Steel W18Cr4V
AISI/SAE T1 · EN X75WCrV18-4-1
W18Cr4V is the classic tungsten-type high-speed steel of the T series, equivalent to AISI T1, strengthened by tungsten, chromium and vanadium carbides and by secondary hardening to 62–66 HRC.
Reference datasheet — W18Cr4V 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 Annealed condition
W18Cr4V tempers and conditions
W18Cr4V is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault spheroidize/soft annealed bar and forging stock (≤255 HB) | The standard as-delivered mill condition for round bar, flat and forging stock — machine tool blanks here, then harden. | 550 | 900 | 10 | 22 HRC | 3.7 % IACS |
Cold drawn / bright ground annealed bar | Pick for small-diameter tool blanks and shanks needing close size and clean surface before hardening. | 750 | 1,000 | 7 | 26 HRC | 3.4 % IACS |
Hardened & triple tempered to 64–66 HRC | Maximum wear resistance and red hardness for drills, milling cutters and finishing tools in steady cuts. | 1,900 | 0.3 | 65 HRC | — | |
Hardened & triple tempered to 62–64 HRC | Tougher working hardness for interrupted cuts, taps, broaches and larger form tools. | 2,000 | 0.5 | 63 HRC | — | |
Hardened, tempered and (gas/salt-bath) nitrided surface | Choose for extra abrasion resistance on gear hobs, broaches and forming tools where the case can be kept thin and brittle edges avoided. | 2,050 | 2,200 | 0.5 | 65 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways W18Cr4V is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
HT+PVD | Hardened, tempered and PVD coated | Surface finish |
HT+Steam | Hardened, tempered and steam (oxide) treated | Surface finish |
What is W18Cr4V?
W18Cr4V is the classic tungsten-type high-speed steel of the T series, equivalent to AISI T1, strengthened by tungsten, chromium and vanadium carbides and by secondary hardening to 62–66 HRC. It is chosen for general-purpose cutting tools because it grinds noticeably better than high-vanadium molybdenum HSS and tolerates simple salt-bath or vacuum heat-treat routes; stock forms are round bar, flats and cold-drawn annealed sizes, plus steam-oxide, nitrided and PVD-coated tool blanks. The annealed grade is listed to about 350 °C service, the 4 % Cr gives no real corrosion resistance, and the tungsten content makes it costlier and less tough than M2 (SKH51), the usual substitute. W18Cr4V has a density of 8.67 g/cm³ (0.313 lb/in³), heavier than 99% of steel grades. It melts at 1,330°C (2,426 °F). W18Cr4V has a yield strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — stronger than 71% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 217 GPa (31.5 Msi).
What is W18Cr4V used for?
- lathe tools
- drills
- taps
- broaches
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 80/100, better than 97% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 30 MPa·√m (27.3 ksi·√in), worse than 96% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 4.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 95% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 10%, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 24 W/m·K (13.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 90% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 15/100, worse than 87% of steel grades
W18Cr4V properties
Typical room-temperature values for W18Cr4V-Annealed; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
W18Cr4V has a density of 8.67 g/cm³ (0.313 lb/in³), heavier than 99% of steel grades. It melts at 1,330°C (2,426 °F).
Mechanical17
W18Cr4V has a yield strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — stronger than 71% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 217 GPa (31.5 Msi).
Thermal6
W18Cr4V is rated for continuous service to 350°C (662 °F). It conducts heat at 24 W/m·K (13.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 90% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11 µm/m·K (6.11 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
W18Cr4V conducts electricity at 3.7 % IACS, worse than 84% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (20/100), better than 87% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of W18Cr4V takes about 60 MJ of energy and emits 4.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 96% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability8
W18Cr4V's machinability is fair (35/100, worse than 84% of steel grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability poor (15/100).
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. W18Cr4V is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with W18Cr4V
Is W18Cr4V easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed condition (≤255 HB) with rigid setups, cobalt-HSS or coated carbide, low speeds and generous coolant; once hardened above 60 HRC it is a grinding-only material — W18Cr4V grinds noticeably better than high-V Mo-type HSS.
Can W18Cr4V be welded?
Avoid structural welding; repair or shank-to-body joining is done by silver brazing or by TIG/electrode welding with matching HSS filler at 500–550 °C preheat followed immediately by a full temper cycle.
Can W18Cr4V be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work only — forge 1100–1150 °C (stop above 900 °C) with slow furnace cooling, then spheroidize anneal 850–870 °C; harden by preheat 800–850 °C, austenitize 1270–1285 °C (salt/vacuum, short soak), oil/salt or gas quench, then triple temper 550–570 °C × 1 h.
W18Cr4V 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 | 0.73 – 0.83 | 0.78 |
| Si | 0.2 – 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Mn | 0.1 – 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Cr | 3.8 – 4.5 | 4.15 |
| W | 17.2 – 18.7 | 18 |
| V | 1 – 1.2 | 1.1 |
| Moresidual | ≤ 0.3 | 0.15 |
| Coresidual | ≤ 0.5 | |
| Niresidual | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Curesidual | ≤ 0.25 | |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on W18Cr4V?
Cannot be anodized; standard finishes are steam/black oxide, salt-bath nitrocarburizing or PVD TiN/TiAlN; parts must be oiled or coated for storage because the 4 % Cr gives no real corrosion resistance.
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 W18Cr4V in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- AISI / SAE
- T1
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- X75WCrV18-4-1
How much does W18Cr4V cost?
W18Cr4V 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.
W18Cr4V — frequently asked
What is W18Cr4V used for?
W18Cr4V is typically used for lathe tools, drills, taps and broaches. In short: classic T1 tungsten HSS; grinds better than Mo-V HSS; general-purpose tool steel.
What is the yield strength of W18Cr4V?
W18Cr4V has a typical yield strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — stronger than 71% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is W18Cr4V easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, worse than 84% of steel grades). Machine only in the annealed condition (≤255 HB) with rigid setups, cobalt-HSS or coated carbide, low speeds and generous coolant; once hardened above 60 HRC it is a grinding-only material — W18Cr4V grinds noticeably better than high-V Mo-type HSS.
Can W18Cr4V be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Avoid structural welding; repair or shank-to-body joining is done by silver brazing or by TIG/electrode welding with matching HSS filler at 500–550 °C preheat followed immediately by a full temper cycle.
What surface finishes work on W18Cr4V?
Cannot be anodized; standard finishes are steam/black oxide, salt-bath nitrocarburizing or PVD TiN/TiAlN; parts must be oiled or coated for storage because the 4 % Cr gives no real corrosion resistance.
Can W18Cr4V be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work only — forge 1100–1150 °C (stop above 900 °C) with slow furnace cooling, then spheroidize anneal 850–870 °C; harden by preheat 800–850 °C, austenitize 1270–1285 °C (salt/vacuum, short soak), oil/salt or gas quench, then triple temper 550–570 °C × 1 h.
What is the maximum service temperature of W18Cr4V?
W18Cr4V is rated for continuous use to about 350°C (662 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does W18Cr4V cost?
W18Cr4V 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
- GB/T 9943 (HS18-0-1 / W18Cr4V) (2008)
- ASTM A600 Standard Specification for Tool Steel High Speed (Type T1) — ASTM International (2016)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (High-Speed Steels) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4 — Heat Treating (Heat Treating of High-Speed Tool Steels) — ASM International (1991)
- Tool Steels, 5th ed. — ASM International (Roberts, Krauss, Kennedy) (1998)
- (W18Cr4V/HS18-0-1) (2022)
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.