Steel SKD1
JIS SKD1 · AISI/SAE D3
SKD1 is the JIS high-carbon high-chromium cold-work tool steel equivalent to AISI D3, hardened in oil or pressurised gas for maximum abrasion resistance in blanking and forming tooling.
Reference datasheet — SKD1 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
SKD1 tempers and conditions
SKD1 is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. ANN 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ESR (electroslag remelted) annealed bar | Premium remelted stock with finer, less banded carbides — pick for large dies, better polish and more isotropic toughness. | 455 | 770 | 14 | 21 HRC | 2.7 % IACS |
ANNDefault Annealed | The as-supplied stock condition for machining dies before hardening. | 460 | 780 | 12 | 22 HRC | — |
Stress relieved | Intermediate step after rough machining of large dies to minimise hardening distortion. | 470 | 790 | 11 | 23 HRC | 2.7 % IACS |
Hardened & tempered 55–58 HRC | Higher-temper condition used when dimensional stability or nitriding follow-up matters more than peak hardness. | 1,620 | 1,850 | 1 | 57 HRC | 2.6 % IACS |
Hardened & tempered 58–60 HRC | Slightly tougher setting for heavier sections and shock-loaded shear blades. | 1,950 | 59 HRC | — | ||
Hardened + deep-freeze (−75 to −196 °C) + tempered, 63–65 HRC | Choose when retained austenite must be removed for maximum hardness and long-term size stability (gauges, precision punches). | 2,000 | 2,300 | 0.5 | 64 HRC | 2.6 % IACS |
Hardened & tempered 60–62 HRC | The usual working hardness for cold-forming, drawing and thread-rolling tools. | 2,100 | 61 HRC | — | ||
Hardened & tempered 62–64 HRC | Maximum wear resistance for blanking punches and dies cutting thin, abrasive material — lowest toughness. | 2,250 | 0.5 | 63 HRC | — |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways SKD1 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
Peeled | Annealed, peeled/ground bar | Coating |
What is SKD1?
SKD1 is the JIS high-carbon high-chromium cold-work tool steel equivalent to AISI D3, hardened in oil or pressurised gas for maximum abrasion resistance in blanking and forming tooling. Annealed bar and plate measure about 460 MPa yield, 780 MPa tensile, 12 % elongation and 235 HB (22 HRC); hardening at 950–980 °C with a double 150–250 °C temper gives 55–64 HRC, and ESR-annealed and peeled stock is available for cleaner tooling. Machinability is low (score 28), there is no cold formability, service is limited to about 200 °C and welding is repair-only — D2/SKD11 is the tougher, more machinable alternative. SKD1 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,270°C (2,318 °F). SKD1 has a yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 55% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is SKD1 used for?
- cold forming dies
- thread rolling dies
- blanking punches
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 25/100, better than 92% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 16 MPa·√m (14.6 ksi·√in), worse than 99% 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
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 95% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 93% of steel grades
SKD1 properties
Typical room-temperature values for SKD1-ANN; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
SKD1 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,270°C (2,318 °F).
Mechanical16
SKD1 has a yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 55% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
SKD1 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
SKD1 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 SKD1 takes about 34 MJ of energy and emits 2.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability8
SKD1's machinability is poor (28/100, worse than 91% of steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability not recommended (10/100).
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. SKD1 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with SKD1
Is SKD1 easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed state with rigid setups, sharp carbide or coated-carbide tooling, moderate speeds and generous coolant; hardened SKD1 must be ground or EDM'd, and stress-relieve rough-machined dies before hardening.
Can SKD1 be welded?
Essentially a repair-only operation: preheat to 300–400 °C, use matched high-Cr tool-steel electrodes, keep interpass hot and temper immediately — cold-cracking risk is high.
Can SKD1 be formed, bent or molded?
No cold forming; hot work between about 1050 and 900 °C with slow furnace cooling followed by spheroidize annealing at 850–870 °C.
SKD1 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 D3 range is 2.00–2.35 | 1.8 – 2.4 | 2.1 |
| Si | ≤ 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.6 | 0.35 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Crsome JIS/vendor tables quote up to 15 %; D3 is 11.00–13.50 | 11 – 13 | 12 |
| Monot intentionally added; residual/optional | ≤ 0.6 | |
| Voptional in D3 | ≤ 1 | |
| Woptional in D3 | ≤ 1 | |
| Niresidual | ≤ 0.5 | |
| Curesidual | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on SKD1?
Harden 950–980 °C, oil or pressurised-gas quench, temper twice at 150–250 °C (deep-freeze if size stability is critical); finish with grinding, then nitriding, PVD TiN/CrN or black oxide for wear and light 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 SKD1 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- AISI / SAE
- D3
How much does SKD1 cost?
SKD1 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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.
SKD1 — frequently asked
What is SKD1 used for?
SKD1 is typically used for cold forming dies, thread rolling dies and blanking punches. In short: highest wear resistance, cold-work; D3 equivalent, oil/air hardening; low toughness and machinability.
What is the yield strength of SKD1?
SKD1 has a typical yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 55% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is SKD1 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, sharp carbide or coated-carbide tooling, moderate speeds and generous coolant; hardened SKD1 must be ground or EDM'd, and stress-relieve rough-machined dies before hardening.
Can SKD1 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Essentially a repair-only operation: preheat to 300–400 °C, use matched high-Cr tool-steel electrodes, keep interpass hot and temper immediately — cold-cracking risk is high.
What surface finishes work on SKD1?
Harden 950–980 °C, oil or pressurised-gas quench, temper twice at 150–250 °C (deep-freeze if size stability is critical); finish with grinding, then nitriding, PVD TiN/CrN or black oxide for wear and light corrosion protection.
Can SKD1 be formed, bent or molded?
No cold forming; hot work between about 1050 and 900 °C with slow furnace cooling followed by spheroidize annealing at 850–870 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of SKD1?
SKD1 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.
What is the difference between SKD1-ANN and SKD1 QT-CRYO?
ANN is the default condition — the as-supplied stock condition for machining dies before hardening. QT-CRYO: choose when retained austenite must be removed for maximum hardness and long-term size stability (gauges, precision punches). Yield strength is 460 MPa in ANN versus 2,000 MPa in QT-CRYO.
How much does SKD1 cost?
SKD1 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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
- JIS G 4404 — Alloy tool steels — Japanese Standards Association (2015)
- ASTM A681 — Standard Specification for Tool Steels Alloy (Type D3) — ASTM International (2015)
- GB/T 1299 — (Cr12) — SAC (2014)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys (Cold-Work Tool Steels) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16: Machining (machinability ratings of tool steels) — ASM International (1989)
- 1.2080 / D3 cold-work tool steel datasheet — Böhler / Daido / Hitachi Metals equivalents (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.