Tool Steel
Tool Steel – High-Carbon, High-Alloy Steel for Tooling, Dies, and Cutting Applications
Tool steels are a family of high-carbon, high-alloy steels specifically engineered to resist deformation, wear, and heat during cutting, shaping, and forming operations. They are categorized by working conditions: cold work (D2), hot work (H13), high-speed (M2), and shock-resistant grades, each optimized for a specific manufacturing application.
Key Properties
- Tensile Strength: ~900 MPa (annealed)
- Hardness: Up to 65+ HRC after heat treatment
- Wear Resistance: Excellent
- Hot Hardness: Excellent (grade-dependent)
- Standards: ASTM A681 / A600
Common Grades and Applications
D2 for cold-work dies and blanking punches; H13 for die casting dies and extrusion tooling; M2 for twist drills, end mills, and cutting tools; O1 for general-purpose tool and die work.
Material properties
| Material name | Tool Steel |
|---|---|
| Type | Carbon & Alloy Steel |
| Standard code | ASTM A681 / A600 |
| Tensile strength (MPa) | 900 |
| Yield strength (MPa) | 700 |
| Fatigue strength (MPa) | 400 |
| Elongation (%) | 8 |
| Hardness (Brinell) | 300 |
| Density (g/cm³) | 7.8 |
| Electrical resistivity (µΩ·in) | 52 |
| Thermal conductivity (W/m·K) | 20 |
| Melting range (°C) | 1400–1450 |
| Weldability | Poor |
| Formability | Poor |
| Shear modulus | 80 |
| Industry code | tool_steel |