Steel T15
AISI/SAE T15 · UNS T12015 · EN 1.3202 · JIS SKH10 · GB W12Cr4V5Co5
T15 (T12015, W12Cr4V5Co5, SKH10, 1.3202) is a cobalt-bearing tungsten high-speed steel with about 5 % vanadium, giving the highest wear resistance and red hardness in the T group.
Reference datasheet — T15 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the ANN condition
T15 tempers and conditions
T15 is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. ANN is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANNDefault Annealed | Standard as-supplied stock condition for machining tool blanks before hardening. | 500 | 830 | 12 | 24 HRC | 21 W/m·K |
Hardened & triple tempered to 60–62 HRC | Lower austenitizing / higher temper for interrupted cuts, punches and cold-work tooling where chipping is the risk. | 2,100 | 1 | 61 HRC | 23 W/m·K | |
Hardened & triple tempered to 65–67 HRC | High austenitizing temperature for peak hardness and red hardness in abrasive, continuous cuts; lowest toughness. | 2,200 | 0.3 | 66 HRC | — | |
Hardened & triple tempered to 63–65 HRC | Austenitize ~1210–1230 °C, quench, triple temper 540–560 °C — the usual working hardness for cutting tools. | 2,300 | 0.5 | 64 HRC | 24 W/m·K | |
Powder-metallurgy T15 (CPM T15 type), hardened 65–67 HRC | Choose PM route for fine, uniform vanadium carbides — much better toughness, grindability and dimensional stability at equal hardness. | 2,500 | 66 HRC | — |
What is T15?
T15 (T12015, W12Cr4V5Co5, SKH10, 1.3202) is a cobalt-bearing tungsten high-speed steel with about 5 % vanadium, giving the highest wear resistance and red hardness in the T group. Annealed stock is 255 HB / 24 HRC with 500 MPa yield, 830 MPa tensile, 216 GPa modulus and 21 W/m·K conductivity; it is heat treated to 60-62, 63-65 or 65-67 HRC, with powder-metallurgy bar available for the top hardness range. Vanadium carbides make it slow to grind, it has no corrosion resistance, elongation is only 12 %, and cost and availability are the least favourable in the family; T4 or M42 are the fallbacks. T15 has a density of 8.19 g/cm³ (0.296 lb/in³), heavier than 98% of steel grades. It melts at 1,230°C (2,246 °F). T15 has a yield strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 830 MPa (120 ksi) — stronger than 63% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 216 GPa (31.3 Msi).
What is T15 used for?
- High-production cutting tools
- Form tools
- Punches for abrasive materials
- Heavy-duty lathe tools
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low electrical conductivity — 2.7 % IACS, worse than 96% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 21 W/m·K (12.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 95% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 22/100, worse than 95% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 3.8 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 94% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 12/100, worse than 92% of steel grades
T15 properties
Typical room-temperature values for T15-ANN; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
T15 has a density of 8.19 g/cm³ (0.296 lb/in³), heavier than 98% of steel grades. It melts at 1,230°C (2,246 °F).
Mechanical13
T15 has a yield strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 830 MPa (120 ksi) — stronger than 63% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 216 GPa (31.3 Msi).
Thermal6
T15 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 21 W/m·K (12.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 95% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.2 µm/m·K (6.22 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
T15 conducts electricity at 2.7 % IACS, worse than 96% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (15/100), better than 75% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of T15 takes about 52 MJ of energy and emits 3.8 kg of CO₂ — more than 94% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
T15's machinability is poor (22/100, worse than 95% of steel grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability not recommended (12/100).
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. T15 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with T15
Is T15 easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed condition with rigid setups, low speeds and cobalt-HSS or coated-carbide tooling; the 5% V carbides also make grinding slow — use CBN or friable SG alumina wheels.
Can T15 be welded?
Not a structural weld metal; repair-weld only with matching HSS filler, 500–550 °C preheat/interpass and immediate re-temper.
Can T15 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot-work only (forge 1100–1150 °C, stop above 950 °C, slow cool then anneal 870–900 °C); no cold forming.
T15 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Csome producers supply 1.45–1.60 | 1.5 – 1.6 | 1.55 |
| W | 11.75 – 13 | 12.25 |
| Cr | 3.75 – 5 | 4.25 |
| Vprimary MC carbide former | 4.5 – 5.25 | 5 |
| Cored-hardness booster | 4.75 – 5.25 | 5 |
| Mooptional/residual | ≤ 1 | 0.5 |
| Mn | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.28 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.28 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on T15?
Salt-bath nitride, steam oxide, black oxide or PVD TiN/TiAlN after final grinding; oil or VCI protect since the 4% Cr gives no stainless behaviour.
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).
Organic Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel T15 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- T12015
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.3202
- GB (China)
- W12Cr4V5Co5
- JIS
- SKH10
How much does T15 cost?
T15 is a high-cost steel ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
T15 — frequently asked
What is T15 used for?
T15 is typically used for high-production cutting tools, form tools, punches for abrasive materials and heavy-duty lathe tools. In short: highest wear resistance HSS; cobalt red-hardness grade; hardest to grind.
What is the yield strength of T15?
T15 has a typical yield strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 830 MPa (120 ksi) — stronger than 63% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is T15 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (22/100, worse than 95% of steel grades). Machine only in the annealed condition with rigid setups, low speeds and cobalt-HSS or coated-carbide tooling; the 5% V carbides also make grinding slow — use CBN or friable SG alumina wheels.
Can T15 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Not a structural weld metal; repair-weld only with matching HSS filler, 500–550 °C preheat/interpass and immediate re-temper.
What surface finishes work on T15?
Salt-bath nitride, steam oxide, black oxide or PVD TiN/TiAlN after final grinding; oil or VCI protect since the 4% Cr gives no stainless behaviour.
Can T15 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot-work only (forge 1100–1150 °C, stop above 950 °C, slow cool then anneal 870–900 °C); no cold forming.
What is the maximum service temperature of T15?
T15 is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does T15 cost?
T15 is a high-cost steel ($$$$), pricier than about 78% 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.
Sources
- ASTM A600 — Standard Specification for Tool Steel High Speed — ASTM International (2016)
- GB/T 9943 (W12Cr4V5Co5) (2008)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (Tool Steels) — ASM International (1990)
- Tool Steels, 5th ed. — ASM International (1998)
- CPM T15 / T15 high speed steel data sheets — Crucible Industries / Böhler-Uddeholm (2020)
- JIS G4403 SKH10 / EN ISO 4957 HS12-1-5-5 (1.3202) — JISC / ISO (2018)
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.