Materials & grades
D3 / 1.2080 / SKD1 cold-work tool steel: X210Cr12 and BD3 equivalents
D3 is a 2 % carbon, 12 % chromium cold-work tool steel that is oil hardened to about 60–64 HRC for blanking dies, thread-rolling dies and wear parts. In Europe it is X210Cr12 (1.2080), in the UK BD3, in India X210Cr12 under IS 3748 and in Japan SKD1.
Names by standard
What it is called in each region
| Region | System | Designation | قياسي | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | AISI / ASTM A681 type | D3 | ASTM A681 | Same material |
| UNS | T30403 | — | Same material | |
| UK | BS EN ISO 4957 | X210Cr12British adoption of the European tool-steel standard. | BS EN ISO 4957 | Equivalent |
| BS 4659 | BD3Superseded British name for D3, still searched. | BS 4659:1971 | Equivalent | |
| EU | EN 10027-1 name | X210Cr12Carbon 1.90–2.20 %, chromium 11.0–13.0 %. Also the old DIN name. | EN ISO 4957 | Equivalent |
| EN 10027-2 number | 1.2080Material number of X210Cr12. Böhler sells it as K100. | EN ISO 4957 | Equivalent | |
| الهند | IS 3748 | X210Cr12IS 3748:2022 is an identical adoption of ISO 4957:2018, so the Indian name follows the European one. | IS 3748:2022 | Equivalent |
| Older IS designation | XT215Cr12Superseded Indian name for D3 listed in the Stahlschlüssel data reproduced by Applus Laboratories (against IS 1570 Part 6). | — | Closest equivalent | |
| Japan | JIS G 4404 | SKD1Carbon 1.90–2.20 %, chromium 11.00–13.00 %, vanadium up to 0.30 %. Close to D3 but with slightly less carbon (D3 starts at 2.00 %). | JIS G 4404:2025 | Closest equivalent |
On equivalence
- ASTM A681 D3 allows 2.00–2.35 % carbon; EN ISO 4957 X210Cr12 allows 1.90–2.20 %. Material at 1.90–1.99 % carbon is X210Cr12 or SKD1 but not D3.
- ASTM A681 caps chromium at 13.50 %, EN and JIS at 13.0 %. A681 also allows up to 1.00 % each of vanadium and tungsten; JIS SKD1 allows 0.30 % vanadium.
- The tungsten-alloyed X210CrW12 (1.2436) is used in the same applications and appears beside D3 in some cross-reference tables but is a separate grade.
- XT215Cr12 is an older Indian name from the Stahlschlüssel listing reproduced by Applus; the exact IS part it came from was not confirmed.
- Böhler K100 (typical 2.00 % C, 11.50 % Cr, no molybdenum) is Böhler's D3 type. Its datasheet marks 1.2080, D3 and SKD1 with a tilde, meaning approximate.
- Tempering hardness depends on the hardening temperature: the 57 HRC at 500 °C and 49 HRC at 600 °C shown follow Böhler's curve for 1000 °C hardening; SIJ Ravne's sheet gives about 53 and 42 HRC.
Chemical composition
Composition limits, mass %
| Element | D3 (T30403)USA · ASTM A681-08 (includes product analysis tolerances) | X210Cr12 (1.2080)EU · EN ISO 4957 (limits as printed by Marks GmbH; P and S ≤0.030 as printed by SteelNumber and H2ABC, Marks prints ≤0.035) | X210Cr12الهند · IS 3748:2022 (identical to ISO 4957:2018) | SKD1Japan · JIS G 4404:2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 2.00–2.35 | 1.90–2.20 | 1.90–2.20 | 1.90–2.20 |
| Si | 0.10–0.60 | 0.10–0.60 | 0.10–0.60 | 0.10–0.60 |
| Mn | 0.10–0.60 | 0.20–0.60 | 0.20–0.60 | 0.20–0.60 |
| P | ≤0.030 | ≤0.030 | ≤0.030 | ≤0.030 |
| S | ≤0.030 | ≤0.030 | ≤0.030 | ≤0.030 |
| Cr | 11.00–13.50 | 11.0–13.0 | 11.0–13.0 | 11.00–13.00 |
| V | ≤1.00 | — | — | ≤0.30 |
| W | ≤1.00 | — | — | — |
| Ni+Cu | ≤0.75 | — | — | — |
Mechanical properties
Strength and hardness
| Condition | Tensile strength | Yield strength | Elongation | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annealed (ASTM A681)Specified maximum; cold-drawn bar may be up to 269 HBASTM A681-08, Table 2 | — | — | — | ≤255 HB |
| Annealed (JIS G 4404 SKD1)Specified maximum, annealedJIS G 4404:2025 as tabulated by Sekidou Kouhan | — | — | — | ≤248 HBW |
| Annealed (mill delivery)Typical mill maximumBöhler K100 data sheet; Marks 1.2080 data sheet | — | — | — | ≤248 HB (Böhler K100), about 250 HB (Marks) |
| Hardened and tempered, response test (ASTM A681)Specified minimum after austenitizing at 954–968 °C (1750–1775 °F), oil quench, one 2-hour temper at 204 °C (400 °F)ASTM A681-08, Table 3 | — | — | — | ≥61 HRC |
| Hardened and tempered at 100–200 °CTypical, hardened about 1000 °C, 20 mm section, read from the Böhler chartBöhler K100 tempering chart | — | — | — | ≈62–64 HRC |
| Hardened and tempered at 300–500 °CTypical, hardened about 1000 °C, 20 mm section, read from the Böhler chartBöhler K100 tempering chart | — | — | — | ≈59 HRC at 300 °C, ≈58 HRC at 400 °C, ≈57 HRC at 500 °C; ≈49 HRC at 600 °C |
In practice
Behaviour, heat treatment and uses
Characteristics
- About 2 % carbon and 12 % chromium give the highest abrasive-wear resistance of the common cold-work steels in this group (Böhler K100).
- Toughness is lower than D2. Oberste-Beulmann describes 1.2379 (D2) as the choice for applications similar to 1.2080 with higher toughness requirements.
- Oil hardening with lower hardening temperatures (940–970 °C) and a single temper make heat treatment simpler than D2 (Böhler K100). Air quenching works only for thin sections up to about 25 mm.
- The tempering curve falls steadily with temperature and has no useful secondary hardness peak, which limits use with hot PVD or CVD coatings (Böhler).
- No molybdenum is specified. D3 lacks the molybdenum and vanadium additions of D2.
Heat treatment
- Soft annealing: about 800–850 °C (1470–1560 °F), furnace cool 10–20 °C per hour to about 600 °C, then air (Böhler, Marks).
- Stress relieving: about 650 °C (1200 °F), 1–2 hours, furnace cool (Böhler).
- Hardening: about 940–970 °C (1725–1780 °F) (Böhler); 940–960 °C (Marks). Hold 15–30 minutes after temperature equalization.
- Quench: oil, a salt bath at 220–250 °C or 500–550 °C, gas, or compressed air for sections up to about 25 mm when the hardening temperature is at the upper end of the range (Böhler).
- Tempering: 100–200 °C for maximum hardness (Böhler chart); Marks gives a 150–180 °C temper. Heat slowly right after hardening, about 1 hour per 20 mm and at least 2 hours.
- Cool in air after each temper (Böhler).
استخدامات نموذجية
- Blanking and piercing dies for thin, abrasive sheet
- Thread-rolling dies
- Trimming dies and shear blades for thin material
- Brick, tile and cement forming tools
- Drawing dies, gauges and wear plates
- Rolls and industrial knives
Tool steels
Similar grades compared
| الدرجة | C % | Mn % | Cr % | Ni % | Tensile, first listed condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D3 / 1.2080 | 2.00–2.35 | 0.10–0.60 | 11.00–13.50 | — | — |
| A2 / 1.2363 | 0.95–1.05 | 0.40–1.00 | 4.75–5.50 | — | — |
| D2 / 1.2379 | 1.40–1.60 | 0.10–0.60 | 11.00–13.00 | — | — |
| O1 / 1.2510 | 0.85–1.00 | 1.00–1.40 | 0.40–0.70 | — | — |
| S7 | 0.45–0.55 | 0.20–0.90 | 3.00–3.50 | — | — |
| H11 / 1.2343 | 0.33–0.43 | 0.20–0.50 | 4.75–5.50 | — | 1790–1845 MPa |
| H13 / 1.2344 | 0.32–0.45 | 0.20–0.60 | 4.75–5.50 | — | 1730–1845 MPa |
| M2 / HS6-5-2C | 0.78–0.88 | 0.15–0.40 | 3.75–4.50 | — | ≤950 MPa |
| M42 / HS2-9-1-8 | 1.05–1.15 | 0.15–0.40 | 3.50–4.25 | — | ≤1010 MPa |
| P20 / 1.2311 | 0.28–0.40 | 0.60–1.00 | 1.40–2.00 | 0.90–1.20 | 950–1100 MPa |
Composition from the US standard where one exists, otherwise the first standard listed on each grade's page. Strength conditions differ between grades; open a grade for its full table.
أسئلة وأجوبة
Common questions
What is the equivalent of D3 tool steel?
In Europe D3 is X210Cr12 (1.2080), in the UK BD3, in India X210Cr12 under IS 3748 and in Japan SKD1. The EN and JIS grades start at 1.90 % carbon against 2.00 % for ASTM D3.
What is the difference between D2 and D3?
D3 has about 2.0–2.35 % carbon and no molybdenum requirement, so it resists abrasive wear better. D2 has about 1.5 % carbon plus molybdenum and vanadium, which gives better toughness and a secondary hardness peak.
Is D3 oil hardening or air hardening?
ASTM A681 tests D3 with an oil quench from about 954–968 °C. Böhler adds that thin sections up to about 25 mm can be hardened in compressed or still air at the upper end of the temperature range.
What hardness does D3 reach?
ASTM A681 requires at least 61 HRC after oil hardening and a 204 °C temper. Böhler's tempering chart shows about 62–64 HRC after a 100–200 °C temper.
Which JIS grade matches D3?
JIS G 4404 SKD1. It has 1.90–2.20 % carbon and 11.00–13.00 % chromium, so it matches X210Cr12 rather than ASTM D3 exactly.
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Related references
References
Sources
- ASTM A681-08 Standard Specification for Tool Steels Alloy (copy hosted by Fushun Special Steel) — Table 1 composition, Table 2 annealed hardness, Table 3 response to hardening. 2008 edition; check the current revision.
- BIS: IS 3748:2022 Tool Steels, Specification (Standard of the Week) — States that IS 3748:2022 is an identical adoption of ISO 4957.
- Böhler K100 data sheet (voestalpine) — 1.2080 / X210Cr12 / ~T30403 / ~D3 / ~SKD1; annealed 248 HB max; hardening 940–970 °C; tempering chart.
- Marks GmbH: 1.2080 Werkstoffblatt — EN ISO 4957 analysis limits, annealing and hardening routes.
- Applus Laboratories: X210Cr12 / 1.2080 datasheet — Cross-reference: DIN EN ISO 4957:2018, India XT215Cr12, Japan SKD1, USA A681 D3 / T30403.
- JIS G 4404:2025 SKD1 values (Sekidou Kouhan steel table) — Composition and 248 HBW annealed limit as tabulated from JIS G 4404:2025.
- Oberste-Beulmann: 1.2379 technical data sheet — Toughness comparison of 1.2379 with 1.2080.
- SteelNumber: X210Cr12 / 1.2080 (EN ISO 4957 composition, P and S ≤0.03) — Independent check: P and S ≤0.03; Marks GmbH prints 0.035.
- H2ABC: X210Cr12 1.2080 (ISO 4957-2018) — Independent check: C 1.9–2.2, Si 0.1–0.6, Mn 0.2–0.6, P and S ≤0.03, Cr 11–13.
- JISF committee document: JIS G 4404 revision (composition and annealed hardness tables, basis of the 2022 edition) — Independent check of the SKD1 limits and annealed hardness; Annex A pairs SKD10 with X153CrMoV12 and SKD11 with no ISO grade.
- SIJ Metal Ravne: SIHARD 2080 (D3) data sheet — Independent check: tempering 64 HRC at 100 °C, 62 at 200, 60 at 300, 57 at 400, 53 at 500, 42 at 600 (hardened 940–980 °C).
- Zknives: AISI D3 equivalents — Cross-reference list including BS BD3, IS XT215Cr12 and JIS SKD1.
Values summarize published limits and typical data. The governing standard and the current edition control; check them before specifying.