Steel 1.2842
EN 1.2842 · AISI/SAE O2
1.2842 (90MnCrV8, AISI O2) is an oil-hardening manganese-chromium-vanadium cold-work tool steel from the O-series.
Reference datasheet — 1.2842 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the Annealed condition
1.2842 tempers and conditions
1.2842 is supplied in 9 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 9 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault soft annealed (≤229 HB), as-delivered bar/flat stock | Standard supply condition for machining tools and dies before hardening. | 420 | 700 | 16 | 17 HRC | 7 % IACS |
Stress relieved | Intermediate step for large or asymmetric tools to minimise distortion during hardening. | 420 | 700 | 16 | 17 HRC | 7 % IACS |
Cold drawn / precision ground flat & round stock (annealed) | Pick for gauge and jig blanks needing tight tolerance and clean surface before hardening. | 520 | 760 | 12 | 20 HRC | 33 W/m·K |
Q&T 400 °C | Low-hardness/high-toughness setting for shanks, holders and shock-loaded parts. | 1,450 | 1,700 | 5 | 50 HRC | 7 % IACS |
Q&T 300 °C | Tougher setting for larger tools and forming dies where chipping is the failure mode. | 1,620 | 1,900 | 3 | 55 HRC | 6.5 % IACS |
Q&T 250 °C | Choose when slightly more toughness is needed for impact-loaded punches and shear blades. | 1,780 | 2,050 | 2 | 58 HRC | 6.5 % IACS |
Hardened, as quenched | Intermediate state only — must be tempered immediately to avoid quench cracking. | 2,000 | 2,400 | 0.5 | 64 HRC | 6 % IACS |
Q&T 200 °C | Standard working hardness for blanking and trimming dies; best wear/toughness compromise. | 2,000 | 2,250 | 1 | 61 HRC | 6 % IACS |
Q&T 180 °C | Maximum hardness for gauges, punches and woodworking blades with minimal dimensional change. | 2,400 | 63 HRC | — |
What is 1.2842?
1.2842 (90MnCrV8, AISI O2) is an oil-hardening manganese-chromium-vanadium cold-work tool steel from the O-series. It is widely used for gauges, jigs and precision dies because it hardens at low austenitizing temperature with modest distortion and machines relatively easily (machinability score 45); stock is offered annealed at 215 HB (700 MPa tensile, 420 MPa yield, 16% elongation), cold-drawn and ground, as-quenched, stress-relieved, and tempered from 180 °C to 400 °C. Hardening depth is shallow, distortion is higher than with air-hardening grades, and there is no corrosion resistance; listed maximum service temperature is 400 °C. 1.2363 (A2) is the nearest low-distortion alternative. 1.2842 has a density of 7.8 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), lighter than 87% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F). 1.2842 has a yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 16% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is 1.2842 used for?
- Gauges
- Jigs and fixtures
- Precision dies
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 65/100, better than 78% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 20/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 55 MPa·√m (50.1 ksi·√in), worse than 82% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 33 W/m·K (19.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 80% of steel grades
1.2842 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1.2842-Annealed; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
1.2842 has a density of 7.8 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), lighter than 87% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Mechanical17
1.2842 has a yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 16% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
1.2842 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 33 W/m·K (19.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 80% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12.5 µm/m·K (6.94 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1.2842 conducts electricity at 7 % IACS, worse than 74% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1.2842 takes about 34 MJ of energy and emits 2.4 kg of CO₂ — more than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability8
1.2842's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability poor (30/100).
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. 1.2842 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1.2842
Is 1.2842 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed state with sharp carbide or HSS tooling at moderate speed; after hardening only grinding, EDM or CBN work is practical.
Can 1.2842 be welded?
Not intended for structural welding; repair-weld hardened tools only with preheat 300–350 °C, matching tool-steel electrode and immediate re-temper.
Can 1.2842 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold forming is limited to mild bending of annealed thin stock; hot forge 1050→850 °C followed by slow cooling and soft annealing at 720–750 °C.
1.2842 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C | 0.85 – 0.95 | 0.9 |
| Si | 0.1 – 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mngives deep oil hardenability and low distortion | 1.9 – 2.1 | 2 |
| Cr | 0.2 – 0.5 | 0.35 |
| Vgrain refinement | 0.05 – 0.2 | 0.1 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1.2842?
Takes a good polish and fine ground finish when hardened; protect with oil, black oxide, phosphating or PVD/nitride coating since the steel has no corrosion resistance.
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).
Organic Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel 1.2842 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- AISI / SAE
- O2
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 90MnCrV8
How much does 1.2842 cost?
1.2842 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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.
1.2842 — frequently asked
What is 1.2842 used for?
1.2842 is typically used for gauges, jigs and fixtures and precision dies. In short: oil-hardening gauge steel; best-machining cold-work grade; O2 equivalent.
What is the yield strength of 1.2842?
1.2842 has a typical yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 1.2842 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed state with sharp carbide or HSS tooling at moderate speed; after hardening only grinding, EDM or CBN work is practical.
Can 1.2842 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Not intended for structural welding; repair-weld hardened tools only with preheat 300–350 °C, matching tool-steel electrode and immediate re-temper.
What surface finishes work on 1.2842?
Takes a good polish and fine ground finish when hardened; protect with oil, black oxide, phosphating or PVD/nitride coating since the steel has no corrosion resistance.
Can 1.2842 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold forming is limited to mild bending of annealed thin stock; hot forge 1050→850 °C followed by slow cooling and soft annealing at 720–750 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1.2842?
1.2842 is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 1.2842 Annealed and 1.2842 H-AQ?
Annealed is the default condition — standard supply condition for machining tools and dies before hardening. H-AQ: intermediate state only — must be tempered immediately to avoid quench cracking. Yield strength is 420 MPa in Annealed versus 2,000 MPa in H-AQ.
How much does 1.2842 cost?
1.2842 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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.
Sources
- EN ISO 4957 — Tool steels — ISO/CEN (2018)
- DIN 17350 / Werkstoff-Nr. 1.2842 (90MnCrV8) — DIN (1980)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16 — Machining — ASM International (1989)
- Oil-hardening cold-work tool steel datasheets (O2 / 90MnCrV8 class) — Böhler / Uddeholm / Buderus (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.