Stainless Steel AUS-10
AUS-10 is a higher-carbon version of AUS-8, a martensitic stainless steel catalogued to UNS S44004 and supplied as annealed or cold-rolled strip and bar.
Reference datasheet — AUS-10 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 Annealed condition
AUS-10 tempers and conditions
AUS-10 is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault mill (spheroidize) annealed strip/sheet | Stock condition for blade blanking, grinding and profiling before heat treatment. | 450 | 760 | 13 | 22 HRC | — |
Cold rolled | As-cold-rolled strip supplied for stamping lines where blanks are hardened immediately after cutting. | 780 | 950 | 6 | 30 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
Q&T 56–58 HRC | Choose for hard-use, thick-spine or chopping blades where chipping resistance matters more than edge retention. | 1,750 | 1,900 | 2.5 | 57 HRC | — |
Q&T 58–60 HRC | The usual factory spec for AUS-10 kitchen and folding knives: good edge holding with acceptable toughness. | 1,900 | 2,050 | 2 | 59 HRC | — |
Q&T 60–62 HRC | Sub-zero treatment converts retained austenite for peak hardness and edge retention on thin slicing blades; least tough option. | 2,000 | 2,150 | 1.5 | 61 HRC | — |
What is AUS-10?
AUS-10 is a higher-carbon version of AUS-8, a martensitic stainless steel catalogued to UNS S44004 and supplied as annealed or cold-rolled strip and bar. Engineers use it where greater achievable hardness and wear resistance are needed than AUS-8 provides, reaching 56-58, 58-60 or 60-62 HRC with a cryogenic cycle for premium production blades. Annealed stock machines at 450 MPa yield, 760 MPa tensile, 13 % elongation, 240 HB / 22 HRC, with machinability 40 and formability 35. Corrosion resistance rates 45, it is essentially not weldable, and maximum service temperature is 500 °C. AUS-10 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,370°C (2,498 °F). AUS-10 has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 70% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 13% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
What is AUS-10 used for?
- Premium production knife blades
- Kitchen cutlery
- Santoku and gyuto blanks
- Folding knife blades
- Hunting and outdoor fixed blades
- Hardened wear-resistant edges
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 3.3 kg CO₂/kg, better than 93% of stainless steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 80/100, better than 89% of stainless steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 2.9 % IACS, better than 87% of stainless steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 24 W/m·K (13.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 81% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 45 MPa·√m (41 ksi·√in), worse than 95% of stainless steel grades
- Limited ductility — 13%, worse than 93% of stainless steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 92% of stainless steel grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 45/100, worse than 85% of stainless steel grades
AUS-10 properties
Typical room-temperature values for AUS-10-Annealed; bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
AUS-10 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,370°C (2,498 °F).
Mechanical17
AUS-10 has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 70% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 13% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
AUS-10 is rated for continuous service to 500°C (932 °F). It conducts heat at 24 W/m·K (13.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 81% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.2 µm/m·K (5.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
AUS-10 conducts electricity at 2.9 % IACS, better than 87% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (45/100), worse than 85% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of AUS-10 takes about 45 MJ of energy and emits 3.3 kg of CO₂ — less than 91% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 50%.
Manufacturability7
AUS-10's machinability is fair (40/100, better than 72% of stainless steel grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability fair (35/100).
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 stainless steel family
Yield strength against density for every stainless steel grade FabDigit runs. AUS-10 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with AUS-10
Is AUS-10 easy to machine?
Machine, drill and profile only in the annealed state with sharp carbide tooling, rigid setups and flood coolant; after hardening use grinding, EDM or waterjet only.
Can AUS-10 be welded?
Essentially not weldable for service parts — high carbon promotes hardening cracks; if unavoidable, preheat 250–300 °C, use austenitic filler and temper immediately.
Can AUS-10 be formed, bent or molded?
Blank, stamp and lightly bend only when annealed with generous radii; hot forge 1050–1150 °C and cool slowly to a spheroidized anneal.
AUS-10 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chighest carbon of the AUS series | 0.95 – 1.1 | 1.03 |
| Cr | 13 – 14.5 | 13.8 |
| Motemper resistance, pitting resistance | 0.1 – 0.31 | 0.2 |
| Vgrain refinement, hard carbides | 0.1 – 0.27 | 0.18 |
| Ni | ≤ 0.49 | 0.3 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.5 | 0.4 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.4 |
| Pimpurity | ≤ 0.04 | |
| Simpurity | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on AUS-10?
Austenitize ~1050–1080 °C, quench (oil/plate/gas), optional cryo, temper 150–200 °C; then belt-grind, mirror polish or bead blast and passivate in nitric/citric acid for best corrosion behaviour.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on stainless steel parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Passivation
Organic Coating
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Stainless Steel AUS-10 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Similar grades
- S44004
How much does AUS-10 cost?
AUS-10 is a high-cost stainless steel ($$$$), pricier than about 78% 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.
AUS-10 — frequently asked
What is AUS-10 used for?
AUS-10 is typically used for premium production knife blades, kitchen cutlery, santoku and gyuto blanks, folding knife blades, hunting and outdoor fixed blades and hardened wear-resistant edges. In short: higher-carbon AUS-8; harder and more wear-resistant; 440C-class hardness range.
What is the yield strength of AUS-10?
AUS-10 has a typical yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 70% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is AUS-10 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (40/100, better than 72% of stainless steel grades). Machine, drill and profile only in the annealed state with sharp carbide tooling, rigid setups and flood coolant; after hardening use grinding, EDM or waterjet only.
Can AUS-10 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Essentially not weldable for service parts — high carbon promotes hardening cracks; if unavoidable, preheat 250–300 °C, use austenitic filler and temper immediately.
What surface finishes work on AUS-10?
Austenitize ~1050–1080 °C, quench (oil/plate/gas), optional cryo, temper 150–200 °C; then belt-grind, mirror polish or bead blast and passivate in nitric/citric acid for best corrosion behaviour.
Can AUS-10 be formed, bent or molded?
Blank, stamp and lightly bend only when annealed with generous radii; hot forge 1050–1150 °C and cool slowly to a spheroidized anneal.
What is the maximum service temperature of AUS-10?
AUS-10 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.
What is the difference between AUS-10 Annealed and AUS-10 QT58-60?
Annealed is the default condition — stock condition for blade blanking, grinding and profiling before heat treatment. QT58-60: the usual factory spec for AUS-10 kitchen and folding knives: good edge holding with acceptable toughness. Yield strength is 450 MPa in Annealed versus 1,900 MPa in QT58-60.
How much does AUS-10 cost?
AUS-10 is a high-cost stainless steel ($$$$), pricier than about 78% 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
- AUS series stainless knife steel data (AUS-6 / AUS-8 / AUS-10) — Aichi Steel Corporation (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (martensitic stainless, 440-type) — ASM International (1990)
- GB/T 1220 / JIS G 4303 martensitic stainless bar (9Cr18MoV comparison grade) — SAC / JISC (2007)
- ASTM A276 / UNS S44004 (440C) comparison data — ASTM International (2017)
- AUS10 / 9Cr18MoV (2025)
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.