Steel D2
AISI/SAE D2 · UNS T30402 · EN 1.2379, X153CrMoV12 · JIS SKD11 · GB Cr12Mo1V1, Cr12MoV
D2 is a high-carbon, high-chromium air-hardening cold-work tool steel (~1.5% C, 12% Cr; 1.2379 / X153CrMoV12-1 / SKD11) that reaches 58–62 HRC with a high carbide volume and little hardening distortion.
Values for the Annealed condition
D2 tempers and conditions
D2 is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 8 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault soft annealed / spheroidized supply condition | Standard mill supply for bar, plate and ground flat stock; machine to shape in this state, then harden. | 450 | 750 | 15 | 220 HB | — |
rough-machined then 600–700 °C stress relief before hardening | Pick for large or asymmetric dies to minimise distortion during the later hardening cycle. | 460 | 760 | 14 | 20 HRC | 2.7 % IACS |
High-temper (≈540–560 °C) toughness-biased condition | Choose for shock-loaded or thick-section tooling where chipping, not wear, is the failure mode. | 1,550 | 1,800 | 2 | 55 HRC | 2.5 % IACS |
austenitize 1000–1030 °C, air/vacuum quench, temper (generic) | Generic finished tooling condition, typically 58–62 HRC for cold-work punches, dies and blades. | 1,700 | 2,000 | 1 | 60 HRC | — |
Secondary-hardened | Balanced wear/toughness setting used for most blanking dies and shear blades, and the base for nitriding or PVD. | 1,700 | 1,950 | 1 | 59 HRC | 2.5 % IACS |
Low temper (180–220 °C) maximum-hardness condition | Highest wear resistance for thin-gauge blanking, slitters and cold-forming inserts; least chip-tolerant. | 1,800 | 2,100 | 0.8 | 61 HRC | 2.4 % IACS |
Deep cryogenic treated (−80 to −196 °C) plus temper | Adds ~1–2 HRC and stabilises retained austenite; specify for gauge-critical dies and long-run wear parts. | 1,850 | 2,100 | 0.7 | 62 HRC | 2.5 % IACS |
hardened & tempered core with plasma/gas nitrided case | Surface case ~1100–1300 HV for galling and adhesive-wear resistance on cold-forming and extrusion tooling. | 1,850 | 2,050 | 1 | 59 HRC | 2.6 % IACS |
What is D2?
D2 is a high-carbon, high-chromium air-hardening cold-work tool steel (~1.5% C, 12% Cr; 1.2379 / X153CrMoV12-1 / SKD11) that reaches 58–62 HRC with a high carbide volume and little hardening distortion. It is the default die steel for blanking dies, shear blades, cold heading dies and forming rolls, stocked annealed at 220 HB and also hardened, cryo-treated or nitrided. Transverse ductility and toughness are low because of coarse eutectic carbides, welding and cold forming are difficult, service is limited to roughly 400 °C, and 12% Cr gives only semi-stainless rust resistance. PM grades such as A11 hold fine edges better. D2 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,421°C (2,590 °F). D2 has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 750 MPa (109 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is D2 used for?
- Blanking and piercing dies
- Shear and slitter blades
- Thread rolling dies
- Cold heading and coining dies
- Forming and trim dies
- Forming rolls
- Gauges and wear plates
- Abrasion-resistant mould inserts
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 28/100, better than 94% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 65/100, better than 78% 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 — 15/100, worse than 91% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 3 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 30/100, worse than 89% of steel grades
D2 properties
Typical room-temperature values for D2-Annealed; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical2
D2 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,421°C (2,590 °F).
Mechanical15
D2 has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 750 MPa (109 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
D2 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 20 W/m·K (11.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 96% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.5 µm/m·K (5.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
D2 conducts electricity at 2.7 % IACS, worse than 96% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (28/100), better than 94% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of D2 takes about 36 MJ of energy and emits 3 kg of CO₂ — more than 89% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 45%.
Manufacturability8
D2's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 89% 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. D2 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with D2
Is D2 easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed state with rigid setups, sharp carbide or coated carbide at modest speeds; after hardening it is a grind/EDM-only material (leave 0.2–0.4 mm grind stock).
Can D2 be welded?
Poor weldability — repair welding only, with 300–450 °C preheat, matching Cr-Mo-V or tool-steel filler, and immediate temper below the last tempering temperature to avoid quench cracks.
Can D2 be formed, bent or molded?
Not a cold-formable steel; hot forge 1050–900 °C with slow cooling and mandatory soft anneal, and design dies with generous radii since the hardened part has almost no ductility.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit's quote engine applies to D2. Design inside these and the part quotes instantly; outside them it routes to an engineer.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Fair30 / 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 |
D2 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CASTM A681 / GB Cr12MoV runs 1.45–1.70 in some Chinese grades | 1.4 – 1.6 | 1.5 |
| Cr | 11 – 13 | 12 |
| Mo | 0.7 – 1.2 | 0.9 |
| V | 0.5 – 1.1 | 0.9 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.6 | 0.35 |
| Si | ≤ 0.6 | 0.3 |
| Niresidual | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Curesidual | ≤ 0.25 | |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on D2?
Grind, lap and polish to a fine finish, then protect by nitriding, black oxide, hard chrome or PVD (TiN/CrN/TiAlN) below the tempering temperature; the 12% Cr does not make it stainless, so oil bare surfaces in 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
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel D2 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
How much does D2 cost?
D2 is a specialty-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.
D2 — frequently asked
What is D2 used for?
D2 is typically used for blanking and piercing dies, shear and slitter blades, thread rolling dies, cold heading and coining dies, forming and trim dies and forming rolls. In short: high-carbon; high-chrome wear.
What is the yield strength of D2?
D2 has a typical yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 750 MPa (109 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is D2 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 89% of steel grades). Machine only in the annealed state with rigid setups, sharp carbide or coated carbide at modest speeds; after hardening it is a grind/EDM-only material (leave 0.2–0.4 mm grind stock).
Can D2 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Poor weldability — repair welding only, with 300–450 °C preheat, matching Cr-Mo-V or tool-steel filler, and immediate temper below the last tempering temperature to avoid quench cracks.
What surface finishes work on D2?
Grind, lap and polish to a fine finish, then protect by nitriding, black oxide, hard chrome or PVD (TiN/CrN/TiAlN) below the tempering temperature; the 12% Cr does not make it stainless, so oil bare surfaces in storage.
Can D2 be formed, bent or molded?
Not a cold-formable steel; hot forge 1050–900 °C with slow cooling and mandatory soft anneal, and design dies with generous radii since the hardened part has almost no ductility.
What is the maximum service temperature of D2?
D2 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 D2 Annealed and D2 Cryo?
Annealed is the default condition — standard mill supply for bar, plate and ground flat stock; machine to shape in this state, then harden. Cryo: adds ~1–2 HRC and stabilises retained austenite; specify for gauge-critical dies and long-run wear parts. Yield strength is 450 MPa in Annealed versus 1,850 MPa in Cryo.
How much does D2 cost?
D2 is a specialty-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 D2?
Yes — D2 is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM A681 Standard Specification for Tool Steels Alloy — ASTM International (2022)
- GB/T 1299 (Cr12MoV / Cr12Mo1V1) — SAC (2014)
- EN ISO 4957 Tool steels (X153CrMoV12, 1.2379) — CEN/ISO (2018)
- JIS G4404 Alloy tool steels (SKD11) — JSA (2015)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection — Tool Materials — ASM International (1990)
- Uddeholm Sverker 21 / Böhler K110 cold-work tool steel datasheets — voestalpine (2023)
- SMM / 1688 (Cr12MoV, SKD11) — SMM / 1688 (2026)
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.