Steel 1.2080
EN 1.2080
1.2080 (X210Cr12, AISI D3, GB/T Cr12) is a ledeburitic high-carbon high-chromium cold-work tool steel with ~2.1 % C and ~12 % Cr, giving a very high volume fraction of coarse M7C3 carbides.
Values for the Annealed condition
1.2080 tempers and conditions
1.2080 is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault soft (spheroidize) annealed, ≤250 HB | Standard delivery condition of bar, flat and plate; machine and wire-EDM in this state, then harden. | 520 | 850 | 12 | 20 HRC | 2.7 % IACS |
Hot rolled / hot forged, un-annealed black bar | Mill stock before soft annealing — must be spheroidize annealed before machining or hardening. | 650 | 1,000 | 6 | 31 HRC | 2.7 % IACS |
Hardened, as-quenched | As-quenched state before tempering; never used in service — temper immediately to avoid cracking. | 1,750 | 1,950 | 0.5 | 64 HRC | 2.5 % IACS |
Hardened + deep cryogenic treatment + low temper, 63-65 HRC | Deep-freeze (-80 to -196 °C) to convert retained austenite for maximum hardness and dimensional stability on gauges and precision punches. | 1,800 | 2,000 | 0.5 | 64 HRC | 2.6 % IACS |
Oil quench + 250-300 °C temper | Choose when chipping is the failure mode (heavier blanking, shear blades, cold-forming punches) and some toughness is worth a little wear life. | 2,000 | 1.5 | 59 HRC | — | |
Oil quench + 200-230 °C temper | Most common working hardness for blanking and drawing dies — good wear resistance with slightly better toughness. | 2,150 | 1 | 61 HRC | — | |
Oil quench + 180 °C temper | Maximum wear resistance for blanking thin sheet, paper/plastic cutting knives and thread rolls; lowest toughness. | 2,300 | 0.5 | 63 HRC | — |
What is 1.2080?
1.2080 (X210Cr12, AISI D3, GB/T Cr12) is a ledeburitic high-carbon high-chromium cold-work tool steel with ~2.1 % C and ~12 % Cr, giving a very high volume fraction of coarse M7C3 carbides. It is chosen for blanking and cutting dies, shear blades, thread rolls, cold-forming and drawing tools where abrasive wear resistance at 60-64 HRC matters more than toughness. Limits are low toughness and poor grindability from the coarse carbide network, oil quenching (so more distortion/cracking risk than air-hardening D2/1.2379), and no useful hot hardness above ~200 °C. 1.2080 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,230°C (2,246 °F). 1.2080 has a yield strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) — stronger than 67% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is 1.2080 used for?
- Cold blanking and cutting dies
- Shear blades
- Thread rolling dies
- Cold drawing and forming tools
- Forming rollers
- Punches and die inserts
- Wear plates for abrasive service
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 80/100, better than 97% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 25 MPa·√m (22.8 ksi·√in), worse than 97% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 20 W/m·K (11.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 96% of steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 2.7 % IACS, worse than 96% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 93% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 91% of steel grades
1.2080 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1.2080-Annealed; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
1.2080 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,230°C (2,246 °F).
Mechanical17
1.2080 has a yield strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) — stronger than 67% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
1.2080 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 20 W/m·K (11.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 96% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.5 µm/m·K (5.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1.2080 conducts electricity at 2.7 % IACS, worse than 96% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (20/100), better than 87% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1.2080 takes about 34 MJ of energy and emits 2.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability8
1.2080's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 89% of steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability poor (20/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the steel family
Yield strength against density for every steel grade FabDigit runs. 1.2080 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1.2080
Is 1.2080 easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed state with rigid setups, coated carbide and low speeds; the 12-15 % carbide volume abrades tooling badly — hardened parts are finished by grinding, wire EDM or CBN.
Can 1.2080 be welded?
Essentially unweldable structurally; repair only with matching high-alloy electrode at 300-400 °C preheat, immediate temper, and expect hardness/crack sensitivity.
Can 1.2080 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work between 1050 and 900 °C with slow furnace cooling; no meaningful cold forming — oil quench from 940-970 °C causes more distortion than air-hardening D2, so allow grinding stock.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit applies to 1.2080. Every 1.2080 part is priced by an engineer; design inside these and the quote comes back without a redesign loop.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Poor30 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | P.2 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 180 / 210 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.8 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 5× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 1.6 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
1.2080 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Cforms coarse M7C3 carbides | 1.9 – 2.2 | 2.05 |
| Si | 0.1 – 0.6 | 0.3 |
| Mn | 0.2 – 0.6 | 0.35 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Cr | 11 – 13 | 12 |
| Niresidual, max | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1.2080?
Takes a high polish when hardened; protect against rust with oiling, black oxide or phosphating, and extend die life with nitriding or TiN/TiCN/CrN PVD below the tempering temperature.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on steel parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Plating
CVD Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
How much does 1.2080 cost?
1.2080 is a premium-cost steel ($$$), pricier than about 57% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
1.2080 — frequently asked
What is 1.2080 used for?
1.2080 is typically used for cold blanking and cutting dies, shear blades, thread rolling dies, cold drawing and forming tools, forming rollers and punches and die inserts. In short: cold-work die tool.
What is the yield strength of 1.2080?
1.2080 has a typical yield strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) — stronger than 67% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is 1.2080 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 89% of steel grades). Machine only in the annealed state with rigid setups, coated carbide and low speeds; the 12-15 % carbide volume abrades tooling badly — hardened parts are finished by grinding, wire EDM or CBN.
Can 1.2080 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Essentially unweldable structurally; repair only with matching high-alloy electrode at 300-400 °C preheat, immediate temper, and expect hardness/crack sensitivity.
What surface finishes work on 1.2080?
Takes a high polish when hardened; protect against rust with oiling, black oxide or phosphating, and extend die life with nitriding or TiN/TiCN/CrN PVD below the tempering temperature.
Can 1.2080 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work between 1050 and 900 °C with slow furnace cooling; no meaningful cold forming — oil quench from 940-970 °C causes more distortion than air-hardening D2, so allow grinding stock.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1.2080?
1.2080 is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does 1.2080 cost?
1.2080 is a premium-cost steel ($$$), pricier than about 57% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Can FabDigit make parts in 1.2080?
Yes — 1.2080 is available for CNC machining; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- EN ISO 4957 Tool steels (X210Cr12) — ISO/CEN (2018)
- ASTM A681 Standard Specification for Tool Steels Alloy (Type D3) — ASTM (2015)
- GB/T 1299 (Cr12) — SAC (2014)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (Tool Steels) — ASM International (1990)
- Cold-work tool steel 1.2080 / K100-class datasheets — Böhler / Uddeholm / Lucchini (2022)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.