Stainless Steel VG-10-ANN (Annealed)
Heat-treated state
As-delivered soft condition for blanking, drilling, grinding of blank profiles before hardening.
Values for the ANN condition
Other VG-10 tempers and conditions
VG-10 is listed in 5 conditions; see the grade overview at VG-10.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANNThis page Annealed | As-delivered soft condition for blanking, drilling, grinding of blank profiles before hardening. | 460 | 780 | 15 | 20 HRC | — |
San-mai clad | Choose for kitchen knives needing a hard 60 HRC edge with a tough, easily ground and corrosion-tolerant body. | 1,000 | 1,400 | 6 | 61 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
Hardened & tempered, 58-59 HRC | Higher-temper option for thin or heavily used blades where chip resistance matters more than edge retention. | 1,750 | 2,000 | 3 | 59 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
HT60Default Hardened & tempered, 60-61 HRC | The standard commercial blade hardness — best balance of edge retention, sharpenability and corrosion resistance. | 1,850 | 2,150 | 2 | 61 HRC | — |
Hardened, cryogenic-treated & tempered, 61-62 HRC | Sub-zero treatment converts retained austenite for maximum hardness and dimensional stability; toughness drops slightly. | 1,950 | 2,250 | 1.5 | 62 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
What is VG-10-ANN?
VG-10-ANN is VG-10 heat treated to ANN — as-delivered soft condition for blanking, drilling, grinding of blank profiles before hardening. VG-10-ANN has a yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 73% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi). VG-10-ANN has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F). HT60 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; ANN is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 85/100, better than 97% of stainless steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 25 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 93% of stainless steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 2.9 % IACS, better than 87% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 18 MPa·√m (16.4 ksi·√in), worse than 100% of stainless steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 98% of stainless steel grades
- Limited ductility — 15%, worse than 89% of stainless steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 400°C (752 °F), worse than 78% of stainless steel grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 50/100, worse than 78% of stainless steel grades
VG-10-ANN properties
Typical room-temperature values for VG-10-ANN; 11 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are VG-10 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
VG-10-ANN has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Mechanical13
VG-10-ANN has a yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 73% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
VG-10-ANN is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 25 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 93% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.4 µm/m·K (5.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
VG-10-ANN conducts electricity at 2.9 % IACS, better than 87% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (50/100), worse than 78% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of VG-10-ANN takes about 55 MJ of energy and emits 5 kg of CO₂ — more than 50% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability6
VG-10-ANN's machinability is fair (35/100, better than 51% of stainless steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability fair (40/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with VG-10-ANN
Is VG-10 easy to machine?
Profile and drill in the annealed condition with rigid setups and carbide tooling; once hardened to 60 HRC only grinding, wire EDM or waterjet are practical.
Can VG-10 be welded?
Effectively non-weldable for structural purposes — high carbon causes brittle martensite and cracking; laser tack or silver braze only, accepting local softening.
Can VG-10 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in the annealed state; harden 1030-1060 °C, quench in oil/plate/gas, cryo optional, temper 150-200 °C twice for 60-61 HRC.
What surface finishes work on VG-10?
Takes a fine mirror or satin finish; passivation improves stain resistance; ferric-chloride etching reveals the pattern on Damascus-clad laminates; avoid plating that requires baking above the tempering temperature.
VG-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 |
|---|---|---|
| C | 0.95 – 1.05 | 1 |
| Cr | 14.5 – 15.5 | 15 |
| Mo | 0.9 – 1.2 | 1.05 |
| Vgrain refinement, hard MC carbides | 0.1 – 0.3 | 0.2 |
| Coraises matrix strength / hardenability | 1.3 – 1.5 | 1.4 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.5 | 0.4 |
| Si | ≤ 0.6 | 0.5 |
| Pimpurity | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Simpurity | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
VG-10-ANN — frequently asked
What is VG-10-ANN used for?
VG-10-ANN is typically used for premium kitchen knives, damascus-clad blades and pocket knives. In short: de-facto premium blade standard; cobalt-alloyed, 60 HRC; best stain resistance here.
What is the yield strength of VG-10-ANN?
VG-10-ANN has a typical yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 73% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is VG-10-ANN easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, better than 51% of stainless steel grades). Profile and drill in the annealed condition with rigid setups and carbide tooling; once hardened to 60 HRC only grinding, wire EDM or waterjet are practical.
Can VG-10-ANN be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Effectively non-weldable for structural purposes — high carbon causes brittle martensite and cracking; laser tack or silver braze only, accepting local softening.
What surface finishes work on VG-10-ANN?
Takes a fine mirror or satin finish; passivation improves stain resistance; ferric-chloride etching reveals the pattern on Damascus-clad laminates; avoid plating that requires baking above the tempering temperature.
Can VG-10-ANN be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only in the annealed state; harden 1030-1060 °C, quench in oil/plate/gas, cryo optional, temper 150-200 °C twice for 60-61 HRC.
What is the maximum service temperature of VG-10-ANN?
VG-10-ANN is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between VG-10-HT60 and VG-10-ANN?
HT60 is the default condition — the standard commercial blade hardness — best balance of edge retention, sharpenability and corrosion resistance. ANN: as-delivered soft condition for blanking, drilling, grinding of blank profiles before hardening. Yield strength is 1,850 MPa in HT60 versus 460 MPa in ANN.
Sources
- VG-10 Cutlery Steel Data and Heat Treatment Guide — Takefu Special Steel Co., Ltd. (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys (martensitic stainless section) — ASM International (1990)
- ASTM E140 Hardness Conversion Tables for Metals — ASTM International (2019)
- Knife steel composition and heat-treat comparison datasets — Knife Steel Nerds / CATRA test literature (2021)
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.