Cr5Mo1V is a medium alloy air-hardening cold work tool steel, also classified as a high carbon medium chromium tool steel. It is recognized by the unified digital code T20503 and equivalent to American A2 steel, JIS SKD12 in Japan, and DIN 1.2363 in Germany. It is a versatile material, particularly suitable for applications that demand both good wear resistance and good toughness.

1. Chemical Composition(GB/T 1299—2000)

C	Si	Mn	Cr	Mo	V	P	S
0.95 – 1.05%	≤0.50%	≤1.00%	4.75 – 5.50%	0.90 – 1.40%	0.15 – 0.50%	≤0.030%	≤0.030%

2. Physical Properties of Cr5Mo1V Steel

2.1 Cr5Mo1V Steel Critical Temperature

Critical Point	Ac₁	Accm	Ms
Temperature/°C	795	—	168

2.2 Cr5Mo1V Steel Linear Expansion Coefficient

Temperature /°C	20 ~ 100	20 ~ 300	20 ~ 500	20 ~ 700
Linear Expansion Coefficient α/ ×10⁻⁶°C⁻¹	8.2	11.3	12.4	12.9

2.3 Cr5Mo1V Steel Other Physical Properties

Density / (g/cm³)	Modulus of Elasticity E (Room Temperature) /MPa	Specific Heat Capacity cₚ/ [J/(kg·K)]
7.84	203000	460.55

3. Cr5Mo1V Steel Forging Process Specification

Item	Heating Temperature/°C	Initial Forging Temperature/°C	Final Forging Temperature/°C	Cooling Method
Steel Ingot	1100 ~ 1150	1050 ~ 1100	850 ~ 900	High-temperature annealing, pit cooling, or sand cooling
Steel Billet	1050 ~ 1100	1000 ~ 1050	850 ~ 900	Pit cooling or sand cooling

4. Heat treatment of Cr5Mo1V Steel

4.1 Preheating

Preliminary Heat Treatment Plan	Process Parameters
General Annealing after Forging	Heating temperature is 840 ~ 870°C, hold for 2 ~ 3h; furnace cool to below 550°C then air cool, hardness ≤248HBW
Isothermal Annealing after Forging	Heating temperature is 830 ~ 850°C, hold for 2h; isothermal temperature is 710 ~ 730°C, hold for 2 ~ 4h, furnace cool to 500°C then air cool or furnace cool to room temperature, hardness after annealing ≤248HBW

4.2 Quenching

① Recommended Quenching Process Specification

Plan	First Preheating Temperature/°C	Second Preheating Temperature/°C	Quenching Temperature/°C	Cooling	Hardness HRC
I	300 ~ 400	800 ~ 850	940 ~ 960	Air cooling or oil cooling	62 ~ 63
II	300 ~ 400	800 ~ 850	980 ~ 1010	Air cooling or oil cooling	62 ~ 65

② Effect of Quenching Temperature on Hardness

Quenching Temperature/°C	875	900	960	980	1020	1050
Hardness HRC	46.5	54	64.5	64.5	63	58

4.3 Tempering

① Recommended Tempering Process Specification

Quenching Plan	Tempering Temperature/°C	Number of Tempers	Hardness HRC
I	180 ~ 220	1	60 ~ 64
II	510 ~ 520	2	57 ~ 60

② Effect of Tempering Temperature on Hardness

Quenching Condition	Tempering Temperature/°C	100	200	300	400	450	500	520	580
954°C Quenching	Hardness HRC	64.5	62	58	57	56	59	56	51
982°C Quenching	Hardness HRC	65	62	58	58	56	58	57	51.5

5. Mechanical Properties

Cr5Mo1V steel is a free-hardening steel exhibiting high free-hardening properties. It features relatively low quenching distortion, high hardness, excellent wear resistance, and moderate toughness, delivering outstanding overall mechanical properties.

Mechanical Properties of Cr5Mo1V Steel after Tempering

Tempering Temperature/°C	Hardness HRC	Tensile Strength/MPa	Yield Strength/MPa	Elongation (%)	Reduction of Area (%)
530	54.1	1849	—	—	—
593	46.7	1596	576	5.0	13.9

Note: 980°C air cooling.

6. Applications

Cr5Mo1V steel exhibits excellent comprehensive mechanical properties, making it particularly suitable for manufacturing tools and dies that require both high wear resistance and good toughness, as well as dimensional stability. Examples include rollers, punches, blanking dies, forming dies, rolling dies, wire drawing dies, and thread rolling dies. It is also used for certain types of shear blades.