SKD1 Tool Steel

SKD1 Tool Steel Product Introduction

SKD1 is a high-carbon, high-chromium cold work mould steel under the Japanese JIS G4404 standard, belonging to the Rheinzite steel type. Its corresponding American ASTM grade is D3, the corresponding German DIN/W-Nr grade is X210Cr12/1.2080, the corresponding Chinese GB grade is Cr12. its chemical composition strictly control phosphorus, sulfur impurities, and contains a small amount of silicon (and manganese, through the vacuum refining and spheroidal annealing process to optimise the organisational homogeneity, the hardness of the factory is 255 HBS, with a high degree of purity and processability. High purity and processability.
The core advantage of this steel is its ultra-high wear resistance and hardness stability. The heat treatment process requires strict temperature control (quenching temperature 950°C-1000°C) to avoid overheating-induced hardness degradation, and stress-relief tempering to reduce distortion and ensure long-term dimensional stability and corrosion resistance.

SKD1 Tool Steel Types and Options

The table below shows the size range, surface condition and tolerance details for SKD1 Tool Steel:

Shape	Pocess	Size range	Surface	Tolerance
Flat Bar	Hot Rolled	Thickness: 10-400mm Width: 200-800mm Length: 3000-5800mm	Black; Sandblasted	Thickness :0-+2MM Width:0-+5MM/0-+10MM
	Hot Forged	Thickness: 50-500mm Width: 50-1500mm Length: 3000-5800mm	Black	Thickness:+2-+5MM Width:0-+5MM/0-+10MM
			Turned/Machined/Milled/Bright	Thickness :0-+2MM Width:0-+5MM/0-+10MM
Round Bar	Hot Rolled	Diameter:10-65mm Length:3000-5800mm	Black	0-+2MM
			Turned/Machined	0-+2MM
	Hot Forged	Diameter:70-700mm Length:3000-5800mm	Grinded	0-+5MM/+2-+5MM
			Turned/Machined/Milled/Bright	0-+2MM

SKD1 Tool Steel Customized Options

1. Customized chemical composition: GB, DIN, ASTM, JIS and other standard grades can be produced. Chemical composition can be customized individually.
2. Customized specifications: round steel (diameter), plate (thickness, width) can be customized production.
3. Specialized packaging for long term storage or extreme transportation conditions: includes spraying black paint all around, wrapping plastic film, spraying anti-rust oil, and shipping in wooden crates.
4. Customized production based on samples or technical agreements.
5. SKD1 Tool Steel Electroslag Remelting (ESR): premium option with higher purity and isotropic properties for critical applications.

SKD1 Tool Steel Chemical Composition

Standard/Steel Grade		Chemical Composition(%)
		C	Si	Mn	Cr
ASTM	D3	2.0~2.35	0.10~0.60	0.20~0.60	11.0~13.5
DIN/W-Nr.	X153CrMo12/1.2080	1.9~2.20	0.10~0.40	0.15~0.45	11.0~12.0
JIS	SKD1	1.9~2.20	0.10~0.60	0.20~0.60	11.0~13.0

SKD1 Tool Steel Heat Treatment Process

1.Annealing

Purpose: to eliminate internal stresses generated during forging or rolling, reduce hardness, improve cutting performance, and prepare for subsequent processing and heat treatment.
Process parameters:
Heating temperature: 800-850 ℃, holding time 2-4 hours, with the furnace cooling to below 500 ℃, and then air-cooled.
Hardness after annealing: ≤255 HBS.

2.Quenching

Purpose: to make the tool steel to obtain martensitic organization, improve hardness and wear resistance.
Process parameters:
Heating temperature: 1000-1050 ℃ (commonly used 1020-1040 ℃), holding time according to the size of the workpiece to determine, generally 30-60 minutes.
Cooling: oil cooling or air cooling (for small size or simple shape of the workpiece), large workpieces can be graded quenching (in the 260-300 ℃ salt bath cooling for a period of time and then air-cooled), in order to reduce the quenching stress, to prevent deformation and cracking.

3.Tempering

Purpose: to eliminate quenching stress, adjust the hardness and toughness, stable organization and size.
Process parameters:
low-temperature tempering: 150-250 ℃, insulation 2-3 hours, air-cooled, tempered hardness of 58-62HRC, for molds requiring high hardness and wear resistance.
Medium temperature tempering: 300-500 ℃, insulation 2-3 hours, air-cooled, tempered hardness of 50-58HRC, can improve the toughness, suitable for molds subject to impact load.
High-temperature tempering: 500 ℃ or more, insulation 2-3 hours, air-cooled, tempered hardness 45-50HRC, mainly for the need for higher toughness of the occasion.

4.Precautions

Heating process should control the rate of heating to avoid too rapid a rise in temperature leading to workpiece surface oxidation and decarburization. Protective atmosphere heating can be used or placed in the furnace charcoal and other anti-decarburization agent.
When quenching and cooling, choose the appropriate cooling medium and cooling method according to the shape and size of the workpiece to ensure the quenching effect while reducing the risk of deformation and cracking.
Tempering must be sufficient to ensure the elimination of internal stresses to avoid mold failure due to stress release during use. For large molds or workpieces with complex shapes, multiple tempering can be used.

SKD1 Tool Steel Quality Inspection

1.Surface Condition Inspection

FCS factory has a very strict quality inspection team, we will carefully check the surface condition of each piece of tool steel to ensure that the steel surface is free from cracks, folds, knots, oxidized skin, pitting, scratches and other defects.

2.Chemical Composition Testing

To verify whether the content of alloying elements meets the standard requirements and to safeguard the basis of the mechanical properties of the material. We will let the staff use full-spectrum direct reading spectrometer to analyze multiple elements at the same time. Sampling needs to remove the surface oxidation layer, using a block specimen to stimulate the test.

3.Dimension and Tolerance Inspection

FCS factory will use professional measuring tools to inspect the dimensions and tolerances of the steel to ensure compliance with the customer's contract requirements. Corresponding gauges will be selected according to the dimensional accuracy requirements, including tape measure, high-precision vernier calipers (0.02mm), micrometers (0.001mm), and special inspection gauges. Inspection items cover: diameter, thickness, width, length, hole diameter, chamfering dimensions, etc., to ensure that the tolerances and dimensions meet the contract requirements.

4.Hardness test

Our FCS factory will use professional hardness tester to test the hardness of steel to ensure that it meets the customer's contract requirements.

5.Ultrasonic Testing

Ultrasonic Testing Standard (UT Test Standard) is: Sep 1921-84 Class3 D/d,E/e.
FCS factory uses ultrasonic testing equipment to detect macro defects inside the material (such as cracks, shrinkage holes, inclusions, white spots, etc.), and every piece of round steel and plate will be examined by a second flaw detection test before shipment to ensure that the quality is qualified before shipment.

6.Microstructure Inspection

(1) Metallographic Analysis

FCS factory will use metallographic analysis instrument to detect the microstructure state after heat treatment, including carbide distribution, martensite morphology, residual austenite content, etc.

 (2) Grain size rating

FCS factory will use the comparative method to determine the austenite grain size by comparing the microstructure of the specimen with the standard rating chart, to ensure that it meets the customer's requirements.

SKD1 Tool Steel Technical Specifications

Property	Specification	Test Method
Material Standard	JIS G4404 / AISI D3 Equivalent	-
Density	7.7 g/cm³	ASTM B311
Elastic Modulus	210 GPa	ASTM E111
Thermal Conductivity (at 20°C)	20 W/m·K	ASTM E1461
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (20-100°C)	10.5 × 10⁻⁶/K	ASTM E228
Electrical Resistivity	0.65 μΩ·m	ASTM B193
Machinability (Relative)	50-55% (relative to 1% carbon steel)	Comparative testing

SKD1 Tool Steel Product Applications

Key Application Scenarios

Dropping and Stamping Dies

SKD1 excels in high-volume dropping and stamping in automotive and appliance manufacturing. Even after millions of cycles, it maintains precise edge profiles and reduces tool maintenance intervals by 40%. An automotive parts supplier uses SKD1 for chassis component stamping dies, and the frequency of die refurbishment has changed from monthly to quarterly, which directly improves productivity and part quality.

Cold forming tools

SKD1 combines wear resistance and compressive strength in cold extrusion, drawing and forming applications. Heat-treated dimensional stability ensures precision in complex moulding applications. An industrial fastener manufacturer used SKD1 cold heading dies to increase tool life by 35% and improve part consistency.

Industrial Shear Blades

SKD1's excellent edge retention makes it suitable for industrial shearing in steel processing. The balance of hardness and toughness prevents chipping and cracking and maintains a sharp edge. SKD1 cuts cleaner cuts and reduces blade replacement costs by up to 25% for service centres cutting high-strength steel.

Precision Gauges and Measuring Instruments

SKD1's superior dimensional stability makes it a perfect fit for precision measuring and calibrating tools. Stress relieved and stabilised, parts maintain micron-level tolerances even with temperature fluctuations. Metrology equipment manufacturers use it as a reference gauge for long-term calibration accuracy.

Wire Rolling Dies

SKD1 excels in wire rolling applications where surface wear is critical. Precise contours are maintained under high cyclic loads, ensuring consistent thread quality over long production cycles. Fastener manufacturers using SKD1 wire rolling dies have seen a 50% increase in die life in high strength material applications.

Industry-Specific Applications

1. Automotive Manufacturing: High Strength Steel Stamping Dies, Dressing Dies, Forming Tools
2. Aerospace: Precision Forming Tools, Specialty Cutting Tools, Measuring Equipment
3. Electronics: Connector Manufacturing Progressive Dies, Precision Punching Heads
4. Fastener Manufacturing: Rolling Dies, Cold Heading Dies, Dressing Tools
5. Appliance Manufacturing: Large Sheet Metal Component Stamping/Molding Dies
6. Plastic Moulding: Injection Moulded Inserts Exposed to Abrasive Compounds
7. Metalworking: Industrial Cutting tools, slitting tools, shearing blades

SKD1 Tool Steel Competitive Advantage Comparison

Performance Attributes	FCS's SKD1 Tool Steel	Generic High Carbon Steel
Wear Resistance	Excellent (Class A)	Moderate (Class C)
Edge Retention	Excellent	Average
Dimensional Stability	±0.05%	±0.25%
Hardness Range	58-62 HRC	52-58 HRC
Corrosion Resistance	Good	Poor
Machinability (Annealed)	50-55%	60-65%
Heat Treatment Response	Highly Consistent	Variable
Through-Hardening Capacity	Excellent	Limited
Total Lifecycle Cost	Lowest	Highest

SKD1 Tool Steel Customer Success Stories

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SKD1 Tool Steel Pricing Structure Information

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SKD1 Tool Steel Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How does SKD1 compare with D2 and A2 tool steels?
A:SKD1 wear resistance is superior to D2 and A2, hardness is 2-3 HRC higher than typical D2; heat treatment dimensional stability is superior to A2, cutting edge retention is superior to both.SKD1 chromium content is higher than A2 (good corrosion resistance), and the toughness after optimisation of the composition is superior to that of standard D2.

Q:Can SKD1 be processed in hardened state?
A:SKD1 is mainly processed in the annealed state (220-250 HB), and can also be processed in the hardened state: EDM is preferred for complex features; grinding, CBN hard turning, and carbide drilling are also feasible (depending on the parameters). Suggestions for key features: leave 0.1-0.2mm machining allowance in the annealed state, and finish grind after hardening.

Q:Precautions for storage of SKD1 parts?
A:They should be stored in a low humidity environment and rust inhibitor should be applied to exposed surfaces. VCI (Vapour Phase Inhibition) packaging is recommended for long term storage. Clean machining fluids, dry thoroughly, and lightly coat with protective oil; sealed packaging + desiccant (to prevent condensation from temperature fluctuations) is recommended for critical parts.