SKD 11

1. Relevant D2 Steel Specifications

Country USA German Japan

Standard ASTM A681 DIN EN ISO 4957 JIS G4404
Grades D2 1.2379/X153CrMo12 SKD11
2. D2 Tool Steel Chemical Composition

ASTM A681 C Mn P S Si Cr V Mo
D2 1.4 1.6 0.1 0.6 0.03 0.03 0.1 0.6 11 13 0.5 1.1 0.7 1.2
DIN ISO 4957 C Mn P S Si Cr V Mo
1.2379/X153CrMo12 1.45 1.6 0.2 0.6 0.03 0.03 0.15 1.6 11 13 0.7 1 0.7 1
JIS G4404 C Mn P S Si Cr V Mo
SKD11 1.4 1.6 0.6 0.03 0.03 0.4 11 13 0.2 0.5 0.8 1.2
3. AISI Grade D2 Steel Mechanical Properties

Mechanical Properties Metric Imperial

Hardness, Knoop (converted from Rockwell C
769 769
hardness)
Hardness, Rockwell C 62 62
Hardness, Vickers 748 748
Izod impact unnotched 77.0 J 56.8 ft-lb
Poisson’s ratio 0.27-0.30 0.27-0.30
Elastic modulus 190-210 GPa 27557-30457 ksi
Thermal Properties

Conditions
Properties
T (°C) Treatment

–
Thermal expansion 10.4 x 10-6/ºC 20-100
4. AISI/ASTM A681 D2 Grade Steel Forging

Heating for forging of AISI D2 tool steel should

be done slowly and uniformly. Soak through at 1850°-1950°F and reheat as often
as necessary, stopping work when the temperature drops below 1700°F(926°C). After D2
die steel forging, cool slowly in lime, mica, dry ashes or furnace. AISI D2 steel
should always be annealed after forging.

5. D2 Tool Steel Heat Treatment

 Heat Treatment
ASTM D2 steels alloy should be preheated very slowly to 815℃ (1500°F) and then temperature can
be increased to 1010oC (1850°F). They are then held at 1010oC (1850°F) for 20 to 45 minutes and air
cooled (air quenched).

 Annealing

Annealing of D2 tool steels material should be done at 871 to 898°C (1600 to 1650°F) followed by
slow furnace cooling at 4.4°C (40°F) per hour or less.after which cooling rate may be increased.
Suitable precautions must be taken to prevent excessive carburization or decarburization.

 Stress Relieving

When desirable to relieve the strains of machining, heat D2 grade steel slowly to 1050°-1250°F, allow
to equalize, and then cool in still air (Strain Relieving).

 Preheat Prior To Hardening

Preheat slowly to 1350°-1450°F and hold at this temperature until grade steel D2 material is uniformly
heated.

 Hardening

After thorough preheating, heat to 1800°-1850°F. Hold the work piece at the hardening temperature
until it is completely and uniformly heated.

 Quenching

AISI D2 steel tool material is an air hardening steel and will develop hardness on cooling in still air.
To avoid scaling and prevent decarburization of the work piece surface, controlled atmosphere or
vacuum furnaces are recommended. If these furnaces are not available, pack hardening, salt baths or
wrapping the piece in stainless steel foil will provide some degree of surface protection in the hardening
process. Parts should be allowed to cool to 150F, or to where they can be held in the bare hand, and
then temper immediately.

 Tempering

The tempering temperature on material D2 steel may be varied according to the desired hardness. D2
steels can be tempered at 204°C (400°F) for achieving Rockwell C hardness of 61 and at
537°C (1000°F) for a Rockwell C hardness of 54.

6. D2 Tool Steel Material Application

AISI grade D2 tool steels are used for long run tooling applications, where wear resistance is
important, such as blanking or forming dies and thread rolling dies.

Some main applications for D2 tool steel are as below:

Blanking Dies, Forming Dies, Coining Dies, Slitting Cutters, Heading Tools, Long Punches, Forming
Rolls, Edging Rolls, Master Tools, Beading Rolls, Intricate Punches, Extrusion Dies, Drawing Dies,
Lamination Dies, Thread Rolling Dies, Shear Blades, Burnishing Tools, Gauges, Knurls, Wear Parts.

HSS
1. Common M2 Tool Steel Related Specifications and Equivalents

Country USA German Japan

Standard ASTM A600 DIN EN ISO 4957 JIS G4403
Grades M2 1.3343 SKH51
2. ASTM M2 Tool Steel Chemical Composition Properties

ASTM
C Mn P S Si Cr V Mo W
A600
M2
0.78 0.88 0.15 0.40 0.03 0.03 0.20 0.45 3.75 4.50 1.75 2.20 4.50 5.50 5.50 6.75
regular C
DIN ISO
C Mn P S Si Cr V Mo W
4957
1.3343 0.86 0.94 … … … … … 0.45 3.80 4.50 1.70 2.10 4.70 5.20 5.90 6.70
JIS
C Mn P S Si Cr V Mo W
G4403
SKH51 0.80 0.88 … 0.40 0.03 0.03 … 0.45 3.80 4.50 1.70 2.10 4.70 5.20 5.90 6.70

3. AISI HSS M2 Tool Steel Mechanical Properties

 Physical Properties of HSS M2 Material

Density 0.294 lb/in3 (8138 kg/m3)

Specific Gravity 8.15
Modulus of Elasticity 0.294 lb/in3 (8138 kg/m3)
Thermal conductivity 24 Btu/ft/hr/°F 41.5 W/m/°K
Machinability 65% of a 1% carbon steel

 AISI M2 Tool Steels Properties Mechanical

Mechanical properties Metric Imperial

Hardness, Rockwell C (tempered at 1150°F, quenched
62 62
at 2200°F)
Hardness, Rockwell C (as hardened, quenched at
65 65
2200°F)
Compressive yield strength (when tempered at 300°F) 3250 MPa 471000 psi
Izod impact unnotched (when tempered at 300°F) 67 J 49.4 ft-lb
3
Abrasion (loss in mm , as-hardened; ASTM G65) 25.8 25.8
3
Abrasion (loss in mm , tempered at 1275°F; ASTM
77.7 77.7
G65)
Poisson’s ratio 0.27-0.30 0.27-0.30
Elastic modulus 190-210 GPa 27557-30458 ksi

 M2 Steels Thermal Properties

Thermal properties Metric Imperial

CTE, linear (@20.0 – 100°C/ 68.0 – 212°F) 10 μm/m°C 5.56 μin/in°F
CTE, linear (@20.0 – 500°C/68.0 – 932°F) 12.2 μm/m°C 6.78 μin/in°F
CTE, linear (@20.0 – 850°C/68.0 – 1560°F) 12.6 μm/m°C 7 μin/in°F

4. Forging of AISI M2 High Speed Steel

Pre heat M2 HSS steel slowly and uniformly to 850-900°C. The heat should then be increased more
quickly to the forging temperature of 1050-1150°C. If during the forging the temperature of the M2
high speed tool steel material drops below 880-900°C, re-heating will be necessary. Cool the M2 steel
component very slowly after forging.

5. Heat Treatment of M2 Steel HSS

 Anneal

Heat to 1600° F, soak thoroughly at heat. Furnace cool 25° F per hour to 900° F, air cool to room
temperature. Approximate annealed hardness 241 Maximum Brinell.

Stress Relief of Unhardened Material: Heat slowly to 1200 to 1250° F. Soak for two hours per inch of
thickness at heat. Slow cool (furnace cool if possible) to room temperature.

 Harden

Heat slowly to 1550° F, soak thoroughly, heat to 1850° F, soak thoroughly. Soak time in the furnace
varies from a few minutes to 15 minutes, depending tool size, heat capacity of the furnace, and the size
of the charge. – Heat to 2150 to 2200° F for max. toughness and minimum distortion. – Heat to 2250
to 2275° F for max. hardness and abrasion resistance.

 Quench

For full hardness, oil quench to 150-200° F. Air quench to 150° F. When quenching in hot salt maintain
the quench just above the Ms temperature. After equalizing withdraw parts from the hot salt and air
cooled to 150° F.

 Temper
Double temper is mandatory, three tempers are sometimes preferred. Soak for 2 hours per inch of
thickness. Air cool to room temperature between tempers. The best tempering range for hardness,
strength and toughness is 1000 to 1050° F.

Temper° F Rockwell “C” Temper° F Rockwell “C”

As-quenched 64 900 64
400 63 1000 65.5
500 62.5 1050 63.5
600 62.5 1100 61.5
700 62.5 1150 60
800 63.5 1200 53
6. Machinability of AISI M2 Tool Steel H-SS

Shaping of HSS M2 tool steels can be carried out using grinding methods. However, they have poor
grinding capability and hence they are regarded as “medium” machinability tool steel under annealed
conditions. The machinability of these tool steels M2 is only 50% of that of the easily machinable W
group or water hardening tool steels.

7. M2 Tool Steel Applications

The main use of high-speed steels continues to be in the manufacture of various cutting tools.

Typical applications for M2 high speed steel are twist drills, reamers, broaching tools, taps, milling
tools, metal saws. M2 is suitable for cold forming tools such as extrusion rams and dies, also widely
used in all kinds of cutting tools, knife and punches and die applications, plastic moulds with elevated
wear resistance and screws.