Steel D5 HT-CRYO
Heat-treated state
AISI/SAE D5 · UNS T30405
HT-CRYO = hardened + deep cryogenic + double temper, 61–63 HRC
Sub-zero treatment converts retained austenite for maximum dimensional stability and wear life in precision dies.
Values for the HT-CRYO condition
Other D5 tempers and conditions
D5 is listed in 5 conditions; see the grade overview at D5.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANNDefault Annealed | Standard as-supplied stock condition: soft enough to turn, mill and drill before hardening. | 450 | 760 | 14 | 235 HB | — |
Hardened & tempered 55–57 HRC | Choose when chipping of thin sections or shock loading is the failure mode rather than abrasion. | 1,600 | 1,900 | 2 | 56 HRC | — |
Hardened & tempered 58–60 HRC | The workhorse working hardness: balanced wear resistance and toughness for blanking dies and shear blades. | 1,800 | 2,100 | 1.5 | 59 HRC | 21 W/m·K |
HT-CRYOThis page Hardened + deep cryogenic + double temper, 61–63 HRC | Sub-zero treatment converts retained austenite for maximum dimensional stability and wear life in precision dies. | 1,900 | 2,050 | 1 | 62 HRC | 2.5 % IACS |
Hardened & tempered 60–62 HRC | Pick for long-run abrasive blanking, thread rolling dies and forming rolls where chipping risk is low. | 1,950 | 2,250 | 1 | 61 HRC | — |
What is D5 HT-CRYO?
D5 HT-CRYO is D5 heat treated to HT-CRYO — sub-zero treatment converts retained austenite for maximum dimensional stability and wear life in precision dies. D5 HT-CRYO has a yield strength of 1,900 MPa (276 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,050 MPa (297 ksi) — stronger than 100% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 212 GPa (30.7 Msi). D5 HT-CRYO 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). ANN is the default condition FabDigit quotes; HT-CRYO is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High strength — 1,900 MPa (276 ksi), better than 100% of steel grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 32/100, better than 96% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 4/100, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 5/100, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 2/100, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 1%, worse than 99% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 16 MPa·√m (14.6 ksi·√in), worse than 99% of steel grades
D5 HT-CRYO properties
Typical room-temperature values for D5 HT-CRYO; 23 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are D5 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
D5 HT-CRYO 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).
Mechanical16
D5 HT-CRYO has a yield strength of 1,900 MPa (276 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,050 MPa (297 ksi) — stronger than 100% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 212 GPa (30.7 Msi).
Thermal6
D5 HT-CRYO is rated for continuous service to 425°C (797 °F). It conducts heat at 19 W/m·K (11 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 97% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.5 µm/m·K (5.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
D5 HT-CRYO conducts electricity at 2.5 % IACS, worse than 97% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (32/100), better than 96% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of D5 HT-CRYO takes about 36 MJ of energy and emits 2.9 kg of CO₂ — more than 89% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability8
D5 HT-CRYO's machinability is not recommended (4/100, worse than 100% of steel grades); weldability not recommended (5/100); formability not recommended (2/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with D5 HT-CRYO
Is D5 easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed condition with rigid setups, low speeds and carbide or coated-carbide tooling; hardened parts require CBN turning, grinding or EDM.
Can D5 be welded?
Poor weldability — preheat 400–500 °C, use matching or high-alloy filler, weld hot, then re-temper immediately to avoid cracking; repair welding only.
Can D5 be formed, bent or molded?
No cold forming; hot forge 900–1050 °C with slow furnace cooling, then full spheroidize anneal at ~870 °C to prevent cracking.
What surface finishes work on D5?
Grind with soft, free-cutting wheels to avoid grinding burn; finish with nitriding, black oxide or PVD coating — mirror polish limited by coarse eutectic carbides.
D5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cforms Cr-rich M7C3 carbides | 1.4 – 1.6 | 1.5 |
| Cr | 11 – 13 | 12 |
| Coraises hot hardness / temper resistance | 2.5 – 3.5 | 3 |
| Mo | 0.7 – 1.2 | 0.9 |
| Voptional, grain refinement | ≤ 1 | 0.5 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.6 | 0.4 |
| Si | ≤ 0.6 | 0.35 |
| Niresidual | ≤ 0.3 | — |
| Curesidual | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
D5 HT-CRYO — frequently asked
What is D5 HT-CRYO used for?
D5 HT-CRYO is typically used for cold extrusion dies, heavy blanking dies and high-wear forming tools. In short: cobalt-bearing D-series grade; maximum cold-work wear resistance; machine before hardening.
What is the yield strength of D5 HT-CRYO?
D5 HT-CRYO has a typical yield strength of 1,900 MPa (276 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,050 MPa (297 ksi) — stronger than 100% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is D5 HT-CRYO easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (4/100, worse than 100% of steel grades). Machine only in the annealed condition with rigid setups, low speeds and carbide or coated-carbide tooling; hardened parts require CBN turning, grinding or EDM.
Can D5 HT-CRYO be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (5/100). Poor weldability — preheat 400–500 °C, use matching or high-alloy filler, weld hot, then re-temper immediately to avoid cracking; repair welding only.
What surface finishes work on D5 HT-CRYO?
Grind with soft, free-cutting wheels to avoid grinding burn; finish with nitriding, black oxide or PVD coating — mirror polish limited by coarse eutectic carbides.
Can D5 HT-CRYO be formed, bent or molded?
No cold forming; hot forge 900–1050 °C with slow furnace cooling, then full spheroidize anneal at ~870 °C to prevent cracking.
What is the maximum service temperature of D5 HT-CRYO?
D5 HT-CRYO is rated for continuous use to about 425°C (797 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between D5-ANN and D5 HT60-62?
ANN is the default condition — standard as-supplied stock condition: soft enough to turn, mill and drill before hardening. HT60-62: pick for long-run abrasive blanking, thread rolling dies and forming rolls where chipping risk is low. Yield strength is 450 MPa in ANN versus 1,950 MPa in HT60-62.
Sources
- ASTM A681 — Standard Specification for Tool Steels, Alloy — ASTM International (2015)
- SAE J437/J438 — Tool and Die Steels — SAE International (2015)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1: Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (Tool Steels) — ASM International (1990)
- Tool Steels, 5th ed. (Roberts, Krauss, Kennedy) — ASM International (1998)
- High-carbon high-chromium cold-work tool steel datasheets (D-series) — Böhler / Crucible / Hudson Tool Steel (2022)
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.