M2 Tool Steel: Uses, Composition, Properties

Mar. 07, 2024

M2 tool steel is one of the high-speed tool steels. In addition to its relatively high carbon content, M2 contains tungsten and molybdenum as its key alloying elements. M2 tool steel has excellent abrasion resistance, hardness, and toughness, making it ideal for metal-cutting tools.

This article will describe what this material is, how it's made, it's chemical composition, and key properties.

What Is M2 Tool Steel?

M2 tool steel is a high-carbon, high-molybdenum steel alloy—one of a family of steels known as high-speed steel (HSS). There are different grades of tool steel which are differentiated by the number after the “M.” The “M'' signifies that the alloy contains molybdenum. It is often used for cutting tooling due to its high hardness, high toughness, heat treatable, and good abrasion resistance. M2 is typically used in tooling applications where high-speed and light cuts are required, such as: drills, milling cutters, and reamers.

How Is M2 Tool Steel Made?

M2 high-speed tool steel can be made using a number of processing techniques. The most common technique is by melting metal in an electric arc furnace along with the required alloying elements. Impurities are removed, after which the molten metal is cast into ingots. These ingots are then forged into the required shapes for further processing. After forming, the material is annealed and then either hot-rolled into the desired standard stock shape.

How Does M2 Tool Steel Differ From Stainless Steel?

In general, steels are classified as “stainless” when their chromium content exceeds a certain amount, typically 10.5%. M2 tool steel’s chromium content is lower, thus it is not a stainless steel. Stainless steels are widely used for their exceptional corrosion resistance. However, M2 tool steel has relatively poor corrosion resistance and is not suited for similar applications. M2 tool steel has much better abrasion resistance due in part to its higher hardness. This hardness is also maintained at higher temperatures than is the case for stainless steels.

To learn more, see our guide on Stainless Steel Uses.

How Much Does M2 Tool Steel Cost?

Tool steel is sold in standard stock shapes like solid square bars or rods, specifically for the purpose of creating cutting tools. For example, a 1” x 1” x 7” long square shank can cost as much as $154.70, and a 5/32” x 3 ⅛” long round shank can cost as little as $3.02.

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Is M2 Tool Steel a High-Alloy Steel?

Yes. High-alloy steel is defined as steel whose alloying elements make up at least 5% of the meta by weight. M2 tool steel contains high levels of molybdenum (4.5%), tungsten (5.5%), and vanadium (2.2%), making it a high-alloy steel.

To learn more, see our guide on What is Alloy Steel.

What Are the Uses of M2 Tool Steel?

M2 tool steel is primarily used to make machining tools that are used in subtractive manufacturing processes such as turning and milling. M2 tool steel is also used to produce cutting tools such as metal cutting saws. Its excellent abrasion resistance is especially useful for injection molding tooling. Such molds are exposed to high-pressure plastics which can require materials with high wear resistance to withstand repeated high-pressure plastic injection.

Is M2 Tool Steel Good for Knives?

Yes, M2 tool steel is a good option for fabricating knives. It can maintain a sharp edge due to its excellent hardness and abrasion resistance. M2 tool steel has good machinability making it relatively easy to form via machining or grinding. However, when machining, specialized tooling like CBN (Cubic Boron Nitride) is required as M2 tool steel can be hard on tooling. Tool steels are not as corrosion-resistant as stainless steels and are not suited for applications where the knife needs to be cleaned in a dishwasher for example, which can be very corrosive environments.

What Is the Chemical Composition of M2 Tool Steel?

The key elements in M2 tool steel are molybdenum at 5.5 % and tungsten at 6.75%. The molybdenum, vanadium, chrome, and tungsten give tool steels their excellent hardness and wear resistance due to the formation of carbides while also improving their high-temperature wear resistance. The relatively high carbon content aids in the formation of carbides and increases the overall hardness of the matrix. Table 1 below indicates the typical chemical composition of M2 tool steel:

Both AISI 316L stainless steel and SAE-AISI M2 steel are iron alloys. They have 74% of their average alloy composition in common. There are 22 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (13, in this case) are not shown.

For each property being compared, the top bar is AISI 316L stainless steel and the bottom bar is SAE-AISI M2 steel.

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