080M40 carbon steel is a common medium carbon and medium tensile steel, with improved strength over mild steel, through-hardening medium carbon steel. 080M40 carbon steel is also readily machinable in any condition.

080M40 steels are generally used in the as supplied untreated condition. But 080M40 steels can be further surface-hardened by induction processes, producing components with enhanced wear resistance. Still, 080M40 materials in their heat-treated forms possess good homogenous metallurgical structures, giving consistent machining properties.