ISO 513 material groups

Six workpiece material groups

• PSteels: blue

  All steels and cast steels, except austenitic stainless. Grades P01 … P50.

• MStainless steels: yellow

  Austenitic and austenitic-ferritic (duplex) stainless, cast included. Grades M01 … M40.

• KCast irons: red

  Grey iron, spheroidal graphite iron, malleable iron. Grades K01 … K40.

• NNon-ferrous: green

  Aluminium and other non-ferrous metals, non-metallic materials. Grades N01 … N30.

• SSuperalloys and titanium: brown

  Heat-resistant alloys based on iron, nickel or cobalt; titanium and its alloys. Grades S01 … S30.

• HHard materials: grey

  Hardened steels, hardened cast irons, chilled cast iron. Grades H01 … H30.

Reading the grade number

P10 or K20: the letter gives the group, the number places the grade. Low number: more wear-resistant, for high speed. High number: tougher, for heavy feed or interrupted cuts.

Cutting material: letters before the group

• HWUncoated carbide, WC grain ≥ 1 µm
• HFUncoated carbide, WC grain < 1 µm
• HTCermet: TiC or TiN based carbide
• HCCoated carbide
• CAOxide ceramic (Al₂O₃)
• CMMixed ceramic
• CNSilicon nitride ceramic (Si₃N₄)
• CCCoated ceramic
• DPPolycrystalline diamond (PCD)
• BLCBN with low cubic boron nitride content
• BHCBN with high cubic boron nitride content

Designation example

HCP25

1. HCCoated carbide
2. PFor steels
3. 25Mid-range: general purpose

Written HC-P25.