Steel A11 Annealed vs A11 Hardened & Tempered
Steel · A11 temper comparison
A11 Annealed and A11 Hardened & Tempered are two conditions of the same steel grade, A11: Annealed versus Hardened & Tempered (quenched and tempered). The chemistry is identical, so every difference below comes from the condition. A11 Hardened & Tempered is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 2,100 MPa (305 ksi) against 900 MPa (131 ksi) for A11 Annealed, about 133% more. A11 Hardened & Tempered is harder — 61 HRC against 26 HRC for A11 Annealed — which matters for wear surfaces and threads. On the shop floor, A11 Annealed machines more easily (poor vs not recommended).
A11 AnnealedChoose it when the part is machined in volume.
A11 Hardened & TemperedChoose it when strength drives the design, or when surface hardness matters.
A11 Annealed vs A11 Hardened & Tempered: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all steel grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all steel grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
A11 AnnealedA11 Hardened & Tempered
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Compressive Strength
Shear Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)
Hardness, Rockwell C
Hardness, Vickers
Same in both: Elastic (Young's) Modulus 221 GPa32.1 Msi · Shear Modulus 85 GPa12.3 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.29 · Yield Strength (0.2% offset) 600 MPa87 ksi · Elongation at Break 8% · Reduction in Area 20% · Hardness, Brinell 269 HB · Hardness, Rockwell B 103 HRB
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Same in both: Density 7.41 g/cm³0.27 lb/in³
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Same in both: Thermal Conductivity 21 W/m·K12.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F · Specific Heat Capacity 460 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F · Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C) 10.6 µm/m·K5.9 µin/in·°F · Max Service Temperature (continuous) 425°C797 °F · Min Service Temperature -50°C-58 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Same in both: Electrical Conductivity 2.7 % IACS · Electrical Resistivity 6.5×10⁻⁷ Ω·m25.6 µΩ·in
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Same in both: Corrosion Resistance 20 / 100
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Same in both: Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %) 25% · Weldability 15 / 100 · Formability (cold) 12 / 100 · Polishability 65 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Same in both: Embodied Energy (primary production) 55 MJ/kg23,646 BTU/lb · Embodied Carbon (primary production) 4.5 kg CO₂/kg · Typical Recycled Content 25%
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every steel grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
A11 Annealed vs A11 Hardened & Tempered — frequently asked
Is A11 Hardened & Tempered stronger than A11 Annealed?
Yes. A11 Hardened & Tempered has a typical tensile strength of 2,100 MPa (305 ksi) against 900 MPa (131 ksi) for A11 Annealed — about 133% more.
Which condition does FabDigit quote by default, Annealed or Hardened & Tempered?
Annealed is the default A11 condition in the FabDigit quote flow. The other condition is available on request or by drawing note — specify it in the material field or the part notes and the quote is priced for it.
Which is easier to machine, A11 Annealed or A11 Hardened & Tempered?
A11 Annealed. Its machinability rates poor (20/100) against not recommended (5/100) for A11 Hardened & Tempered.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in A11 Annealed and A11 Hardened & Tempered side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.