Steel A10
AISI/SAE A10 · UNS T30110
A10 (UNS T30110) is a graphitic, high-carbon/high-silicon air-hardening cold-work tool steel in which free graphite forms during annealing, giving self-lubrication and galling resistance.
Reference datasheet — A10 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 ANN condition
A10 tempers and conditions
A10 is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. ANN 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANNDefault Annealed | Default supply and machining state: spheroidize/graphitize annealed to ≤235 HB with graphite precipitated, so cutting and drilling run well before air hardening. | 450 | 720 | 18 | 229 HB | — |
Hot rolled | Use hot-rolled or as-forged bar only as raw stock: hardness is uneven around 300 HB, so graphitizing annealing is mandatory before any machining. | 620 | 950 | 10 | 31 HRC | 3 % IACS |
Hardened & tempered ~340–400 °C | Choose the ~340–400 °C temper for punches and guide plates under heavier impact, accepting 54–56 HRC and shorter wear life for 5 % elongation. | 1,550 | 1,800 | 5 | 55 HRC | — |
Hardened & tempered ~230–290 °C | Use the ~230–290 °C temper to trade a few hardness points for toughness at 57–59 HRC, the general-purpose working hardness for cold-work tooling. | 1,650 | 1,950 | 3 | 58 HRC | — |
Hardened & low-temper | Pick after 790–815 °C austenitizing, air cooling and a 150–200 °C temper for maximum 60–62 HRC hardness in wear- and galling-resistant cold-work dies and punches; machinability falls to 15. | 1,750 | 2,100 | 2 | 61 HRC | — |
What is A10?
A10 (UNS T30110) is a graphitic, high-carbon/high-silicon air-hardening cold-work tool steel in which free graphite forms during annealing, giving self-lubrication and galling resistance. Engineers use it for blanking and forming tooling that runs against sticky work metal; it is stocked as hot-rolled and annealed bar and plate (typically 229 HB, 98 HRB, 450 MPa yield, 720 MPa tensile) and hardened to 54-56, 57-59 or 60-62 HRC. It has essentially no corrosion resistance (score 12), limited cold formability (score 20) and a service ceiling near 400 °C. Where a mirror polish or higher abrasive wear resistance is needed, use A2 or D2. A10 has a density of 7.34 g/cm³ (0.265 lb/in³), lighter than 98% of steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F). A10 has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 720 MPa (104 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 190 GPa (27.6 Msi).
What is A10 used for?
- blanking dies
- coining dies
- wear parts needing anti-galling
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 68/100, better than 95% of steel grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 40/100, worse than 96% of steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 3 % IACS, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 91% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 2.6 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 87% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 83% of steel grades
A10 properties
Typical room-temperature values for A10-ANN; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
A10 has a density of 7.34 g/cm³ (0.265 lb/in³), lighter than 98% of steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Mechanical15
A10 has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 720 MPa (104 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 190 GPa (27.6 Msi).
Thermal6
A10 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 83% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12 µm/m·K (6.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
A10 conducts electricity at 3 % IACS, worse than 91% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of A10 takes about 36 MJ of energy and emits 2.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 89% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability8
A10's machinability is good (68/100, better than 95% of steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability poor (20/100).
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 steel family
Yield strength against density for every steel grade FabDigit runs. A10 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with A10
Is A10 easy to machine?
In the annealed state the free graphite acts as an internal lubricant, so turning, milling, drilling and tapping are easier than in other tool steels of similar carbon level, with short chips and long tool life. Once hardened, use CBN grinding or hard turning.
Can A10 be welded?
Crack risk is high in this high-carbon air-hardening steel; limit welding to small repairs with matching die-repair wire at low current, preheat 300–400 °C and temper immediately afterwards.
Can A10 be formed, bent or molded?
Only light cold forming or straightening in the annealed condition. Hot work at about 1010–1120 °C, finish forging no lower than 900 °C, cool slowly and graphitize anneal promptly.
A10 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cpartly present as free graphite | 1.25 – 1.5 | 1.35 |
| Sipromotes graphitization | 1 – 1.5 | 1.25 |
| Mn | 1.6 – 2.1 | 1.8 |
| Niincreases hardenability, promotes graphitization | 1.55 – 2.05 | 1.8 |
| Mo | 1.25 – 1.75 | 1.5 |
| Crresidual; excess suppresses graphite formation | ≤ 0.35 | 0.15 |
| Pimpurity limit | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Simpurity limit | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on A10?
Not anodizable; use black oxide, phosphate, chrome plating or low-temperature PVD applied at or below the tempering temperature. Graphite particles leave micro-pits when polishing, so switch to A2 or D2 where a mirror surface is required.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on 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).
Organic Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel A10 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- T30110
How much does A10 cost?
A10 is a high-cost 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.
A10 — frequently asked
What is A10 used for?
A10 is typically used for blanking dies, coining dies and wear parts needing anti-galling. In short: self-lubricating graphitic tool steel; best anti-galling cold-work grade; air-hardening, low distortion.
What is the yield strength of A10?
A10 has a typical yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 720 MPa (104 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is A10 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (68/100, better than 95% of steel grades). In the annealed state the free graphite acts as an internal lubricant, so turning, milling, drilling and tapping are easier than in other tool steels of similar carbon level, with short chips and long tool life. Once hardened, use CBN grinding or hard turning.
Can A10 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Crack risk is high in this high-carbon air-hardening steel; limit welding to small repairs with matching die-repair wire at low current, preheat 300–400 °C and temper immediately afterwards.
What surface finishes work on A10?
Not anodizable; use black oxide, phosphate, chrome plating or low-temperature PVD applied at or below the tempering temperature. Graphite particles leave micro-pits when polishing, so switch to A2 or D2 where a mirror surface is required.
Can A10 be formed, bent or molded?
Only light cold forming or straightening in the annealed condition. Hot work at about 1010–1120 °C, finish forging no lower than 900 °C, cool slowly and graphitize anneal promptly.
What is the maximum service temperature of A10?
A10 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 A10-ANN and A10-HR?
ANN is the default condition — default supply and machining state: spheroidize/graphitize annealed to ≤235 HB with graphite precipitated, so cutting and drilling run well before air hardening. HR: use hot-rolled or as-forged bar only as raw stock: hardness is uneven around 300 HB, so graphitizing annealing is mandatory before any machining. Yield strength is 450 MPa in ANN versus 620 MPa in HR.
How much does A10 cost?
A10 is a high-cost 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
- ASTM A681 — Standard Specification for Tool Steels Alloy — ASTM International (2022)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (Tool Steels) — ASM International (1990)
- Tool Steels, 5th Edition (Roberts, Krauss, Kennedy) — ASM International (1998)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16: Machining — machinability ratings of tool steels — ASM International (1989)
- UNS T30110 / AISI A10 tool steel property records — SAE/ASTM Unified Numbering System (2017)
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.