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SKD11 Equivalent - Find Correct Cross‑Grade For Cold Work Steel

Are you looking for SKD11 Equivalent but confused by the different grade names used in different countries? This article provides a full list of the matching SKD11 grades, chemical compositions, and performance features under standards from the United States, China, Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, and international standards. It helps you choose the right material and avoid mistakes.

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What Is SKD11 Steel?

SKD11 steel is a high-carbon, high-chromium cold-work tool steel under the Japanese JIS standard. It contains 1.40%-1.60% carbon and 11.00%-13.00% chromium, with added molybdenum (0.80-1.20%) and vanadium (0.20-0.50%). SKD11 material is a ledeburitic steel. A large amount of hard carbides gives it excellent wear resistance. After quenching and tempering, JIS SKD11 has high hardness (58-62 HRC), excellent wear resistance, high compressive strength, and low heat-treatment distortion. SKD11 tool steel is widely used for stamping dies, shear blades, thread rolling wheels, cold extrusion dies, and wear-resistant parts.

SKD11 Equivalent — United States AISI

Grade

AISI D2

Performance

D2 tool steel is a cold-work tool steel under the United States standard. After air hardening, its hardness can reach 58-62 HRC, with very little heat-treatment distortion, making it suitable for precision dies. It has high compressive strength and is not likely to collapse under heavy-duty stamping. However, AISI D2 has more vanadium (0.50-1.10%) than SKD11 (0.20-0.50%). Its carbides are harder and its wear resistance is better, but its toughness is slightly lower.

Chemical Composition

C: 1.40-1.60%
Si: ≤0.60%
Mn: ≤0.60%
P: ≤0.030%
S: ≤0.030%
Cr: 11.00-13.00%
Mo: 0.70-1.20%
V: 0.50-1.10%

SKD11 Equivalent — Japan JIS

Grade

JIS SKD11

Performance

SKD11 material is the standard grade for Japanese cold-work tool steel. Its hardness can reach 60-62 HRC after vacuum heat treatment. It has good hardenability, and even the center of a large workpiece can reach uniform hardness. It is widely used for cold-work dies, forming tools, and precision stamped parts.

Chemical Composition

C: 1.40-1.60%
Si: ≤0.40%
Mn: ≤0.60%
P: ≤0.030%
S: ≤0.030%
Cr: 11.00-13.00%
Mo: 0.80-1.20%
V: 0.20-0.50%

SKD11 Material Equivalent — China GB

Grade

GB Cr12Mo1V1

Performance

Cr12Mo1V1 is a high-carbon, high-chromium cold-work tool steel under the Chinese GB/T 1299 standard. It has high hardenability, good wear resistance, and good oxidation resistance at high temperatures. After quenching and tempering, its hardness can reach 60-65 HRC with very little distortion. It is supplied in the annealed condition with a hardness of ≤255 HB, making it easy to machine. It offers good value for money and is a common choice for cold-work dies in China.

Chemical Composition

C: 1.40-1.60%
Si: ≤0.60%
Mn: ≤0.60%
P: ≤0.030%
S: ≤0.030%
Cr: 11.00-13.00%
Mo: 0.70-1.20%
V: 0.50-1.10%

SKD11 Equivalent — Germany DIN

Grade

DIN 1.2379 / X153CrMoV12

Performance

1.2379 steel is a 12% chromium ledeburitic steel under the German DIN standard. It has excellent dimensional stability during heat treatment, and complex shapes have little distortion after quenching. Its compressive strength is excellent, making it suitable for high-precision, long-life dies.

Chemical Composition

C: 1.40-1.60%
Si: ≤0.60%
Mn: ≤0.60%
P: ≤0.030%
S: ≤0.030%
Cr: 11.00-13.00%
Mo: 0.70-1.00%
V: 0.70-1.00%

SKD11 Steel Equivalent — Sweden

Grade

XW-42 / Sverker 21

Performance

XW-42 is a cold-work tool steel made by Swedish steelmakers. It has high purity, with strict control of impurities such as sulfur and phosphorus. Its impact toughness is better than standard D2, giving it stronger resistance to edge chipping during heavy-duty stamping. It is suitable for cold-work dies, forming tools, and high-wear applications.

Chemical Composition

C: About 1.55%
Si: About 0.30%
Mn: About 0.40%
Cr: About 11.30%
Mo: About 0.80%
V: About 0.80%

SKD11 Equivalent — Austria

Grade

K110

Performance

K110 steel is a 12% chromium steel from Austria and corresponds to DIN 1.2379. Its carbides are evenly distributed, its dimensions remain stable during heat treatment, and it has excellent wear resistance. Its annealed hardness is about 250 HB, making it suitable for high-precision stamping dies and thread rolling wheels.

Chemical Composition

C: About 1.55%
Si: About 0.30%
Mn: About 0.30%
Cr: About 11.30%
Mo: About 0.75%
V: About 0.75%

SKD11 Equivalent — United Kingdom BS

Grade

BS BD2

Performance

BD2 is a high-carbon, high-chromium cold-work tool steel under the British BS standard and corresponds to AISI D2. It has high wear resistance and good compressive strength. It is suitable for cold-work dies, forming tools, and high-wear applications.

Chemical Composition

C: 1.50-1.60%
Si: 0.10-0.40%
Mn: 0.15-0.45%
P: ≤0.030%
S: ≤0.030%
Cr: 11.00-12.00%
Mo: 0.60-0.80%
V: 0.90-1.10%

SKD11 Material Equivalent — France AFNOR

Grade

AFNOR Z160CDV12

Performance

Z160CDV12 is a high-carbon, high-chromium cold-work tool steel under the French AFNOR standard and corresponds to AISI D2. It has high wear resistance and is suitable for cold-work dies and forming tools.

Chemical Composition

C: 1.50-1.60%
Si: 0.10-0.40%
Mn: 0.15-0.45%
P: ≤0.030%
S: ≤0.030%
Cr: 11.00-12.00%
Mo: 0.60-0.80%
V: 0.90-1.10%

FAQ of SKD11 Equivalent

Q1: Are SKD11 And D2 The Same Material?

A: Not exactly. Their carbon and chromium contents are basically the same, but their vanadium contents are clearly different—D2 contains 0.50-1.10%, while SKD11 contains 0.20-0.50%. Their molybdenum contents are also slightly different (D2 contains 0.70-1.20%, while SKD11 contains 0.80-1.20%). When purchasing, the two can be used as SKD11 Equivalent references, but their performance is different, and they are not 100% the same.

Q2: What Are The Equivalent Grades Of SKD11?

A: United States AISI D2, China GB Cr12Mo1V1, Germany DIN 1.2379/X153CrMoV12, Sweden XW-42, Austria K110, United Kingdom BS BD2, France AFNOR Z160CDV12, and International ISO X153CrMoV12.

Q3: Can SKD11 Equivalent Grades Be Used In Place Of Each Other?

A: Yes, but the differences must be considered. Production processes and purity control vary between standards, so wear resistance, toughness, and dimensional stability may be different. When purchasing, check not only the grade but also the ESR process and quality certificate.

Q4: What Is The Relationship Between DIN 1.2379 And X153CrMoV12?

A: They are the same material. 1.2379 is the material number, and X153CrMoV12 is the grade name. Both correspond to AISI D2 and JIS SKD11. Chemical composition: carbon 1.40-1.60%, chromium 11.00-13.00%, and molybdenum 0.70-1.20%.

Q5: What Key Points Should You Check When Buying SKD11?

A: Five key points: whether the chemical composition meets the standard, the delivery condition (annealed condition ≤255HB), the ESR process (improves purity), the quality certificate (composition + hardness + inclusion report), and the ultrasonic testing report.

Conclusion

When choosing SKD11 Equivalent, consider the chemical composition, wear resistance, toughness, heat-treatment stability, and ESR process. Keyspark Steel provides high-quality tool steel and flexible custom services. We can match a more suitable alternative grade based on the required standard, size, and working conditions. Contact us for professional material selection advice and a custom solution.

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