Steel T10 · temper · default condition
Steel T10 Annealed
Properties of the Annealed condition, compared with the other T10 tempers.
Default stock condition for bar, strip and plate: soft, machinable and ready for hardening after machining.
What is T10 Annealed?
T10 Annealed is T10 in the Annealed temper — default stock condition for bar, strip and plate: soft, machinable and ready for hardening after machining. T10 Annealed 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). T10 Annealed 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).
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 77% of steel grades
T10 Annealed properties
Typical room-temperature values for T10 Annealed — 14 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every T10 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
T10 Annealed 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 Annealed 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 Annealed 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 Annealed conducts electricity at 9 % IACS, better than 70% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 87% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of T10 Annealed 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 Annealed'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.
Other T10 tempers and conditions
T10 is also supplied in 9 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the T10 overview.
- AnnealedDefaultDefault stock condition for bar, strip and plate: soft, machinable and ready for hardening after machining.420 MPa yield · 192 HB
- Q&T 62-64 HRCMaximum wear resistance and edge holding for files, razor blades, scrapers and hand-cutting tools.2,000 MPa yield · 63 HRC
- Q&T 58-62 HRCStandard working hardness for taps, reamers, punches, woodworking chisels and small blanking dies.1,850 MPa yield · 60 HRC
- Q&T 54-58 HRCSlightly tougher setting for shear blades, cold chisels and impact-loaded punches.1,650 MPa yield · 56 HRC
- Q&T 45-50 HRCToughness-biased condition for shock-loaded tooling, springs and heavy-section parts.1,350 MPa yield · 48 HRC
Working with T10 Annealed
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.
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.
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 | — |
T10 Annealed — frequently asked
What is T10 Annealed used for?
T10 Annealed 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 Annealed?
T10 Annealed 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 Annealed 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 Annealed 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 Annealed?
Grinds and mirror-polishes well when hardened; protect with oil, black oxide, phosphate, nitriding or plating since bare surfaces rust quickly.
Can T10 Annealed 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 Annealed?
T10 Annealed 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in T10 Annealed?
Yes — T10 Annealed is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. 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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.