Steel T10A Annealed
Temper · default condition
GB T10A · JIS SK105
Standard stocked condition for bar, plate and strip: soft, machinable and ready for the user's own hardening.
Values for the Annealed condition
Other T10A tempers and conditions
T10A is listed in 8 conditions; see the grade overview at T10A.
Compare all 8 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefaultThis page as-supplied soft condition | Standard stocked condition for bar, plate and strip: soft, machinable and ready for the user's own hardening. | 400 | 700 | 22 | 187 HB | 47 W/m·K |
Hot rolled | Cheapest mill condition; harder and less machinable than annealed, usually annealed by the user before machining. | 480 | 850 | 12 | 25 HRC | 9.5 % IACS |
Normalized | Used to break up carbide networks and refine grain before spheroidizing or hardening. | 560 | 1,000 | 10 | 30 HRC | 9.2 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Precision bar, drill rod and strip with tight size and good surface; slightly work-hardened, still hardenable. | 620 | 800 | 10 | 21 HRC | 9.5 % IACS |
Quenched + tempered 400–450 °C | Tough, shock-resistant setting for springs, cold chisels and tool shanks where edge holding is secondary. | 1,400 | 1,600 | 5 | 48 HRC | — |
Quenched + tempered 300–350 °C | Chosen where some impact loading exists (chisels, shear blades) at the cost of wear resistance. | 1,550 | 1,850 | 2 | 55 HRC | 8.6 % IACS |
Quenched + tempered 200–250 °C | Common working hardness for punches, simple dies and woodworking blades — slightly tougher than fully hard. | — | 2,000 | 1 | 59 HRC | — |
Water/brine quenched 760–790 °C + tempered 150–180 °C | Maximum hardness and wear resistance for files, scrapers, hand-cutting tools; very brittle, thin sections only. | — | 2,200 | 0.5 | 63 HRC | 42 W/m·K |
What is T10A Annealed?
T10A Annealed is T10A in the Annealed temper — standard stocked condition for bar, plate and strip: soft, machinable and ready for the user's own hardening. T10A Annealed has a yield strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — weaker than 60% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi). T10A 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
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 9.5 % IACS, better than 75% 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
T10A Annealed properties
Typical room-temperature values for T10A Annealed; 15 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are T10A reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
T10A 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
T10A Annealed has a yield strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — weaker than 60% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).
Thermal6
T10A Annealed is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °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
T10A Annealed conducts electricity at 9.5 % IACS, better than 75% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of T10A Annealed takes about 30 MJ of energy and emits 2.3 kg of CO₂ — more than 56% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
T10A Annealed's machinability is good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability fair (40/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with T10A Annealed
Is T10A easy to machine?
Machine only in the spheroidize-annealed state (~187 HB, ~65 % of AISI 1212); after hardening only grinding or EDM is practical.
Can T10A be welded?
Essentially unweldable for tool duty — high carbon causes hard, cracking-prone HAZ; if unavoidable preheat 250–300 °C and post-weld anneal immediately.
Can T10A be formed, bent or molded?
Annealed strip bends and blanks acceptably with generous radii; hot forge 1050–850 °C then slow cool/anneal, never forge below 800 °C.
What surface finishes work on T10A?
Takes a fine polish when hardened; protect with oil, black oxide, phosphating, nitriding or hard chrome, as bare surfaces rust quickly.
T10A 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 |
| Phigh-grade 'A' limit per GB/T 1298 | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Shigh-grade 'A' limit per GB/T 1298 | ≤ 0.02 | — |
| Crresidual | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Niresidual | ≤ 0.2 | — |
| Curesidual | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
T10A Annealed — frequently asked
What is T10A Annealed used for?
T10A Annealed is typically used for hand chisels, punches, woodworking tools and simple cold forming dies. In short: lowest-cost hardenable tool steel; water-hardening, shallow case; tougher than T12A.
What is the yield strength of T10A Annealed?
T10A Annealed has a typical yield strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — weaker than 60% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is T10A Annealed easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades). Machine only in the spheroidize-annealed state (~187 HB, ~65 % of AISI 1212); after hardening only grinding or EDM is practical.
Can T10A Annealed be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Essentially unweldable for tool duty — high carbon causes hard, cracking-prone HAZ; if unavoidable preheat 250–300 °C and post-weld anneal immediately.
What surface finishes work on T10A Annealed?
Takes a fine polish when hardened; protect with oil, black oxide, phosphating, nitriding or hard chrome, as bare surfaces rust quickly.
Can T10A Annealed be formed, bent or molded?
Annealed strip bends and blanks acceptably with generous radii; hot forge 1050–850 °C then slow cool/anneal, never forge below 800 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of T10A Annealed?
T10A 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 T10A Annealed and T10A-CD?
Annealed is the default condition — standard stocked condition for bar, plate and strip: soft, machinable and ready for the user's own hardening. CD: precision bar, drill rod and strip with tight size and good surface; slightly work-hardened, still hardenable. Yield strength is 400 MPa in Annealed versus 620 MPa in CD.
Sources
- GB/T 1298 Carbon Tool Steels — Technical Requirements — SAC (China) (2008)
- JIS G 4401 Carbon Tool Steels (SK105/SK3) — JISC (2009)
- ASTM A686 / AISI W1 Water-Hardening Tool Steel — ASTM (2016)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — 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.