Refractory Metal Mo (Grade 360)-CW (Cold worked)
Supply condition
UNS R03600 · ASTM B387 Grade 360 · GB Mo1
Highest room-temperature strength and lowest DBTT; used for wire, thin foil and springy parts that never see recrystallization temperatures.
Values for the CW condition
Other Mo (Grade 360) tempers and conditions
Mo (Grade 360) is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at Mo (Grade 360).
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sintered | Semi-finished sintered bar/plate blank supplied for further forging or machining of bulky parts; residual porosity lowers density, strength and conductivity. | 250 | 350 | 3 | 150 HV | 115 W/m·K |
Recrystallized | Choose when parts will run above ~1200 °C anyway and dimensional/structural stability matters more than room-temperature toughness. | 340 | 500 | 20 | 152 HB | 142 W/m·K |
SRDefault Stress relieved | Standard stocked condition for rod, plate and sheet: fibrous worked structure retained, best combination of room-temperature strength and ductility. | 585 | 760 | 15 | 20 HRC | 138 W/m·K |
CWThis page Cold worked | Highest room-temperature strength and lowest DBTT; used for wire, thin foil and springy parts that never see recrystallization temperatures. | 820 | 950 | 6 | 28 HRC | 135 W/m·K |
What is Mo (Grade 360)-CW?
Mo (Grade 360)-CW is Mo (Grade 360) supplied in the CW condition — highest room-temperature strength and lowest DBTT; used for wire, thin foil and springy parts that never see recrystallization temperatures. Mo (Grade 360)-CW has a yield strength of 820 MPa (119 ksi) and a tensile strength of 950 MPa (138 ksi) — stronger than 91% of refractory metal grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 320 GPa (46.4 Msi). Mo (Grade 360)-CW has a density of 10.22 g/cm³ (0.369 lb/in³), heavier than 68% of refractory metal grades. It melts at 2,623°C (4,753 °F). SR is the default condition FabDigit quotes; CW is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High strength — 820 MPa (119 ksi), better than 91% of refractory metal grades
- High electrical conductivity — 32 % IACS, better than 88% of refractory metal grades
- Conducts heat well — 135 W/m·K (78 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 86% of refractory metal grades
- Stiff — 320 GPa (46.4 Msi), better than 84% of refractory metal grades
- Low embodied carbon — 28 kg CO₂/kg, better than 75% of refractory metal grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 20/100, worse than 79% of refractory metal grades
- Limited ductility — 6%, worse than 78% of refractory metal grades
Mo (Grade 360)-CW properties
Typical room-temperature values for Mo (Grade 360)-CW; 11 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Mo (Grade 360) reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among refractory metal grades.
Physical3
Mo (Grade 360)-CW has a density of 10.22 g/cm³ (0.369 lb/in³), heavier than 68% of refractory metal grades. It melts at 2,623°C (4,753 °F).
Mechanical17
Mo (Grade 360)-CW has a yield strength of 820 MPa (119 ksi) and a tensile strength of 950 MPa (138 ksi) — stronger than 91% of refractory metal grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 320 GPa (46.4 Msi).
Thermal6
Mo (Grade 360)-CW is rated for continuous service to 900°C (1,652 °F). It conducts heat at 135 W/m·K (78 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 86% of refractory metal grades. Thermal expansion is 5.2 µm/m·K (2.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Mo (Grade 360)-CW conducts electricity at 32 % IACS, better than 88% of refractory metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 72% of refractory metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Mo (Grade 360)-CW takes about 380 MJ of energy and emits 28 kg of CO₂ — less than 78% of refractory metal grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability6
Mo (Grade 360)-CW's machinability is fair (35/100, better than 81% of refractory metal grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability poor (20/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Mo (Grade 360)-CW
Is Mo (Grade 360) easy to machine?
Machine with sharp, positive-rake carbide or PCD at moderate speed, heavy rigid setup and flood coolant; molybdenum work-hardens little but chips are abrasive and edges chip easily, so avoid interrupted cuts and leave stress-relief before finishing.
Can Mo (Grade 360) be welded?
Only vacuum electron-beam, laser or clean GTAW under high-purity argon/glovebox is acceptable; the weld and HAZ recrystallize into coarse brittle grains, so keep joints out of load paths or use vacuum brazing instead.
Can Mo (Grade 360) be formed, bent or molded?
Bend and deep-draw warm (150–400 °C) with generous bend radii (≥3t for sheet); cold forming of recrystallized material cracks because the DBTT is at or above room temperature.
What surface finishes work on Mo (Grade 360)?
Not anodizable; typical finishes are chemical cleaning/pickling, centerless grinding, electropolishing for mirror surfaces, and Si–Cr or MoSi₂ coatings (or Ni/Cr plating) when service in air above 500 °C is unavoidable.
Mo (Grade 360) chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Clow-carbon grade | ≤ 0.01 | 0.01 |
| O | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| N | ≤ 0 | 8×10⁻⁴ |
| H | ≤ 5×10⁻⁴ | 2×10⁻⁴ |
| Fe | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Ni | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Si | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Wresidual from ore, usually not counted against Mo purity | ≤ 0.1 | 0.02 |
| Mopurity excluding gases, per ASTM B387 Grade 360 | ≥ 99.95 (balance) | — |
Mo (Grade 360)-CW — frequently asked
What is Mo (Grade 360)-CW used for?
Mo (Grade 360)-CW is typically used for furnace heating elements, glass melting electrodes, sputtering targets, vacuum furnace hardware and sintering boats. In short: baseline pure molybdenum; high conductivity, low expansion; lower cost than TZM.
What is the yield strength of Mo (Grade 360)-CW?
Mo (Grade 360)-CW has a typical yield strength of 820 MPa (119 ksi) and a tensile strength of 950 MPa (138 ksi) — stronger than 91% of refractory metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Mo (Grade 360)-CW easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, better than 81% of refractory metal grades). Machine with sharp, positive-rake carbide or PCD at moderate speed, heavy rigid setup and flood coolant; molybdenum work-hardens little but chips are abrasive and edges chip easily, so avoid interrupted cuts and leave stress-relief before finishing.
Can Mo (Grade 360)-CW be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Only vacuum electron-beam, laser or clean GTAW under high-purity argon/glovebox is acceptable; the weld and HAZ recrystallize into coarse brittle grains, so keep joints out of load paths or use vacuum brazing instead.
What surface finishes work on Mo (Grade 360)-CW?
Not anodizable; typical finishes are chemical cleaning/pickling, centerless grinding, electropolishing for mirror surfaces, and Si–Cr or MoSi₂ coatings (or Ni/Cr plating) when service in air above 500 °C is unavoidable.
Can Mo (Grade 360)-CW be formed, bent or molded?
Bend and deep-draw warm (150–400 °C) with generous bend radii (≥3t for sheet); cold forming of recrystallized material cracks because the DBTT is at or above room temperature.
What is the maximum service temperature of Mo (Grade 360)-CW?
Mo (Grade 360)-CW is rated for continuous use to about 900°C (1,652 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Mo (Grade 360)-SR and Mo (Grade 360) SINT?
SR is the default condition — standard stocked condition for rod, plate and sheet: fibrous worked structure retained, best combination of room-temperature strength and ductility. SINT: semi-finished sintered bar/plate blank supplied for further forging or machining of bulky parts; residual porosity lowers density, strength and conductivity. Yield strength is 585 MPa in SR versus 250 MPa in SINT.
Sources
- ASTM B387 — Molybdenum and Molybdenum Alloy Bar, Rod, and Wire — ASTM International (2018)
- ASTM B386 — Molybdenum and Molybdenum Alloy Plate, Sheet, Strip, and Foil — ASTM International (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (Refractory Metals) — ASM International (1990)
- Molybdenum — material properties and product forms — Plansee SE (2023)
- CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics — physical constants of molybdenum — CRC Press (2022)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.