Steel CPM 10V · heat-treated state
Steel CPM 10V Q&T
Properties of the Q&T condition, compared with the other CPM 10V tempers.
Lower-austenitising treatment when maximum toughness/least distortion is wanted from 10V.
What is CPM 10V Q&T?
CPM 10V Q&T is CPM 10V heat treated to Q&T — lower-austenitising treatment when maximum toughness/least distortion is wanted from 10V. CPM 10V Q&T has a yield strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 830 MPa (120 ksi) — stronger than 73% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 228 GPa (33.1 Msi). CPM 10V Q&T has a density of 7.41 g/cm³ (0.268 lb/in³), lighter than 98% of steel grades. It melts at 1,280°C (2,336 °F). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Q&T is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 22/100, better than 89% of steel grades
- High service temperature — 480°C (896 °F), better than 88% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 8/100, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 10/100, worse than 99% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 27 MPa·√m (24.6 ksi·√in), worse than 97% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 8/100, worse than 97% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 5.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 97% of steel grades
CPM 10V Q&T properties
Typical room-temperature values for CPM 10V Q&T — 9 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every CPM 10V temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical2
CPM 10V Q&T has a density of 7.41 g/cm³ (0.268 lb/in³), lighter than 98% of steel grades. It melts at 1,280°C (2,336 °F).
Mechanical12
CPM 10V Q&T has a yield strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 830 MPa (120 ksi) — stronger than 73% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 228 GPa (33.1 Msi).
Thermal5
CPM 10V Q&T is rated for continuous service to 480°C (896 °F). It conducts heat at 22 W/m·K (12.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 93% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.6 µm/m·K (5.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
CPM 10V Q&T has an electrical resistivity of 6.5×10⁻⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is poor (22/100), better than 89% of steel grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of CPM 10V Q&T takes about 75 MJ of energy and emits 5.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 97% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability7
CPM 10V Q&T's machinability is not recommended (8/100, worse than 100% of steel grades); weldability not recommended (10/100); formability not recommended (8/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other CPM 10V tempers and conditions
CPM 10V is also supplied in 5 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the CPM 10V overview.
- AnnealedDefaultStandard stocked condition for machining tool blanks before hardening.560 MPa yield · 24 HRC
- Q&TLower-austenitising treatment when maximum toughness/least distortion is wanted from 10V.59 HRC
- Hardened & TemperedThe standard working hardness for cold-work dies, shear knives and granulator blades.61 HRC
Working with CPM 10V Q&T
Is CPM 10V easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed state with rigid setups, low speeds and TiAlN-coated carbide or ceramic; grinding after hardening needs CBN or seeded-gel/SG alumina wheels because vanadium carbides outrank conventional Al₂O₃.
Can CPM 10V be welded?
Essentially a repair-only operation — preheat 450–500 °C, matching or 420-type filler, small beads, immediate temper at 25 °C below the last tempering temperature; cracking risk is high.
Can CPM 10V be formed, bent or molded?
No cold forming; hot work 950–1100 °C with slow controlled cooling and immediate anneal, then harden at 1010–1175 °C with plate quench or 5–6 bar gas quench and triple temper at 540 °C.
What surface finishes work on CPM 10V?
Not stainless — protect with black oxide, phosphate, oil, hard chrome or PVD (TiN/AlTiN/CrN); nitriding after temper further boosts surface wear resistance.
CPM 10V 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 | 2.35 – 2.55 | 2.45 |
| Si | 0.7 – 1.1 | 0.9 |
| Mn | 0.3 – 0.7 | 0.5 |
| Cr | 5 – 5.5 | 5.25 |
| Mo | 1.1 – 1.5 | 1.3 |
| Vforms the MC carbide network responsible for wear resistance | 9.5 – 10 | 9.75 |
| Sfree-machining sulphur version also offered | ≤ 0.07 | 0.03 |
| Fe | balance | — |
CPM 10V Q&T — frequently asked
What is CPM 10V Q&T used for?
CPM 10V Q&T is typically used for cold blanking and piercing dies, slitting knives, shredder and granulator blades, powder-compaction tooling, forming and coining punches and thread-rolling dies. In short: premium wear-resistant tool.
What is the yield strength of CPM 10V Q&T?
CPM 10V Q&T has a typical yield strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 830 MPa (120 ksi) — stronger than 73% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is CPM 10V Q&T easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (8/100, worse than 100% of steel grades). Machine only in the annealed state with rigid setups, low speeds and TiAlN-coated carbide or ceramic; grinding after hardening needs CBN or seeded-gel/SG alumina wheels because vanadium carbides outrank conventional Al₂O₃.
Can CPM 10V Q&T be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (10/100). Essentially a repair-only operation — preheat 450–500 °C, matching or 420-type filler, small beads, immediate temper at 25 °C below the last tempering temperature; cracking risk is high.
What surface finishes work on CPM 10V Q&T?
Not stainless — protect with black oxide, phosphate, oil, hard chrome or PVD (TiN/AlTiN/CrN); nitriding after temper further boosts surface wear resistance.
Can CPM 10V Q&T be formed, bent or molded?
No cold forming; hot work 950–1100 °C with slow controlled cooling and immediate anneal, then harden at 1010–1175 °C with plate quench or 5–6 bar gas quench and triple temper at 540 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of CPM 10V Q&T?
CPM 10V Q&T is rated for continuous use to about 480°C (896 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in CPM 10V Q&T?
Yes — CPM 10V Q&T is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- CPM 10V Tool Steel Data Sheet — Crucible Industries (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys (tool steels) — ASM International (1990)
- Tool Steels, 5th ed. — ASM International (1998)
- ASTM A600 / AISI A11 type high-vanadium tool steel classification — ASTM (2016)
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.