Steel 9SiCr-CD (Cold drawn)
Supply condition
GB 9SiCr
Precision-size bright bar or wire for small taps, drills and springs where close tolerance and good surface are needed before hardening.
Values for the CD condition
Other 9SiCr tempers and conditions
9SiCr is listed in 9 conditions; see the grade overview at 9SiCr.
Compare all 9 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Isothermally annealed / stress-relieved machining stock | Uniform low-hardness structure with reduced residual stress for precision blanks that must stay dimensionally stable through hardening. | 430 | 730 | 20 | 14 HRC | 5.7 % IACS |
ADefault Solution annealed | Standard stocked condition for machining tool blanks before hardening. | 450 | 760 | 18 | 220 HB | — |
Hot rolled | Cheapest mill condition for stock that will be spheroidise-annealed or hot-formed by the customer. | 550 | 900 | 10 | 29 HRC | 5.7 % IACS |
CDThis page Cold drawn | Precision-size bright bar or wire for small taps, drills and springs where close tolerance and good surface are needed before hardening. | 700 | 900 | 8 | 26 HRC | 5.7 % IACS |
Q&T 48–52 HRC | Tough, shock-resistant setting for spring-type tooling, collets, guide bushings and heavily loaded punch bodies. | 1,450 | 1,700 | 6 | 50 HRC | — |
Oil quenched, untempered | Intermediate as-quenched state only — must be tempered immediately; used to verify hardenability (≥62 HRC). | 1,900 | 2,200 | 0 | 64 HRC | 4.7 % IACS |
Q&T 55–58 HRC | Chosen when impact loading or heavier sections make 60+ HRC too brittle (blanking dies, cold chisels, mandrels). | — | 1,950 | 3 | 56 HRC | — |
Q&T 58–60 HRC | Balanced wear/toughness setting for cold-forming dies, shear blades and thread-rolling dies. | — | 2,100 | 2 | 59 HRC | — |
Q&T 60–62 HRC | Maximum-wear condition for taps, reamers, thread chasers and cold punches with light impact. | — | 2,250 | 1 | 61 HRC | — |
What is 9SiCr-CD?
9SiCr-CD is 9SiCr supplied in the CD condition — precision-size bright bar or wire for small taps, drills and springs where close tolerance and good surface are needed before hardening. 9SiCr-CD has a yield strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — stronger than 81% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi). 9SiCr-CD has a density of 7.75 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), lighter than 93% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F). A is the default condition FabDigit quotes; CD is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 75/100, better than 94% of steel grades
- High strength — 700 MPa (102 ksi), better than 81% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 10/100, worse than 99% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 8%, worse than 95% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 18/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 32 W/m·K (18.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 82% of steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 5.7 % IACS, worse than 80% of steel grades
9SiCr-CD properties
Typical room-temperature values for 9SiCr-CD; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 9SiCr reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
9SiCr-CD has a density of 7.75 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), lighter than 93% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Mechanical15
9SiCr-CD has a yield strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — stronger than 81% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
9SiCr-CD is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 32 W/m·K (18.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 82% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
9SiCr-CD conducts electricity at 5.7 % IACS, worse than 80% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 9SiCr-CD takes about 34 MJ of energy and emits 2.4 kg of CO₂ — more than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
9SiCr-CD's machinability is fair (42/100, worse than 73% of steel grades); weldability not recommended (10/100); formability poor (18/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 9SiCr-CD
Is 9SiCr easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed (≤241 HB) condition with sharp carbide or HSS-Co tooling and generous coolant; after hardening only grinding, EDM or honing are practical.
Can 9SiCr be welded?
Essentially not weldable for structural purposes — only local repair with matching/tool-steel electrode at 300–400 °C preheat followed by immediate re-temper.
Can 9SiCr be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1100→850 °C then slow cool and spheroidise anneal at 780–800 °C; cold forming limited to gentle bending of annealed thin stock.
What surface finishes work on 9SiCr?
Harden 860–880 °C in oil (or salt/vacuum), temper 180–250 °C; finish by grinding and polishing, then protect with black oxide, phosphate or oil — PVD TiN and nitriding are common on cutting tools.
9SiCr 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 |
| Siraises tempering resistance and hardenability | 1.2 – 1.6 | 1.4 |
| Mn | 0.3 – 0.6 | 0.45 |
| Cr | 0.95 – 1.25 | 1.1 |
| Moresidual limit | ≤ 0.3 | — |
| Wresidual limit | ≤ 0.2 | — |
| Vresidual limit | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Niresidual limit | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Curesidual limit | ≤ 0.3 | — |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
9SiCr-CD — frequently asked
What is 9SiCr-CD used for?
9SiCr-CD is typically used for taps, dies, woodworking tools and cutting tools. In short: deep-hardening O2-class steel; common cutting-tool tool steel; 300 °C service ceiling.
What is the yield strength of 9SiCr-CD?
9SiCr-CD has a typical yield strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) and a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — stronger than 81% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 9SiCr-CD easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (42/100, worse than 73% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed (≤241 HB) condition with sharp carbide or HSS-Co tooling and generous coolant; after hardening only grinding, EDM or honing are practical.
Can 9SiCr-CD be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (10/100). Essentially not weldable for structural purposes — only local repair with matching/tool-steel electrode at 300–400 °C preheat followed by immediate re-temper.
What surface finishes work on 9SiCr-CD?
Harden 860–880 °C in oil (or salt/vacuum), temper 180–250 °C; finish by grinding and polishing, then protect with black oxide, phosphate or oil — PVD TiN and nitriding are common on cutting tools.
Can 9SiCr-CD be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1100→850 °C then slow cool and spheroidise anneal at 780–800 °C; cold forming limited to gentle bending of annealed thin stock.
What is the maximum service temperature of 9SiCr-CD?
9SiCr-CD is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 9SiCr-A and 9SiCr QT48-52?
A is the default condition — standard stocked condition for machining tool blanks before hardening. QT48-52: tough, shock-resistant setting for spring-type tooling, collets, guide bushings and heavily loaded punch bodies. Yield strength is 450 MPa in A versus 1,450 MPa in QT48-52.
Sources
- GB/T 1299 Tool and Die Steels ( 9SiCr) — SAC / Standardization Administration of China (2014)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (tool steels) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 16 — Machining (machinability of tool steels) — ASM International (1989)
- Tool Steels, 5th ed. (O-type oil-hardening grades) — ASM International (1998)
- 9SiCr / 90CrSi5 cold-work tool steel datasheets (Chinese special-steel mills) — various mills (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.