Refractory Metal Pure Mo
UNS R03600 · also Mo CP
Pure (commercially pure) molybdenum is a bcc refractory metal, normally produced by powder metallurgy (press-sinter-work) or arc casting to 99.95 % min purity per ASTM B386/B387.
Reference datasheet — Pure Mo is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the As Rolled condition
Pure Mo tempers and conditions
Pure Mo is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. As Rolled is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
full anneal above ~1100 °C, equiaxed grains | Use only where softness/low hardness or deep drawing after re-anneal is required; recrystallized Mo is notch-brittle at room temperature. | 280 | 415 | 38 | 78 HRB | 33 % IACS |
pressed-and-sintered P/M billet/bar, not subsequently worked | Lowest-cost as-sintered form for crucibles, electrodes and blanks where residual porosity and low ductility are acceptable. | 300 | 400 | 5 | 160 HB | 30 % IACS |
vacuum arc-cast molybdenum (ASTM B387 Type 364), worked and stress relieved | Choose arc-cast Mo when low interstitial oxygen, cleaner grain boundaries and better ductility/weld response than P/M material are needed. | 400 | 520 | 28 | 200 HB | 34 % IACS |
worked then stress-relief annealed below recrystallization (~850–1000 °C) | Pick when flatness/dimensional stability and lower residual stress matter but wrought ductility must be kept (most sheet for forming, sputter targets). | 450 | 550 | 20 | 90 HRB | 32 % IACS |
hot-worked plate, bar and forgings | Choose for thick plate, blocks and forged shapes where full cold work is impossible; intermediate strength with reasonable ductility. | 480 | 600 | 20 | 19 HRC | 33 % IACS |
As RolledDefault worked (unrecrystallized) sheet/plate/bar, as-fabricated | Default stock condition for sheet, plate and bar — highest strength and hardness, retains wrought fibrous structure. | 590 | 700 | 10 | 95 HRB | 31 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways Pure Mo is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
Cold Drawn Wire | Heavily drawn wire/rod | Supply form |
What is Pure Mo?
Pure (commercially pure) molybdenum is a bcc refractory metal, normally produced by powder metallurgy (press-sinter-work) or arc casting to 99.95 % min purity per ASTM B386/B387. It is chosen for very high melting point, high stiffness and hot strength, low CTE close to that of alumina and silicon, and good thermal/electrical conductivity — typical uses are furnace hot zones, sputtering targets and backing plates, glass-melting electrodes, thermal-management heat spreaders, and X-ray/electronic components. Main limits are catastrophic volatile oxidation above roughly 400–500 °C in air (needs vacuum, inert gas or coating), a ductile-to-brittle transition near room temperature that becomes severe after recrystallization, poor weldability, and high cost. Pure Mo 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). Pure Mo has a yield strength of 590 MPa (85.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 82% of refractory metal grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 320 GPa (46.4 Msi).
What is Pure Mo used for?
- Furnace hot zones and heating elements
- Sputtering targets and backing plates
- Glass-melting electrodes
- Semiconductor wafer boats
- Thermal-management heat spreaders
- X-ray anodes and electronic tube components
- Vacuum furnace fixturing
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 40/100, better than 93% of refractory metal grades
- Conducts heat well — 138 W/m·K (79.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 87% of refractory metal grades
- High electrical conductivity — 31 % IACS, better than 86% of refractory metal grades
- Stiff — 320 GPa (46.4 Msi), better than 84% of refractory metal grades
- High strength — 590 MPa (85.6 ksi), better than 82% of refractory metal grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 20/100, worse than 79% of refractory metal grades
- Low fracture toughness — 15 MPa·√m (13.7 ksi·√in), worse than 75% of refractory metal grades
Pure Mo properties
Typical room-temperature values for Pure Mo-As Rolled; bars are the position among refractory metal grades.
Physical3
Pure Mo 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).
Mechanical16
Pure Mo has a yield strength of 590 MPa (85.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 82% of refractory metal grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 320 GPa (46.4 Msi).
Thermal6
Pure Mo is rated for continuous service to 500°C (932 °F). It conducts heat at 138 W/m·K (79.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 87% of refractory metal grades. Thermal expansion is 5.2 µm/m·K (2.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Pure Mo conducts electricity at 31 % IACS, better than 86% of refractory metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 72% of refractory metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Pure Mo takes about 380 MJ of energy and emits 25 kg of CO₂ — less than 78% of refractory metal grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
Pure Mo's machinability is fair (40/100, better than 93% of refractory metal grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability poor (30/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the refractory metal family
Yield strength against density for every refractory metal grade FabDigit runs. Pure Mo is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Pure Mo
Is Pure Mo easy to machine?
Machinable with sharp carbide or CBN tooling, positive rake, rigid setup and flood coolant; chips are short and brittle, edges chip easily — deburr and stress-relieve after heavy cuts, EDM and grinding work well.
Can Pure Mo be welded?
Poor fusion weldability — electron-beam or laser welding in vacuum/high-purity inert gas only; welds recrystallize and are notch-brittle, so vacuum brazing or mechanical joining is preferred.
Can Pure Mo be formed, bent or molded?
Warm form at roughly 150–400 °C (higher for thick sections) with generous bend radii; cold bending of recrystallized or thick material causes cracking.
Pure Mo 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Olower (<0.002) in arc-cast Type 364 | ≤ 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/processing | ≤ 0.05 | 0.01 |
| Momin 99.95 % Mo excluding gases, per ASTM B386/B387 Type 361 | ≥ 99.95 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on Pure Mo?
Chemically clean/etch and vacuum-degas before use; not anodizable — apply Ni or Cr plating for aqueous corrosion, and Si/MoSi2 or Pt-based coatings for service above 500 °C in air.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Refractory Metal Pure Mo in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- R03600
- Trade names
- Mo CP
How much does Pure Mo cost?
Pure Mo is a specialty-cost refractory metal ($$$$$), pricier than about 100% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Pure Mo — frequently asked
What is Pure Mo used for?
Pure Mo is typically used for furnace hot zones and heating elements, sputtering targets and backing plates, glass-melting electrodes, semiconductor wafer boats, thermal-management heat spreaders and X-ray anodes and electronic tube components. In short: high-temp molybdenum plate.
What is the yield strength of Pure Mo?
Pure Mo has a typical yield strength of 590 MPa (85.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 82% of refractory metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is Pure Mo easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (40/100, better than 93% of refractory metal grades). Machinable with sharp carbide or CBN tooling, positive rake, rigid setup and flood coolant; chips are short and brittle, edges chip easily — deburr and stress-relieve after heavy cuts, EDM and grinding work well.
Can Pure Mo be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Poor fusion weldability — electron-beam or laser welding in vacuum/high-purity inert gas only; welds recrystallize and are notch-brittle, so vacuum brazing or mechanical joining is preferred.
What surface finishes work on Pure Mo?
Chemically clean/etch and vacuum-degas before use; not anodizable — apply Ni or Cr plating for aqueous corrosion, and Si/MoSi2 or Pt-based coatings for service above 500 °C in air.
Can Pure Mo be formed, bent or molded?
Warm form at roughly 150–400 °C (higher for thick sections) with generous bend radii; cold bending of recrystallized or thick material causes cracking.
What is the maximum service temperature of Pure Mo?
Pure Mo is rated for continuous use to about 500°C (932 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Pure Mo cost?
Pure Mo is a specialty-cost refractory metal ($$$$$), pricier than about 100% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASTM B386/B386M — Molybdenum and Molybdenum Alloy Plate, Sheet, Strip, Foil, and Ribbon — ASTM (2021)
- ASTM B387 — Molybdenum and Molybdenum Alloy Bar, Rod, and Wire — ASTM (2018)
- GB/T 3876 / GB/T 4188 (2017)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties of Refractory Metals and Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Molybdenum — material properties and product data — Plansee SE (2023)
- Pure Molybdenum technical data — Ed Fagan Inc. / H.C. Starck Solutions (2022)
- CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics — thermophysical data for Mo — CRC Press (2020)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.