Steel D4
AISI/SAE D4 · UNS T30404 · EN 1.2436, X210CrW12
D4 (T30404, 1.2436, X210CrW12) is a high-carbon, high-chromium cold-work tool steel similar to D3 but with a tungsten addition for improved wear resistance, and it air hardens with good dimensional stability for precision dies.
Reference datasheet — D4 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the ANN condition
D4 tempers and conditions
D4 is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. ANN is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stress relieved | Pick for large or asymmetric die blocks to minimise distortion during subsequent hardening. | 440 | 760 | 13 | 20 HRC | 2.7 % IACS |
ANNDefault Annealed | Standard mill supply condition for bar, flat and plate; use for all rough and finish machining before hardening. | 450 | 780 | 12 | 235 HB | — |
Hardened, tempered and gas/plasma nitrided | Surface-engineered condition for galling-prone cold forming of stainless or high-strength sheet; must be tempered above the nitriding temperature first. | 1,750 | 1,900 | 0.5 | 58 HRC | 2.5 % IACS |
Hardened & high-temperature tempered 57–59 HRC | Choose when the tool will be nitrided or PVD-coated, or when slightly higher temper resistance and dimensional stability are needed. | 1,900 | 58 HRC | — | ||
Hardened + deep cryogenic (-80 to -196 °C) + double temper, 61–63 HRC | Use for precision gauges and long-run progressive dies where retained austenite must be eliminated for size stability and wear life. | 1,900 | 2,050 | 0.8 | 62 HRC | 2.5 % IACS |
Hardened, as-quenched / 150 °C temper, 62–64 HRC | Maximum hardness for wire-drawing dies, thread rolls and abrasive-wear inserts; lowest toughness, use only for low-shock work. | 1,950 | 2,100 | 0.5 | 63 HRC | 2.5 % IACS |
Hardened & tempered 60–62 HRC | The standard working condition for blanking, piercing and cold-forming tooling where maximum wear resistance is needed. | 2,000 | 0.5 | 61 HRC | — |
What is D4?
D4 (T30404, 1.2436, X210CrW12) is a high-carbon, high-chromium cold-work tool steel similar to D3 but with a tungsten addition for improved wear resistance, and it air hardens with good dimensional stability for precision dies. Annealed stock is machined at about 235 HB (450 MPa yield, 780 MPa tensile, 12 % elongation) and then hardened to 58–64 HRC, with cryogenic and nitrided conditions on file. Machinability (28) and formability (8) are low, service temperature is limited to about 250 °C and welding is repair-only. D2 is the nearest alternative when better toughness and easier grinding are required. D4 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,240°C (2,264 °F). D4 has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is D4 used for?
- blanking dies
- forming rolls
- gauges
- wear-resistant tooling
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 28/100, better than 94% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 22 MPa·√m (20 ksi·√in), worse than 98% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 8/100, 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
- Low electrical conductivity — 2.7 % IACS, worse than 96% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 12/100, worse than 96% of steel grades
D4 properties
Typical room-temperature values for D4-ANN; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
D4 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,240°C (2,264 °F).
Mechanical16
D4 has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
D4 is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °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
D4 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 D4 takes about 36 MJ of energy and emits 2.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 89% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability7
D4's machinability is poor (28/100, worse than 91% of steel grades); weldability not recommended (12/100); formability not recommended (8/100).
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. D4 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with D4
Is D4 easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed state with rigid setups, positive-rake carbide or coated carbide at low speed; after hardening use grinding, EDM or CBN.
Can D4 be welded?
Essentially non-structural weldability — repair only, with 300–450 °C preheat, matched high-alloy filler, low heat input and immediate re-temper.
Can D4 be formed, bent or molded?
No cold forming; hot work at 900–1050 °C with slow cooling, then full spheroidize anneal at 850–870 °C to restore machinability.
D4 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CAISI D4 2.05–2.40; DIN 1.2436 2.00–2.30 | 2 – 2.4 | 2.15 |
| Si | 0.1 – 0.6 | 0.3 |
| Mn | 0.15 – 0.6 | 0.35 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Cr | 11 – 13 | 12 |
| MoAISI D4 only; not specified in 1.2436 | 0.7 – 1.2 | 0.9 |
| WDIN 1.2436 X210CrW12; ≤1.00 optional in AISI D4 | 0.6 – 0.8 | 0.7 |
| V | ≤ 1 | 0.2 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on D4?
Takes a good but not flawless mirror polish because of the coarse M7C3 carbide network; commonly finished by grinding plus nitriding, TiCN/CrN PVD or black oxide for corrosion protection.
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).
Organic Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel D4 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- T30404
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.2436X210CrW12
How much does D4 cost?
D4 is a premium-cost steel ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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.
D4 — frequently asked
What is D4 used for?
D4 is typically used for blanking dies, forming rolls, gauges and wear-resistant tooling. In short: tungsten-modified D3; high wear, low distortion; precision die steel.
What is the yield strength of D4?
D4 has a typical yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is D4 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (28/100, worse than 91% of steel grades). Machine only in the annealed state with rigid setups, positive-rake carbide or coated carbide at low speed; after hardening use grinding, EDM or CBN.
Can D4 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (12/100). Essentially non-structural weldability — repair only, with 300–450 °C preheat, matched high-alloy filler, low heat input and immediate re-temper.
What surface finishes work on D4?
Takes a good but not flawless mirror polish because of the coarse M7C3 carbide network; commonly finished by grinding plus nitriding, TiCN/CrN PVD or black oxide for corrosion protection.
Can D4 be formed, bent or molded?
No cold forming; hot work at 900–1050 °C with slow cooling, then full spheroidize anneal at 850–870 °C to restore machinability.
What is the maximum service temperature of D4?
D4 is rated for continuous use to about 250°C (482 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between D4-ANN and D4-HT64?
ANN is the default condition — standard mill supply condition for bar, flat and plate; use for all rough and finish machining before hardening. HT64: maximum hardness for wire-drawing dies, thread rolls and abrasive-wear inserts; lowest toughness, use only for low-shock work. Yield strength is 450 MPa in ANN versus 1,950 MPa in HT64.
How much does D4 cost?
D4 is a premium-cost steel ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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.
Sources
- ASTM A681 Standard Specification for Tool Steels Alloy — ASTM International (2022)
- DIN EN ISO 4957 Tool steels (X210CrW12 / 1.2436) — DIN/ISO (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Tool Materials — ASM International (1995)
- Cold-work tool steel 1.2436 / X210CrW12 datasheet — European tool-steel producers (Böhler/Dörrenberg class data) (2022)
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.