Steel M1
AISI/SAE M1 · UNS T11301 · GB W2Mo9Cr4V2
M1 is a general-purpose molybdenum–tungsten high-speed steel (UNS T11301, W2Mo9Cr4V2, SKH50) with good toughness and red hardness at lower cost than the T-type tungsten grades.
Reference datasheet — M1 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
M1 tempers and conditions
M1 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 | Standard as-supplied bar/coil condition: machine or form to shape, then harden. | 550 | 830 | 18 | 22 HRC | 22 W/m·K |
Cold drawn / ground annealed bar | Annealed bar drawn or centerless-ground to close tolerance for direct tool-blank machining. | 620 | 880 | 14 | 23 HRC | 3.1 % IACS |
Hardened & triple tempered | Pick when shock loading or interrupted cuts dominate — punches, form tools, heavy-feed taps. | 2,100 | 1.5 | 59 HRC | 24 W/m·K | |
Hardened & triple tempered | Balanced hardness/toughness for drills, end mills and taps in general steel machining. | 2,300 | 0.8 | 62 HRC | 24 W/m·K | |
Hardened & triple tempered | Highest wear resistance and red hardness for finishing cuts and abrasive work; least tough. | 2,450 | 0.3 | 65 HRC | 24 W/m·K |
What is M1?
M1 is a general-purpose molybdenum–tungsten high-speed steel (UNS T11301, W2Mo9Cr4V2, SKH50) with good toughness and red hardness at lower cost than the T-type tungsten grades. Annealed bar is 235 HB / 22 HRC (830 MPa tensile, 550 MPa yield, 18 % elongation, 217 GPa modulus) and hardens to 58–60, 61–63 or 64–66 HRC for drills, taps, reamers and milling cutters. Machinability is 35 and only applies annealed — hardened tools are ground — while the listed maximum service temperature is 300 °C and bare surfaces rust (corrosion score 12). M2 is the more widely stocked equivalent. M1 has a density of 7.89 g/cm³ (0.285 lb/in³), heavier than 93% of steel grades. It melts at 1,290°C (2,354 °F). M1 has a yield strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 830 MPa (120 ksi) — stronger than 71% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 217 GPa (31.5 Msi).
What is M1 used for?
- Drills
- Taps
- Reamers
- Milling cutters
- General machine tool bits
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 65/100, better than 78% of steel grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 3.6 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 94% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 22 W/m·K (12.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 93% of steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 3.1 % IACS, worse than 89% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 35/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), worse than 78% of steel grades
M1 properties
Typical room-temperature values for M1-ANN; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
M1 has a density of 7.89 g/cm³ (0.285 lb/in³), heavier than 93% of steel grades. It melts at 1,290°C (2,354 °F).
Mechanical16
M1 has a yield strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 830 MPa (120 ksi) — stronger than 71% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 217 GPa (31.5 Msi).
Thermal6
M1 is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 22 W/m·K (12.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 93% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.5 µm/m·K (5.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
M1 conducts electricity at 3.1 % IACS, worse than 89% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of M1 takes about 55 MJ of energy and emits 3.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 94% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability8
M1's machinability is fair (35/100, worse than 84% of steel grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability poor (25/100).
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. M1 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with M1
Is M1 easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed condition (≤248 HB) with rigid setups and cobalt/carbide tooling; after hardening it is a grinding-only material — use soft wheels and coolant to avoid grinding burn.
Can M1 be welded?
Not a structural weld metal: repair only, preheat 480–540 °C, matching HSS or Co-base filler, cool slowly and re-temper twice at 540–560 °C.
Can M1 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work 1100–900 °C then slow-cool anneal at 870–900 °C; cold forming limited to light straightening — harden from 1175–1220 °C (salt bath/vacuum, protect against decarburization) and triple temper at 540–560 °C.
M1 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 | 0.78 – 0.88 | 0.83 |
| Mn | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Si | 0.2 – 0.5 | 0.35 |
| Cr | 3.5 – 4 | 3.75 |
| Moprimary red-hardness carbide former | 8.2 – 9.2 | 8.7 |
| W | 1.4 – 2.1 | 1.75 |
| V | 1 – 1.35 | 1.15 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on M1?
Bare surfaces rust readily — apply steam-oxide/black oxide, phosphate, nitriding or PVD TiN/TiAlN coatings; polish before coating for edge quality.
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 M1 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- T11301
- GB (China)
- W2Mo9Cr4V2
- Similar grades
- SKH50
How much does M1 cost?
M1 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.
M1 — frequently asked
What is M1 used for?
M1 is typically used for drills, taps, reamers, milling cutters and general machine tool bits. In short: economical general-purpose HSS; mo-based alternative to T-grades; grinding-only after hardening.
What is the yield strength of M1?
M1 has a typical yield strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 830 MPa (120 ksi) — stronger than 71% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is M1 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, worse than 84% of steel grades). Machine only in the annealed condition (≤248 HB) with rigid setups and cobalt/carbide tooling; after hardening it is a grinding-only material — use soft wheels and coolant to avoid grinding burn.
Can M1 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Not a structural weld metal: repair only, preheat 480–540 °C, matching HSS or Co-base filler, cool slowly and re-temper twice at 540–560 °C.
What surface finishes work on M1?
Bare surfaces rust readily — apply steam-oxide/black oxide, phosphate, nitriding or PVD TiN/TiAlN coatings; polish before coating for edge quality.
Can M1 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work 1100–900 °C then slow-cool anneal at 870–900 °C; cold forming limited to light straightening — harden from 1175–1220 °C (salt bath/vacuum, protect against decarburization) and triple temper at 540–560 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of M1?
M1 is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between M1-ANN and M1 CD-ANN?
ANN is the default condition — standard as-supplied bar/coil condition: machine or form to shape, then harden. CD-ANN: annealed bar drawn or centerless-ground to close tolerance for direct tool-blank machining. Yield strength is 550 MPa in ANN versus 620 MPa in CD-ANN.
How much does M1 cost?
M1 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
- ASTM A600 — Tool Steel High Speed Tool Steels — ASTM International (2021)
- 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)
- Machinery's Handbook (machinability and heat-treat data) — Industrial Press (2020)
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.