Steel S1 · temper · default condition
Steel S1 Annealed
Properties of the Annealed condition, compared with the other S1 tempers.
Standard stocking condition for machining, drilling and forging before hardening.
What is S1 Annealed?
S1 Annealed is S1 in the Annealed temper — standard stocking condition for machining, drilling and forging before hardening. S1 Annealed has a yield strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — weaker than 55% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi). S1 Annealed has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Advantages
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 25%, better than 76% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 93% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 25 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 88% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 20/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 2.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 82% of steel grades
S1 Annealed properties
Typical room-temperature values for S1 Annealed — 13 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every S1 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
S1 Annealed has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Mechanical15
S1 Annealed has a yield strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — weaker than 55% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).
Thermal6
S1 Annealed is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 25 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 88% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12.4 µm/m·K (6.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
S1 Annealed conducts electricity at 7.5 % IACS, worse than 68% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of S1 Annealed takes about 34 MJ of energy and emits 2.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
S1 Annealed's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability poor (25/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other S1 tempers and conditions
S1 is also supplied in 5 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the S1 overview.
- AnnealedDefaultStandard stocking condition for machining, drilling and forging before hardening.415 MPa yield · 200 HB
- Hardened & TemperedMaximum hardness/wear for punches and shear blades where shock is moderate.1,750 MPa yield · 57 HRC
- H&T 54-56 HRCBalanced hardness/toughness for cold-heading dies, rivet sets and heavy punches.1,600 MPa yield · 55 HRC
- Q&TGeneral working condition; pick the tempering temperature to trade hardness against shock toughness.1,550 MPa yield · 55 HRC
- H&T 50-52 HRCChoose for pneumatic chisels, hot punches and other severe-impact tools where toughness rules.1,400 MPa yield · 51 HRC
Working with S1 Annealed
Is S1 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed condition (≈55 % of AISI 1212) with rigid setups and sharp carbide or cobalt HSS; hardened parts need grinding or EDM.
Can S1 be welded?
Poor weldability — preheat to 300–400 °C, use matched or low-hydrogen filler, then immediately re-temper; keep welds off high-stress impact faces.
Can S1 be formed, bent or molded?
Forge 1040–1150 °C, stop above ~900 °C and cool slowly, then spheroidize anneal at 760–790 °C; almost no cold forming capability.
What surface finishes work on S1?
Harden from 900–955 °C in oil (protect against decarburisation), temper 205–425 °C to the chosen hardness; finish with black oxide, phosphate or nitriding for wear and light rust protection.
S1 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 | 0.4 – 0.55 | 0.5 |
| Mn | 0.1 – 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Siwide range; Si-rich variants behave like 5CrW2Si | 0.15 – 1.2 | 0.3 |
| Cr | 1 – 1.8 | 1.5 |
| W | 1.5 – 3 | 2.5 |
| VV optional in some heats (max 0.30) | 0.15 – 0.3 | 0.2 |
| Momax per ASTM A681 | ≤ 0.5 | — |
| Niresidual max | ≤ 0.3 | — |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
S1 Annealed — frequently asked
What is S1 Annealed used for?
S1 Annealed is typically used for chisels, rivet sets and punches. In short: shock-resistant tool steel.
What is the yield strength of S1 Annealed?
S1 Annealed has a typical yield strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — weaker than 55% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is S1 Annealed easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed condition (≈55 % of AISI 1212) with rigid setups and sharp carbide or cobalt HSS; hardened parts need grinding or EDM.
Can S1 Annealed be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Poor weldability — preheat to 300–400 °C, use matched or low-hydrogen filler, then immediately re-temper; keep welds off high-stress impact faces.
What surface finishes work on S1 Annealed?
Harden from 900–955 °C in oil (protect against decarburisation), temper 205–425 °C to the chosen hardness; finish with black oxide, phosphate or nitriding for wear and light rust protection.
Can S1 Annealed be formed, bent or molded?
Forge 1040–1150 °C, stop above ~900 °C and cool slowly, then spheroidize anneal at 760–790 °C; almost no cold forming capability.
What is the maximum service temperature of S1 Annealed?
S1 Annealed is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in S1 Annealed?
Yes — S1 Annealed is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM A681 — Alloy Tool Steels — ASTM International (2015)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (Tool Steels) — ASM International (1990)
- Tool Steels, 5th ed. (Roberts, Krauss, Kennedy) — ASM International (1998)
- GB/T 1299 (5CrW2Si / 6CrW2Si) — SAC (2014)
- Shock-resisting S1 tool steel bar datasheet — tool steel producers/distributors (2023)
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.