Cr12Mo1V1 — Cr12Mo1V1 Cold Work Tool Steel (AISI D2) — is a cold work tool steel supplied at HRC 58-62. Its chemistry centres on 1.40-1.60% carbon, 11.0-13.0% chromium, 0.70-1.20% molybdenum and 0.50-1.10% vanadium. GB high-chromium cold work steel — the D2 / SKD11 equivalent behind most long-run dies. It is available from stock as precision-ground hardened round bar from Φ2 to Φ100 mm, and as machined rotary die bodies made to drawing.
What Cr12Mo1V1 is, and where it fits
Grade selection is about matching the dominant failure mode. Cr12Mo1V1's role in the range is clear: all-round value and predictability. If your dies fail by gradual wear, prioritise wear resistance. If they chip or crack, prioritise toughness — which usually means accepting a slightly lower hardness.
- GB (China)
- Cr12Mo1V1
- AISI / ASTM (US)
- D2 / T30402
- JIS (Japan)
- SKD11
- DIN / W-Nr (Germany)
- 1.2379 / X153CrMoV12
- BS (UK)
- BD2
- NF / AFNOR (France)
- Z160CDV12
- UNI (Italy)
- X155CrVMo12-1
- GOST (Russia)
- Kh12MF
Working hardness and what each band is for
Cr12Mo1V1 hardens across a wide window, and the hardness you choose changes the tool's behaviour more than the grade does. Higher hardness buys wear resistance and edge retention at the cost of toughness; lower hardness does the reverse.
| Band | Hardness | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Primary working range | 58 - 62 | First choice for standard production tooling |
| Secondary range | 55 - 58 | Where the application calls for more toughness or more wear resistance |
| Annealed | 20 - 30 | Rough machining stock, Cavity milling |
Cr12Mo1V1 for hardened round bar and rotary dies
| Product line | Suitability | Working hardness | Typical applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| hardened round bar | Recommended (5/5) | HRC 58-62 | Heavy-wear die-cutting blades, Long-run stamping punches |
| custom rotary dies | Recommended (5/5) | HRC 58-62 | Heavy-duty rotary dies, Long-life slitting rollers |
When to choose Cr12Mo1V1 — and when not to
| Choose Cr12Mo1V1 when… | Look at another grade when… |
|---|---|
| The application is standard and well understood — this is the industry benchmark | Cutting edges are thin and chipping is the observed failure mode — use Cr8Mo2SiV |
| The drawing quotes SKD11 or D2 and you want the closest GB match | High-speed cutting raises edge temperatures significantly — use HSS |
| You need a predictable grade that is easy to re-machine and re-harden locally | Heavy-plate blanking where abrasion dominates — a higher-carbon D3-type grade wears longer |
Related grades and guides for Cr12Mo1V1
Cr12Mo1V1 FAQ
Cr12Mo1V1 (Cr12Mo1V1 Cold Work Tool Steel (AISI D2)) is used for wear-resistant, long-run, heavy duty applications. GB high-chromium cold work steel — the D2 / SKD11 equivalent behind most long-run dies In practice it is supplied as hardened round bar for die making and as machined rotary die bodies, at 58-62 in normal production.