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Steel Cr12MoV · temper · default condition

Steel Cr12MoV Annealed

Properties of the Annealed condition, compared with the other Cr12MoV tempers.

Standard mill/stockist condition for bar, flat and plate — machine the die here, then harden.

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What is Cr12MoV Annealed?

Cr12MoV Annealed is Cr12MoV in the Annealed temper — standard mill/stockist condition for bar, flat and plate — machine the die here, then harden. Cr12MoV Annealed has a yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 56% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi). Cr12MoV Annealed 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).

Advantages

  • Polishes to a fine finish — 78/100, better than 95% of steel grades
  • Good corrosion resistance — 28/100, better than 93% 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 Annealed properties

Typical room-temperature values for Cr12MoV Annealed — 11 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every Cr12MoV temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.

Physical3

Cr12MoV Annealed 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).

Density7.7 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³
Melting Point (Solidus)1,420°C2,588 °F
Liquidus Temperature1,480°C2,696 °F

Mechanical15

Cr12MoV Annealed has a yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 56% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).

Elastic (Young's) Modulus210 GPa30.5 Msi
Shear Modulus80 GPa11.6 Msi
Bulk Modulus160 GPa23.2 Msi
Poisson's Ratio0.29
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)780 MPa113 ksi
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)460 MPa66.7 ksi
Elongation at Break12%
Reduction in Area20%
Compressive Strength900 MPa131 ksi
Shear Strength480 MPa69.6 ksi
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)360 MPa52.2 ksi
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)15 J11.1 ft·lbf
Hardness, Brinell217 HB
Hardness, Rockwell B96 HRB
Hardness, Vickers228 HV

Thermal6

Cr12MoV Annealed 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).

Thermal Conductivity20 W/m·K11.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Specific Heat Capacity460 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)11 µm/m·K6.1 µin/in·°F
Latent Heat of Fusion250 J/g107 BTU/lb
Max Service Temperature (continuous)200°C392 °F
Min Service Temperature-50°C-58 °F

Electrical3

Cr12MoV Annealed conducts electricity at 2.6 % IACS, worse than 97% of steel grades.

Electrical Conductivity2.6 % IACS
Electrical Resistivity6.5×10⁻⁷ Ω·m25.6 µΩ·in
Magnetic Responseferromagnetic

Chemical & Environmental2

Corrosion resistance is poor (28/100), better than 93% of steel grades.

Corrosion ResistancePoor28/100
Chemical Resistance SummaryOnly marginally stain-resistant: resists dry indoor air and oiled storage, but rusts with humidity, chlorides, water-based coolants and acids; dies must be oiled or surface treated (nitride/PVD).

Sustainability4

Producing a kilogram of Cr12MoV Annealed takes about 36 MJ of energy and emits 2.8 kg of CO₂ — more than 88% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 50%.

Embodied Energy (primary production)36 MJ/kg15,477 BTU/lb
Embodied Carbon (primary production)2.8 kg CO₂/kg
Embodied Water75 L/kg9 gal/lb
Typical Recycled Content50%

Manufacturability8

Cr12MoV Annealed's machinability is poor (32/100, worse than 87% of steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability poor (15/100).

MachinabilityPoor32/100
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)30%
WeldabilityPoor15/100
Formability (cold)Poor15/100
CastabilityPoor25/100
Brazeability / SolderabilityPoor25/100
PolishabilityVery good78/100
Anodizing Responsen/a — ferrous alloy; use nitriding, PVD (TiN/TiCN/AlCrN), black oxide or hard chrome instead

Common Calculations5

Specific Strength (UTS / density)calculated101 kN·m/kg
Specific Stiffness (E / density)calculated27.3 MN·m/kg
Modulus of Resiliencecalculated504 kJ/m³
Thermal Diffusivitycalculated5.6 mm²/s
Thermal Shock Resistance Indexcalculated7

Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.

Other Cr12MoV tempers and conditions

Cr12MoV is also supplied in 6 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the Cr12MoV overview.

Working with Cr12MoV Annealed

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).

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.

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.

ElementSpec limit (wt %)Nominal
C1.45 – 1.71.55
Si≤0.40≤ 0.40.25
Mn≤0.40≤ 0.40.3
Cr11 – 12.511.75
Mo0.4 – 0.60.5
V0.15 – 0.30.22
Pimpurity limit≤ 0.03
Simpurity limit≤ 0.03
Febalance

Cr12MoV Annealed — frequently asked

What is Cr12MoV Annealed used for?

Cr12MoV Annealed 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 Annealed?

Cr12MoV Annealed has a typical yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 56% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.

Is Cr12MoV Annealed 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 Annealed 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 Annealed?

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 Annealed 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 Annealed?

Cr12MoV Annealed 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.

Can FabDigit make parts in Cr12MoV Annealed?

Yes — Cr12MoV Annealed is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.

Sources

  1. GB/T 1299 (Cr12MoV)SAC / (2014)
  2. ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys (D2 cold-work tool steels)ASM International (1990)
  3. ASM Handbook Vol.16 — Machining (tool steel machinability ratings)ASM International (1989)
  4. K110 / SKD11 cold-work tool steel datasheetvoestalpine Böhler Edelstahl (2021)

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.