Steel T10 CR-Soft
Finish state
AISI/SAE T10 · EN 1.1645 · GB T10A
CR-Soft = cold Rolled Strip, soft annealed
Bright annealed strip/coil for stamped blades, springs and shims that are hardened after blanking.
Values for the CR-Soft condition
Other T10 tempers and conditions
T10 is listed in 10 conditions; see the grade overview at T10.
Compare all 10 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CR-SoftThis page 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 CR-Soft?
T10 CR-Soft is T10 supplied in the CR-Soft condition — bright annealed strip/coil for stamped blades, springs and shims that are hardened after blanking. T10 CR-Soft has a yield strength of 410 MPa (59.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — weaker than 57% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi). T10 CR-Soft 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). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; CR-Soft is available on request or by drawing note.
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
- Limited service temperature — 180°C (356 °F), worse than 98% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 91% of steel grades
T10 CR-Soft properties
Typical room-temperature values for T10 CR-Soft; 21 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are T10 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
T10 CR-Soft 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 CR-Soft has a yield strength of 410 MPa (59.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — weaker than 57% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
T10 CR-Soft is rated for continuous service to 180°C (356 °F). It conducts heat at 47 W/m·K (27.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 75% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
T10 CR-Soft 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 CR-Soft 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 CR-Soft's machinability is fair (52/100, better than 52% of steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability good (55/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with T10 CR-Soft
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 CR-Soft — frequently asked
What is T10 CR-Soft used for?
T10 CR-Soft 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 CR-Soft?
T10 CR-Soft has a typical yield strength of 410 MPa (59.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — weaker than 57% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is T10 CR-Soft easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (52/100, better than 52% of steel grades). Machine in the spheroidize-annealed condition with HSS or carbide at moderate speeds; hardened parts require grinding or EDM.
Can T10 CR-Soft 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 CR-Soft?
Grinds and mirror-polishes well when hardened; protect with oil, black oxide, phosphate, nitriding or plating since bare surfaces rust quickly.
Can T10 CR-Soft 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 CR-Soft?
T10 CR-Soft is rated for continuous use to about 180°C (356 °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 CR-Soft?
Yes — T10 CR-Soft 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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.