Steel SKD11
JIS SKD11 · EN 1.2379
SKD11 is a high-carbon, high-chromium (12 % Cr) air-hardening cold-work tool steel (JIS G 4404), essentially equivalent to AISI D2 and DIN 1.2379/X153CrMoV12.
Values for the Annealed condition
SKD11 tempers and conditions
SKD11 is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault soft-annealed (spheroidized) supply condition | Standard mill supply condition for machining dies before hardening; ≤255 HB. | 500 | 820 | 12 | 20 HRC | 2.7 % IACS |
Higher temper (300–500 °C) for tougher tooling | Choose when chipping/cracking is the failure mode rather than wear (heavy blanking, cold-forming punches). | 1,600 | 1,800 | 2 | 57 HRC | — |
Quenched and tempered | General-purpose die condition: best balance of wear resistance and toughness for blanking and forming tools. | 1,750 | 1,950 | 1.5 | 59 HRC | — |
hardened & tempered core plus gas/plasma nitrided case | Adds a 900–1200 HV case for galling and abrasive wear on forming dies; core properties as Q&T. | 1,800 | 2,000 | 1 | 59 HRC | 2.6 % IACS |
Hardened, deep cryogenic treatment (−150 to −196 °C), then tempered ~62… | Used where retained austenite must be removed for dimensional stability and extra wear life on precision dies. | 1,950 | 2,150 | 0.5 | 62 HRC | 2.5 % IACS |
What is SKD11?
SKD11 is a high-carbon, high-chromium (12 % Cr) air-hardening cold-work tool steel (JIS G 4404), essentially equivalent to AISI D2 and DIN 1.2379/X153CrMoV12. Its dense Cr-carbide network gives outstanding wear and compressive strength with very little size change on hardening, making it the default choice for blanking/forming dies, thread rolls, shear blades and plastic-mould inserts. Limits are low toughness and poor grindability/weldability, only semi-stainless corrosion resistance, and a service ceiling around 400 °C where tempering softens it. SKD11 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). SKD11 has a yield strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 820 MPa (119 ksi) — stronger than 63% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is SKD11 used for?
- Cold blanking dies
- Piercing punches
- Forming and draw dies
- Thread rolling dies
- Shear and slitter blades
- Plastic mould inserts
- Wear plates and gauges
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 80/100, better than 97% of steel grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 25/100, better than 92% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 30 MPa·√m (27.3 ksi·√in), worse than 96% 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 machine — 32/100, worse than 87% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 2.6 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 87% of steel grades
SKD11 properties
Typical room-temperature values for SKD11-Annealed; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
SKD11 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).
Mechanical17
SKD11 has a yield strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 820 MPa (119 ksi) — stronger than 63% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
SKD11 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 10.9 µm/m·K (6.06 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
SKD11 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 SKD11 takes about 36 MJ of energy and emits 2.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 89% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability8
SKD11's machinability is poor (32/100, worse than 87% of steel grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability poor (25/100).
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. SKD11 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with SKD11
Is SKD11 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed state with rigid setups and coated carbide (or CBN/grinding + EDM after hardening); allow 0.2–0.4 mm grinding stock for hardening growth.
Can SKD11 be welded?
Avoid production welding; for repairs preheat to 300–450 °C, use matching or 12 %-Cr tool-steel electrodes, weld hot and temper immediately.
Can SKD11 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work at 900–1050 °C with slow cooling and full soft-anneal (830–870 °C, slow cool) afterwards; no cold forming.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit's quote engine applies to SKD11. Design inside these and the part quotes instantly; outside them it routes to an engineer.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Poor32 / 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 |
SKD11 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C | 1.4 – 1.6 | 1.5 |
| Si | ≤ 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.6 | 0.35 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Cr | 11 – 13 | 12 |
| Mo | 0.8 – 1.2 | 1 |
| V | 0.2 – 0.5 | 0.35 |
| Niresidual, some specs | ≤ 0.5 | |
| Curesidual | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on SKD11?
Polishes to mirror finish when hardened; protect with oil, black oxide, nitriding or PVD TiN/AlCrN — do not chrome-plate without stress-relief.
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 SKD11 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
How much does SKD11 cost?
SKD11 is a premium-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.
SKD11 — frequently asked
What is SKD11 used for?
SKD11 is typically used for cold blanking dies, piercing punches, forming and draw dies, thread rolling dies, shear and slitter blades and plastic mould inserts. In short: workhorse cold-work tool.
What is the yield strength of SKD11?
SKD11 has a typical yield strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 820 MPa (119 ksi) — stronger than 63% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is SKD11 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (32/100, worse than 87% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed state with rigid setups and coated carbide (or CBN/grinding + EDM after hardening); allow 0.2–0.4 mm grinding stock for hardening growth.
Can SKD11 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Avoid production welding; for repairs preheat to 300–450 °C, use matching or 12 %-Cr tool-steel electrodes, weld hot and temper immediately.
What surface finishes work on SKD11?
Polishes to mirror finish when hardened; protect with oil, black oxide, nitriding or PVD TiN/AlCrN — do not chrome-plate without stress-relief.
Can SKD11 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work at 900–1050 °C with slow cooling and full soft-anneal (830–870 °C, slow cool) afterwards; no cold forming.
What is the maximum service temperature of SKD11?
SKD11 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 SKD11 Annealed and SKD11 Cryo?
Annealed is the default condition — standard mill supply condition for machining dies before hardening; ≤255 HB. Cryo: used where retained austenite must be removed for dimensional stability and extra wear life on precision dies. Yield strength is 500 MPa in Annealed versus 1,950 MPa in Cryo.
How much does SKD11 cost?
SKD11 is a premium-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 SKD11?
Yes — SKD11 is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- JIS G 4404 — Alloy tool steels — JSA (2015)
- ASTM A681 — Alloy Tool Steels (Type D2) — ASTM (2015)
- GB/T 1299 — (Cr12Mo1V1) — SAC (2014)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Böhler K110 (1.2379) cold work tool steel datasheet — voestalpine Böhler Edelstahl (2022)
- Daido DC11 / SKD11 tool steel datasheet — Daido Steel (2021)
- SKD11/Cr12Mo1V1 — Mysteel / 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.