Steel 1.2601 · temper · default condition
Steel 1.2601 Annealed
Properties of the Annealed condition, compared with the other 1.2601 tempers.
Standard stock condition for bar/flat/plate — machine and rough-form here, then harden.
What is 1.2601 Annealed?
1.2601 Annealed is 1.2601 in the Annealed temper — standard stock condition for bar/flat/plate — machine and rough-form here, then harden. 1.2601 Annealed has a yield strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 800 MPa (116 ksi) — stronger than 63% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi). 1.2601 Annealed has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,260°C (2,300 °F).
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 75/100, better than 94% of steel grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 25/100, better than 91% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 10/100, worse than 99% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 20 W/m·K (11.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 96% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 94% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 93% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 32/100, worse than 87% of steel grades
1.2601 Annealed properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1.2601 Annealed — 9 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 1.2601 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
1.2601 Annealed has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,260°C (2,300 °F).
Mechanical13
1.2601 Annealed has a yield strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 800 MPa (116 ksi) — stronger than 63% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
1.2601 Annealed is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 20 W/m·K (11.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 96% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.8 µm/m·K (6 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
1.2601 Annealed has an electrical resistivity of 6×10⁻⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is poor (25/100), better than 91% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1.2601 Annealed takes about 34 MJ of energy and emits 2.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability5
1.2601 Annealed's machinability is poor (32/100, worse than 87% of steel grades); weldability not recommended (10/100); formability not recommended (10/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 1.2601 tempers and conditions
1.2601 is also supplied in 6 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 1.2601 overview.
- AnnealedDefaultStandard stock condition for bar/flat/plate — machine and rough-form here, then harden.500 MPa yield · 230 HB
- Q&T 62-64 HRCMaximum hardness and abrasion resistance; only for rigidly supported, low-shock tooling.2,350 MPa tensile
- Q&T 60-62 HRCHigh-wear condition for punches, thread rolling dies and paper/wood knives with low impact loading.2,250 MPa tensile
- Q&T 58-60 HRCGeneral-purpose hardened condition balancing wear resistance and chipping risk for blanking and forming dies.2,100 MPa tensile
- Q&T 56-58 HRCPick when some toughness/shock resistance is needed, e.g. thicker shear blades and cold heading dies.1,950 MPa tensile
Working with 1.2601 Annealed
Is 1.2601 easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed state with rigid setups, carbide or coated carbide, low speed and positive rake; hardened parts require grinding, EDM or CBN.
Can 1.2601 be welded?
Essentially unweldable for structural joints — repair welding only with matching high-alloy filler, 400–500 °C preheat, immediate post-weld temper.
Can 1.2601 be formed, bent or molded?
No cold forming; forge 1050–900 °C with slow furnace cooling and a following soft anneal at 830–860 °C, then harden 950–980 °C (oil/air/vacuum) and temper 150–350 °C.
What surface finishes work on 1.2601?
Takes a high polish and is normally left bright and oiled; nitriding, PVD (TiN/TiCN/CrN) or phosphating are used for wear and anti-galling — it is not stainless and must be protected from moisture.
1.2601 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 | 1.55 – 1.75 | 1.65 |
| Si | 0.1 – 0.6 | 0.3 |
| Mn | 0.2 – 0.6 | 0.35 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Cr | 11 – 12 | 11.5 |
| Moproducer ranges vary 0.4–0.8 | 0.45 – 0.8 | 0.6 |
| V | 0.1 – 0.35 | 0.2 |
| Fe | balance | — |
1.2601 Annealed — frequently asked
What is 1.2601 Annealed used for?
1.2601 Annealed is typically used for blanking and piercing dies, shear and slitter blades, thread rolling plates, cold heading dies, woodworking and paper knives and powder compaction tooling. In short: premium die tool steel.
What is the yield strength of 1.2601 Annealed?
1.2601 Annealed has a typical yield strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 800 MPa (116 ksi) — stronger than 63% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is 1.2601 Annealed easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (32/100, worse than 87% of steel grades). Machine only in the annealed state with rigid setups, carbide or coated carbide, low speed and positive rake; hardened parts require grinding, EDM or CBN.
Can 1.2601 Annealed be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (10/100). Essentially unweldable for structural joints — repair welding only with matching high-alloy filler, 400–500 °C preheat, immediate post-weld temper.
What surface finishes work on 1.2601 Annealed?
Takes a high polish and is normally left bright and oiled; nitriding, PVD (TiN/TiCN/CrN) or phosphating are used for wear and anti-galling — it is not stainless and must be protected from moisture.
Can 1.2601 Annealed be formed, bent or molded?
No cold forming; forge 1050–900 °C with slow furnace cooling and a following soft anneal at 830–860 °C, then harden 950–980 °C (oil/air/vacuum) and temper 150–350 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1.2601 Annealed?
1.2601 Annealed is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in 1.2601 Annealed?
Yes — 1.2601 Annealed is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- DIN 17350 — Tool steels (X165CrMoV12, 1.2601) — DIN (1980)
- EN ISO 4957 — Tool steels — ISO/CEN (2018)
- GB/T 1299 — (Cr12MoV) — SAC (2014)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (cold-work tool steels) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16 — Machining — ASM International (1989)
- High-carbon high-chromium cold-work tool steel datasheets (D2 / X165CrMoV12 class) — Böhler / voestalpine & other tool-steel producers (2022)
- Cr12MoV / 1.2601 — Mysteel / 1688 (2026)
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.