Aobo Steel:The Reliable supplier for D2 Tool Steel

Premium D2 Steel Supplier for Unmatched Durability

Our company, Aobo Steel, is a professional D2 tool steel supplier with a production heritage from 2003. We possess an extensive and professional understanding of the production and various performance aspects of D2 tool steel.

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

D2 steel applications

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 efficiently cut through thick and hard materials in the metalworking and recycling industries, making them very effective tools.
Forming Tools:
- Dies: D2 tool steel is widely used for making dies for punching, stamping, and forming operations because of its exceptional properties. Specifically, its ability to withstand high-pressure applications without deforming is crucial in these industries, ensuring precision and longevity.
- Rolls: D2 rolls are essential components in rolling mills because they can endure high wear conditions while maintaining their shape and functionality.
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: D2 tool steel is used for dies in the plastic and aluminum extrusion industries because these dies must withstand high pressures and the abrasive nature of the extruded materials.

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Still struggling to find the right D2 material supplier? We are professional tool steel suppliers, offering D2 tool steel in various specifications, with guaranteed quality and competitive prices. Whether you need custom or standard sizes, we can meet your requirements. Contact us now for more information!

D2 tool Steel Review

Tool steel D2 is high-carbon, high-chromium tool steel with high wear resistance, decent toughness, and a great cutting edge. This makes it a preferred material in high-stress durability applications, such as blanking dies, forming dies, shear blades, and gauges. In this review, we explain everything there is to know about the properties of D2 STEEL: chemical composition, mechanical properties, treatment, you name it, and we will see why the D2 STEEL is so widely used in the industry. The new study aims to evaluate what plays a major role in steel D2 properties and the strengths or weaknesses in the steel population.

D2 steel composition

Element	Carbon (C)	Chromium (Cr)	Molybdenum (Mo)	Vanadium (V)	Manganese (Mn)	Silicon (Si)	Phosphorus (P)	Sulfur (S)
Percentage (%)	1.40 – 1.60	11.00 – 13.00	0.70 – 1.20	0.50 – 1.10	0.20 – 0.60	0.10 – 0.60	≤ 0.03	≤ 0.03

D2 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. Material D2 Pre-Heat Treatment Process Specifications

Pre-Heat Treatment Plan	Process Parameters
Ingot and Billet Annealing Process	Heat 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 Process	Heat 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. Material D2 Quenching

a) D2 metal Recommended Heat Treatment Process

Scheme	First Preheating Temperature (°C)	Second Preheating Temperature (°C)	Quenching Heating Temperature (°C)	Cooling	Rockwell C Hardness (HRC)
I	500 ~ 600	820 ~ 860	980 ~ 1040	Oil cooling or air cooling	60 ~ 65
II	500 ~ 600	820 ~ 860	1060 ~ 1100	Oil cooling or air cooling	60 ~ 65

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

Quenching Temperature (°C)	900	950	980	1000	1030	1050	1080	1100	1130
Rockwell C Hardness (HRC)	52.5	57.5	60	63.5	63.4	63	62.5	62	60
Retained Austenite Content (Volume Fraction, %)	—	4	4	6	8	10	13	24	—

3. D2 metal Tempering

Recommended Tempering Process Specifications

Tempering Scheme	Tempering Temperature (°C)	Number of Tempering Cycles	Rockwell C Hardness (HRC)
I	180 ~ 230	1	60 ~ 64
II	510 ~ 540	2	60 ~ 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 specification		Cooling specification			Hardness (HBS)
Heating Temperature (°C)	Holding Time (hours)	Slow cooling	Isothermal
			Heating Temperature (°C)	Holding Time (hours)
870~890	2~5	Furnace cooling to 550°C, then air cooling			≤248
840~860	2	–	720-740°C	2~4	207~255

D2 tool steel hardness

The hardness of material D2 depends on its heat treatment condition:

Annealed Condition: ~ 217-255 HB (Brinell Hardness)
After Hardening & Tempering: ~ 58-62 HRC (Rockwell Hardness C)

D2 steel achieves its maximum hardness of around 62-64 HRC after proper quenching. It is typically tempered to 58-62 HRC to balance hardness and toughness for industrial applications like dies, punches, and cutting tools.

D2 steel vs. Other steels

To make it easier for buyers to choose the correct D2 steel for their needs, we have compared some steels that often need to be compared to D2 steel.

D2 steel vs 440c

Property	D2 Steel	440C Steel
Composition	1.5-2.0% C, 11-13% Cr, 0.9% Mo, 1% V, 0.6% Mn, 0.6% Si, Fe: Balance	0.95-1.2% C, 16-18% Cr, 0.75% Mo, 1% Mn, 1% Si, Fe: Balance
Hardness (HRC)	55-62	58-60
Corrosion Resistance	Moderate, requires maintenance	Excellent, stainless
Toughness	High, can be brittle at high hardness	Very high, flexible, less prone to chipping
Ease of Sharpening	Difficult	Easy
Edge Retention	Excellent	Decent, slightly lower than D2
Typical Uses	Working knives, cutting tools	Outdoor knives, ball bearings, surgical instruments
Maintenance	Higher, needs regular care to prevent rust	Lower, minimal maintenance needed

8cr13mov vs D2 steel

Property	8cr13mov	D2 Steel
Composition	0.8% C, 13% Cr, Mo, V, Mn, Si, Fe: Balance	1.5-2.0% C, 11-13% Cr, 0.9% Mo, 1% V, 0.6% Mn, 0.6% Si, Fe: Balance
Hardness (HRC)	58-60	55-62
Corrosion Resistance	Excellent, stainless	Moderate, requires maintenance
Toughness	Good, maybe better at the lower hardness	Good, can be brittle at high hardness
Ease of Sharpening	Easy	Difficult
Edge Retention	Decent, suitable for budget use	Excellent, ideal for heavy use
Typical Uses	Budget knives, everyday carry	Industrial tools, heavy-duty knives
Maintenance	Lower, minimal needed	Higher, needs regular care to prevent rust
Cost	Affordable	More expensive

A2 vs D2 tool steel

Property	A2 Tool Steel	D2 Tool Steel
Composition	1.00% C, 5.00% Cr, 1.00% Mn, 0.50% Si, 0.30% V, Fe: Balance	1.50% C, 12.00% Cr, 0.60% Mn, 0.60% Si, 1.00% V, Fe: Balance
Hardness (HRC)	57-62	55-62
Wear Resistance	Good, intermediate between O1 and D2	Excellent, enhanced by high C and Cr
Toughness	High, suitable for heavy impact	Good, but may be less than A2 at high hardness
Machinability	Easy, good for complex shapes	Difficult, abrasive, work hardens easily
Corrosion Resistance	Poor, requires maintenance to prevent rust	Mild, better than A2 due to higher Cr
Heat Treatment	Air-hardening, minimal distortion	Air hardening, may need precise control
Cost	Lower, more affordable	Higher reflects superior properties
Typical Uses	Blanking dies, forming dies, stamping dies	Cutting tools, punches, shear blades

AUS 8 steel vs D2

Property	AUS-8 Steel	D2 Steel
Composition	C: 0.75-0.80%, Cr: 13.00-14.50%, Ni: 0.49%, V: 0.10-0.26%, Fe: Balance	C: 1.40-1.60%, Cr: 10.00-13.00%, Mo: 0.70-1.20%, V: 0.90%, Fe: Balance
Hardness (HRC)	58-59 (up to 60 with good heat treatment)	55-62
Corrosion Resistance	Excellent, stainless	Moderate, semi-stainless
Toughness	High, resistant to chipping	Good, maybe less at high hardness
Ease of Sharpening	Easy	Difficult
Edge Retention	Good, suitable for general use	Excellent, ideal for heavy use
Typical Uses	Budget knives, everyday carry, kitchen knives	Heavy-duty knives, hunting, industrial tools
Maintenance	Lower, minimal needed	Higher, needs regular care to prevent rust
Cost	Affordable	More expensive

9cr18mov vs D2 steel

Property	9Cr18MoV Steel	D2 Steel
Composition	C: 0.95-1.05%, Cr: 17.00-19.00%, Mo: 0.40-0.60%, V: ≤0.10%, Fe: Balance	C: 1.40-1.60%, Cr: 10.00-13.00%, Mo: 0.70-1.20%, V: 0.90%, Fe: Balance
Hardness (HRC)	58-60	55-62
Corrosion Resistance	Excellent, stainless	Moderate, semi-stainless
Toughness	High, resistant to chipping	Good, maybe less at high hardness
Ease of Sharpening	Easy	Difficult
Edge Retention	Good, suitable for general use	Excellent, ideal for heavy use
Typical Uses	Budget knives, everyday carry, kitchen knives	Heavy-duty knives, hunting, industrial tools
Maintenance	Lower, minimal needed	Higher, needs regular care to prevent rust
Cost	Affordable	More expensive

DC53 steel vs D2

Property	DC53 Steel	D2 Steel
Composition	C: 0.95%, Cr: 8.0%, Mo: 2.0%, V: 0.30%, Si: 1.0%, Mn: 0.40%, Fe: Balance	C: 1.40-1.60%, Cr: 10.00-13.00%, Mo: 0.70-1.20%, V: 0.90%, Si: 0.60%, Mn: 0.60%, Fe: Balance
Hardness (HRC)	62-63 after high-temp tempering	55-62
Toughness	High, reported twice that of D2	Good, less at high hardness
Machinability	Easy, 20-40% faster than D2	Difficult, abrasive, work hardens
Corrosion Resistance	Poor, requires maintenance	Poor, slightly better due to higher Cr
Edge Retention	Good, comparable or better than D2	Excellent, due to the high carbide volume
Typical Uses	Precision dies, molds, punches	Cutting tools, shear blades, punches
Cost	Potentially higher, modern development	Lower, well-established standard
Availability	Less common outside Asia	Widely available globally

D2 steel vs 1095

Property	D2 Steel	1095 steel
Composition	C: 1.40-1.60%, Cr: 10.00-13.00%, Mo: 0.70-1.20%, V: 0.90%, Mn: 0.60%, Si: 0.60%, Fe: Balance	C: 0.95%, Mn: 0.30-0.50%, P: ≤0.04%, S: ≤0.05%, Fe: Balance
Hardness (HRC)	55-62	60-62
Corrosion Resistance	Moderate, semi-stainless	Poor, prone to rust
Toughness	Good, better at high-hardness	Fair can be brittle at high hardness
Ease of Sharpening	Difficult	Easy
Edge Retention	Excellent, due to alloy carbides	Good, relies on iron carbides
Typical Uses	High-end knives, cutting tools, dies	Sword-making, budget knives
Maintenance	Higher, needs care to prevent rust	Higher, frequent care needed
Cost	More expensive	Affordable

14c28n steel vs D2

Property	14C28N Steel	D2 Steel
Composition	C: 0.62%, Cr: 14.00%, Mn: 0.60%, N: 0.11%, Si: 0.30%, P: 0.02%, S: 0.01%, Fe: Balance	C: 1.40-1.60%, Cr: 10.00-13.00%, Mo: 0.70-1.20%, V: 0.90%, Mn: 0.60%, Si: 0.60%, Fe: Balance
Hardness (HRC)	55-62	55-62
Corrosion Resistance	Excellent, stainless	Moderate, semi-stainless
Toughness	High, resistant to chipping	Good, maybe less at high hardness
Ease of Sharpening	Easy	Difficult
Edge Retention	Good, suitable for general use	Excellent, ideal for heavy use
Typical Uses	Budget knives, EDC, kitchen knives	Heavy-duty knives, industrial tools
Maintenance	Lower, minimal needed	Higher, needs regular care to prevent rust
Cost	Affordable	More expensive

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What are the D2 steel equivalents? DIN 1.2379 and JIS SKD11

In the German and Japanese standard systems, the grades similar to D2 steel are DIN 1.2379 and JIS SKD11, respectively. They have very similar chemical compositions and properties, and can be considered equivalent steel standards. Like D2, DIN 1.2379 and JIS SKD11 are high-carbon, high-chromium alloy tool steels, containing appropriate amounts of molybdenum and vanadium alloying elements. They exhibit high wear resistance and compressive strength, as well as excellent impact toughness, hardenability, dimensional stability, and resistance to temper softening. Their typical hardness ranges from 56 to 60 HRC, and they can undergo nitriding treatment. After quenching and high-temperature tempering, their hardness and wear resistance remain intact, making them particularly suitable for high-speed blanking dies used with cold-worked materials such as silicon steel.

DIN 1.2379 Steel Introduction

1.2379 Chemical Composition

Carbon (C)	Silicon (Si)	Manganese (Mn)	Chromium (Cr)	Molybdenum (Mo)	Vanadium (V)
1.40% – 1.60%	≤ 0.60%	≤ 0.60%	11.00% – 13.00%	0.7% – 1.20%	0.50% – 1.10%

1.2379 Physical Properties

Density	7695kg/m³
Specific Gravity	7.7
Melting Point	1420-1460°C
Thermal Expansion Coefficient	11.6 x 10⁻⁶/°C
Thermal Expansion Coefficient	6.4 x 10⁻⁶/°F
Specific Heat Capacity	460J/kg·K
Thermal Conductivity (200°C)	21W/m·K
Thermal Conductivity (400°C)	23W/m·K

JIS SKD11 Steel Introduction

SKD11 Chemical Composition

Carbon (C)	Chromium (Cr)	Molybdenum (Mo)	Vanadium (V)	Manganese (Mn)	Silicon (Si)	Nickel (Ni)	Phosphorus (P)	Sulfur (S)
1.40 – 1.60	11.00 – 13.00	0.80 – 1.20	0.20 – 0.50	0.40 – 0.60	0.20 – 0.50	≤ 0.25	≤ 0.03	≤ 0.03

SKD11 Physical Properties

Property	Value
Density	7.7 g/cm³
Thermal Conductivity	20.0 W/m·K at 100°C
Elastic Modulus	210 GPa
Specific Heat Capacity	460 J/kg·K
Hardness (After Heat Treatment)	58 – 62 HRC

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.

2. Is D2 better than 8Cr13MoV?

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.

3. D2 Round Bar Weight Calculator – How do I do it?

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).

4. D2 plate weight calculator– How do I do it?

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.

5. D2 material round bar price – What is the latest?

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

6. What are the disadvantages of D2 steel?

Insufficient Toughness: D2 steel has relatively low toughness, making it prone to fracturing under impact or high stress, especially in low-temperature environments.
Difficult Machinability: Due to its high hardness, D2 steel is challenging to process and heat treat, requiring specialized equipment and techniques, which increases production costs.
Limited Corrosion Resistance: Although it has a high chromium content, D2 steel’s corrosion resistance is still inferior to that of stainless steel, and it may rust when exposed to humid or corrosive environments for extended periods.
Prone to Chipping: The high hardness of D2 steel makes its blades susceptible to chipping under impact, particularly in thin or fine-edged tools.
High Cost: The production and processing costs of D2 steel are relatively high, making it more expensive compared to other materials.
Complex Heat Treatment: The heat treatment process for D2 steel is intricate, requiring precise control of temperature and time; otherwise, it may lead to cracking or deformation.
Poor Weldability: D2 steel has poor welding performance, as it is prone to cracking during welding, necessitating special precautions.

7. D2 Steel vs 440C Steel: Which is Better?

D2 steel and 440C steel each have their own advantages and disadvantages, and the specific choice depends on the application requirements. Below is a comparison of the two:

D2 steel: Suitable for scenarios requiring high hardness and wear resistance, but it has relatively poor toughness, corrosion resistance, and machinability.

440C steel: Suitable for corrosion resistance and tough scenarios, with good machinability and high cost-effectiveness.

8. Is D2 steel good for knives?

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.

9.What is the equivalent of D2 tool steel?

In different countries or standards, D2 is equivalent to:

Chinese Standard (GB): Cr12Mo1V1
American Standard (ASTM/UNS): D2/T30402
Japanese Standard (JIS): SKD11
German Standard (DIN): 1.2379 and X155CrMoV12-1

Although the corresponding grades of D2 steel vary in name across different national and standard systems, their core properties (such as high hardness, wear resistance, and resistance to high-temperature softening) remain consistent.

10.Can D2 steel be welded?

D2 steel has poor welding performance, mainly due to its high carbon and chromium content, which leads to brittleness and crack sensitivity. Welding quality can be improved to some extent by preheating, selecting appropriate welding electrodes, controlling welding process parameters, and post-weld heat treatment.

Aobo Steel:The Reliable supplier for D2 Tool Steel ​