Steel S5 Normalized
Heat-treated state
AISI/SAE S5 · UNS T41905
Intermediate condition used to homogenize forgings before spheroidize annealing; not a service condition.
Values for the Normalized condition
Other S5 tempers and conditions
S5 is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at S5.
- Annealed
- Normalized
- Hardened & Tempered
- As-Quenched
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault soft-annealed bar/plate as supplied | Standard stock condition for machining tools before hardening. | 440 | 725 | 25 | 215 HB | — |
NormalizedThis page 900 °C, air cooled | Intermediate condition used to homogenize forgings before spheroidize annealing; not a service condition. | 800 | 1,250 | 10 | 40 HRC | 3.8 % IACS |
58–60 HRC (low temper ~175–205 °C) | Maximum hardness/wear condition for punches and shear blades where impact loads are moderate. | 1,850 | 2,150 | 4 | 59 HRC | — |
870 °C oil quench, untempered | Peak hardness before tempering; must be tempered immediately to avoid cracking. | 2,050 | 2,400 | 1 | 63 HRC | 3.5 % IACS |
What is S5 Normalized?
S5 Normalized is S5 heat treated to Normalized — intermediate condition used to homogenize forgings before spheroidize annealing; not a service condition. S5 Normalized has a yield strength of 800 MPa (116 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,250 MPa (181 ksi) — stronger than 86% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi). S5 Normalized has a density of 7.76 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), lighter than 92% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Normalized is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High strength — 800 MPa (116 ksi), better than 86% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 95% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 10%, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 28/100, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 25 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 88% of steel grades
S5 Normalized properties
Typical room-temperature values for S5 Normalized; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are S5 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
S5 Normalized has a density of 7.76 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), lighter than 92% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Mechanical15
S5 Normalized has a yield strength of 800 MPa (116 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,250 MPa (181 ksi) — stronger than 86% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).
Thermal6
S5 Normalized is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 25 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 88% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12.4 µm/m·K (6.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
S5 Normalized conducts electricity at 3.8 % IACS, worse than 84% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of S5 Normalized takes about 36 MJ of energy and emits 2.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 89% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability8
S5 Normalized's machinability is poor (28/100, worse than 91% of steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability not recommended (10/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with S5 Normalized
Is S5 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed condition (~215 HB) with sharp carbide or HSS tooling; the ~2% Si makes chips gummy, so use positive rake, rigid setups and flood coolant, and finish-grind after hardening.
Can S5 be welded?
Only repair welding is advised: preheat 300–350 °C, use matching or low-hydrogen electrodes, keep interpass heat, then temper immediately at the part's tempering temperature.
Can S5 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1040–1100 °C, stop above ~900 °C and slow-cool, then spheroidize anneal 760–790 °C; cold forming is limited to light bending in the annealed state.
What surface finishes work on S5?
Harden from 870 °C in oil (or interrupted/marquench), temper at 175–425 °C for 50–60 HRC; protect with black oxide, phosphate or oil — no anodizing, and avoid hard chrome above the temper temperature.
S5 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 | 0.5 – 0.65 | 0.58 |
| Sihigh Si gives the shock-resisting character | 1.75 – 2.25 | 2 |
| Mn | 0.6 – 1 | 0.8 |
| Mo | 0.2 – 1.35 | 0.4 |
| Croptional addition per ASTM A681 | ≤ 0.5 | 0.3 |
| Voptional, grain refinement | ≤ 0.35 | 0.2 |
| Niresidual | ≤ 0.3 | — |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
S5 Normalized — frequently asked
What is S5 Normalized used for?
S5 Normalized is typically used for pneumatic chisels, punches, shear and cropping blades, rivet sets and chipping hammers, cold heading and stamping tooling and impact drivers and screwdriver bits. In short: shock-resistant tool steel.
What is the yield strength of S5 Normalized?
S5 Normalized has a typical yield strength of 800 MPa (116 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,250 MPa (181 ksi) — stronger than 86% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is S5 Normalized easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (28/100, worse than 91% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed condition (~215 HB) with sharp carbide or HSS tooling; the ~2% Si makes chips gummy, so use positive rake, rigid setups and flood coolant, and finish-grind after hardening.
Can S5 Normalized be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Only repair welding is advised: preheat 300–350 °C, use matching or low-hydrogen electrodes, keep interpass heat, then temper immediately at the part's tempering temperature.
What surface finishes work on S5 Normalized?
Harden from 870 °C in oil (or interrupted/marquench), temper at 175–425 °C for 50–60 HRC; protect with black oxide, phosphate or oil — no anodizing, and avoid hard chrome above the temper temperature.
Can S5 Normalized be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1040–1100 °C, stop above ~900 °C and slow-cool, then spheroidize anneal 760–790 °C; cold forming is limited to light bending in the annealed state.
What is the maximum service temperature of S5 Normalized?
S5 Normalized 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in S5 Normalized?
Yes — S5 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 (2015)
- 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)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16: Machining — ASM International (1989)
- MatWeb AISI S5 tool steel datasheets — MatWeb LLC (2024)
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.