Steel W6Mo5Cr4V3
AISI/SAE M3
W6Mo5Cr4V3 is a high-vanadium tungsten-molybdenum high-speed steel of the M3 type, the 3 % V version of W6Mo5Cr4V2 with a larger fraction of hard MC carbides for wear resistance.
Reference datasheet — W6Mo5Cr4V3 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 A condition
W6Mo5Cr4V3 tempers and conditions
W6Mo5Cr4V3 is supplied in 9 conditions, soft to hard. A is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 9 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ADefault Solution annealed | Standard mill-supplied condition for machining tool blanks before hardening. | 560 | 860 | 12 | 248 HB | 24 W/m·K |
Precision ground annealed bar | Ground-to-size annealed stock (h6/h7) for direct tool blanks and reamers; still requires hardening. | 570 | 880 | 11 | 24 HRC | 3.2 % IACS |
Cold drawn / peeled annealed bar | Pick for small-diameter drill/tap blanks needing close diameter tolerance and clean surface before hardening. | 700 | 950 | 8 | 26 HRC | 3.2 % IACS |
QT + steam oxide | Hardened tool given Fe3O4 steam treatment for oil retention and anti-galling on drills and taps. | 2,000 | 2,350 | 1 | 64 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
QT + PVD coating | Hardened and coated at ≤500 °C for higher cutting speed, lower friction and 2–5× tool life. | 2,000 | 2,350 | 1 | 64 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
QT + plasma/salt-bath nitriding of hardened tool | Thin nitride case (5–20 µm) on hardened HSS for gears hobs and forming tools; risk of brittle white layer. | 2,000 | 2,350 | 1 | 64 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
QT 60–62 HRC | Lower austenitizing (~1180–1200 °C) or higher temper for interrupted cuts, taps and broaches where chipping is the failure mode. | 2,200 | 61 HRC | 22 W/m·K | ||
QT 65–66 HRC | Choose for abrasive workpieces and light, continuous cuts where wear — not chipping — controls tool life. | 2,200 | 2,400 | 0.5 | 66 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
QT 63–65 HRC | Normal working hardness for drills, end mills and form tools: best balance of wear resistance and edge strength. | 2,400 | 64 HRC | 21 W/m·K |
What is W6Mo5Cr4V3?
W6Mo5Cr4V3 is a high-vanadium tungsten-molybdenum high-speed steel of the M3 type, the 3 % V version of W6Mo5Cr4V2 with a larger fraction of hard MC carbides for wear resistance. It is chosen for cutting tools that abrade quickly, supplied annealed and cold-drawn-annealed (248 HB, 860 MPa tensile, 560 MPa yield, 12 % elongation) or hardened 60-66 HRC with steam-oxide, PVD and nitrided finishes. Thermal conductivity is 24 W/(m.K), listed maximum service temperature 300 C and machinability about 30. Grindability is noticeably worse than M2, which remains the cheaper, easier-to-produce alternative. W6Mo5Cr4V3 has a density of 8.05 g/cm³ (0.291 lb/in³), heavier than 96% of steel grades. It melts at 1,250°C (2,282 °F). W6Mo5Cr4V3 has a yield strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 860 MPa (125 ksi) — stronger than 73% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 217 GPa (31.5 Msi).
What is W6Mo5Cr4V3 used for?
- Milling cutters
- Broaches
- High-wear cutting tools
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 72/100, better than 92% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 22 MPa·√m (20 ksi·√in), worse than 98% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 8/100, worse than 97% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 12/100, worse than 96% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 4.2 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 95% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 24 W/m·K (13.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 90% of steel grades
W6Mo5Cr4V3 properties
Typical room-temperature values for W6Mo5Cr4V3-A; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
W6Mo5Cr4V3 has a density of 8.05 g/cm³ (0.291 lb/in³), heavier than 96% of steel grades. It melts at 1,250°C (2,282 °F).
Mechanical16
W6Mo5Cr4V3 has a yield strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 860 MPa (125 ksi) — stronger than 73% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 217 GPa (31.5 Msi).
Thermal6
W6Mo5Cr4V3 is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 24 W/m·K (13.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 90% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.5 µm/m·K (5.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
W6Mo5Cr4V3 conducts electricity at 3.2 % IACS, worse than 87% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is poor (16/100), better than 79% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of W6Mo5Cr4V3 takes about 62 MJ of energy and emits 4.2 kg of CO₂ — more than 96% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability8
W6Mo5Cr4V3's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 89% of steel grades); weldability not recommended (12/100); formability not recommended (8/100).
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. W6Mo5Cr4V3 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with W6Mo5Cr4V3
Is W6Mo5Cr4V3 easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed condition with sharp, rigid setups — 3% V means abundant MC carbides, so use cobalt-HSS or coated carbide, low speeds and generous coolant; finished hardened tools must be ground with SG/CBN wheels because grindability is noticeably worse than M2.
Can W6Mo5Cr4V3 be welded?
Not a structural weld grade; repair only by TIG/laser with matching or M2-type filler at 480–550 °C preheat, minimal heat input, and an immediate full triple temper afterwards.
Can W6Mo5Cr4V3 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work 1100→900 °C with slow cooling and immediate stress-relief anneal (840–870 °C, furnace cool); no meaningful cold forming — harden from 1190–1230 °C (salt bath or vacuum, high-pressure gas quench) and temper 3×1 h at 540–560 °C.
W6Mo5Cr4V3 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 W6Mo5Cr4V3 ≈ AISI M3 Class 2 | 1.15 – 1.25 | 1.2 |
| Si | 0.2 – 0.45 | 0.3 |
| Mn | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.28 |
| Cr | 3.8 – 4.5 | 4.15 |
| W | 5.9 – 6.7 | 6.3 |
| Mo | 4.7 – 5.2 | 5 |
| V | 2.7 – 3.2 | 2.95 |
| Coresidual | ≤ 0.5 | |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on W6Mo5Cr4V3?
Rusts readily — protect with oil, black oxide, steam-oxide, phosphate, or low-temperature PVD (TiN/TiCN/TiAlN ≤500 °C); mirror polishing is achievable but carbide pull-out limits it below PM-HSS quality.
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 W6Mo5Cr4V3 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- AISI / SAE
- M3
How much does W6Mo5Cr4V3 cost?
W6Mo5Cr4V3 is a premium-cost steel ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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.
W6Mo5Cr4V3 — frequently asked
What is W6Mo5Cr4V3 used for?
W6Mo5Cr4V3 is typically used for milling cutters, broaches and high-wear cutting tools. In short: high-vanadium M2 upgrade; wear-resistant cutting HSS; poorer grindability than M2.
What is the yield strength of W6Mo5Cr4V3?
W6Mo5Cr4V3 has a typical yield strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 860 MPa (125 ksi) — stronger than 73% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is W6Mo5Cr4V3 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 89% of steel grades). Machine only in the annealed condition with sharp, rigid setups — 3% V means abundant MC carbides, so use cobalt-HSS or coated carbide, low speeds and generous coolant; finished hardened tools must be ground with SG/CBN wheels because grindability is noticeably worse than M2.
Can W6Mo5Cr4V3 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (12/100). Not a structural weld grade; repair only by TIG/laser with matching or M2-type filler at 480–550 °C preheat, minimal heat input, and an immediate full triple temper afterwards.
What surface finishes work on W6Mo5Cr4V3?
Rusts readily — protect with oil, black oxide, steam-oxide, phosphate, or low-temperature PVD (TiN/TiCN/TiAlN ≤500 °C); mirror polishing is achievable but carbide pull-out limits it below PM-HSS quality.
Can W6Mo5Cr4V3 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work 1100→900 °C with slow cooling and immediate stress-relief anneal (840–870 °C, furnace cool); no meaningful cold forming — harden from 1190–1230 °C (salt bath or vacuum, high-pressure gas quench) and temper 3×1 h at 540–560 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of W6Mo5Cr4V3?
W6Mo5Cr4V3 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 W6Mo5Cr4V3-A and W6Mo5Cr4V3 QT65-66?
A is the default condition — standard mill-supplied condition for machining tool blanks before hardening. QT65-66: choose for abrasive workpieces and light, continuous cuts where wear — not chipping — controls tool life. Yield strength is 560 MPa in A versus 2,200 MPa in QT65-66.
How much does W6Mo5Cr4V3 cost?
W6Mo5Cr4V3 is a premium-cost steel ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (Tool Steels) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16: Machining — ASM International (1989)
- Tool Steels, 5th ed. (Roberts, Krauss, Kennedy) — ASM International (1998)
- High-speed steel M3/S500-type bar datasheet — voestalpine Böhler Edelstahl (2020)
- W6Mo5Cr4V2 / W6Mo5Cr4V3 — Mysteel / 1688 (2025)
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.