus and sulphur limits. By contrast, silicon is not specified unless ordered, although killed bars typically contain 0.10–0.35%.
1020 Steel Round Bar Mechanical Properties by Condition
| Condition | Tensile (MPa) | Yield (MPa) | Elongation (%) | Hardness (HB) |
| Hot rolled | about 380 | about 205 | about 25 | about 111 |
| Cold drawn (bright) | about 420 | about 350 | about 15 | about 121 |
| Normalised | about 440 | about 345 | about 35 | about 131 |
These are typical values only; consequently, actual results are shown on the mill certificate. Note that cold drawing raises yield strength sharply, whereas elongation falls.
1020 Steel Equivalent Grades – C22, S20C, C20
| Standard | Equivalent grade |
| EN 10083-2 | C22 (1.0402); C22E (1.1151) with tighter P and S |
| JIS G4051 | S20C |
| IS 1570 (Part 2) | C20 (formerly 20C8) |
| BS 970 | 070M20, which is similar |
1020 vs 1018 vs 1045
AISI 1018 is very similar but has more manganese (0.60–0.90%), so it machines and carburises slightly better. In contrast, 1045 has 0.45% carbon and can be hardened and tempered. Therefore, 1020 is chosen for weldable, formable parts at the lowest cost.
Applications of 1020 Round Bars
| Industry | Typical 1020 round bar use |
| Automotive | Pins, shafts and spacers, as well as carburised parts |
| Machinery | Light shafts, rollers and spindles |
| Fasteners | Bolts and studs in low-strength grades |
| Fabrication | Frames, brackets and welded assemblies |
| Forging | Rings, flanges and hubs, especially for welding |
For 1020 hollow sections, see our ASTM A513 1020 tubes, 1020 DOM tubes and A519 1020 seamless tubes.
Why Buy 1020 Round Bars from ASC LLP?
- Traceable material: mill certificates with chemistry and condition.
- Correct grade advice: help choosing 1018, 1020, 1045 or ST52, because strength and welding decide the grade.
- Cut to length: bars sawn to size, so less machining is needed.
- Export packing: finally, bundles are tagged and packed for sea shipment.
See also our full range of carbon steel products.
Frequently Asked Questions – 1020 Steel Round Bars
What is 1020 steel round bar?
In short, it is a low-carbon steel bar with about 0.20% carbon, used for shafts, pins, fasteners and welded parts.
What is the chemical composition of 1020 steel?
It contains C 0.18–0.23%, Mn 0.30–0.60%, P 0.040% max and S 0.050% max, with silicon typically 0.10–0.35%.
What is the tensile strength of 1020 steel?
Typically about 380 MPa hot rolled and about 420 MPa cold drawn. However, actual values depend on size and condition.
What is the equivalent of 1020 steel?
The main equivalents are C22 (1.0402), C22E (1.1151), JIS S20C and IS C20.
Is DIN 1.0402 the same as C20?
No. 1.0402 is C22 in EN 10083-2. C20, by contrast, is the Indian IS 1570 designation.
Can 1020 steel be hardened?
Only by case hardening. It is usually carburised, because its carbon is too low for useful through-hardening.
What is the difference between 1020 and 1018?
1018 has more manganese, so it machines and carburises slightly better, while both weld easily.
Global Supply
ASC LLP supplies 1020 steel round bars from Mumbai to customers in India, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, the Americas and South-East Asia. To get a prompt quotation, simply send your enquiry with diameter, length, condition and quantity.
Countries We Export To
UNITED STATES, EUROPE, UK, UAE, SAUDI ARABIA, OMAN, KUWAIT, JORDAN, QATAR, INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, BRAZIL, SPAIN, ITALY, FRANCE, GERMANY, BAHRAIN, SRI LANKA, AZERBAIJAN, AUSTRALIA, AUSTRIA, PHILIPPINES, TURKEY, RUSSIA, IRAN, IRAQ, CANADA, KOREA, JAPAN, YEMEN, FINLAND, ZIMBABWE, HUNGARY, PORTUGAL, VIETNAM, MOROCCO, THAILAND, SOUTH AFRICA, MEXICO, SINGAPORE, GREECE, KUWAIT, POLAND, NEW ZEALAND, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND, BELGIUM, BHUTAN, BANGLADESH, TAIWAN, ROMANIA, CAMBODIA, KAZAKHSTAN, AFGHANISTAN.
