Steel W6Mo5Cr4V2
AISI/SAE M2 · EN X82WMoCrV6-5-4
W6Mo5Cr4V2 is the general-purpose molybdenum high-speed steel equivalent to AISI M2, a W-Mo-Cr-V tool steel that combines red hardness with reasonable toughness and is the most widely used HSS grade.
Values for the Annealed condition
W6Mo5Cr4V2 tempers and conditions
W6Mo5Cr4V2 is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Salt-bath/vacuum hardened at upper austenitising range, low-temper | Use for high-wear finishing cutters and form tools with rigid, vibration-free cutting conditions; chipping risk is high. | 65 HRC | — | |||
AnnealedDefault soft annealed (spheroidised) bar, plate or forging stock | Standard as-delivered condition for machining tool blanks before hardening. | 570 | 850 | 12 | 23 HRC | — |
annealed and cold-drawn bright bar / wire | Pick for small-diameter precision blanks (tap, drill, wire) where a bright, close-tolerance surface saves grinding. | 780 | 980 | 6 | 30 HRC | 3 % IACS |
Hardened 1200–1220 °C, triple tempered ~560–580 °C | Choose for interrupted-cut or shock-loaded tooling — punches, shear blades, heavy-duty broaches — where toughness beats peak wear resistance. | 2,100 | 1 | 61 HRC | — | |
Hardened/tempered core plus gas or plasma nitrided case | Pick when abrasive wear or galling on gear hobs, taps and forming rolls must be reduced without changing core toughness. | 2,100 | 2,350 | 0.5 | 63 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
Hardened 1210–1230 °C, triple tempered ~550–560 °C | The normal working hardness for drills, taps, end mills and hobs — best balance of wear resistance and toughness. | 2,300 | 0.5 | 63 HRC | 21 W/m·K |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways W6Mo5Cr4V2 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
Q&T + TiN PVD | Q&T + TiN/TiAlN PVD coated | Surface finish |
What is W6Mo5Cr4V2?
W6Mo5Cr4V2 is the general-purpose molybdenum high-speed steel equivalent to AISI M2, a W-Mo-Cr-V tool steel that combines red hardness with reasonable toughness and is the most widely used HSS grade. It is stocked annealed at 240 HB (850 MPa tensile, 570 MPa yield, 12 % elongation) for machining, and supplied quenched and tempered at 60–62, 62–64 or 64–66 HRC, optionally nitrided or TiN PVD coated, as bar, blanks and cold-drawn stock. Service temperature is capped near 500 °C, toughness falls at the highest hardness, there is no corrosion resistance, and hardened stock can only be ground or EDM cut; carbide is the alternative for higher cutting speeds. W6Mo5Cr4V2 has a density of 8.16 g/cm³ (0.295 lb/in³), heavier than 98% of steel grades. It melts at 1,250°C (2,282 °F). W6Mo5Cr4V2 has a yield strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) — stronger than 74% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 217 GPa (31.5 Msi).
What is W6Mo5Cr4V2 used for?
- Twist drills
- Milling cutters
- Reamers
Advantages
- High service temperature — 500°C (932 °F), better than 90% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 3.6 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 94% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 45 MPa·√m (41 ksi·√in), worse than 90% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 24 W/m·K (13.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 90% of steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 3.1 % IACS, worse than 89% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 18/100, worse than 87% of steel grades
W6Mo5Cr4V2 properties
Typical room-temperature values for W6Mo5Cr4V2-Annealed; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
W6Mo5Cr4V2 has a density of 8.16 g/cm³ (0.295 lb/in³), heavier than 98% of steel grades. It melts at 1,250°C (2,282 °F).
Mechanical17
W6Mo5Cr4V2 has a yield strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) — stronger than 74% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 217 GPa (31.5 Msi).
Thermal6
W6Mo5Cr4V2 is rated for continuous service to 500°C (932 °F). It conducts heat at 24 W/m·K (13.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 90% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.1 µm/m·K (5.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
W6Mo5Cr4V2 conducts electricity at 3.1 % IACS, worse than 89% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is poor (18/100), better than 83% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of W6Mo5Cr4V2 takes about 55 MJ of energy and emits 3.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 94% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability8
W6Mo5Cr4V2's machinability is fair (40/100, worse than 77% of steel grades); weldability poor (18/100); 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. W6Mo5Cr4V2 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with W6Mo5Cr4V2
Is W6Mo5Cr4V2 easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed state with sharp carbide or cobalt-HSS tooling, rigid setups and flood coolant; hardened stock requires grinding, EDM or ceramic/CBN cutting.
Can W6Mo5Cr4V2 be welded?
Not a structural weld alloy — repair-weld with matched HSS filler, 500–550 °C preheat and immediate temper to avoid quench cracks.
Can W6Mo5Cr4V2 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work 1100→900 °C with slow furnace cooling and mandatory soft anneal (840–870 °C, slow cool) afterwards; cold bending is impractical.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit applies to W6Mo5Cr4V2. Every W6Mo5Cr4V2 part is priced by an engineer; design inside these and the quote comes back without a redesign loop.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Poor40 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | P.2 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 180 / 210 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.8 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 5× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 1.6 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
W6Mo5Cr4V2 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CGB/T 9943; 'C' variant of HS6-5-2 | 0.8 – 0.9 | 0.85 |
| Si | 0.2 – 0.45 | 0.3 |
| Mn | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Cr | 3.8 – 4.4 | 4.1 |
| W | 5.5 – 6.75 | 6.2 |
| Mo | 4.5 – 5.5 | 5 |
| V | 1.75 – 2.2 | 1.95 |
| Coresidual, not intentionally added | ≤ 0.5 | |
| Curesidual | ≤ 0.25 | |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| SS-enhanced free-machining versions run higher | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on W6Mo5Cr4V2?
No anodising; use steam oxide, black oxide or phosphate for storage and anti-galling, nitriding for wear, and TiN/TiAlN PVD (≤500 °C) for cutting tools.
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).
Plating
CVD Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel W6Mo5Cr4V2 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- AISI / SAE
- M2
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- X82WMoCrV6-5-4
- Also called
- 6542
How much does W6Mo5Cr4V2 cost?
W6Mo5Cr4V2 is a premium-cost steel ($$$), pricier than about 57% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
W6Mo5Cr4V2 — frequently asked
What is W6Mo5Cr4V2 used for?
W6Mo5Cr4V2 is typically used for twist drills, milling cutters and reamers. In short: workhorse high-speed tool.
What is the yield strength of W6Mo5Cr4V2?
W6Mo5Cr4V2 has a typical yield strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) — stronger than 74% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is W6Mo5Cr4V2 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (40/100, worse than 77% of steel grades). Machine only in the annealed state with sharp carbide or cobalt-HSS tooling, rigid setups and flood coolant; hardened stock requires grinding, EDM or ceramic/CBN cutting.
Can W6Mo5Cr4V2 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (18/100). Not a structural weld alloy — repair-weld with matched HSS filler, 500–550 °C preheat and immediate temper to avoid quench cracks.
What surface finishes work on W6Mo5Cr4V2?
No anodising; use steam oxide, black oxide or phosphate for storage and anti-galling, nitriding for wear, and TiN/TiAlN PVD (≤500 °C) for cutting tools.
Can W6Mo5Cr4V2 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work 1100→900 °C with slow furnace cooling and mandatory soft anneal (840–870 °C, slow cool) afterwards; cold bending is impractical.
What is the maximum service temperature of W6Mo5Cr4V2?
W6Mo5Cr4V2 is rated for continuous use to about 500°C (932 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does W6Mo5Cr4V2 cost?
W6Mo5Cr4V2 is a premium-cost steel ($$$), pricier than about 57% 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in W6Mo5Cr4V2?
Yes — W6Mo5Cr4V2 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 9943 (High-speed tool steel bars) (2008)
- ASTM A600 — Tool Steel, High Speed (M2) — ASTM (2021)
- EN ISO 4957 — Tool steels (HS6-5-2C, 1.3343) — ISO/CEN (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (High-Speed Steels) — ASM International (1990)
- HS6-5-2C / M2 high speed steel datasheet — Böhler / Erasteel / (2023)
- W6Mo5Cr4V2 (2026)
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.