Processing & Service Characteristics of Tool Steels
Comparative ratings for decarburization resistance, hardening response, distortion, cracking resistance, hardness, machinability, toughness, wear resistance and softening resistance across all major tool steel grades. Search by grade name to compare properties side by side.
Data source: ASM Handbook, Wrought Tool Steels (revised by Alan M. Bayer, Teledyne Vasco, and Lee R. Walton, Latrobe Steel Company). Table 10. Data compiled from public references and industry standards.
D6 is not covered by Table 10
Table 10 covers the grades ASM lists as in common use. D6 (1.2436, SKD2) is not on that list, although the grade is still produced and supplied for long run blanking, cold forming punches and other high wear press work, so it is rated below from a second source.
| AISI steel number | Non-deforming properties | Safety in hardening | Tenacidad | Resistance to softening | Resistencia al desgaste | maquinabilidad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D6 | Bien | Bien | Pobre | Fair | Best | Pobre |
Source: Fundamentals of Tool Design, 6th edition (Society of Manufacturing Engineers, 2010), Chapter 2. The rating words are the book’s own four step scale of poor, fair, good and best, so they are not comparable one to one with the eight step scale used above. The book rates D6 with the same values as D3, which matches the chemistry, a D3 type steel with tungsten and vanadium added. Properties and the hardening and tempering schedule are on the D6 heat treatment page.