Purohit Steel is a leading Grade M42 Stockist and Exporter in India, supplying premium high-cobalt high speed steel (AISI M42 / DIN 1.3247 / JIS SKH59) with verified chemical composition, mechanical properties and full traceability for premium cutting tool manufacturers and precision engineering workshops.
As an ISO-certified company established in 1965, we maintain ready stock of Grade M42 in round bar, flat bar and block form, with in-house bandsaw cutting, machining, grinding and EDM support for fast turnaround across India and export markets.
Table of Contents
- 1. What is Grade M42 Steel
- 2. Why Purohit Steel for M42
- 3. Comparison: M42 vs M2 vs M35
- 4. Chemical Composition
- 5. Mechanical Properties
- 6. Physical & Thermal Properties
- 7. Equivalent International Grades
- 8. Heat Treatment Guidelines
- 9. Available Forms & Sizes
- 10. Machining & Selection Notes
- 11. Applications & Uses
- 12. Industries We Serve
- 13. Related Products
- 14. Authorized Stockist Brands
- 15. Cities We Supply in India
- 16. Our Services
- 17. Frequently Asked Questions
- 18. About Purohit Steel
- Our Certifications
- Countries We Export Worldwide
- Export Packaging & Shipping
- Quality Inspection & Testing
- Latest Price List
- MOQ & Payment Terms
- People Also Search For
What is Grade M42 Steel?
Grade M42 (DIN Werkstoffnummer 1.3247, JIS SKH59) is a high-cobalt (approximately 8% Co) molybdenum high speed steel, chemically designated HS2-9-1-8. It is the premium grade in the M-series high speed steel family, offering the highest attainable hardness and red-hardness among the standard HSS grades.
M42 is normally supplied in the annealed condition for ease of machining, then hardened and tempered by the tool maker. In the hardened & tempered condition it typically reaches 66-70 HRC and retains useful cutting hardness at working temperatures up to approximately 650°C, the highest of the M2/M35/M42 family Purohit Steel stocks.
Because M42 has the highest alloy content of the three grades, it requires a narrower, more carefully controlled hardening temperature window and mandatory triple tempering to fully transform retained austenite. It is chosen specifically where M2 or M35 wear too quickly — for example, finishing cuts on hardened tool steel, stainless steel and aerospace superalloys.
Note: M42's very high hardness comes with somewhat reduced toughness compared with M2 and M35 — see the comparison table below before substituting grades.
Why Purohit Steel for Grade M42
- Ready Stock: Round bar, flat bar and block sizes held in inventory for immediate dispatch
- ISO-Certified Quality: Documented quality management since 1965
- Authorized Stockist: Sourced through globally reputed manufacturers, including NLMK Verona and SeAH CSS
- Value-Added Machining: In-house bandsaw cutting, precision machining, grinding, drilling, gun drilling, EDM and wire-cut
- Technical Support: Assistance with grade selection, heat treatment guidance and equivalence mapping
- Pan-India & Export Supply: Warehousing in Vasai with a sales outlet in Mumbai, serving customers across India and international markets
- Export-Ready Packaging: Palletised, moisture-protected packing suitable for both domestic transport and export shipment
Comparison: M42 vs M2 vs M35
M42 is the premium, highest-cobalt member of Purohit Steel's high speed steel range. The table below compares it against M2 and M35 so you can weigh hardness, red-hardness, toughness and cost against your machining requirement.
| Factor | M42 / 1.3247 | M2 / 1.3343 | M35 / 1.3243 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobalt content | ~8% | None | ~5% |
| Hardness (hardened & tempered) | 66-70 HRC | 62-65 HRC | 64-66 HRC |
| Red-hardness (approx. working temp.) | Up to ~650°C | Up to ~600°C | Up to ~620°C |
| Toughness | Lower (more brittle at highest hardness) | Highest of the three | Good |
| Best suited for | Premium high-temperature finishing tools for superalloys, hardened & stainless steel | General-purpose drills, mills, taps, everyday cutting tools | Machining stainless & alloy steels, heavier interrupted cuts |
| Relative cost | Highest | Lowest | Medium |
Grade M42 Chemical Composition
Composition as per DIN EN ISO 4957 / ASTM A600 M42 (typical mill range, weight %):
| Element | Symbol | Composition (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon | C | 1.05 - 1.15 |
| Silicon | Si | 0.15 - 0.40 |
| Manganese | Mn | 0.15 - 0.40 |
| Chromium | Cr | 3.50 - 4.25 |
| Molybdenum | Mo | 9.00 - 10.00 |
| Vanadium | V | 0.95 - 1.35 |
| Tungsten | W | 1.15 - 1.85 |
| Cobalt | Co | 7.75 - 8.75 |
| Phosphorus | P | 0.030 max |
| Sulphur | S | 0.030 max |
| Iron | Fe | Balance |
Mechanical Properties of Grade M42
Typical values across the common supply and heat-treated conditions:
| Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Hardness (annealed, supply condition) | Max. 269 HB |
| Hardness (hardened & tempered) | 66 - 70 HRC |
| Red-hardness | Retains cutting hardness up to approx. 650°C |
| Modulus of Elasticity (E, at 20°C) | ~225 GPa |
Values are typical and depend on final hardening/tempering parameters chosen by the tool maker. Mill test certificates (EN 10204 2.2 / 3.1) are available on request.
Physical & Thermal Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density (at 20°C) | ~8.0 g/cm³ |
| Thermal Conductivity (room temp.) | ~19 - 24 W/(m·K) (typical for high-cobalt HSS) |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (20-200°C) | ~11 - 12 × 10-6 /K |
| Specific Heat Capacity | ~460 J/(kg·K) |
Equivalent International Grades
| Country / Standard | Designation |
|---|---|
| USA (AISI / SAE, ASTM A600) | M42 |
| Germany (Werkstoffnummer, DIN EN ISO 4957) | 1.3247 (HS2-9-1-8) |
| Japan (JIS G4403) | SKH59 |
| USA (UNS) | T11342 |
M42 has the highest cobalt content of the M-series grades Purohit Steel stocks — see the comparison table above for how it compares against M2 and M35.
Heat Treatment Guidelines
| Process | Guideline |
|---|---|
| Supply condition | Annealed, max. 269 HB — machinable with standard tooling, though harder to machine than M2/M35 due to higher alloy content |
| Annealing | Approx. 871°C, furnace cool |
| Preheating | 550-850°C in stages, to equalise temperature before final austenitizing |
| Hardening (austenitizing) | 1180-1210°C, short soak — a narrower, more carefully controlled window than M2/M35 due to the higher alloy content and lower incipient melting point; quench in oil, salt bath or vacuum/air |
| Tempering | 540-570°C, a minimum of three tempering cycles (triple temper) due to the higher retained austenite content from cobalt and alloying — achieves 66-70 HRC |
Available Forms & Sizes
- Round Bars
- Flat Bars
- Blocks
- Custom sizes cut to drawing via in-house bandsaw cutting
Material is machined, ground, drilled and finished in-house through our precision machining, grinding, drilling, gun drilling, EDM and wire-cut facilities, so tooling blanks can be supplied close to finished dimensions.
Machining & Selection Notes
- Machining: M42 is harder to machine in the annealed condition than M2 or M35 because of its higher alloy content; allow for slower speeds and robust tooling.
- Triple tempering: M42 requires a minimum of three tempering cycles to fully transform retained austenite — skipping cycles leaves untempered martensite and a risk of chipping in service.
- Grinding: M42 is more prone to grinding cracks than M2/M35 at its higher hardness; use light cuts, sharp wheels and ample coolant.
- Grade selection: Reserve M42 for premium finishing applications where M2 or M35 wear too quickly — on hardened steel, stainless steel and superalloys — accepting its somewhat lower toughness and higher cost; see the comparison table above.
Applications of Grade M42 Steel
M42 is reserved for the most demanding cutting applications, where the highest available hardness and red-hardness justify its cost and reduced toughness relative to M2 and M35.
- Precision drills, taps and reamers for hardened materials
- End mills and form cutters
- Hobs and gear-cutting tools
- Chasers and broaches
- Finishing tools for aerospace superalloys
- Cutting tools for hardened tool steel and stainless steel
- High-wear mould inserts and precision components
- Heavy-duty industrial cutting applications
M42 for Premium Cutting Tools
M42 is specified where M2 and M35 cannot maintain an acceptable tool life — typically finishing operations on very hard or abrasive materials where edge retention at high temperature is critical.
Aerospace & High-Temperature Alloy Machining
The highest red-hardness in the M-series makes M42 the preferred choice for machining nickel-based superalloys and other difficult-to-cut materials common in aerospace and high-performance engineering.
Industries We Serve
- Aerospace component machining
- Premium cutting tool manufacturing
- Stainless & superalloy machining
- Mould & die making (high-wear inserts)
- Precision engineering & machine tools
- Automotive high-performance machining
Authorized Stockist
Grade M42 Supply Locations Across India
We supply Grade M42 steel across major industrial cities including Mumbai, Pune, Khopoli, Nashik, Aurangabad, Navi Mumbai, Palghar, Umbergaon, Vapi, Valsad, Daman, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Cochin, Delhi, Gurgaon, Manesar and Sonipat — as well as to export markets.
Our Steel Products
Our Services
Frequently Asked Questions
About Purohit Steel
Purohit Steel was established in 1965 by Shree Bherumalji Rajpurohit, a visionary in metallurgy. Over the decades, we have built a strong reputation as a trusted stockist and exporter of tool steel, plastic mould steel and engineering steel products across India.
As an ISO-certified company, we source premium materials from globally reputed manufacturers and operate a modern warehousing facility in Vasai along with a sales outlet in Mumbai, enabling efficient storage, fast processing and timely delivery across India and export markets.
With decades of relationships with tool & die manufacturers and a customer-focused approach, Purohit Steel continues to deliver reliable, technically supported steel solutions for the cutting tool and mould-making industry.
Read more about Purohit Steel, view our certifications, or get in touch with our technical sales team.
Our Certifications
Purohit Steel operates as an ISO-certified company, backed by documented quality management, safety and compliance certifications that support reliable supply to domestic and export customers.
View all certificates in detail on our Certifications page.
Countries We Export Worldwide
Beyond India, Purohit Steel exports tool & mould steel grades to customers across the following countries and regions:
| Export Destinations | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | Saudi Arabia | Oman | Bangladesh | Sri Lanka | Nepal |
| Vietnam | Thailand | Indonesia | Kenya | Nigeria | South Africa |
For export enquiries and destination-specific documentation, please contact our sales team.
Export Packaging & Shipping
Bars, flats and blocks are packed to withstand handling, transit and marine shipment, whether for domestic dispatch or export orders.
- Palletised and strapped packing for round bars, flat bars and blocks
- Moisture-protected wrapping to prevent surface corrosion in transit
- Seaworthy export packing with clear shipping marks and material identification
- Documentation support including packing lists, invoices and mill test certificates for customs clearance
- Shipment by road, rail or sea freight as per order requirement and destination
Quality Inspection & Testing
Every batch held in our stock is checked through documented inspection procedures before dispatch, so mould makers and OEMs receive material with verified, traceable quality.
- Chemical composition verification against mill certificates
- Hardness testing (Brinell / Rockwell) on received stock
- Dimensional inspection as per standard bar and block tolerances
- Visual and surface defect inspection
- EN 10204 2.2 / 3.1 mill test certificates provided on request
- Third-party inspection coordination available for export orders
Full material traceability is maintained from incoming stock through to dispatch for every order.
Latest Price List
Pricing depends on section size, quantity, form (round bar / flat bar / block) and current raw material rates. Indicative guidance is below — contact us for a firm, up-to-date quotation.
| Form | Typical Price Basis |
|---|---|
| Round Bar | Per Kg, based on diameter & length — contact for latest rate |
| Flat Bar / Plate | Per Kg, based on thickness & size — contact for latest rate |
| Block (cut to size) | Per Kg / Per Piece, based on drawing — contact for latest rate |
Prices are subject to change with raw material and freight costs. Share your required size and quantity via the quotation form or WhatsApp for the latest price.
MOQ & Payment Terms
Minimum Order Quantity: Flexible MOQ depending on size and form — from small trial quantities for tooling houses up to bulk orders for OEMs, subject to confirmation at enquiry stage.
Payment Terms: Advance payment / part-advance with balance before dispatch for domestic orders; T/T (bank transfer) or Letter of Credit (LC) for export orders, depending on order value and destination.