Steel S2 Normalized
Heat-treated state
AISI/SAE S2 · UNS T41902
Intermediate mill/forge-recovery condition; not a service condition — normally annealed afterwards.
Values for the Normalized condition
Other S2 tempers and conditions
S2 is listed in 5 conditions; see the grade overview at S2.
- Annealed
- Cold Drawn
- Normalized
- H&T 50-54 HRC
- Q&T
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault soft-annealed bar/flat, as supplied for machining | Standard stock condition (183–217 HB) for machining, forming and drilling before hardening. | 460 | 760 | 20 | 200 HB | — |
cold-drawn/ground bar and drill rod | Size-accurate drill-rod/ground-bar stock for bit and punch blanks; slightly harder than hot-rolled annealed. | 620 | 850 | 14 | 22 HRC | 5.5 % IACS |
NormalizedThis page 900–925 °C air cool (mill pre-treatment before annealing) | Intermediate mill/forge-recovery condition; not a service condition — normally annealed afterwards. | 700 | 1,050 | 12 | 31 HRC | 5.5 % IACS |
Hardened & Tempered | Toughest practical working condition for chisels, rivet sets and pneumatic-hammer tooling under heavy shock. | 1,500 | 1,750 | 9 | 52 HRC | — |
Quenched and tempered | General hardened-and-tempered service condition (typically 54–58 HRC) for shock tools and bits. | 1,700 | 2,000 | 6 | 57 HRC | — |
What is S2 Normalized?
S2 Normalized is S2 heat treated to Normalized — intermediate mill/forge-recovery condition; not a service condition — normally annealed afterwards. S2 Normalized has a yield strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,050 MPa (152 ksi) — stronger than 81% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi). S2 Normalized has a density of 7.79 g/cm³ (0.281 lb/in³), lighter than 90% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Normalized is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High strength — 700 MPa (102 ksi), better than 81% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 10/100, worse than 99% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 93% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 30/100, worse than 89% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 25 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 88% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 15/100, worse than 87% of steel grades
S2 Normalized properties
Typical room-temperature values for S2 Normalized; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are S2 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
S2 Normalized has a density of 7.79 g/cm³ (0.281 lb/in³), lighter than 90% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical16
S2 Normalized has a yield strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,050 MPa (152 ksi) — stronger than 81% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).
Thermal6
S2 Normalized is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 25 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 88% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12.5 µm/m·K (6.94 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
S2 Normalized conducts electricity at 5.5 % IACS, worse than 81% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of S2 Normalized takes about 34 MJ of energy and emits 2.4 kg of CO₂ — more than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 45%.
Manufacturability8
S2 Normalized's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 89% of steel grades); weldability not recommended (10/100); formability poor (15/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with S2 Normalized
Is S2 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed condition with sharp carbide or cobalt HSS at moderate speed; the ~1 % Si makes chips gummy, so use generous coolant and finish-grind after hardening.
Can S2 be welded?
Not a welding grade — repair only, with 200–320 °C preheat, matching or austenitic filler, and an immediate re-temper to avoid quench cracks.
Can S2 be formed, bent or molded?
Forge 1010–1150 °C, never below ~900 °C, slow cool then anneal 760–790 °C; harden 845–885 °C with a severe water/brine quench (thin sections may be oil-quenched) and temper 175–370 °C for 50–60 HRC.
What surface finishes work on S2?
Grind, then protect with black oxide, manganese phosphate or oil; thin electroplating requires post-plate bake (~190 °C) to avoid hydrogen embrittlement.
S2 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 | 0.4 – 0.55 | 0.5 |
| Siraises hardenability and tempering resistance | 0.9 – 1.2 | 1.05 |
| Mn | 0.3 – 0.5 | 0.4 |
| Mo | 0.3 – 0.6 | 0.45 |
| Voptional grain refiner | ≤ 0.5 | 0.2 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
S2 Normalized — frequently asked
What is S2 Normalized used for?
S2 Normalized is typically used for screwdrivers, pneumatic tool bits and chisels. In short: tough; water-hardening tool.
What is the yield strength of S2 Normalized?
S2 Normalized has a typical yield strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,050 MPa (152 ksi) — stronger than 81% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is S2 Normalized easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 89% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed condition with sharp carbide or cobalt HSS at moderate speed; the ~1 % Si makes chips gummy, so use generous coolant and finish-grind after hardening.
Can S2 Normalized be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (10/100). Not a welding grade — repair only, with 200–320 °C preheat, matching or austenitic filler, and an immediate re-temper to avoid quench cracks.
What surface finishes work on S2 Normalized?
Grind, then protect with black oxide, manganese phosphate or oil; thin electroplating requires post-plate bake (~190 °C) to avoid hydrogen embrittlement.
Can S2 Normalized be formed, bent or molded?
Forge 1010–1150 °C, never below ~900 °C, slow cool then anneal 760–790 °C; harden 845–885 °C with a severe water/brine quench (thin sections may be oil-quenched) and temper 175–370 °C for 50–60 HRC.
What is the maximum service temperature of S2 Normalized?
S2 Normalized is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in S2 Normalized?
Yes — S2 Normalized is available for CNC machining; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM A681 — Standard Specification for Tool Steels Alloy — ASTM International (2022)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (tool steels) — ASM International (1990)
- Tool Steels, 5th Edition (Roberts, Krauss, Kennedy) — ASM International (1998)
- Shock-resisting tool steel S2 data sheet — Tool-steel producers (Crucible/Böhler/Hudson-type datasheets) (2020)
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.