Steel M2 · temper · default condition
Steel M2 Annealed
Properties of the Annealed condition, compared with the other M2 tempers.
Default stocked condition: machine or grind tool blanks, then harden and temper.
What is M2 Annealed?
M2 Annealed is M2 in the Annealed temper — default stocked condition: machine or grind tool blanks, then harden and temper. M2 Annealed has a yield strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — stronger than 74% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 217 GPa (31.5 Msi). M2 Annealed has a density of 8.16 g/cm³ (0.295 lb/in³), heavier than 97% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades
Limitations
- Poor heat conductor — 21.5 W/m·K (12.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 94% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 40 MPa·√m (36.4 ksi·√in), worse than 93% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 3.4 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 92% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 12/100, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 3.1 % IACS, worse than 89% of steel grades
M2 Annealed properties
Typical room-temperature values for M2 Annealed — 10 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every M2 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
M2 Annealed has a density of 8.16 g/cm³ (0.295 lb/in³), heavier than 97% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical16
M2 Annealed has a yield strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — stronger than 74% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 217 GPa (31.5 Msi).
Thermal6
M2 Annealed is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 21.5 W/m·K (12.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 94% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.1 µm/m·K (5.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
M2 Annealed conducts electricity at 3.1 % IACS, worse than 89% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (15/100), better than 75% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of M2 Annealed takes about 48 MJ of energy and emits 3.4 kg of CO₂ — more than 93% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability7
M2 Annealed's machinability is fair (35/100, worse than 83% of steel grades); weldability poor (18/100); 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.
Other M2 tempers and conditions
M2 is also supplied in 5 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the M2 overview.
- AnnealedDefaultDefault stocked condition: machine or grind tool blanks, then harden and temper.570 MPa yield · 235 HB
- Hardened & TemperedStandard cutting-tool condition: maximum hardness, wear resistance and red hardness for drills, mills, taps.2,400 MPa tensile
- Q&TPick when toughness matters more than peak wear resistance: punches, shear blades, heavy-duty cold-work tools.1,900 MPa yield · 61 HRC
- As PrintedOnly for additively built tool inserts/coatings; expect residual stress, retained austenite and crack sensitivity — temper or HIP before service.1,300 MPa tensile
- HIPChoose PM/HIP M2 for fine uniform carbides, isotropic properties and better toughness/grindability in large or intricate tools.65 HRC
Working with M2 Annealed
Is M2 easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed state with sharp cobalt-HSS or coated carbide, rigid setups and modest speeds; hardened 64–66 HRC parts require grinding, EDM or CBN.
Can M2 be welded?
Poor weldability — repair welding only, with 500–550 °C preheat, matching HSS filler, immediate post-weld temper to avoid quench cracks.
Can M2 be formed, bent or molded?
No practical cold forming; hot work at 1100–900 °C followed by slow cooling and soft annealing at 850–900 °C, then harden 1190–1230 °C and temper 2–3× at 540–580 °C.
What surface finishes work on M2?
Not anodizable; use black oxide, steam oxide, phosphate or nitriding for corrosion and lubricity, and PVD TiN/TiCN/TiAlN below the tempering temperature for wear performance.
M2 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cregular-carbon M2; high-carbon variant (M2 HC) is 0.95–1.05 | 0.78 – 0.88 | 0.85 |
| W | 5.5 – 6.75 | 6.2 |
| Mo | 4.5 – 5.5 | 5 |
| Cr | 3.75 – 4.5 | 4.15 |
| V | 1.75 – 2.2 | 1.95 |
| Mn | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Si | 0.2 – 0.45 | 0.3 |
| Coresidual only; cobalt-bearing grade is M35/M42 | ≤ 0.5 | — |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Febalance ≈ 80–81% | balance | — |
M2 Annealed — frequently asked
What is M2 Annealed used for?
M2 Annealed is typically used for drill bits, milling cutters and end mills, taps and reamers, broaches, cold-work punches and blanking die inserts. In short: tough high-speed cutting.
What is the yield strength of M2 Annealed?
M2 Annealed has a typical yield strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — stronger than 74% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is M2 Annealed easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, worse than 83% of steel grades). Machine only in the annealed state with sharp cobalt-HSS or coated carbide, rigid setups and modest speeds; hardened 64–66 HRC parts require grinding, EDM or CBN.
Can M2 Annealed be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (18/100). Poor weldability — repair welding only, with 500–550 °C preheat, matching HSS filler, immediate post-weld temper to avoid quench cracks.
What surface finishes work on M2 Annealed?
Not anodizable; use black oxide, steam oxide, phosphate or nitriding for corrosion and lubricity, and PVD TiN/TiCN/TiAlN below the tempering temperature for wear performance.
Can M2 Annealed be formed, bent or molded?
No practical cold forming; hot work at 1100–900 °C followed by slow cooling and soft annealing at 850–900 °C, then harden 1190–1230 °C and temper 2–3× at 540–580 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of M2 Annealed?
M2 Annealed 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in M2 Annealed?
Yes — M2 Annealed is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM A600 — Standard Specification for Tool Steel High Speed — ASTM International (2016)
- EN ISO 4957 — Tool steels (HS6-5-2C / 1.3343) — ISO/CEN (2018)
- JIS G 4403 — High speed tool steels (SKH51) — JSA (2015)
- GB/T 9943 — (W6Mo5Cr4V2) — SAC (2008)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (tool steels) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16 — Machining (machinability ratings) — ASM International (1989)
- Böhler S600 / Erasteel M2 high speed steel datasheets — voestalpine Böhler / Erasteel (2022)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.