Steel Cr12
GB Cr12
Cr12 is the Chinese GB high-carbon high-chromium cold-work tool steel (≈2.1 % C, 12 % Cr), the closest domestic counterpart to AISI D3/DIN X210Cr12.
Values for the Annealed condition
Cr12 tempers and conditions
Cr12 is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault spheroidize/soft annealed, ≤269 HB (as-supplied bar and plate) | Standard delivery condition for machining and die sinking before hardening. | 480 | 820 | 12 | 22 HRC | — |
Hot Rolled / Forged, untreated (as-rolled black bar) | Cheapest raw stock form; hard, carbide-networked and internally stressed — must be spheroidize annealed before machining. | 800 | 1,100 | 5 | 37 HRC | 2.7 % IACS |
Tempered 350–400 °C for higher toughness | Choose when the tool sees edge chipping or impact and some wear resistance can be traded for toughness. | 1,550 | 1,800 | 2 | 57 HRC | 2.5 % IACS |
Quenched and tempered | General hardened die condition: maximum wear resistance for blanking and drawing tools with modest impact. | 1,700 | 1,950 | 1 | 61 HRC | — |
Hardened + deep cryogenic treatment (−150/−196 °C) + double temper | Used for precision gauges and long-run blanking dies: converts retained austenite for extra 1–2 HRC and better dimensional stability. | 1,900 | 2,100 | 0.5 | 64 HRC | 2.6 % IACS |
What is Cr12?
Cr12 is the Chinese GB high-carbon high-chromium cold-work tool steel (≈2.1 % C, 12 % Cr), the closest domestic counterpart to AISI D3/DIN X210Cr12. Its very high volume fraction of coarse chromium carbides gives outstanding wear resistance and high attainable hardness (60–64 HRC) with small dimensional change on oil quenching, so it is used for blanking dies, thread rolling dies, drawing dies, shear blades and cold-forming rolls. Limits are low toughness and poor grindability/weldability, marked carbide banding in large sections, and a tempering-limited service temperature of about 200 °C; where impact loading exists Cr12MoV or Cr12Mo1V1 (D2) is normally preferred. Cr12 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F). Cr12 has a yield strength of 480 MPa (69.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 820 MPa (119 ksi) — stronger than 59% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is Cr12 used for?
- Cold blanking and piercing dies
- Thread-rolling dies
- Wire and tube drawing dies
- Shear and slitter blades
- Cold-forming rolls
- Punches for thin sheet
- Wear plates and gauges
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 24/100, better than 91% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades
Limitations
- 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
- Difficult to weld — 12/100, worse than 96% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 93% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 12/100, worse than 92% of steel grades
Cr12 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Cr12-Annealed; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
Cr12 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Mechanical13
Cr12 has a yield strength of 480 MPa (69.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 820 MPa (119 ksi) — stronger than 59% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
Cr12 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 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Cr12 conducts electricity at 2.7 % IACS, worse than 96% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is poor (24/100), better than 91% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Cr12 takes about 36 MJ of energy and emits 2.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 89% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 45%.
Manufacturability8
Cr12's machinability is poor (32/100, worse than 87% of steel grades); weldability not recommended (12/100); formability not recommended (12/100).
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. Cr12 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Cr12
Is Cr12 easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed state with rigid setups, low speeds and coated carbide/TiAlN tooling; abrasive carbides cause fast edge wear, and above ~58 HRC use CBN grinding or EDM.
Can Cr12 be welded?
Essentially not weldable in service; repair welding requires 400–500 °C preheat, matching high-Cr electrode, immediate post-weld temper and slow cooling to avoid quench cracks.
Can Cr12 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1050–1100 °C, stop above 900 °C, cool slowly in furnace then spheroidize anneal 840–870 °C; virtually no cold forming capability.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit applies to Cr12. Every Cr12 part is priced by an engineer; design inside these and the quote comes back without a redesign loop.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Poor32 / 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 |
Cr12 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CGB/T 1299 Cr12 | 2 – 2.3 | 2.15 |
| Cr | 11.5 – 13 | 12.2 |
| Si | 0.1 – 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Mn | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.3 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Niresidual, max | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Curesidual, max | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Monot intentionally added (unlike Cr12MoV) | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on Cr12?
Takes a fine ground/lapped finish but coarse carbides limit true mirror polish; protect with nitriding, hard chrome or PVD TiN/CrN and oil rust-preventive during storage.
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 Cr12 cost?
Cr12 is a premium-cost steel ($$$), pricier than about 57% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Cr12 — frequently asked
What is Cr12 used for?
Cr12 is typically used for cold blanking and piercing dies, thread-rolling dies, wire and tube drawing dies, shear and slitter blades, cold-forming rolls and punches for thin sheet. In short: cold-work die tool.
What is the yield strength of Cr12?
Cr12 has a typical yield strength of 480 MPa (69.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 820 MPa (119 ksi) — stronger than 59% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is Cr12 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (32/100, worse than 87% of steel grades). Machine only in the annealed state with rigid setups, low speeds and coated carbide/TiAlN tooling; abrasive carbides cause fast edge wear, and above ~58 HRC use CBN grinding or EDM.
Can Cr12 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (12/100). Essentially not weldable in service; repair welding requires 400–500 °C preheat, matching high-Cr electrode, immediate post-weld temper and slow cooling to avoid quench cracks.
What surface finishes work on Cr12?
Takes a fine ground/lapped finish but coarse carbides limit true mirror polish; protect with nitriding, hard chrome or PVD TiN/CrN and oil rust-preventive during storage.
Can Cr12 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1050–1100 °C, stop above 900 °C, cool slowly in furnace then spheroidize anneal 840–870 °C; virtually no cold forming capability.
What is the maximum service temperature of Cr12?
Cr12 is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Cr12 cost?
Cr12 is a premium-cost steel ($$$), 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 Cr12?
Yes — Cr12 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
- GB/T 1299 (Alloy tool steels) — SAC (2014)
- ASTM A681 Standard Specification for Tool Steels Alloy (D3) — ASTM (2015)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (tool steels) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16 — Machining (tool steel machinability ratings) — ASM International (1989)
- X210Cr12 / 1.2080 cold work tool steel datasheet — Böhler / Voestalpine (2020)
- Cr12/Cr12MoV — Mysteel / 1688 (2025)
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.