Steel F2
UNS T60602
F2 is a higher-tungsten version of F1 (UNS T60602), a water-hardening carbon-tungsten tool steel whose dispersed tungsten carbides give greater wear resistance and hardness retention on shallow-hardening light tooling.
Reference datasheet — F2 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
F2 tempers and conditions
F2 is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. ANN 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANNDefault Annealed | Standard supply condition for machining, grinding and forming of the tool before hardening. | 430 | 760 | 22 | 223 HB | — |
Cold Drawn Annealed | Choose for close-tolerance small bar and drill-rod-type stock that will be hardened after light machining. | 600 | 830 | 12 | 24 HRC | 8 % IACS |
Hardened & Tempered 56–58 HRC | Highest-toughness usable hardness for F2; used where chipping of the cutting edge is the failure mode. | 1,650 | 1,850 | 2 | 57 HRC | — |
Hardened & Tempered 60–62 HRC | Slightly tougher working hardness for cutting tools and dies that see light impact. | 1,800 | 2,000 | 1 | 61 HRC | — |
As-Quenched | Intermediate condition only — maximum hardness but highly stressed and crack-prone; temper immediately. | 1,900 | 2,000 | 0.5 | 66 HRC | 6 % IACS |
Hardened & Tempered 62–64 HRC | Standard working condition for maximum wear resistance and edge holding on light, shock-free tooling. | 1,900 | 2,100 | 1 | 63 HRC | — |
What is F2?
F2 is a higher-tungsten version of F1 (UNS T60602), a water-hardening carbon-tungsten tool steel whose dispersed tungsten carbides give greater wear resistance and hardness retention on shallow-hardening light tooling. Annealed bar runs about 223 HB and 760 MPa tensile with 22 % elongation, and the grade is hardened to roughly 56–64 HRC. Machining is abrasive (machinability score 40, about 30 % of AISI 1212), water quenching brings distortion and cracking risk, there is no corrosion resistance and service is limited to 250 °C. F1 or O1 are the alternatives when better toughness or lower distortion matters. F2 has a density of 7.75 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), lighter than 93% of steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F). F2 has a yield strength of 430 MPa (62.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — weaker than 51% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is F2 used for?
- files
- small punches
- light blanking dies
- wear-resistant hand tools
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 12/100, worse than 96% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 2.7 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 89% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 250°C (482 °F), worse than 85% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 83% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 40/100, worse than 77% of steel grades
F2 properties
Typical room-temperature values for F2-ANN; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
F2 has a density of 7.75 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), lighter than 93% of steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Mechanical15
F2 has a yield strength of 430 MPa (62.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — weaker than 51% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
F2 is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 83% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
F2 conducts electricity at 8 % IACS, better than 55% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of F2 takes about 36 MJ of energy and emits 2.7 kg of CO₂ — more than 89% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
F2's machinability is fair (40/100, worse than 77% of steel grades); weldability not recommended (12/100); 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 steel family
Yield strength against density for every steel grade FabDigit runs. F2 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with F2
Is F2 easy to machine?
Machine only in the spheroidize-annealed condition (~30 % of AISI 1212); the dispersed tungsten carbides are abrasive, so use rigid setups, sharp carbide or coated tooling and generous coolant; finish grind after hardening with soft, free-cutting wheels to avoid grinding cracks.
Can F2 be welded?
Essentially not weldable for structural purposes; only small repair welds with matched high-C/W filler, preheat 300–350 °C, immediate post-weld temper — otherwise quench cracking is near certain.
Can F2 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1010–1120 °C, stop above 900 °C and cool slowly, then anneal at 760–790 °C; cold forming is limited to light bending of thin annealed stock.
F2 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chigh carbon for carbide formation | 1.2 – 1.4 | 1.3 |
| Wprincipal alloying addition vs F1 | 3 – 4 | 3.5 |
| Mn | 0.1 – 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Si | 0.1 – 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Croptional / permitted addition | 0.2 – 0.4 | 0.3 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on F2?
Takes a fine polish and can be black-oxided, phosphated or nitrided; must be oiled or plated for storage because it has no corrosion resistance. Harden 790–845 °C, brine/water quench, temper 150–290 °C immediately.
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 F2 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- T60602
How much does F2 cost?
F2 is a premium-cost steel ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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.
F2 — frequently asked
What is F2 used for?
F2 is typically used for files, small punches, light blanking dies and wear-resistant hand tools. In short: higher tungsten than F1; wear-resistant water-hardening grade; abrasive to machine.
What is the yield strength of F2?
F2 has a typical yield strength of 430 MPa (62.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — weaker than 51% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is F2 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (40/100, worse than 77% of steel grades). Machine only in the spheroidize-annealed condition (~30 % of AISI 1212); the dispersed tungsten carbides are abrasive, so use rigid setups, sharp carbide or coated tooling and generous coolant; finish grind after hardening with soft, free-cutting wheels to avoid grinding cracks.
Can F2 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (12/100). Essentially not weldable for structural purposes; only small repair welds with matched high-C/W filler, preheat 300–350 °C, immediate post-weld temper — otherwise quench cracking is near certain.
What surface finishes work on F2?
Takes a fine polish and can be black-oxided, phosphated or nitrided; must be oiled or plated for storage because it has no corrosion resistance. Harden 790–845 °C, brine/water quench, temper 150–290 °C immediately.
Can F2 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1010–1120 °C, stop above 900 °C and cool slowly, then anneal at 760–790 °C; cold forming is limited to light bending of thin annealed stock.
What is the maximum service temperature of F2?
F2 is rated for continuous use to about 250°C (482 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between F2-ANN and F2-AQ?
ANN is the default condition — standard supply condition for machining, grinding and forming of the tool before hardening. AQ: intermediate condition only — maximum hardness but highly stressed and crack-prone; temper immediately. Yield strength is 430 MPa in ANN versus 1,900 MPa in AQ.
How much does F2 cost?
F2 is a premium-cost steel ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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
- ASM Handbook, Vol. 1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (Tool Steels) — ASM International (1990)
- Tool Steels, 5th ed. (Roberts, Krauss, Kennedy) — ASM International (1998)
- ASTM A686 — Standard Specification for Tool Steel, Carbon — ASTM International (2020)
- SAE J437/J438 — Tool and Die Steels (composition and UNS designations) — SAE International (2019)
- UNS T60602 alloy record (Metals & Alloys in the Unified Numbering System) — SAE/ASTM (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.