Steel W6Mo5Cr4V2 Q&T + Nitrided
Finish state
AISI/SAE M2 · EN X82WMoCrV6-5-4
Q&T + Nitrided = 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.
Values for the Q&T + Nitrided condition
Other W6Mo5Cr4V2 tempers and conditions
W6Mo5Cr4V2 is listed in 6 conditions; see the grade overview at W6Mo5Cr4V2.
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 | — |
Q&T + NitridedThis page 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 |
What is W6Mo5Cr4V2 Q&T + Nitrided?
W6Mo5Cr4V2 Q&T + Nitrided is W6Mo5Cr4V2 supplied in the Q&T + Nitrided condition — pick when abrasive wear or galling on gear hobs, taps and forming rolls must be reduced without changing core toughness. W6Mo5Cr4V2 Q&T + Nitrided has a yield strength of 2,100 MPa (305 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,350 MPa (341 ksi) — stronger than 100% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 0.5% and the elastic modulus is 217 GPa (31.5 Msi). W6Mo5Cr4V2 Q&T + Nitrided 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). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Q&T + Nitrided is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High strength — 2,100 MPa (305 ksi), better than 100% of steel grades
- High service temperature — 550°C (1,022 °F), better than 95% of steel grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 28/100, better than 94% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 0.5%, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 15 MPa·√m (13.7 ksi·√in), worse than 100% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 4/100, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 3/100, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 1/100, worse than 100% of steel grades
W6Mo5Cr4V2 Q&T + Nitrided properties
Typical room-temperature values for W6Mo5Cr4V2 Q&T + Nitrided; 21 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are W6Mo5Cr4V2 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
W6Mo5Cr4V2 Q&T + Nitrided 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 Q&T + Nitrided has a yield strength of 2,100 MPa (305 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,350 MPa (341 ksi) — stronger than 100% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 0.5% and the elastic modulus is 217 GPa (31.5 Msi).
Thermal6
W6Mo5Cr4V2 Q&T + Nitrided is rated for continuous service to 550°C (1,022 °F). It conducts heat at 21 W/m·K (12.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 95% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.1 µm/m·K (5.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
W6Mo5Cr4V2 Q&T + Nitrided conducts electricity at 2.9 % IACS, worse than 93% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is poor (28/100), better than 94% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of W6Mo5Cr4V2 Q&T + Nitrided 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 Q&T + Nitrided's machinability is not recommended (4/100, worse than 100% of steel grades); weldability not recommended (3/100); formability not recommended (1/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with W6Mo5Cr4V2 Q&T + Nitrided
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.
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.
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 | — |
W6Mo5Cr4V2 Q&T + Nitrided — frequently asked
What is W6Mo5Cr4V2 Q&T + Nitrided used for?
W6Mo5Cr4V2 Q&T + Nitrided is typically used for twist drills, milling cutters and reamers. In short: workhorse high-speed tool.
What is the yield strength of W6Mo5Cr4V2 Q&T + Nitrided?
W6Mo5Cr4V2 Q&T + Nitrided has a typical yield strength of 2,100 MPa (305 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,350 MPa (341 ksi) — stronger than 100% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is W6Mo5Cr4V2 Q&T + Nitrided easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (4/100, worse than 100% 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 Q&T + Nitrided be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (3/100). 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 Q&T + Nitrided?
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 Q&T + Nitrided 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 Q&T + Nitrided?
W6Mo5Cr4V2 Q&T + Nitrided is rated for continuous use to about 550°C (1,022 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in W6Mo5Cr4V2 Q&T + Nitrided?
Yes — W6Mo5Cr4V2 Q&T + Nitrided 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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.