Steel Cr12MoV
AISI/SAE D2 · JIS SKD11
Cr12MoV is a Chinese GB high-carbon high-chromium cold-work tool steel (≈1.5 %C, 12 %Cr, with Mo and V additions) that is air/oil hardening, dimensionally stable and highly wear resistant thanks to a dense network of M7C3 chromium carbides.
Values for the Annealed condition
Cr12MoV tempers and conditions
Cr12MoV is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault spheroidize annealed, soft delivery condition (≤255 HB) | Standard mill/stockist condition for bar, flat and plate — machine the die here, then harden. | 460 | 780 | 12 | 217 HB | — |
as-worked, not annealed | Cheapest large-section input for forged die blocks; must be annealed before machining. | 620 | 980 | 7 | 31 HRC | 2.6 % IACS |
Hardened + higher temper | Choose when toughness and resistance to chipping/warm working matter more than peak wear life (cold extrusion, heavy-section dies, nitriding base). | 1,600 | 1,900 | 1 | 56 HRC | 2.4 % IACS |
Hardened, tempered and gas/plasma nitrided case | Surface-engineered option for galling/adhesive-wear duty on forming dies; core keeps 58–60 HRC while the case reaches ~1100 HV. | 1,700 | 2,000 | 0.5 | 59 HRC | 2.5 % IACS |
Quenched and tempered | Default working condition for blanking, punching and forming dies where wear resistance dominates. | 1,800 | 2,100 | 1 | 60 HRC | — |
Cryogenic (deep-freeze) treated and double tempered | Use when residual austenite must be minimised for gauge-stable, long-run precision dies; adds ~1–2 HRC and better wear life. | 1,850 | 2,150 | 0.4 | 62 HRC | 2.4 % IACS |
What is Cr12MoV?
Cr12MoV is a Chinese GB high-carbon high-chromium cold-work tool steel (≈1.5 %C, 12 %Cr, with Mo and V additions) that is air/oil hardening, dimensionally stable and highly wear resistant thanks to a dense network of M7C3 chromium carbides. It is the standard workhorse for blanking and forming dies, thread rolling dies, shear blades and cold-extrusion tooling in the 58–62 HRC range, and is broadly interchangeable with AISI D2 / SKD11 for most die duties (Cr12Mo1V1 is the closer D2 match). Limits are low toughness and notch sensitivity, poor grindability and weldability, marked carbide banding in large sections, and only partial (semi-stainless) corrosion resistance. Cr12MoV has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F). Cr12MoV has a yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 55% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is Cr12MoV used for?
- Cold blanking and piercing dies
- Cold forming and coining dies
- Thread rolling dies
- Shear and slitter blades
- Cold extrusion tooling
- Punches and die buttons
- Wear plates and gauges
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 78/100, better than 95% of steel grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 28/100, better than 94% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low electrical conductivity — 2.6 % IACS, 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
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 93% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 91% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 2.8 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 90% of steel grades
Cr12MoV properties
Typical room-temperature values for Cr12MoV-Annealed; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
Cr12MoV has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Mechanical15
Cr12MoV has a yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 55% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
Cr12MoV 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 µm/m·K (6.11 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Cr12MoV conducts electricity at 2.6 % IACS, worse than 97% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is poor (28/100), better than 94% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Cr12MoV takes about 36 MJ of energy and emits 2.8 kg of CO₂ — more than 89% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 50%.
Manufacturability8
Cr12MoV's machinability is poor (32/100, worse than 87% of steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability poor (15/100).
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. Cr12MoV is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Cr12MoV
Is Cr12MoV easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed state with rigid setups, sharp carbide or coated-carbide tooling and low feeds; after hardening use grinding, EDM or CBN — abrasive Cr carbides cut tool life sharply.
Can Cr12MoV be welded?
Essentially not a weldable steel: repair welding only, with 400–500 °C preheat, matching high-Cr or tool-steel electrodes, slow cooling and immediate re-temper to avoid quench cracks.
Can Cr12MoV be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1050→850 °C with slow furnace cooling and immediate anneal; cold forming is impractical — harden from 1020–1040 °C (oil, air or vacuum) and temper at least twice at 180–220 °C (or 500–520 °C for secondary hardening).
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit's quote engine applies to Cr12MoV. Design inside these and the part quotes instantly; outside them it routes to an engineer.
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 |
Cr12MoV 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 | 1.45 – 1.7 | 1.55 |
| Si≤0.40 | ≤ 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn≤0.40 | ≤ 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Cr | 11 – 12.5 | 11.75 |
| Mo | 0.4 – 0.6 | 0.5 |
| V | 0.15 – 0.3 | 0.22 |
| Pimpurity limit | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Simpurity limit | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on Cr12MoV?
Takes a fine polish for die surfaces but carbide pull-out limits mirror finishes; protect with black oxide, hard chrome, nitriding or PVD (TiN/TiCN/AlCrN) — cannot be anodised and will rust unoiled.
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
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel Cr12MoV in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
How much does Cr12MoV cost?
Cr12MoV 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.
Cr12MoV — frequently asked
What is Cr12MoV used for?
Cr12MoV is typically used for cold blanking and piercing dies, cold forming and coining dies, thread rolling dies, shear and slitter blades, cold extrusion tooling and punches and die buttons. In short: cold-work die tool steel.
What is the yield strength of Cr12MoV?
Cr12MoV has a typical yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 55% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is Cr12MoV 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, sharp carbide or coated-carbide tooling and low feeds; after hardening use grinding, EDM or CBN — abrasive Cr carbides cut tool life sharply.
Can Cr12MoV be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Essentially not a weldable steel: repair welding only, with 400–500 °C preheat, matching high-Cr or tool-steel electrodes, slow cooling and immediate re-temper to avoid quench cracks.
What surface finishes work on Cr12MoV?
Takes a fine polish for die surfaces but carbide pull-out limits mirror finishes; protect with black oxide, hard chrome, nitriding or PVD (TiN/TiCN/AlCrN) — cannot be anodised and will rust unoiled.
Can Cr12MoV be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1050→850 °C with slow furnace cooling and immediate anneal; cold forming is impractical — harden from 1020–1040 °C (oil, air or vacuum) and temper at least twice at 180–220 °C (or 500–520 °C for secondary hardening).
What is the maximum service temperature of Cr12MoV?
Cr12MoV 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 Cr12MoV cost?
Cr12MoV 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 Cr12MoV?
Yes — Cr12MoV is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- GB/T 1299 (Cr12MoV) — SAC / (2014)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys (D2 cold-work tool steels) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16 — Machining (tool steel machinability ratings) — ASM International (1989)
- K110 / SKD11 cold-work tool steel datasheet — voestalpine Böhler Edelstahl (2021)
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.