D3 Steel | X210Cr12 | Cold Work Steel

D3 steel is AISI D‑series high‑carbon high‑chromium ledeburitic cold‑work tool steel for high wear resistance and dimensional stability. It contains C: 2.00‑2.35%, Cr: 11.00‑13.50%. High C‑Cr content provides great wear resistance, high compressive strength and deep hardenability, ideal for long‑run tools under heavy abrasion.

D3 material features superior edge retention and wear resistance in dry, abrasive environments. It can reach 64‑66 HRC after quenching. It is widely used for shear blades, blanking dies, forming rolls and precision cutting tools.

D3 Equivalent grades: DIN 1.2080 (X210Cr12), JIS SKD1, GB Cr12, BS BD3, AFNOR Z200C12, ISO 160CrMoV12. Our material complies with AISI D3 standard.

Supply Range & Tolerances

1. Round Bar

Hot Rolled / Forged: Diameter Φ16mm – Φ500mm
Forged: Diameter Φ50mm – Φ400mm (larger sizes available upon request)
Length: 2000mm – 5800mm (customizable)
Tolerances: Compliant with ASTM A681 or DIN EN ISO 4957, or to your specified requirements
Surface conditions: Black skin, peeled, turned, or ground finish

2. Flat Bar / Plate

3. Forgings / Special Shapes

D3 Steel Equivalent

Standard System	Country/Region	Equivalent Grade	Common Search Terms
AISI / ASTM	USA	D3, UNS T30403	D3 steel, AISI D3, D3 tool steel, AISI D3 steel, D3 die steel, material D3
DIN / EN	Germany	1.2080, X210Cr12	1.2080 steel, DIN 1.2080, X210Cr12
JIS	Japan	SKD1	SKD1 steel, JIS SKD1
GB	China	Cr12	Cr12 steel, Cr12 material, Cr12 tool steel, GB Cr12, Cr12 cold work steel
BS	UK	BD3	BD3 steel, BD3 material, BD3 tool steel
AFNOR	France	Z200C12	Z200C12 steel
ISO	International	160CrMoV12	160CrMoV12 steel, 160CrMoV12 material, 160CrMoV12 tool steel

All grades listed are equivalent designations of D3 steel in their respective regions. X210Cr12 is the DIN EN designation for 1.2080. Our actual supply is manufactured to AISI D3 standard.

D3 Composition

Standard	C	Si	Mn	P	S	Cr	W	V
ASTM A681-2024	2.00-2.35	0.10-0.60	0.10-0.60	≤0.030	≤0.030	11.00-13.00	≤1.00	≤1.00

The high carbon and chromium content in D3 material provides exceptional wear resistance and compressive strength. Molybdenum and vanadium are present in trace amounts. Composition can be micro-adjusted per batch order.

AISI D3 Steel Properties

MECHANICAL PROPERTY	METRIC VALUE	IMPERIAL VALUE
D3 Steel Hardness (Annealed)	≤ 248 HB	≤ 248 HB
D3 Steel Hardness (Quenched & Tempered)	58 – 64 HRC	58 – 64 HRC
Tensile Strength (σb)	770 – 2300 MPa	112 – 334 ksi
Yield Strength (σ0.2)	480 – 1900 MPa	70 – 276 ksi
Elongation (δ5)	2 – 15 %	2 – 15 %

AISI D3 is an oil-hardening steel offering very high wear resistance and excellent dimensional stability during heat treatment. The steel is typically supplied in the annealed condition with a maximum hardness of 248 HB. After oil quenching at 950–980°C and tempering, it achieves a working hardness of 58–64 HRC. Tensile and yield strength values vary widely depending on heat treatment condition — from annealed (lower values) to hardened and tempered (higher values). Compressive strength can exceed 2758 MPa (400 ksi) under evenly applied low-rate loading. Unit conversions: 1 MPa ≈ 0.145 ksi.

Delivery Condition of D3 Steel

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

D3 Material Application

Shear Blades & Cutting Tools: Shear blades for cutting metal, paper, and plastics; slitter knives; trimming dies; scrap choppers.
Blanking & Stamping Dies: Blanking dies, forming dies, piercing punches for stainless steel and hard alloys.
Forming Rolls & Wire Drawing Dies: Cold forming rolls, wire drawing dies, deep drawing tools.
Coining & Embossing Tools: Coining dies, embossing tools, master hobs.
Knives & Cutters: Knives and cutters for leather, paper, plastic, and textiles.
Mold Components: Mold components for ceramic tile forming and powder pressing.
Cold Heading Dies: Cold heading dies and bushings.
Silicon Steel Sheet Stamping: Punches and dies for silicon steel laminations.
Cold Extrusion Dies: Cold extrusion dies and tools.
Thermoset Plastic Molds: Molds for thermosetting plastics.
Precision Measuring Tools: Gauges and measuring instruments requiring dimensional stability.

Heat Treatment & Processing of D3 Tool Steel

D3 Steel Heat Treatment

Soft Annealing: Heat to 850-880°C in a controlled atmosphere furnace, hold adequately, then cool slowly at a rate of not more than 6°C (20°F) per hour until the furnace is black. Remove and air cool. Resulting hardness ≤229 HB, optimized for batch machining.
Stress Relieving: Heat to 648°C (1200°F) for one hour and cool slowly. Recommended after rough machining to minimize distortion.
Preheating: Preheat in two stages: 450-600°C, then 850-900°C before austenitizing to avoid thermal shock.
Austenitizing (Heating): 940-980°C. Soak time: 20-25 minutes, plus 5 minutes per inch of thickness. D3 tool steel is sensitive to overheating – proper heating is critical for achieving maximum hardness.
Quenching (Cooling): Oil quench is the primary method. Small sections can be gas quenched after austenitization using vacuum. Quench to 50-70°C, then temper immediately. Hardness after quenching: 64-66 HRC.
Tempering: Double or triple tempering is recommended to eliminate retained austenite and ensure dimensional stability. Temper at 150-200°C for 58-62 HRC (standard hardness). Temper for 1 hour per inch of section thickness. Sub-zero treatment is optional and can improve dimensional stability further in precision applications.

Tempering Temp	As Quenched	150-160°C	200°C	250°C	350°C
Hardness (HRC)	64-66	60-62	58-60	56-58	54-56

For maximum wear resistance in blanking and shearing tools, temper at 150-160°C (60-62 HRC). For improved toughness in forming tools, temper at higher temperatures within the range.

Processing Guide:

Forging: Heat uniformly to 1050-1100°C. Start forging at 1050°C, finish above 850°C. After forging, cool slowly in furnace or insulating media, then anneal.
Machining: Annealed D3 steel (≤229 HB) offers good machinability. Hardened parts require grinding with CBN wheels.
Polishing: This grade offers good polishability for most tooling applications.
Welding: Not recommended for highly stressed tooling components. If necessary, preheat and perform post-weld heat treatment.
EDM: D3 die steel is suitable for wire EDM. Remove the recast layer after EDM and perform stress relief.
Nitriding: Gas or plasma nitriding can be applied to enhance surface hardness and wear resistance for specialized applications.

Quality Inspection & Control of AISI D3

Full-process control:

Raw material and manufacturer control
Test : Chemical composition, mechanical properties, UT(ultrasonic testing), specification, surface condition, straightness, etc.
Packing: Wooden case or pallet or VCI plastic film

Why Purchase D3 Steel from Keyspark Steel?

Fully Customizable: Dimensions, heat treatment, and hardness – all adjustable per batch order.
Certified Quality: Each batch comes with MTC certificate (EN 10204 3.1/3.2) , full chemical and mechanical test report.
ESR Option: Premium quality with Electro-Slag Remelting available for critical applications.
Stable Production: Large forging and rolling capacity ensures consistent quality across orders.
Long-Term Supply: Reserved production slots for regular customers – no interruptions.
Neutral Packaging: Oiled, wrapped, and strapped.

FAQ of D3 Steel

Q1: Why is D3 steel known for such high wear resistance?

A: Material D3 has C: 2.00‑2.35%, Cr: 11.00‑13.50%. Plenty of hard chromium carbides form inside its microstructure. These carbides protect the matrix like armor and give excellent resistance to abrasive wear and adhesive wear.

Q2: What hardness can D3 steel achieve after heat treatment?

A: Annealed (delivery condition) hardness ≤248 HB. Service hardness after quenching and tempering reaches 58‑64 HRC. Under some processes, it can hit 60‑62 HRC or higher. Water quenching delivers maximum hardness around 60.5 HRC.

Q3: What is the difference between D3 and D2 steel?

A: AISI D3 is an older grade with higher C: 2.0‑2.35% and no Mo or V. D2 has lower C (~1.5%) plus Mo and V additions. Therefore D3 offers slightly better pure wear resistance, yet lower toughness and poorer impact performance than D2 cold work steel.

Q4: Why is D3 steel oil‑quenched rather than air‑quenched?

A: D3 material is an oil‑hardening steel, unlike other D‑series grades such as D2 and D4 which are mostly air‑hardening. Faster cooling from oil quenching ensures full hardening for this high‑carbon high‑chromium steel. Small‑section parts can be air‑hardened in vacuum furnaces, but oil quenching is the standard process.

Q5: What types of dies and tools is D3 steel best suited for?

A: D3 is designed for long‑life, high‑volume cold‑work dies. Typical applications: blanking dies, forming dies, laminating dies; cold work rolls, slitter knives; thread gauges, extrusion dies, complex punches; powder‑metallurgy dies. It fits heavy‑pressure conditions, not sudden‑impact service.

Q6: What should be considered when heat treating D3 steel?

A: D3 material is very sensitive to overheating. Improper heating causes coarse grain size and reduced toughness. Standard process: preheat at 954 °C then oil quench. Temper immediately after quenching (1‑hour hold per inch of thickness). Cryogenic treatment (−196 °C) further transforms retained austenite and improves wear resistance. Higher tempering temperature lowers hardness but improves machinability.