Steel T10
AISI/SAE T10 · EN 1.1645 · GB T10A
T10 (T10A) is a plain high-carbon tool steel of roughly 0.95–1.04 % C, comparable in behaviour to W1 water-hardening tool steel.
Values for the Annealed condition
T10 tempers and conditions
T10 is supplied in 10 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 10 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cold Rolled Strip, soft annealed | Bright annealed strip/coil for stamped blades, springs and shims that are hardened after blanking. | 410 | 700 | 20 | 185 HB | 9 % IACS |
AnnealedDefault spheroidize annealed (soft, ≤197 HB) | Default stock condition for bar, strip and plate: soft, machinable and ready for hardening after machining. | 420 | 720 | 18 | 192 HB | — |
Hot rolled | Cheapest mill condition for stock that will be annealed or fully heat treated by the user. | 480 | 830 | 12 | 22 HRC | 9 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Choose for close-tolerance round or square bar and drill-rod style blanks needing minimal machining. | 620 | 800 | 10 | 21 HRC | 9 % IACS |
Cold Rolled Strip, hard rolled | Work-hardened strip used where stiffness and edge retention are needed without a hardening cycle. | 850 | 1,000 | 3 | 30 HRC | 8.5 % IACS |
Quenched, tempered 400–450 °C | Toughness-biased condition for shock-loaded tooling, springs and heavy-section parts. | 1,350 | 1,550 | 7 | 48 HRC | — |
Quenched, tempered 300–350 °C | Slightly tougher setting for shear blades, cold chisels and impact-loaded punches. | 1,650 | 1,900 | 4 | 56 HRC | 7.5 % IACS |
Quenched, tempered 200–250 °C | Standard working hardness for taps, reamers, punches, woodworking chisels and small blanking dies. | 1,850 | 2,150 | 2 | 60 HRC | — |
Quenched, tempered 150–180 °C | Maximum wear resistance and edge holding for files, razor blades, scrapers and hand-cutting tools. | 2,000 | 2,300 | 1 | 63 HRC | — |
water/brine quenched from 760–790 °C, untempered | Intermediate condition only — must be tempered immediately to avoid quench cracking. | 2,200 | 0.5 | 64 HRC | 7 % IACS |
What is T10?
T10 (T10A) is a plain high-carbon tool steel of roughly 0.95–1.04 % C, comparable in behaviour to W1 water-hardening tool steel. It is bought as annealed, hot-rolled, cold-drawn or cold-rolled bar and strip, machined soft, then quenched and tempered to 45–50, 54–58, 58–62 or 62–64 HRC for cutting tools, dies and shear blades. Hardenability is shallow, so it suits thin sections and edges rather than heavy blocks; it is effectively non-weldable, has no corrosion resistance and is limited to about 300 °C service. Where distortion control matters, an air-hardening grade such as A2 is the nearest alternative. T10 has a density of 7.81 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F). T10 has a yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 720 MPa (104 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is T10 used for?
- Hand cutting tools
- Shear blades
- Blanking and piercing punches
- Cold-work dies
- Woodworking chisels and plane irons
- Files and reamers
- Measuring gauges
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), worse than 78% of steel grades
T10 properties
Typical room-temperature values for T10-Annealed; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
T10 has a density of 7.81 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Mechanical15
T10 has a yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 720 MPa (104 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
T10 is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 46 W/m·K (26.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 71% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
T10 conducts electricity at 9 % IACS, better than 71% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of T10 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
T10's machinability is fair (48/100, worse than 57% of steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability fair (45/100).
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. T10 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with T10
Is T10 easy to machine?
Machine in the spheroidize-annealed condition with HSS or carbide at moderate speeds; hardened parts require grinding or EDM.
Can T10 be welded?
Effectively non-weldable for structural purposes — 1 % C causes hard, crack-prone HAZ; only TIG/laser tool repair with preheat 250–350 °C and immediate temper.
Can T10 be formed, bent or molded?
Annealed strip cold-forms and blanks acceptably; hot work at 1050–850 °C and cool slowly, then spheroidize anneal at 740–760 °C before machining.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit applies to T10. Every T10 part is priced by an engineer; design inside these and the quote comes back without a redesign loop.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Better48 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | P.2 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 180 / 210 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.8 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 5× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 1.6 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
T10 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 | 0.95 – 1.04 | 1 |
| Si | ≤ 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Crresidual | ≤ 0.25 | 0.1 |
| Niresidual | ≤ 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Curesidual | ≤ 0.3 | 0.1 |
| PT10A high-grade: P ≤ 0.030 | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| ST10A high-grade: S ≤ 0.020 | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on T10?
Grinds and mirror-polishes well when hardened; protect with oil, black oxide, phosphate, nitriding or plating since bare surfaces rust quickly.
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).
Plating
CVD Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel T10 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
How much does T10 cost?
T10 is a premium-cost steel ($$$), pricier than about 57% 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.
T10 — frequently asked
What is T10 used for?
T10 is typically used for hand cutting tools, shear blades, blanking and piercing punches, cold-work dies, woodworking chisels and plane irons and files and reamers. In short: high-carbon tool steel.
What is the yield strength of T10?
T10 has a typical yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 720 MPa (104 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is T10 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (48/100, worse than 57% of steel grades). Machine in the spheroidize-annealed condition with HSS or carbide at moderate speeds; hardened parts require grinding or EDM.
Can T10 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Effectively non-weldable for structural purposes — 1 % C causes hard, crack-prone HAZ; only TIG/laser tool repair with preheat 250–350 °C and immediate temper.
What surface finishes work on T10?
Grinds and mirror-polishes well when hardened; protect with oil, black oxide, phosphate, nitriding or plating since bare surfaces rust quickly.
Can T10 be formed, bent or molded?
Annealed strip cold-forms and blanks acceptably; hot work at 1050–850 °C and cool slowly, then spheroidize anneal at 740–760 °C before machining.
What is the maximum service temperature of T10?
T10 is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between T10 Annealed and T10 CR-Hard?
Annealed is the default condition — default stock condition for bar, strip and plate: soft, machinable and ready for hardening after machining. CR-Hard: work-hardened strip used where stiffness and edge retention are needed without a hardening cycle. Yield strength is 420 MPa in Annealed versus 850 MPa in CR-Hard.
How much does T10 cost?
T10 is a premium-cost steel ($$$), pricier than about 57% 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in T10?
Yes — T10 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
- GB/T 1298 Carbon Tool Steels — Technical Requirements — SAC (China) (2008)
- DIN 17350 / EN ISO 4957 (1.1645 C105W1) — DIN / ISO (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1: Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys (W1 water-hardening tool steels) — ASM International (1990)
- Tool Steels, 5th ed. — 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.