Aobo Steel

Your Trusted D2 Tool Steel Supplier

Aobo Steel supply D2 steel for your project

Providing the most cost-effective D2 tool steel for small and medium-sized factories.

What is D2 tool steel? It is a high-carbon, high-chromium, air-hardening cold work tool steel. It has high hardenability, high hardness, and high wear resistance. It also has good high-temperature oxidation resistance, impact resistance after quenching and tempering, and minimal deformation during heat treatment. D2 tool steel manufactures cold-working dies, tools, and gauges with large cross-sections, complex shapes, high precision requirements, and long service life that withstand significant impacts.

The designation in the U.S. ASTM A681 system is D2. The grade is also AISI D2 tool steel in the AISI system. Similar designations in other national standards include ISO 160CrMoV12, Japan/JIS SKD11, USA/UNS T30402, Germany/DIN X155CrMo12-1, Germany/W-Nr. 1.2379, and Czech Republic (CSN) 19221. In the following article, we use D2 steel as a substitute.

Excellent D2 Forged Steel Supplier

Aobo Steel has over 20 years of experience in forging D2 steel, giving us a deep practical understanding of quality control in this field. Our D2 forged steel products mainly come in round bar, plate, and block shapes. We have over 40 suppliers providing the best processing services, enabling us to offer advantages such as short lead times, stable quality, and competitive prices.

How can we guarantee quality?

At Aobo Steel, quality control is essential. Our experienced testing team ensures every product meets the highest standards through chemical analysis, hardness testing, and ultrasonic testing. We conduct 100% inspection before shipment and offer third-party inspections for added assurance, delivering tool steels that provide superior performance and reliability.

Suply Range

The shapes of steel that Aobo Steel produces include D2 tool round bars and D2 plates. 

ShapeSizeLengthSurface finishtolerance
round bardiameter 20mm-400mmlength 2500mm-5800mmblack0/+5mm
peeled0/+5mm
turned(machined)0/+2mm
platewidth*thickness 100mm-800mm*10mm-400mmlength 2500mm-5800mmblack0/+5mm
peeled0/+5mm
turned(machined)0/+2mm

D2 tool steel equivalent grades and chemical composition under different standards

Standard GradeC (%)Cr (%)Mo (%)V (%)Si (%)Mn (%)P (%)S (%)
ASTM A681:2007D2 1.40 ~ 1.6011.00 ~ 13.000.70 ~ 1.200.50 ~ 1.100.10 ~ 0.600.10 ~ 0.60
JIS G4404:2006SKD111. 40 ~1. 6011.00 ~ 13.000.80~1.200.2~0.5≤0.400.20 ~ 0.60≤0.030≤0.030
Germany/DINX155CrMo12-11.45 ~ 1.6011.00 ~ 13.000.70 ~ 1.000.70 ~ 1.000.10 ~ 0.600.20 ~ 0.60
EN ISO 4957:20011.23791.45 ~ 1.6011.00 ~ 13.000.70 ~ 1.000.70 ~ 1.000.10 ~ 0.600.20 ~ 0.60
GB/T 1299–2000Cr12Mo1V11.40 ~ 1.6011.00 ~ 13.000.70 ~ 1.200.50 ~ 1.10≤0.60≤0.60≤0.030≤0.030

D2 steel physical properties

1. Critical Point Temperatures 

Critical Point Temperatures Ac1AccmAr1ArcmMs
Temperature (Approximate) / °C810875695750190
 

2. Linear Expansion Coefficient 

Temperature / °C20 ~ 10020 ~ 20020 ~ 30020 ~ 400
Linear Expansion Coefficient α / × 10^-6 °C^-110.511.511.912.2
 

3. Other Physical Properties

Elastic Modulus E / MPaSpecific Heat Capacity cp / [J / (kg·K)]
207000461

Hot Forging Process Specification

ItemHeating Temperature (°C)Starting Forging Temperature (°C)Final Forging Temperature (°C)Cooling Method
Steel Ingot1120 ~ 11601050 ~ 1090≥850High-temperature annealing
Steel Billet1120 ~ 11401050 ~ 1070≥850High-temperature annealing, pit cooling, or sand cooling

D2 tool steel Heat Treatment

According to its technical data, AISI D2 steel requires careful heat treatment, including slow heating, to achieve the desired hardness and toughness.

1. Pre-Heat Treatment Process Specifications

Pre-Heat Treatment PlanProcess Parameters
Ingot and Billet Annealing ProcessHeat at a rate of <100°C/h to 870 ~ 890°C, hold for 2 ~ 4 hours, cool at a rate of <30°C/h in the furnace to below 550°C, then air cool
Isothermal Annealing ProcessHeat to 840 ~ 860°C, hold for 2 hours; furnace cool to 720 ~ 740°C, hold for 4 hours, furnace cool to below 550°C, then air cool; annealing hardness is 205 ~ 255 HBW
 

2. Quenching

a) Recommended Heat Treatment Process

SchemeFirst Preheating Temperature (°C)Second Preheating Temperature (°C)Quenching Heating Temperature (°C)CoolingRockwell C Hardness (HRC)
I500 ~ 600820 ~ 860980 ~ 1040Oil cooling or air cooling60 ~ 65
II500 ~ 600820 ~ 8601060 ~ 1100Oil cooling or air cooling60 ~ 65
 

b) Relationship between Quenching Temperature, Hardness, and Retained Austenite Content 

Quenching Temperature (°C)900950980100010301050108011001130
Rockwell C Hardness (HRC)52.557.56063.563.46362.56260
Retained Austenite Content (Volume Fraction, %)4468101324
 

3. Tempering

Recommended Tempering Process Specifications

Tempering SchemeTempering Temperature (°C)Number of Tempering CyclesRockwell C Hardness (HRC)
I180 ~ 230160 ~ 64
II510 ~ 540260 ~ 64
We provide our clients with D2 steel after heat treatment, and its Rockwell hardness typically falls within the range of 54-61 HRC (Hardness Rockwell C scale). 
 

4. Annealing process parameters

Heating specificationCooling specificationHardness (HBS)
Heating Temperature (°C)Holding Time (hours)Slow coolingIsothermal
Heating Temperature (°C)Holding Time (hours)
870~8902~5Furnace cooling to 550°C, then air cooling  ≤248
840~8602720-740°C2~4207~255

Impact toughness of several cold work steels, D2, D3, O2, A2, S7

Comparing the steel grades (D2 tool steel, D3 tool steel, D4 tool steel, D5 tool steel, D7 tool steel)

D2 steel Applications

  1. Cutting Tools:

    • Knives: It manufactures industrial knives for the paper, plastic, and metal industries, as well as kitchen and hunting knives. In the civilian market, we often see D2 Steel Knives
    • Shear Blades: D2 shear blades can efficiently cut through thick and hard materials in the metalworking and recycling industries. D2 blades are very effective tools
  2. Forming Tools:

    • Dies: D2 is widely used for making dies for punching, stamping, and forming operations. Its ability to withstand high-pressure applications without deforming is crucial in these industries.
    • Rolls: D2 rolls are used in rolling mills. They can endure high wear conditions while maintaining their shape and functionality.  
  3. Industrial Components:

    • Wear Parts: Due to its durability, D2 is often used for components subjected to heavy wear, such as cams, guides, and gages.
    • Extrusion Dies: In the plastic and aluminum extrusion industries, D2 is used for dies. These dies need to handle high pressures and rough materials.

Why should you choose Aobo Steel as your tool steel supplier

At Aobo Steel, we pride ourselves on our exceptional supply capacity and dedication to meeting customer demands. Our monthly shipments exceed 1,500 tons in the Chinese market, reflecting our robust production and delivery capabilities. With a strong network of over 40 trusted suppliers, we ensure a steady supply of high-quality tool steels to meet various industry needs.

To provide even greater flexibility, we maintain stock for select products, allowing us to fulfill urgent orders quickly. Additionally, we specialize in fully customizable solutions, tailoring our products to your exact specifications for optimal application performance.

Our strategic location near the Yangtze River gives us a significant advantage in export logistics, enabling fast and cost-effective shipping to customers worldwide. Whether you need standard products or custom orders, Aobo Steel is committed to delivering reliability, quality, and service excellence.

At Aobo Steel, quality control is at the heart of our operations. Our dedicated testing team with over 20 years of experience ensures every product meets the highest standards before leaving our facility. Our comprehensive quality assurance process includes chemical composition analysis, metallographic examination, hardness testing, physical performance evaluation, and ultrasonic testing (UT) to detect internal defects.

To guarantee reliability, we perform 100% quality inspection on all products before shipment, ensuring they meet the required specifications and industry standards. Additionally, we support third-party inspections upon request to provide our customers with extra confidence in the quality of our materials. With this rigorous approach, Aobo Steel consistently delivers tool steels that offer superior performance and dependability in various applications.

At Aobo Steel, our service capacity is designed to meet diverse customer needs efficiently and precisely. We provide fully customizable products, offering surface treatments, descaling, and custom-length cutting options to suit specific requirements. Our experienced foreign trade team is well-versed in handling international orders, ensuring smooth communication and seamless transactions.

To provide the best service, we guarantee a 24-hour rapid response to all inquiries, allowing us to address your needs promptly and effectively. At Aobo Steel, we are committed to delivering high-quality tool steels and exceptional customer service to support your success.

FAQs

1. Does d2 steel rust easily? Is D2 stainless steel?

While not true stainless steel, AISI D2 steel exhibits some corrosion resistance due to its high chromium content. It is still more prone to rust if not properly protected.

We have a detailed data comparison on this in our blog, and please click D2 vs.D3 tool steel

D2 and 8Cr13MoV are different categories of steel. What is 8cr13mov steel? 8Cr13MoV is a type of stainless steel that is far better than D2 in terms of rust resistance. However, they are both commonly used in the manufacture of cutting tools. D2 steel has a higher hardness than 8Cr13MoV. 8cr13mov steel hardness is 58-60 HRC. D2 steel excels in edge retention, while 8Cr13MoV steel is more balanced across the other features, especially in ease of sharpening and corrosion resistance.

W(kg) = 0.00617 × d²(mm) × L(m)

Where:

  • W is the weight of the round bar in kilograms 
  • d is the diameter of the round bar in millimeters
  • L is the length of the round bar in meters

0.00617 is a constant derived from the density of steel (approximately 7.85 g/cm³) and pi (π).

Weight (kg) = Length (m) × Width (m) × Thickness (m) × Density (kg/m³) 

Where:

  • Density: The density of steel is typically taken as 7850 kg/m³. This value may vary slightly depending on the steel’s specific type and alloy composition, but 7850 kg/m³ is a good approximation for most steels.

The price of D2 steel will fluctuate with the changes in the price of alloys. For the latest price, please contact sales@aobosteel.com

The price of D2 steel will fluctuate with the changes in the price of alloys. For the latest price, please contact sales@aobosteel.com

After heat treatment, D2 steel can reach a hardness of 60HRC, but its ductility, toughness, and corrosion resistance are relatively weak. Additionally, the steel surface is difficult to polish to a mirror finish.

D2 steel for knives is ubiquitous, both in industry applications and daily lives, including d2 steel for kitchen knives. Regarding materials for knife blades, the disadvantages of D2 steel are that it is too hard, making it difficult to sharpen, and its rust resistance is somewhat lacking.

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