D2 Tool Steel | D2 Steel | Cold Work Tool Steel Manufacturer

D2 tool steel is a premium high-carbon (1.40-1.60%), high-chromium (11.00-13.00%) ledeburitic cold work die steel manufactured to ASTM A681 standards, offering exceptional wear resistance and deep hardenability. What sets it apart is its excellent combination of high hardness, outstanding wear resistance, and good dimensional stability during heat treatment. Furthermore, the addition of molybdenum (0.70-1.20%) and vanadium (up to 1.10%) enhances toughness compared to traditional grades, resulting in minimal distortion—ideal for precision tooling.

This air-hardening steel is also designated as SKD11, 1.2379, Cr12Mo1V1, and BD2. Whether required for blanking dies, cold forming rolls, shear blades, or long-life punches, it delivers superior performance under demanding conditions. Available in the annealed condition (≤255 HB) for machinability or pre-hardened for specific applications.

Material Shape ＆ Size of D2 Tool Steel

1.Round Bar

Flat Bar

D2 Steel Equivalent

Standard System	Country/Region	Equivalent Grade	Common Search Terms
DIN EN	Germany	1.2379, X153CrMoV12	1.2379 steel, DIN 1.2379, X153CrMoV12
AISI/ASTM	USA	D2, T30402	D2 tool steel, D2 metal, D2 steel, D2 material, AISI D2, D2 steel, D2 die steel, steel D2, material D2, AISI D2 steel
JIS	Japan	SKD11	SKD11 steel, JIS SKD11, SKD11 equivalent
GB	China	Cr12Mo1V1, Cr12MoV	Cr12Mo1V1 steel, Chinese standard D2
BS	UK	BD2	BD2 tool steel
ISO	International	160CrMoV12	ISO D2 equivalent

D2 Steel Composition

Element	C	Si	Mn	P	S	Cr	Mo	V
Content (%)	1.40-1.60	0.10-0.60	0.10-0.60	≤0.030	≤0.030	11.00-13.00	0.70-1.20	0.50-1.10

Note: The defining feature of D2 tool steel is its high carbon and chromium content, which forms hard chromium carbides for exceptional wear resistance . Molybdenum enhances deep hardenability and toughness, while vanadium refines grain structure and improves secondary hardening response . Low sulfur and phosphorus ensure superior cleanliness and isotropic properties .

D2 Steel Properties

Mechanical Property	METRIC VALUE	IMPERIAL VALUE
D2 Tool Steel Hardness (Annealed)	≤255 HB	≤255 HB
D2 Tool Steel Hardness (Quenched & Tempered)	≥58 HRC	≥58 HRC
Impact Toughness (KV, 20°C, Longitudinal)	15 J/cm²	71.4 ft·lb/in²
Transverse Rupture Strength (σbb)	>3000 MPa	>435 ksi

Note: D2 tool steel achieves optimal properties after quenching from 1000-1050°C and tempering at 200-250°C (60-62 HRC) . For improved toughness with good wear resistance, temper at 500-550°C to utilize secondary hardening .

Delivery Condition of D2 Tool Steel

Black Surface, Bright Surface, Turned Surface, Grinded Surface, Poblished surface.

D2 Tool Steel Application

Cold Stamping and Forming: Progressive dies, blanking dies, piercing dies, forming rolls, bending tools for sheet metal up to 6mm thickness
Cutting and Shearing Tools: Cold shear blades, circular knives, slitter knives, trimming dies, scrap choppers for metal and plastic
Cold Extrusion and Drawing: Cold extrusion dies, cold heading dies, wire drawing dies, tube drawing dies, deep drawing tools
Thread Rolling and Forming: Thread rolling dies, thread forming tools for high-volume fastener production
Powder Compaction: Pressing tools for powder metallurgy, carbide dies, ceramic compaction tools, pharmaceutical tablet tooling
Plastic Molding: Long-life plastic injection molds for glass-filled or abrasive engineering plastics
Measuring and Gauging Tools: Gauges, measuring tools, drill bushes, jigs and fixtures requiring wear resistance
Silicon Steel Sheet Stamping: Punches and dies for silicon steel laminations (motor cores, transformers)
Cold Rolling Rolls: Work rolls for cold rolling of thin strip, leveling rolls, flattening rolls
Woodworking Tools: Knives, cutters, and blades for abrasive wood-based materials (MDF, particle board)

D2 Steel Heat Treatment & Processing

Heat Treatment:

Soft Annealing: Heat to 850-880°C, hold 2-4 hours, furnace cool at 10-20°C per hour to 600°C, then air cool. Resulting hardness ≤255 HB, optimized for machinability
Stress Relieving: Heat to 600-650°C, hold 4-6 hours, furnace cool. Relieves machining stresses before hardening to minimize distortion
Preheating: Two stages: 350-450°C and 650-750°C. Preheating minimizes thermal shock during austenitizing
Hardening (Austenitizing): Temperature 1000-1050°C (typical 1020-1040°C). Soak time 15-30 minutes after reaching temperature. Protect against oxidation and decarburization
Quenching: Air quench (high-pressure gas) for most sections; oil quench (40-60°C) for larger sections. Quench to 50-70°C, then temper immediately. Hardness after quenching: 60-64 HRC
Tempering: Temper immediately after quenching while tool is still warm. Double tempering strongly recommended to eliminate retained austenite; triple tempering for highest dimensional stability. Hold minimum 2 hours each temper, cool to room temperature between tempers.

Processing Guide:

Cryogenic Treatment: For maximum dimensional stability and retained austenite transformation, cool to -70°C to -80°C immediately after quenching, hold 3-4 hours, then temper normally. This increases hardness by 1-3 HRC and improves wear resistance
Nitriding: Gas or plasma nitriding possible, achieving surface hardness 900-1200 HV with case depth 0.10-0.30mm. Enhances wear resistance for specialized applications
Forging: Hot forming temperature 1050-950°C, finish forging above 900°C. Slow cool in furnace or insulating media after forging to prevent cracking

Quality Test of D2 Tool Steel

Full-process control: Raw material inspection (certificate, composition); production inspection (composition, mechanical properties, 100% UT, dimensional, surface); finished product inspection (MTC EN 10204 3.1, reports).

Our Advantages

Strong Production Capacity: 10,000 tons/year, advanced equipment.
Adequate Stock: 600+ tons standard specs (3-7 days delivery); custom specs 15-30 days.
Custom Processing: One-stop sawing, milling, drilling, polishing, heat treatment.
Strict Quality Control: Full-process inspection, professional team/equipment.
Global Supply: Container/LCL shipment, anti-rust packaging, on-time delivery.
Professional Technical Support: Senior engineers guide material selection, heat treatment, processing.

D2 Tool Steel | D2 Steel | Cold Work Tool Steel Manufacturer