Steel W9Mo3Cr4V
W9Mo3Cr4V is a tungsten-molybdenum high-speed steel of the M1 type, hardened by W, Mo, Cr and V carbides after high-temperature quenching and triple tempering.
Reference datasheet — W9Mo3Cr4V 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
W9Mo3Cr4V tempers and conditions
W9Mo3Cr4V is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. ANN 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hardened & tempered, 64–66 HRC | High austenitizing (~1230–1240 °C) plus 3× temper for maximum wear resistance and red hardness in continuous-cut tools; least tough. | 66 HRC | 20 W/m·K | |||
ANNDefault Annealed | Standard delivery condition for bar and blanks — soft enough to machine before hardening. | 550 | 850 | 18 | 240 HB | 24 W/m·K |
Cold drawn, annealed | Pick for small-diameter precision blanks (drill/tap stock) where size tolerance and surface finish matter. | 700 | 950 | 12 | 24 HRC | 3.1 % IACS |
Hardened & tempered, 60–62 HRC | Lower austenitizing (~1190 °C) / higher temper for interrupted cuts, taps, broaches and cold-work punches needing shock resistance. | 2,000 | 1 | 61 HRC | 21 W/m·K | |
Hardened, tempered + surface treated | Choose when tool life is limited by adhesive wear — core stays 63–64 HRC while the 10–30 µm case reaches 1100–1300 HV. | 2,000 | 2,200 | 1 | 64 HRC | 2.6 % IACS |
Hardened & tempered, 63–64 HRC | The usual working hardness for drills, end mills, reamers and saw blades — balanced wear resistance and toughness. | 2,200 | 0.5 | 64 HRC | 21 W/m·K |
What is W9Mo3Cr4V?
W9Mo3Cr4V is a tungsten-molybdenum high-speed steel of the M1 type, hardened by W, Mo, Cr and V carbides after high-temperature quenching and triple tempering. It is used for general-purpose cutting tools, supplied annealed (240 HB, 100 HRB, 850 MPa tensile, 550 MPa yield, 18 % elongation) or hardened 60-66 HRC, with nitrided variants. Thermal conductivity is 24 W/(m.K), listed maximum service temperature 400 C, machinability about 35 and formability 15. It rusts bare, is not a structural welding grade, and where higher wear resistance is required a high-vanadium grade such as W6Mo5Cr4V3 (M3) is the step up. W9Mo3Cr4V has a density of 8.3 g/cm³ (0.3 lb/in³), heavier than 99% of steel grades. It melts at 1,260°C (2,300 °F). W9Mo3Cr4V has a yield strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) — stronger than 71% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 220 GPa (31.9 Msi).
What is W9Mo3Cr4V used for?
- Drills
- End mills
- Broaches
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 75/100, better than 94% of steel grades
Limitations
- 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
- Limited formability — 15/100, worse than 87% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 35/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 77% of steel grades
W9Mo3Cr4V properties
Typical room-temperature values for W9Mo3Cr4V-ANN; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
W9Mo3Cr4V has a density of 8.3 g/cm³ (0.3 lb/in³), heavier than 99% of steel grades. It melts at 1,260°C (2,300 °F).
Mechanical12
W9Mo3Cr4V has a yield strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) — stronger than 71% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 220 GPa (31.9 Msi).
Thermal6
W9Mo3Cr4V is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 24 W/m·K (13.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 90% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.7 µm/m·K (5.94 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
W9Mo3Cr4V has an electrical resistivity of 5.5×10⁻⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (15/100), better than 75% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of W9Mo3Cr4V takes about 60 MJ of energy and emits 4.2 kg of CO₂ — more than 96% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability8
W9Mo3Cr4V's machinability is fair (35/100, worse than 84% of steel grades); weldability poor (25/100); 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. W9Mo3Cr4V is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with W9Mo3Cr4V
Is W9Mo3Cr4V easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed (≤255 HB) state with sharp carbide or cobalt HSS tooling, rigid setup and flood coolant; after hardening it is grind/EDM only.
Can W9Mo3Cr4V be welded?
Not a structural weld grade — repair with TIG or laser using matching HSS filler, preheat 500–550 °C and re-temper immediately.
Can W9Mo3Cr4V be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1120–1150 °C down to ~900 °C with slow furnace cooling; cold forming is impractical, harden 1200–1240 °C in salt/vacuum and temper 540–560 °C three times.
W9Mo3Cr4V 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 | 0.77 – 0.87 | 0.82 |
| Si | 0.2 – 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Mn | 0.2 – 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Cr | 3.8 – 4.4 | 4.1 |
| W | 8.5 – 9.5 | 9 |
| Mo | 2.7 – 3.3 | 3 |
| V | 1.3 – 1.7 | 1.5 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on W9Mo3Cr4V?
Requires rust protection: black oxide, phosphate, steam-oxide, nitriding or TiN/TiAlN PVD; hardened surfaces polish and grind to fine finishes for cutting edges.
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 W9Mo3Cr4V in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Similar grades
- M1
How much does W9Mo3Cr4V cost?
W9Mo3Cr4V 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.
W9Mo3Cr4V — frequently asked
What is W9Mo3Cr4V used for?
W9Mo3Cr4V is typically used for drills, end mills and broaches. In short: general-purpose cutting HSS; tougher than high-vanadium HSS; easier to grind than M3.
What is the yield strength of W9Mo3Cr4V?
W9Mo3Cr4V has a typical yield strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) — stronger than 71% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is W9Mo3Cr4V easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, worse than 84% of steel grades). Machine only in the annealed (≤255 HB) state with sharp carbide or cobalt HSS tooling, rigid setup and flood coolant; after hardening it is grind/EDM only.
Can W9Mo3Cr4V be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Not a structural weld grade — repair with TIG or laser using matching HSS filler, preheat 500–550 °C and re-temper immediately.
What surface finishes work on W9Mo3Cr4V?
Requires rust protection: black oxide, phosphate, steam-oxide, nitriding or TiN/TiAlN PVD; hardened surfaces polish and grind to fine finishes for cutting edges.
Can W9Mo3Cr4V be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1120–1150 °C down to ~900 °C with slow furnace cooling; cold forming is impractical, harden 1200–1240 °C in salt/vacuum and temper 540–560 °C three times.
What is the maximum service temperature of W9Mo3Cr4V?
W9Mo3Cr4V 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.
What is the difference between W9Mo3Cr4V-ANN and W9Mo3Cr4V QT-NIT?
ANN is the default condition — standard delivery condition for bar and blanks — soft enough to machine before hardening. QT-NIT: choose when tool life is limited by adhesive wear — core stays 63–64 HRC while the 10–30 µm case reaches 1100–1300 HV. Yield strength is 550 MPa in ANN versus 2,000 MPa in QT-NIT.
How much does W9Mo3Cr4V cost?
W9Mo3Cr4V 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
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (High-Speed Tool Steels) — ASM International (1990)
- ASTM A600 — Standard Specification for Tool Steel High Speed — ASTM (2016)
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.