Steel Ferrium M54
Ferrium M54 is a computationally designed, carburizable secondary-hardening ultra-high-strength steel (Fe-Co-Ni-Cr-Mo-V) supplied as bar, billet and forgings for aerospace drive systems.
Reference datasheet — Ferrium M54 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 HT condition
Ferrium M54 tempers and conditions
Ferrium M54 is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. HT is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed / overaged | As-supplied softened bar/billet for rough machining and forming before final hardening. | 950 | 1,200 | 18 | 38 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
Solution treated (~1060 °C) + quenched + deep frozen, untempered | Intermediate as-quenched martensitic state; not a service condition — must be aged. | 1,200 | 1,650 | 8 | 50 HRC | 2.5 % IACS |
HTDefault Austenitized, quenched, deep frozen (−73 °C) and aged ~516 °C / 10 h | Standard fully hardened aerospace condition — pick for landing gear, hook shanks, shafts and actuators needing 2000 MPa with high K_IC. | 1,725 | 2,020 | 12 | 55 HRC | — |
HT + gas nitrided | Choose when high surface hardness/wear or contact fatigue resistance is needed on an aged M54 part; core properties unchanged. | 1,725 | 2,020 | 10 | 55 HRC | 2.7 % IACS |
What is Ferrium M54?
Ferrium M54 is a computationally designed, carburizable secondary-hardening ultra-high-strength steel (Fe-Co-Ni-Cr-Mo-V) supplied as bar, billet and forgings for aerospace drive systems. Engineers select it over AISI 9310 for higher core strength and toughness behind a hardened case: 1725 MPa yield, 2020 MPa tensile, 12% elongation, 55 HRC and service to 400 °C. The limits are cost and restricted supply, low machinability (score 22) and formability (score 12), and the need to re-solution and re-age after any welding, so it is reserved for torque- or weight-critical gears and shafts. Ferrium M54 has a density of 7.94 g/cm³ (0.287 lb/in³), heavier than 94% of steel grades. Ferrium M54 has a yield strength of 1,725 MPa (250 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,020 MPa (293 ksi) — stronger than 99% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
What is Ferrium M54 used for?
- helicopter transmission gears
- high-load shafts
- bearings
Advantages
- High strength — 1,725 MPa (250 ksi), better than 99% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 5.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 97% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 22/100, worse than 95% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 22 W/m·K (12.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 93% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 12/100, worse than 92% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 12%, worse than 84% of steel grades
Ferrium M54 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Ferrium M54-HT; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical1
Ferrium M54 has a density of 7.94 g/cm³ (0.287 lb/in³), heavier than 94% of steel grades.
Mechanical14
Ferrium M54 has a yield strength of 1,725 MPa (250 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,020 MPa (293 ksi) — stronger than 99% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal5
Ferrium M54 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 22 W/m·K (12.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 93% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
Ferrium M54 has an electrical resistivity of 6.5×10⁻⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is poor (20/100), better than 87% of steel grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of Ferrium M54 takes about 75 MJ of energy and emits 5.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 97% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 15%.
Manufacturability6
Ferrium M54's machinability is poor (22/100, worse than 95% of steel grades); weldability poor (30/100); formability not recommended (12/100).
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. Ferrium M54 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Ferrium M54
Is Ferrium M54 easy to machine?
Rough machine in the overaged/annealed condition; in the 55 HRC aged state use rigid setups, coated carbide or CBN at low feeds, or grind/EDM with stress-relief afterwards.
Can Ferrium M54 be welded?
Fusion weldable with matching or Ni-base filler under clean, low-hydrogen conditions, but joints need re-solution/re-age to restore properties — welding is avoided on primary structure.
Can Ferrium M54 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work (forge/roll) above ~950 °C then anneal; essentially no cold formability at full hardness — shape before hardening.
Ferrium M54 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 | 0.28 – 0.34 | 0.3 |
| Co | 6.5 – 7.5 | 7 |
| Ni | 9.5 – 10.5 | 10 |
| Cr | 0.8 – 1.2 | 1 |
| Mo | 1.8 – 2.2 | 2 |
| W | 1.1 – 1.5 | 1.3 |
| V | 0.2 – 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Febalance; P, S, O, N and residuals held very low by VIM+VAR | balance |
What surface finishes work on Ferrium M54?
Grind, shot-peen critical fillets, then protect with hard chrome, HVOF WC-Co, Zn-Ni/Cd plate or IVD aluminium; bake after plating to avoid hydrogen embrittlement.
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
How much does Ferrium M54 cost?
Ferrium M54 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.
Ferrium M54 — frequently asked
What is Ferrium M54 used for?
Ferrium M54 is typically used for helicopter transmission gears, high-load shafts and bearings. In short: stronger than AISI 9310; highest-toughness gear steel; 400 °C service capability.
What is the yield strength of Ferrium M54?
Ferrium M54 has a typical yield strength of 1,725 MPa (250 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,020 MPa (293 ksi) — stronger than 99% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Ferrium M54 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (22/100, worse than 95% of steel grades). Rough machine in the overaged/annealed condition; in the 55 HRC aged state use rigid setups, coated carbide or CBN at low feeds, or grind/EDM with stress-relief afterwards.
Can Ferrium M54 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (30/100). Fusion weldable with matching or Ni-base filler under clean, low-hydrogen conditions, but joints need re-solution/re-age to restore properties — welding is avoided on primary structure.
What surface finishes work on Ferrium M54?
Grind, shot-peen critical fillets, then protect with hard chrome, HVOF WC-Co, Zn-Ni/Cd plate or IVD aluminium; bake after plating to avoid hydrogen embrittlement.
Can Ferrium M54 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work (forge/roll) above ~950 °C then anneal; essentially no cold formability at full hardness — shape before hardening.
What is the maximum service temperature of Ferrium M54?
Ferrium M54 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 Ferrium M54-HT and Ferrium M54 ANN-OA?
HT is the default condition — standard fully hardened aerospace condition — pick for landing gear, hook shanks, shafts and actuators needing 2000 MPa with high K_IC. ANN-OA: as-supplied softened bar/billet for rough machining and forming before final hardening. Yield strength is 1,725 MPa in HT versus 950 MPa in ANN-OA.
How much does Ferrium M54 cost?
Ferrium M54 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
- AMS 6516 — Steel, Bars and Forgings, 0.30C-1.0Cr-2.0Mo-1.3W-7.0Co-10Ni (Ferrium M54), Vacuum Induction Melted, Consumable Electrode Remelted — SAE International (2019)
- Ferrium M54 alloy technical data — QuesTek Innovations LLC (2022)
- Ferrium M54 aerospace bar and billet — Carpenter Technology / Latrobe Specialty Metals (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- MMPDS — Metallic Materials Properties Development and Standardization (ultra-high-strength steels chapter) — Battelle/FAA (2023)
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.