Steel M44
AISI/SAE M44 · UNS T11344
M44 (T11344) is a high-cobalt molybdenum-tungsten high-speed steel developed for red hardness and abrasion resistance in severe cutting conditions.
Reference datasheet — M44 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
M44 tempers and conditions
M44 is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. ANN 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANNDefault Annealed | As-supplied soft condition for machining tool blanks before hardening. | 620 | 930 | 12 | 27 HRC | — |
Hardened & triple tempered | Pick when interrupted cuts or larger tools demand more edge toughness than peak hardness. | 2,100 | 1 | 63 HRC | 22 W/m·K | |
Hardened & triple tempered | Standard working hardness for hobs, form tools and drills cutting high-strength and heat-resistant alloys. | 2,200 | 0.7 | 65 HRC | 22 W/m·K | |
Hardened & tempered | Peak red-hardness setting for light finishing cuts and abrasive workpieces where toughness is secondary. | 2,250 | 0.4 | 67 HRC | — |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways M44 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-PVD | Hardened + PVD coated | Surface finish |
What is M44?
M44 (T11344) is a high-cobalt molybdenum-tungsten high-speed steel developed for red hardness and abrasion resistance in severe cutting conditions. Annealed stock runs about 269 HB / 27 HRC with 930 MPa tensile, 620 MPa yield, 12 % elongation and 214 GPa modulus; hardened conditions cover 62–64, 64–66 and 66–67 HRC, with a PVD-coated option, and service temperature is limited to about 500 °C. Machinability (28), formability (12) and corrosion resistance (16) are all low, so it is bought as annealed blanks, ground after hardening and kept oiled. M41 or M2 are the alternatives where the extra cobalt content is not needed. M44 has a density of 8 g/cm³ (0.289 lb/in³), heavier than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,240°C (2,264 °F). M44 has a yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 930 MPa (135 ksi) — stronger than 78% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 214 GPa (31 Msi).
What is M44 used for?
- Heavy interrupted-cut tooling
- Milling cutters
- Lathe tool bits
- Aerospace alloy machining
Advantages
- High service temperature — 500°C (932 °F), better than 90% of steel grades
- High strength — 620 MPa (89.9 ksi), better than 78% of steel grades
Limitations
- Poor heat conductor — 21 W/m·K (12.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 95% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 4 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 94% of steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 2.9 % IACS, worse than 93% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 12/100, worse than 92% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 28/100, worse than 91% of steel grades
M44 properties
Typical room-temperature values for M44-ANN; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
M44 has a density of 8 g/cm³ (0.289 lb/in³), heavier than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,240°C (2,264 °F).
Mechanical14
M44 has a yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 930 MPa (135 ksi) — stronger than 78% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 214 GPa (31 Msi).
Thermal6
M44 is rated for continuous service to 500°C (932 °F). It conducts heat at 21 W/m·K (12.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 95% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.5 µm/m·K (5.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
M44 conducts electricity at 2.9 % IACS, worse than 93% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (16/100), better than 79% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of M44 takes about 48 MJ of energy and emits 4 kg of CO₂ — more than 93% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
M44's machinability is poor (28/100, worse than 91% of steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); 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. M44 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with M44
Is M44 easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed condition with rigid setups, sharp cobalt-HSS or carbide tooling and low speeds; hardened parts require CBN/diamond or vitrified alumina grinding with generous coolant to avoid burn cracks.
Can M44 be welded?
Not a structural weld grade; tool repair only with matched HSS or Co filler using 500–600 °C preheat, small beads and immediate re-temper.
Can M44 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot form 1050–900 °C followed by slow cooling and spheroidize anneal at 870–900 °C; no cold forming — austenitize about 1190–1225 °C (salt/vacuum), quench, then triple temper 540–560 °C for 2 h each.
M44 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 | 1.1 – 1.2 | 1.15 |
| Mn | 0.2 – 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Si | 0.3 – 0.55 | 0.4 |
| Cr | 4 – 4.75 | 4.35 |
| W | 5 – 5.75 | 5.4 |
| Mo | 6 – 7 | 6.5 |
| V | 1.85 – 2.2 | 2 |
| Cored-hardness contributor | 11 – 12.25 | 11.75 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on M44?
Steam or black oxide, sulfinuz/nitride or PVD TiN/TiAlN to raise surface hardness and reduce galling; keep post-hardening grinding light and always temper after grinding to relieve stress.
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 M44 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- T11344
How much does M44 cost?
M44 is a high-cost steel ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
M44 — frequently asked
What is M44 used for?
M44 is typically used for heavy interrupted-cut tooling, milling cutters, lathe tool bits and aerospace alloy machining. In short: high-cobalt HSS; red hardness to 500 °C; abrasion-resistant tool grade.
What is the yield strength of M44?
M44 has a typical yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 930 MPa (135 ksi) — stronger than 78% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is M44 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (28/100, worse than 91% of steel grades). Machine only in the annealed condition with rigid setups, sharp cobalt-HSS or carbide tooling and low speeds; hardened parts require CBN/diamond or vitrified alumina grinding with generous coolant to avoid burn cracks.
Can M44 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Not a structural weld grade; tool repair only with matched HSS or Co filler using 500–600 °C preheat, small beads and immediate re-temper.
What surface finishes work on M44?
Steam or black oxide, sulfinuz/nitride or PVD TiN/TiAlN to raise surface hardness and reduce galling; keep post-hardening grinding light and always temper after grinding to relieve stress.
Can M44 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot form 1050–900 °C followed by slow cooling and spheroidize anneal at 870–900 °C; no cold forming — austenitize about 1190–1225 °C (salt/vacuum), quench, then triple temper 540–560 °C for 2 h each.
What is the maximum service temperature of M44?
M44 is rated for continuous use to about 500°C (932 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does M44 cost?
M44 is a high-cost steel ($$$$), 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)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (High-Speed Tool Steels) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Tool Materials — ASM International (1995)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 16: Machining — ASM International (1989)
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.