REV.
SURFACE ® J402
JUL2005
VEHICLE Issued 1912-01
STANDARD Revised 2005-07
Superseding J402 MAY1997
(R) New Steel Designation System for Wrought or Rolled Steel
1. Scope
This SAE Standard describes a new alphanumeric designation system for wrought steel used to
designate wrought ferrous materials, identify chemical composition, and any other requirements listed in
SAE Standards and Recommended Practices.
The previous SAE steel designation coding system consisted of four or five numbers used to designate
standard carbon and alloy steels specified to chemical composition ranges. Using SAE 1035 as an
example, the 35 represents the nominal weight % carbon content for the grade. Using SAE 52100 as an
example, the 100 represents the nominal weight % carbon content. The first two numbers of this four or
five number series are used to designate the steel grade carbon or alloy system with variations in
elements other than carbon. These are described in Table 1. In addition to the standard four or five
number steel designation above, a letter was sometimes added to the grade code to denote a non-
standard specific element being added to the standard grade. For example, with SAE 10B21, B
designates a boron addition; with SAE 12L14, L designates a lead addition; and with SAE 10V45, V
designates a vanadium addition.
For many years, the SAE four or five character steel designation system has provided a simple way to
identify and label steel grades. However, it is not comprehensive enough to allow for the accurate coding
of popular new or non-standard chemistry grades, different chemistries for the same grade that
traditionally have been associated with a specific product form, eg. SAE 1006 and SAE 1008, steel
grades with dual chemistry and mechanical property requirements, microalloyed grades, and grades with
both chemistry and hardenability requirements. As a result, these grades could not be properly recorded
within the constraints of the previous steel designation system and were not included in the SAE steel
grade Tables in SAE J403/J404 and other SAE documents. The new steel designation system is meant
to ensure that the original or old SAE steel grades are still usable and both old and new SAE grades can
be referenced uniformly between Standards organizations. Since the UNS numbering system for metals
provides the basis for the recording of steel grades between North American and International Standards
organizations, UNS was used as the framework of the new coding system. However, in order for the
traditional five number UNS code to be used, it had to be expanded and modified to allow for an increase
in the number of grades that would need to be classified in the future and to provide proper coding of new
or non-standard element modifications, corresponding element ranges and dual hardenability,
mechanical property or special processing requirements.
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SAE J402 Revised JUL2005
These new steel designations are the same in both the UNS and SAE systems, as described in this
standard (J402) and the joint SAE J1086/ASTM E527 UNS Publication. An alphanumeric code has been
developed to identify the composition of SAE steel grades.
1.1 Rationale
The name of J402 has been changed to reflect the “New SAE Steel Designation System for Wrought or
Rolled Steel”. SAE J402 has been completely rewritten to describe a new SAE/UNS steel designation
system which will be used to identify current and new steel grades. This system will replace the old UNS
designations used to identify modified SAE steel grades.
2. References
2.1 Applicable Documents
The following publications form a part of this specification to the extent specified herein. Unless
otherwise specified, the latest issue of SAE publications shall apply.
2.1.1 SAE PUBLICATIONS
Available from SAE, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001.
SAE J403—Chemical Compositions of SAE Carbon Steels
SAE J404—Chemical Compositions of SAE Alloy Steels
SAE J1086—Numbering Metals and Alloys
SAE J1249—Former SAE Standard and Former SAE Ex-Steels
SAE J1268—Hardenability Bands for Carbon and Alloy H Steels
SAE J1868—Restricted Hardenability Bands for Selected Alloy Steels
SAE HS-1086—Metals and Alloys in the Unified Numbering System
2.1.2 ASTM PUBLICATIONS
Available from ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959.
ASTM E 527—Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys (UNS)
ASTM DS 56H—Metals and Alloys in the Unified Numbering System (UNS)
3. New SAE Steel Designation
The new SAE steel designation is a five character alphanumeric code consisting of a letter prefix “G”, ”H”,
or “K”, and the conventional four number steel grade code. The first two numbers identify the
characteristic carbon or alloy system and the last two numbers designate the nominal weight % carbon
content. The four numeric descriptors will follow the current SAE steel specifications to enable continuity
between this revised standard and prior standards. This five character code is followed by a three digit
element modification code (reference Table 2) indicating the specific element(s) being modified, changed
or added. The three digit code is then followed by a four digit code (reference Table 3) describing the
modification in the chemical ranges and the Supplementary Requirements for Testing and Special
Practices. The following illustrates the coding series for the new SAE grade designation.
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SAE J402 Revised JUL2005
G or H or K XXXX-XXX-XXXX
Letter Grade Series Grade Code Name Element(s) Modification Element(s) Range or
Supplementary Requirement
(Testing, Special Practices, etc.)
Examples using the new coding system are presented in the footnotes at the end of Tables 3 and 4.
4. Grade Series
4.1 G Series Grades
The standard SAE “G” series will have “chemistry only” requirements. Standard SAE steel grades are
listed in SAE J403 and J404 with their specified chemistry ranges. Since there are no element
modifications for these steels, their three digit element modification codes and the four digit element
modification range codes are all zeros, indicating that there are no modifications.
The new SAE steel designation provides for the coding of new, non-standard or modified steel grades by
the use of a three number digit modification code followed by a four digit modified element range code.
Both the standard and the modified steels will share the same initial five character identification code to
indicate which standard grade forms the basis for the modified grade.
4.2 H Series Grades
The SAE “H” series will have a dual chemistry and hardenability requirement. The chemistry ranges and
the hardenability requirements for standard SAE H and RH grades are listed in SAE J1268 and SAE
J1868, respectively. Non-standard or modified grades will be coded with a three digit element
modification code and a four digit element modification range code.
The hardenability requirement may be a Jominy hardenability band requirement, specific J position(s)
hardenability specification, a DI hardenability range or other condition. New grades will be listed in SAE
J1268 and SAE J1868 and/or the appropriate ASTM standard along with their chemistry and
hardenability requirement.
The specific hardenability requirement along with the chemistry is described in the UNS Publication –
“Metals and Alloys in the Unified Numbering System published jointly as SAE HS-1086 and ASTM
DS-56H.
4.3 K Series Grades
The SAE “K” series steels have dual chemistry and supplementary mechanical property or special
processing requirements. The chemistry and supplementary requirements for a specific grade/product is
listed in the appropriate SAE/ASTM steel product standard. The grade along with the chemistry and the
standard where details on the supplementary requirements can be found will be documented in the UNS
Publication “Metals and Alloys in the Unified Numbering System” published jointly as SAE HS-1086 and
ASTM DS-56H.
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SAE J402 Revised JUL2005
5. Grade Code
The four digit grade code conforms to the generic grade designations in Table 1. This four number series
will denote the generic grade as described in the Scope and in Section 2 of the “New SAE Steel
Designation” above.
6. Element Modification Code
The three digit modification code will be assigned in the order indicated in Table 2. New grade
modification codes will be assigned sequentially as new grades are added.
A modification to SAE grade chemistry will in general consist of one or two elements being outside the
specified chemistry limits cited in SAE J403, J404, J1268, and J1868. Restrictive chemical ranges within
the SAE range for a grade will not normally be considered as a modified grade unless there is consensus
that this serves a useful purpose, for example, a restrictive sulfur level for SAE 1006 or SAE 1008 flat
rolled steel.
The two element modification code will be reported in alphabetical order based on using the full name of
the element, rather than its chemical symbol, as the basis for ranking, for example, NICkel (Ni) would
precede NIObium (Nb).
The three digit element modification will allow up to two elements to be modified on a standard grade. If
three or more element modifications are involved with a standard grade, a new generic grade name
should be considered as per Table 1.
7. Element Modification Code Details or Supplementary Requirements
7.1 Element Modification Range Code
The four digit element modification range code will be indicated as in Table 3. The table will be expanded
as necessary and new code numbers will be assigned sequentially as new steel grades are added.
Modifications or restrictions may be represented as minimum element concentration values, maximum
element concentration values or as an allowable element concentration range and will be assigned
alphabetically as described in Section 5.
The first two digits of the four digit modifier code will describe the first element addition or modification
while the second two digits will describe the second element modification, if applicable. To facilitate
recognition of whether the modification or limitation is a minimum, maximum or range, the following
system will be employed to describe the chemistry limitation:
Digits 00 No deviation from parent grade
Digits 01-24 Minimum value
Digits 25-49 Maximum value
Digits 50-99 Range
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SAE J402 Revised JUL2005
7.2 Supplementary Requirement Code
The four digit supplementary requirement code is an alphanumeric system describing the test,
mechanical properties or special processing condition(s).
This information is indicated in Table 4, which will act as a reference table in SAE J402. It is suggested
the user reference the actual standards.
8. Additions and Deletions of Steel Grades
8.1 Additions
New additions to the SAE standard “G”, “H” and ”K” series steels, as listed in SAE J403/J404 and/or SAE
J1268/J1868, will be based upon the results of the five-year SAE Steel Grade Usage Survey indicating
that the new grade meets minimum tonnage requirements, is supported by two or more users/producers,
and is in compliance with standard SAE grade chemistry ranges. These same rules apply to new
modified steel grades, except that there must be general consensus agreement between users and
producers on the ranges of the modified elements. With respect to the “H” series and the “K” series
grades, there must be general agreement between users and producers on the hardenability requirement
or supplementary requirements respectively.
8.2 Deletions
Deletions are also based upon the results of the SAE Steel Grade Usage Survey and a consensus that
the steel grade is no longer being produced (or production tonnage is well below the minimum). The
deleted steel grades will be removed from the standard and transferred to SAE J1249 for permanent
storage in the archived grade tables.
9. Reporting of New Steel Designation
9.1 The new steel designation will be listed in the grade tables in SAE J403 and J404 and /or other
SAE standards with the generic grade code(name), chemistry ranges, mechanical properties and
hardenability requirement. If a Jominy hardenability curve for the grade is specified, the H or RH
grade will be listed in SAE J1268 or J1868 respectively.
9.2 The grade series, the grade code, the element modification(s), the element codes and basic
information concerning supplementary requirements will be listed in SAE J402. As new codes are
assigned, this Standard will be updated based on a five-year review or as needed.
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SAE J402 Revised JUL2005
TABLE 1—GRADE CODES OF CARBON AND ALLOY STEELS
SAE Old UNS New Steel Identifying Chemical Reference
Grade Designation Designation Characteristics SAE Std.
CARBON STEELS
10XX G10XX0 G10XX-000-0000 Mn 1% max. - Nonresulphurized Steels J403 & J1249
11XX G11XX0 G11XX-000-0000 Resulfurized Steels J403 & J1249
12XX G12XX0 G12XX-000-0000 Rephosphorized and Resulfurized Steels J403 & J1249
15XX G15XX0 G15XX-000-0000 Mn over 1% -Nonresulfurized Steels J403 & J1249
ALLOY STEELS
13XX G13XX0 G13XX-000-0000 Manganese Steels J404 & J1249
23XX G23XX0 G23XX-000-0000 Nickel Steels J1249
25XX G25XX0 G25XX-000-0000 Nickel Steels J1249
31XX G31XX0 G31XX-000-0000 Nickel-Chromium Steels J1249
32XX G32XX0 G32XX-000-0000 Nickel-Chromium Steels J1249
33XX G33XX0 G33XX-000-0000 Nickel-Chromium Steels J1249
34XX G34XX0 G34XX-000-0000 Nickel-Chromium Steels J1249
40XX G40XX0 G40XX-000-0000 Molybdenum Steels J404 & J1249
41XX G41XX0 G41XX-000-0000 Chromium-Molybdenum Steels J404 & J1249
43XX G43XX0 G43XX-000-0000 Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum Steels J404 & J1249
44XX G44XX0 G44XX-000-0000 Molybdenum Steels J404 & J1249
46XX G46XX0 G46XX-000-0000 Molybdenum-Nickel Steels J404 & J1249
47XX G47XX0 G47XX-000-0000 Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum Steels J404
48XX G48XX0 G48XX-000-0000 Molybdenum-Nickel Steel J404 & J1249
50XX G50XX0 G50XX-000-0000 Chromium Steels J404 & J1249
51XX G51XX0 G51XX-000-0000 Chromium Steels J404 & J1249
52XX G52XX0 G52XX-000-0000 Chromium Steels J404
61XX G61XX0 G61XX-000-0000 Chromium-Vanadium Steels J404 & J1249
71XX G71XX0 G71XX-000-0000 Tungsten-Chromium Steels J1249
72XX G72XX0 G72XX-000-0000 Tungsten-Chromium Steels J1249
81XX G81XX0 G81XX-000-0000 Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum Steels J404
86XX G86XX0 G86XX-000-0000 Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum Steels J404 & J1249
87XX G87XX0 G87XX-000-0000 Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum Steels J404 & J1249
88XX G88XX0 G88XX-000-0000 Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum Steels J404
92XX G92XX0 G92XX-000-0000 Silicon-Manganese Steel J404
93XX G93XX0 G93XX-000-0000 Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum Steels J404 & J1249
94XX G94XX0 G94XX-000-0000 Nickel-Chromium -Molybdenum Steels J404 & J1249
97XX G97XX0 G97XX-000-0000 Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum Steels J1249
98XX G98XX0 G98XX-000-0000 Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum Steels J1249
NOTE—Grades, from the previous UNS numbering system, consisting of a fifth numeral in the UNS number system to identify Boron
Lead, and Vanadium additions, and Electric Furnace steel have been dropped and are replaced with the new steel
designation.
9.3 The joint SAE HS-1086/ASTM E DS-56 H Metals and Alloys in the Unified Numbering System
(UNS) Publication will record a complete list of steel grades, including the new steel designation
code. The chemistry and the associated hardenabilty and physical properties will also be recorded.
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SAE J402 Revised JUL2005
TABLE 2—ELEMENT MODIFICATION CODES
Modification
Codes Element
000 Standard SAE Chemistry
001 Carbon
002 Manganese
003 Phosphorus
004 Sulfur
005 SiIicon
006 Copper
007 Nickel
008 Molybdenum
009 Chromium
010 Boron
011 Vanadium
012 Niobium (Columbium)
013 Titanium
014 Zirconium
015 Tin
016 Lead
017 Arsenic
018 Selenium
019 Bismuth
020 Tellurium
021 Nitrogen
022 Cerium
023 Sulfur and Vanadium
024-999 Currently Unspecified
TABLE 3—ELEMENT RANGE CODES (G AND H SERIES)
Numerical Coding Range* Chemical Limitation
00 No modification
01-24 Minimum Value
25-49 MaximumValue
50-99 Allowable Ranges
NOTE—Numerical Coding Range refers to the two groups
of two digits, for example, aa and bb comprising
the final four digit extension in the specification G
or HXXXX-XXX-aabb.
Examples:
1. Standard SAE 1541 G1541-000-0000
2. Standard SAE 1541H H1541-000-0000
3. SAE 1541 with 0.05-0.08% Vanadium G1541-011-5000
1. Refer to Table 2 for Elemental Modification Code for Vanadium (011).
2. Assume from Table 3 - Vanadium range is coded as 50.
4. SAE 1541 with 0.05% Sulfur Min and 0.05-0.08% Vanadium G1541-023-0150
1. Refer to Table 2 for Element Modification Code for Sulfur and Vanadium (023).
2. Assume from Table 3 - Sulfur range is coded as 01 and Vanadium is coded as 50.
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SAE J402 Revised JUL2005
TABLE 4—SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS
Suggested
Supplementary Detail for Test or Special Reference
Requirement Requirement Code Standard(s)
Mechanical Properties Yield M001
Yield /UTS M002
Yield/UTS/%Elong. M003
Yield/UTS/%Elong./%ROA M004
Fracture Toughness Charpy F001
K1C F002
Special Practice Fine Grain S001
Atmospheric Corrosion S002
Weldability S003
NOTE—New codes will be issued in sequence and new prefixes will be assigned to cover any new
supplementary requirements.
This Table is designed as a reference table for the supplementary codes. The user is advised to confirm
which of the Suggested Reference Standards apply to a specific grade. The Suggested Reference
Standard(s) listed will only serve as a guide.
Examples:
1. Standard SAE 1541 Yield/UTS Requirement K1541-000-M002
1. Refer to Table 4 for Mechanical Property Code (M002).
2. SAE 1541 0.05-0.08% Vanadium Fine Grain Size K1541-011-S001
1. Refer to Table 2 for Element Modification Code for Vanadium (011).
2. Refer to Table 4 for Special Practice Code (S001).
10. Notes
10.1 Marginal Indicia
The change bar (l) located in the left margin is for the convenience of the user in locating areas where
technical revisions have been made to the previous issue of the report. An (R) symbol to the left of the
document title indicates a complete revision of the report.
PREPARED BY THE SAE CARBON AND ALLOY STEELS COMMITTEE
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