T1 tool steel (also referenced as W18Cr4V, 1.3355, HS18-0-1 or SKH2) is a tungsten-based high-speed steel prized for exceptionally high hardness, excellent red-hardness (retention of hardness at elevated temperatures), and strong wear resistance — making it a first choice for cutting tools, drills, reamers, broaches and saw blades that operate at high cutting speeds and temperatures. In short: when an application demands an edge that holds under heat and abrasion, T1 is an economical, proven choice.

T1 (W18Cr4V / 1.3355 / HS18-0-1 / SKH2) sits in the tungsten family of high-speed steels. Compared with molybdenum types (M-series) it offers outstanding red hardness and edge life at high temperatures, but tends to be slightly less tolerant to shock. For many cutting tool manufacturers and re-grinders, T1 offers a cost-effective balance: excellent wear life at elevated cutting temperatures and good grindability. If your production is volume toolmaking or you need factory-gate prices for raw bars/plates, MWAlloys (MWalloys) supplies T1 at direct factory pricing with ready stock for standard sizes and rapid dispatch from China.

What is T1 tool steel?

• Family: T-series high-speed steels (tungsten-based HSS). The “T” family historically predates many molybdenum (M) alloys and was the backbone of early high-speed cutting tools.

• Primary role: maintain hardness and cutting performance at temperatures that would soften ordinary carbon or low-alloy steels (so-called “red hardness”).

• Why tungsten: tungsten forms hard carbides and resists grain growth at high temperatures — this increases hot-strength and helps the cutting edge resist softening during high-speed machining.

Chemical composition

Below is the industry-accepted composition range commonly quoted for T1 / W18Cr4V / 1.3355 (AISI T1). Small variations happen between standards, vendors and production batches — always confirm certificate (COA) with final shipments.

(Sources: industry datasheets & technical summaries for T1 / W18Cr4V / 1.3355).

Notes on composition: tungsten (~18%) is the dominant alloying carbide former; chromium provides hardenability and corrosion/oxidation resistance; vanadium refines carbides and improves wear resistance and toughness; carbon controls carbide volume and hardness. Slight differences in vanadium content and minor traces will change grindability and wear behaviour.

Key physical & mechanical properties

(These are representative ranges drawn from several supplier datasheets and technical references for T1 / 1.3355.)

Specifications & equivalents (standards cross-reference)

T1 appears under multiple national standards. Typical equivalents:

Standards & spec references: EN / ISO 4957 (high-speed tool steels) lists HS18-0-1 and cross references; many suppliers reference ASTM A600 or the appropriate national tool-steel tables for cross checks. Always request specific standard callouts on purchase orders (e.g., “supply T1 / 1.3355 to EN ISO 4957 condition annealed, mill test certificate EN 10204 3.1”).

Manufacturing forms, metal-working & molding processes

Typical supply forms: round bars (rod), flat bars/strips, plates, blanks/blocks, ground bars, and pre-hardened machined blanks. Common diameters and thickness ranges are wide (small rods for drills up to large bars for broaching tools).

Production routes:

• Melting & refining: electric-arc furnace (EAF) plus ladle refining; many quality suppliers use Vacuum Degassing (VD) and Electroslag Remelting (ESR) for premium feedstock to reduce inclusions and improve toughness.

• Casting & forging: ingots are cast, then forged and hot rolled to produce bars and plates. For premium tool steels, remelting (ESR) and controlled forging produce finer carbide distributions.

• Heat/anneal: controlled anneal (for machinability) to a soft, uniform structure before finish machining; final hardening is done at toolmaker or by specialist heat-treat house.

• Finish processes: cold drawing for bright bars, grinding to tolerance, shot blast or pickled finishes on plates. Many suppliers offer annealed (soft) or pre-hardened and ground options.

Metal moulding process (for die/tool blocks): T1 can be delivered as forged or precision-forged blanks, then finish-machined. Powder-metallurgy (PM) HSS is a different route (e.g., PM-M2, PM-M42); T1 is typically wrought (ingot → forge → bar). For tooling needing very homogenous carbide distribution, ESR and PM processes are preferable.

Heat treatment & hardening (practical guidance)

Typical heat-treat sequence (general guidance; always test on coupons):

1. Pre-heat / stress relief: ramp slowly to avoid cracking (e.g., 550–700 °C) to remove machining stresses.

2. Austenitizing / hardening temperature: ~1,220–1,280 °C (1270–1285 °C is commonly quoted by suppliers for W18Cr4V) — atmosphere or vacuum furnaces recommended to avoid decarburization.

3. Quench: oil or air quench depending on section size and desired properties; controlled cooling recommended to avoid cracking.

4. Tempering: double or triple tempers at ~540–560 °C (some schedules use 540–570 °C) to reach final HRC in the 62–66 range. Multiple tempers reduce retained austenite and stabilize dimensional change.

Key points & cautions:

• T1 is less forgiving of thermal shock than some cold-work grades; avoid overly rapid temperature swings for thick parts.

• Use protective atmospheres or vacuum to avoid surface decarburization/oxidation at high austenitizing temps.

• Grinding and finishing are normally done after tempering to avoid microcracking.

Typical uses (where T1 excels)

• Cutting tools: twist drills, reamers, taps, milling cutters for medium-to-high speed applications.

• Circular saw blades and slitting tools (where red hardness is important).

• Broaches, broach blanks.

• Forming and cutting tools for automotive and general engineering steel production where surface abrasion and heat are present.

• Cold-forming and drawing tools (selected geometries).

T1 is a workhorse grade for classic HSS tooling, especially where cost sensitivity and red-hardness are both required.

T1 steel Sizes & weight (how to estimate)

Density: use 8.67 g/cm³ (typical). Example quick-reference weights:

• Round bar weight (kg/m) = π × (D²/4) × density (g/cm³) × (1e−3 to convert)
  For D = 20 mm: area = π×(0.02²)/4 = 3.1416×0.0004/4 = 0.00031416 m²? — simpler to use formula:

Practical table (common sizes):

(Use density 8.67 g/cm³ for calculations — multiply volume in cm³ by 8.67 to get grams.)

Note: always calculate from exact density and dimensions for quoting shipping weight.

T1 tool steel price comparison 2025

Important: HSS prices vary by form (raw bar, ground + annealed, machined blanks), quantity, surface finish and supplier. Below are indicative 2025 ranges compiled from distributor listings and Chinese factory FOB notices. Use them only as a planning guide — request firm quotations for procurement.

How to read this: China factory prices are typically the most competitive for bulk orders (tons). Small orders, pre-ground or precision bars in the USA/Europe show higher per-kg costs due to processing, inventory and distribution margins. Always request an EXW/FOB factory quote for MWAlloys if you plan bulk purchasing — we publish factory gate price lists on request and can offer stock priority for standard sizes.

Machining, grinding & toolmaking tips

• Machinability (annealed): T1 in the annealed condition machines reasonably well with HSS or carbide tooling. Use stable machining parameters and keep cutting rates moderate.

• Grinding (finish): T1 responds well to abrasive grinding due to a fine carbide distribution when properly remelted/treated. Use appropriate coolant and take light passes for final dimensions.

• EDM & sharpening: EDM works fine for complex geometries. For resharpening, diamond wheels or vitrified CBN wheels produce best results on hardened T1.

• Coatings: modern PVD coatings (TiN, AlTiN) can further extend tool life at high speeds; however proper substrate hardness and tempering must be in place before coating.

• Tool design: avoid thin cross sections for large T1 components to reduce risk of quench cracking; design tempering allowance and machining stock.

Inspection, traceability & quality control

• Certificates: insist on EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates for chemical composition and heat-treatment reports for critical orders.

• Non-destructive checks: ultrasonic or magnetic particle inspection for large forged blanks when fatigue life is critical.

• Carbide analysis: micrograph tests or optical microscopy to check carbide distribution (especially for ESR/PM vs conventional ingot material).

• Hardness & dimensional testing: perform hardness mapping and dimensional checks on critical tool features post-tempering.

Why choose MWAlloys?

As MWAlloys (MWalloys), we supply T1 / W18Cr4V / 1.3355 in standard and custom sizes with the following advantages:

• Factory-direct pricing: we operate as a manufacturer/authorized stockist in China — typical offers are 100% factory gate price for bulk orders. (Contact us for EXW / FOB quotes.)

• Inventory: standard round bars, flats and plates kept in stock for fast dispatch; custom machining and pre-grinding services available.

• Quality: we supply with mill certificates (EN 10204 3.1), and optional ESR or remelted feedstock for demanding applications.

• Logistics: quick lead times from Chinese warehousing; consolidation and ocean/air freight options for the USA & Europe.
  If you’d like, MWAlloys can provide sample bars and full COA for technical trials — reach out with required sizes and quantities.

FAQs

1. What’s the difference between T1 and M2?
   T1 is tungsten-based HSS (excellent red hardness) while M2 contains molybdenum (and some tungsten) and typically offers a slightly better balance of toughness & wear; M2 is often chosen for general high-speed tooling while T1 is chosen where tungsten’s particular red-hardness properties are preferred.

2. Can T1 be welded?
   Welding high-speed steels is specialized; T1 can be welded with proper pre-heat, controlled heat input and post-weld heat treatment, but welding may degrade tool properties. For tool repairs, brazing or specialist weld fillers are often used.

3. What final hardness can I expect?
   After correct quench & temper cycles, 62–66 HRC is typical for cutting tools made from T1.

4. Is T1 suitable for high-speed steel drills used on stainless steel?
   Yes, T1 retains hardness at elevated temps, but for very abrasive or tough stainless alloys a cobalt alloy (M35/M42) or PM-HSS may perform better depending on cutting speeds.

5. Do you provide pre-hardened ground bars?
   Yes, MWAlloys supplies annealed and pre-hardened ground bars to customer tolerance on request.

6. How do I specify the standard on a PO?
   Use a combined callout: e.g., “T1 / W18Cr4V / 1.3355 — EN ISO 4957 — supply as annealed — MTC EN 10204 3.1”.

7. What forms are easiest to grind after heat-treat?
   Ground and tempered bars with fine carbide distribution (ESR remelted feedstock) are best for precision grinding and small-tolerance tools.

8. How to choose between T1 and PM-HSS?
   For large series or extreme wear at high temps, PM-HSS (powder metallurgy) often outperforms conventional wrought T1, but PM grades are costlier. For traditional HSS tooling with good economy, T1 is often preferred.

9. What's the shipping lead time for standard bars?
   For MWAlloys stock items: typically days to a couple of weeks depending on size and order size. For full production lot/ESR feedstock: lead times vary, ask for firm delivery times on quote.

10. How to test whether received material is genuine T1?
    Ask for the COA (chemical composition + heat-treat), verify composition by spectro analysis (OES), check hardness in multiple points and, if needed, request metallography to inspect carbides.