Tool Steel Properties

Comparative property ratings for major tool steel families. Ratings reflect general performance characteristics and are intended as a guide for material selection.

Water Hardening Tool Steel

SAE Steel Designation	Non-Deforming Properties	Safety in Hardening	Depth of Hardening	Toughness	Resistance to Softening Effect of Heat	Wear Resistance	Machinability
W108	Poor	Fair	Shallow	Good (b)	Poor	Fair	Best
W109	Poor	Fair	Shallow	Good (b)	Poor	Fair	Best
W110	Poor	Fair	Shallow	Good (b)	Poor	Good	Best
W112	Poor	Fair	Shallow	Good (b)	Poor	Good	Best
W209	Poor	Fair	Shallow	Good	Poor	Fair	Best
W210	Poor	Fair	Shallow	Good	Poor	Good	Best
W310	Poor	Fair	Shallow	Good	Poor	Good	Best

Shock Resisting Tool Steel

SAE Steel Designation	Non-Deforming Properties	Safety in Hardening	Depth of Hardening	Toughness	Resistance to Softening Effect of Heat	Wear Resistance	Machinability
S1 Chrome Tungsten	Fair	Good	Medium	Good	Fair	Fair	Fair
S2 Silicon Molybdenum	W Poor (c)	W Poor (c)	Medium	Best	Fair	Fair	Good
S5 Silicon Manganese	W Poor (c)	W Poor (c)	Medium	Best	Fair	Fair	Fair

Oil Hardening Types

SAE Steel Designation	Non-Deforming Properties	Safety in Hardening	Depth of Hardening	Toughness	Resistance to Softening Effect of Heat	Wear Resistance	Machinability
O1 Low Manganese	Good	Good	Medium	Fair	Poor	Good	Good
O2 High Manganese	Good	Good	Medium	Fair	Poor	Good	Good
O6 Molybdenum Graphitic	Fair	Good	Medium	Fair	Poor	Good	Best

Medium Alloy Air Hardening Types

SAE Steel Designation	Non-Deforming Properties	Safety in Hardening	Depth of Hardening	Toughness	Resistance to Softening Effect of Heat	Wear Resistance	Machinability
A2-5% Chrome Air Hard	Best	Best	Deep	Fair	Fair	Good	Fair

High Carbon — High Chrome Types

SAE Steel Designation	Non-Deforming Properties	Safety in Hardening	Depth of Hardening	Toughness	Resistance to Softening Effect of Heat	Wear Resistance	Machinability
D2 — High Carbon High Chrome (Air)	Best	Best	Deep	Fair	Fair	Best	Poor
D3 — High Carbon High Chrome (Oil)	Good	Good	Deep	Poor	Fair	Best	Poor
D5 — High Carbon High Chrome Cobalt	Best	Best	Deep	Fair	Fair	Best	Poor
D7 — High Carbon High Chrome High Vanadium	Best	Best	Deep	Poor	Fair	Best	Poor

Chrome Base Types

SAE Steel Designation	Non-Deforming Properties	Safety in Hardening	Depth of Hardening	Toughness	Resistance to Softening Effect of Heat	Wear Resistance	Machinability
H11 Chrome Molybdenum V	Good	Good	Deep	Good	Good	Fair	Fair
H12 Chrome Molybdenum	Good	Good	Deep	Good	Good	Fair	Fair
H13 Chrome Molybdenum VV	Good	Good	Deep	Good	Good	Fair	Fair

Tungsten Base Types

SAE Steel Designation	Non-Deforming Properties	Safety in Hardening	Depth of Hardening	Toughness	Resistance to Softening Effect of Heat	Wear Resistance	Machinability
H21 Tungsten	Good	Good	Deep	Good	Good	Fair	Fair

Tungsten Base Types 2

SAE Steel Designation	Non-Deforming Properties	Safety in Hardening	Depth of Hardening	Toughness	Resistance to Softening Effect of Heat	Wear Resistance	Machinability
T1 Tungsten 18-4-1	Good	Good	Deep	Poor	Good	Good	Fair
T2 Tungsten 18-4-2	Good	Good	Deep	Poor	Good	Good	Fair
T4 Cobalt Tungsten 18-4-1-5	Good	Fair	Deep	Poor	Best	Good	Fair
T5 Cobalt Tungsten 18-4-2-8	Good	Fair	Deep	Poor	Best	Good	Fair
T8 Cobalt Tungsten 18-4-2-5	Good	Fair	Deep	Poor	Best	Good	Fair

Molybdenum Base Types

SAE Steel Designation	Non-Deforming Properties	Safety in Hardening	Depth of Hardening	Toughness	Resistance to Softening Effect of Heat	Wear Resistance	Machinability
M1 Molybdenum 8-2-1	Good	Fair	Deep	Poor	Good	Good	Fair
M2 Molybdenum Tungsten 6-6-2	Good	Fair	Deep	Poor	Good	Good	Fair
M3 Molybdenum Tungsten 6-6-3	Good	Fair	Deep	Poor	Good	Best	Fair
M4 Molybdenum Tungsten 6-6-4	Good	Fair	Deep	Poor	Good	Best	Fair

Low Alloy Types

SAE Steel Designation	Non-Deforming Properties	Safety in Hardening	Depth of Hardening	Toughness	Resistance to Softening Effect of Heat	Wear Resistance	Machinability
L6 Nickel Chrome	Fair	Good	Medium	Fair	Poor	Fair	Fair
L7 Chrome	Fair	Good	Medium	Fair	Poor	Good	Fair

(a) Depth of hardening depends on section size and quench severity.

(b) Toughness decreases as carbon content increases.

← Technical Library Tool Steel Composition Hardness Conversion

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