Benchmark · 4 materials
Steel W2 vs Steel A11 vs Steel A2 vs Steel A3
All steel grades — bands show the family's 10th–90th percentile. The best value in each row is in bold; metric first, imperial in gray.
Properties
| Property | W2 | A11 | A2 | A3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yield strengthMPa | 980 MPa142 ksi | 1,720 MPa249 ksi | 760 MPa110 ksi | 780 MPa113 ksi |
| Tensile strengthMPa | 1,450 MPa210 ksi | 2,070 MPa300 ksi | 1,720 MPa249 ksi | 1,750 MPa254 ksi |
| Specific strengthMPa·cm³/g | 125 | 231 | 97 | 99 |
| Densityg/cm³ | 7.84 g/cm³0.283 lb/in³ | 7.45 g/cm³0.269 lb/in³ | 7.86 g/cm³0.284 lb/in³ | 7.86 g/cm³0.284 lb/in³ |
| Hardness (HB equiv.)HB | 60 HRC≈ 654 HB | 63 HRC≈ 705 HB | 60 HRC≈ 654 HB | 61 HRC≈ 671 HB |
| Max service temp°C | 200 °C392 °F | 200 °C392 °F | 200 °C392 °F | 200 °C392 °F |
| Min service temp°C | -50 °C-58 °F | -40 °C-40 °F | -40 °C-40 °F | -40 °C-40 °F |
| Electrical conductivity% IACS | 8.6 % IACS5 MS/m | 4.3 % IACS2.5 MS/m | 5.2 % IACS3 MS/m | 5.2 % IACS3 MS/m |
| Machinability/100 | Very good75 / 100 | Poor15 / 100 | Poor30 / 100 | Poor28 / 100 |
| Weldability/100 | Poor20 / 100 | Not recommended10 / 100 | Poor15 / 100 | Poor15 / 100 |
| Formability/100 | Not recommended5 / 100 | Not recommended5 / 100 | Not recommended10 / 100 | Not recommended10 / 100 |
| Relative cost | $$$ Premium | $$$$$ Specialty | $$$ Premium | $$$ Premium |
| Processes | CNC | CNC | CNC | CNC |
Where each grade sits
One track per property; coloured markers are the compared grades, the shaded band is the steel family 10th–90th percentile and the tick its median.
Yield strength980 MPa
250 MPafamily median 540 MPa1,270 MPa
Tensile strength1,450 MPa
420 MPafamily median 800 MPa1,750 MPa
Density7.84 g/cm³
7.8 g/cm³family median 7.85 g/cm³7.85 g/cm³
Hardness (HB equiv.)654 HB
134 HBfamily median 210 HB558 HB
Max service temp200 °C
200 °Cfamily median 400 °C540 °C
Electrical conductivity8.6 % IACS
5.7 % IACSfamily median 9.7 % IACS12 % IACS
Machinability75 / 100
29 / 100family median 75 / 10075 / 100
Relative cost53
14family median 2553
W2A11A2A3
Strength versus weight
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | W2 | A11 | A2 | A3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNC machining | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Default condition | Annealed | Annealed | Annealed | — |
| Min. machined wall | 0.8 mm | 0.8 mm | 0.8 mm | 0.8 mm |
| Best machined surface | Ra 1.6 µm | Ra 1.6 µm | Ra 1.6 µm | Ra 1.6 µm |
| Heat treatments | Quench & Temper, Full Anneal, Stress Relief | Quench & Temper, Full Anneal, Stress Relief | Quench & Temper, Full Anneal, Stress Relief | — |
| AlCrN | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AlTiN | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Black Oxide | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CVD Al2O3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CVD TiCN | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CVD TiN | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cerakote | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Chemical Etching | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Chrome Plating | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Copper Plating | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CrN | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DLC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dot Peen Marking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| E-Coating | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Electro-chemical Etching | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Electroless Nickel (EN) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Epoxy Coating | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Gold Plating | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Showing 18 of 46 finishes — the full list is on each grade's datasheet.
Typical handbook values for the default condition, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.