Steel D3 Cryo + Tempered vs D3 Hardened & Tempered
Steel · D3 temper comparison
D3 Cryo + Tempered and D3 Hardened & Tempered are two conditions of the same steel grade, D3: Cryo + Tempered (deep-cryogenic treated & double tempered) versus Hardened & Tempered (quenched and tempered). The chemistry is identical, so every difference below comes from the condition. D3 Cryo + Tempered is the stronger of the two: yield strength 1,800 MPa (261 ksi) against 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) for D3 Hardened & Tempered, about 3.9 times as much. D3 Hardened & Tempered conducts heat better (20 W/m·K vs 17.5 W/m·K). On the shop floor, D3 Hardened & Tempered welds better (poor vs not recommended) and D3 Hardened & Tempered forms better (12 vs 1 out of 100).
D3 Cryo + TemperedChoose it when strength drives the design.
D3 Hardened & TemperedChoose it when it will be welded.
D3 Cryo + Tempered vs D3 Hardened & Tempered: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all steel grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all steel grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
D3 Cryo + TemperedD3 Hardened & Tempered
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)
Reduction in Area
Compressive Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)
Hardness, Rockwell C
Hardness, Vickers
Same in both: Shear Modulus 81 GPa11.7 Msi · Bulk Modulus 160 GPa23.2 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.28 · Elongation at Break 0.5% · Shear Strength 1,300 MPa189 ksi · Hardness, Brinell 225 HB · Hardness, Rockwell B 98 HRB
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Same in both: Density 7.7 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³ · Melting Point (Solidus) 1,230°C2,246 °F · Liquidus Temperature 1,400°C2,552 °F
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Same in both: Specific Heat Capacity 460 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F · Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C) 11.5 µm/m·K6.4 µin/in·°F · Latent Heat of Fusion 250 J/g107 BTU/lb · Max Service Temperature (continuous) 180°C356 °F · Min Service Temperature -40°C-40 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Conductivity
Electrical Resistivity
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Weldability
Formability (cold)
Same in both: Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %) 5% · Brazeability / Solderability 25 / 100 · Polishability 70 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Same in both: Embodied Energy (primary production) 36 MJ/kg15,477 BTU/lb · Embodied Carbon (primary production) 2.8 kg CO₂/kg · Embodied Water 60 L/kg7.2 gal/lb · Typical Recycled Content 40%
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every steel grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
D3 Cryo + Tempered vs D3 Hardened & Tempered — frequently asked
Is D3 Cryo + Tempered stronger than D3 Hardened & Tempered?
Yes. D3 Cryo + Tempered has a typical yield strength of 1,800 MPa (261 ksi) against 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) for D3 Hardened & Tempered — about 3.9 times as much. Tensile strength is 1,900 MPa (276 ksi) vs 2,100 MPa (305 ksi).
Which condition does FabDigit quote by default, Cryo + Tempered or Hardened & Tempered?
Annealed is the default D3 condition in the FabDigit quote flow (neither Cryo + Tempered nor Hardened & Tempered). The other condition is available on request or by drawing note — specify it in the material field or the part notes and the quote is priced for it.
Which welds better, D3 Cryo + Tempered or D3 Hardened & Tempered?
D3 Hardened & Tempered. Its weldability rates poor (15/100) against not recommended (2/100) for D3 Cryo + Tempered.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in D3 Cryo + Tempered and D3 Hardened & Tempered side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.