Steel M10
AISI/SAE M10 · UNS T11310
M10 is a tungsten-free molybdenum high-speed steel (UNS T11310, ASTM A600 M-series) hardened by molybdenum, chromium and vanadium carbides, giving high toughness with good wear resistance.
Reference datasheet — M10 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
M10 tempers and conditions
M10 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 as-supplied condition for machining tool blanks before hardening. | 550 | 830 | 16 | 22 HRC | — |
Cold drawn annealed | Choose for close-tolerance drill/tap blanks where minimal pre-machining is wanted. | 640 | 880 | 12 | 24 HRC | 3.2 % IACS |
Hardened & tempered 60–62 HRC | Pick for interrupted cuts, taps and punches where chipping is the main failure mode. | 1,800 | 2,100 | 1 | 61 HRC | — |
Hardened & tempered 62–64 HRC | The standard working hardness for drills, reamers, broaches and milling cutters. | 1,950 | 2,250 | 0.5 | 63 HRC | — |
Hardened + nitrided / oxynitrided surface | Adds a very hard diffusion case for abrasive workpieces; case is brittle so avoid heavy interrupted cuts. | 1,950 | 2,150 | 0.5 | 63 HRC | 3 % IACS |
Hardened & tempered 64–66 HRC | High-carbon M10 quenched from the top of the range for maximum wear resistance in stable, non-impact cutting. | 2,350 | 0.3 | 65 HRC | — |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways M10 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
HT-SO | Hardened + steam oxide | Surface finish |
What is M10?
M10 is a tungsten-free molybdenum high-speed steel (UNS T11310, ASTM A600 M-series) hardened by molybdenum, chromium and vanadium carbides, giving high toughness with good wear resistance. It is chosen where impact resistance matters more than maximum red hardness, and is stocked as annealed or annealed cold-drawn bar, flats and tool blanks, then hardened to 60–66 HRC. Annealed properties are 830 MPa tensile, 550 MPa yield, 16 % elongation at 235 HB (22 HRC) with a machinability score of 42; the low chromium content gives no corrosion protection and the annealed condition is rated to 250 °C. M2 is the usual alternative when more red hardness is needed. M10 has a density of 7.88 g/cm³ (0.285 lb/in³), heavier than 93% of steel grades. It melts at 1,290°C (2,354 °F). M10 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 16% and the elastic modulus is 217 GPa (31.5 Msi).
What is M10 used for?
- Drills
- Taps
- Chisels
- Punches
- Cold-heading dies
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 30 MPa·√m (27.3 ksi·√in), worse than 96% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 2.9 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 24 W/m·K (13.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 90% of steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 3.2 % IACS, worse than 87% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 15/100, worse than 87% of steel grades
M10 properties
Typical room-temperature values for M10-ANN; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
M10 has a density of 7.88 g/cm³ (0.285 lb/in³), heavier than 93% of steel grades. It melts at 1,290°C (2,354 °F).
Mechanical17
M10 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 16% and the elastic modulus is 217 GPa (31.5 Msi).
Thermal6
M10 is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 24 W/m·K (13.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 90% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.4 µm/m·K (5.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
M10 conducts electricity at 3.2 % IACS, worse than 87% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (18/100), better than 83% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of M10 takes about 36 MJ of energy and emits 2.9 kg of CO₂ — more than 89% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability7
M10's machinability is fair (42/100, worse than 73% of steel grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability poor (15/100).
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. M10 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with M10
Is M10 easy to machine?
Machine only in the spheroidize-annealed state (≈45% of 1212) with rigid setups and cobalt/carbide tooling; after hardening it is a grinding-only material and is sensitive to grinding burn.
Can M10 be welded?
Not a structural weld grade — repair only, with 500–550 °C preheat, matched HSS filler, and immediate re-temper to avoid cracking.
Can M10 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot form 1000–1100 °C, never finish below ~925 °C, then slow cool and full anneal at 870–900 °C; no meaningful cold formability.
M10 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C0.84–0.94 standard; 0.95–1.05 for high-carbon M10 | 0.84 – 1.05 | 0.89 |
| Mn | 0.1 – 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Si | 0.2 – 0.45 | 0.3 |
| Cr | 3.75 – 4.5 | 4 |
| Mo | 7.75 – 8.5 | 8 |
| V | 1.8 – 2.2 | 2 |
| Wtungsten-free grade; residual only | ≤ 0.4 | 0 |
| Coresidual | ≤ 0.5 | 0 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on M10?
Harden from 1180–1220 °C in salt/vacuum with strict decarburization control, double or triple temper at 540–560 °C to 62–64 HRC; finish with steam oxide, black oxide, nitriding or TiN/TiAlN PVD (PVD below the tempering temperature).
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 M10 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- T11310
How much does M10 cost?
M10 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.
M10 — frequently asked
What is M10 used for?
M10 is typically used for drills, taps, chisels, punches and cold-heading dies. In short: tungsten-free molybdenum HSS; tough impact-tool grade; best-machining grade shown.
What is the yield strength of M10?
M10 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 6 listed tempers.
Is M10 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (42/100, worse than 73% of steel grades). Machine only in the spheroidize-annealed state (≈45% of 1212) with rigid setups and cobalt/carbide tooling; after hardening it is a grinding-only material and is sensitive to grinding burn.
Can M10 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Not a structural weld grade — repair only, with 500–550 °C preheat, matched HSS filler, and immediate re-temper to avoid cracking.
What surface finishes work on M10?
Harden from 1180–1220 °C in salt/vacuum with strict decarburization control, double or triple temper at 540–560 °C to 62–64 HRC; finish with steam oxide, black oxide, nitriding or TiN/TiAlN PVD (PVD below the tempering temperature).
Can M10 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot form 1000–1100 °C, never finish below ~925 °C, then slow cool and full anneal at 870–900 °C; no meaningful cold formability.
What is the maximum service temperature of M10?
M10 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 M10-ANN and M10 HT-NIT?
ANN is the default condition — standard as-supplied condition for machining tool blanks before hardening. HT-NIT: adds a very hard diffusion case for abrasive workpieces; case is brittle so avoid heavy interrupted cuts. Yield strength is 550 MPa in ANN versus 1,950 MPa in HT-NIT.
How much does M10 cost?
M10 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 A600 — Standard Specification for Tool Steel High Speed — ASTM International (2016)
- UNS T11310 designation listing (SAE HS-1086 / ASTM DS-56) — SAE/ASTM (2017)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (Tool Steels) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 16 — Machining (tool material machinability ratings) — ASM International (1989)
- Tool Steels, 5th ed. (Roberts, Krauss, Kennedy) — ASM International (1998)
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.