Steel D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC
Hardness band
AISI/SAE D6 · UNS T30406
Q&T 60-62 HRC = oil quenched, tempered ~180–220 °C
Most common in-service hardness for high-volume blanking, trimming and thread-rolling tools.
Values for the Q&T 60-62 HRC condition
Other D6 tempers and conditions
D6 is listed in 5 conditions; see the grade overview at D6.
- Annealed
- Q&T 56-58 HRC
- Q&T 58-60 HRC
- Q&T 60-62 HRC
- Q&T 62-64 HRC
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault spheroidize annealed, as-supplied bar/plate | Standard stocking condition for machining/EDM of the die blank before hardening. | 450 | 800 | 15 | 22 HRC | — |
Oil quenched, tempered ~400–450 °C | Pick when some shock loading is expected and maximum wear life can be traded for a little toughness. | — | 1,900 | 1 | 57 HRC | — |
Oil quenched, tempered ~250–300 °C | Balanced working hardness for thicker blanking punches and forming dies in heavier sections. | — | 2,050 | 0.5 | 59 HRC | — |
Q&T 60-62 HRCThis page Oil quenched, tempered ~180–220 °C | Most common in-service hardness for high-volume blanking, trimming and thread-rolling tools. | — | 2,150 | 0 | 61 HRC | — |
Oil quenched, low temper ~150–180 °C | Maximum wear resistance for thin, well-supported cutting edges on abrasive sheet or laminations; least tolerance for shock. | — | 2,200 | 0 | 63 HRC | — |
What is D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC?
D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC is D6 heat treated to Q&T 60-62 HRC — most common in-service hardness for high-volume blanking, trimming and thread-rolling tools. D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,150 MPa (312 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi). D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,250°C (2,282 °F). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Q&T 60-62 HRC is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 25/100, better than 92% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 0%, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 8/100, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 10/100, worse than 99% 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
D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC properties
Typical room-temperature values for D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC; 11 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are D6 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,250°C (2,282 °F).
Mechanical13
D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,150 MPa (312 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal5
D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC 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 10.8 µm/m·K (6 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC conducts electricity at 2.7 % IACS, worse than 96% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (25/100), better than 92% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC takes about 40 MJ of energy and emits 2.9 kg of CO₂ — more than 91% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability7
D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC's machinability is not recommended (8/100, worse than 100% of steel grades); weldability not recommended (10/100); formability not recommended (8/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC
Is D6 easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed condition with rigid setups, low speeds and hard-carbide or CBN tooling; hardened D6 is a grind/EDM-only material and grinds slowly because of the coarse carbide network.
Can D6 be welded?
Essentially unweldable for structural purposes; repair only with preheat 300–350 °C, matching high-alloy filler, small stringer beads and an immediate temper, otherwise cracking is near-certain.
Can D6 be formed, bent or molded?
No cold forming; hot work at 900–1050 °C with slow, controlled cooling and a mandatory 800–850 °C anneal, then oil quench from ~950–980 °C and temper at 150–250 °C for working hardness (expect distortion and low hardenability in thick sections).
What surface finishes work on D6?
Take polish well after hardening but carbide banding can streak mirror finishes; protect with oil, black oxide, hard chrome, nitriding or CrN/TiCN PVD coatings applied below the tempering temperature.
D6 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chigh carbon for dense M7C3 carbide network | 2 – 2.35 | 2.15 |
| Cr | 11 – 13 | 12 |
| Wdistinguishing addition vs D3; JIS SKD2 uses 0.60–0.80 | 0.6 – 1.2 | 0.85 |
| Mn | 0.15 – 0.6 | 0.35 |
| Si | 0.1 – 0.6 | 0.3 |
| Voptional/residual; up to 0.5 in SKD2 | ≤ 0.5 | 0.2 |
| Moresidual only | ≤ 0.3 | — |
| Niresidual | ≤ 0.3 | — |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC — frequently asked
What is D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC used for?
D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC is typically used for heavy-duty blanking dies, deep-draw dies and forming rolls. In short: most wear-resistant D-series; tungsten-boosted abrasion resistance; lowest machinability of family.
What is the yield strength of D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC?
D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC has a typical yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,150 MPa (312 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (8/100, worse than 100% of steel grades). Machine only in the annealed condition with rigid setups, low speeds and hard-carbide or CBN tooling; hardened D6 is a grind/EDM-only material and grinds slowly because of the coarse carbide network.
Can D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (10/100). Essentially unweldable for structural purposes; repair only with preheat 300–350 °C, matching high-alloy filler, small stringer beads and an immediate temper, otherwise cracking is near-certain.
What surface finishes work on D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC?
Take polish well after hardening but carbide banding can streak mirror finishes; protect with oil, black oxide, hard chrome, nitriding or CrN/TiCN PVD coatings applied below the tempering temperature.
Can D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC be formed, bent or molded?
No cold forming; hot work at 900–1050 °C with slow, controlled cooling and a mandatory 800–850 °C anneal, then oil quench from ~950–980 °C and temper at 150–250 °C for working hardness (expect distortion and low hardenability in thick sections).
What is the maximum service temperature of D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC?
D6 Q&T 60-62 HRC 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.
Sources
- ASTM A681 — Alloy Tool Steels (D-series chemistry framework) — ASTM International (2020)
- JIS G 4404 — Alloy tool steels (SKD2) — JSA (2015)
- DIN EN ISO 4957 — Tool steels (X210CrW12 / 1.2436) — DIN (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (Tool Steels) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 16 — Machining (machinability ratings of tool steels) — ASM International (1989)
- Cold-work tool steel 1.2436 / X210CrW12 datasheet — European tool steel producers (typical published physical data) (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.