SKD2 Tool Steel

SKD2 is a high-carbon, high-chromium cold work mould steel conforming to the Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS G 4404-2006) and is classified as a Rheinitic steel among alloy tool steels. Its chemical composition is based on high carbon and high chromium, supplemented by molybdenum, manganese, silicon and other elements, while strictly controlling the content of phosphorus and sulfur impurities. It has high hardenability and low thermal conductivity (about 13.3 W/m-K at 23°C).

SKD2 forms a martensitic-based organisation after heat treatment by quenching (oil cooling at 960-1000°C) and tempering (180-350°C), with diffusely distributed chromium carbides giving it very high hardness and wear resistance (up to 62-64 HRC after heat treatment), but relatively low impact toughness.137 Its material hardness is 230-255 HBW in the hardened state, with high hardenability and low thermal conductivity (about 13.3 W/m-K at 23°C)1910 . Relatively low impact toughness. The essence of its material design is to use high chromium carbides to enhance wear resistance and dimensional stability, suitable for high load conditions at room temperature, but plasticity is limited.

FCS offers SKD2 tool steel to provide superior performance for high stress applications including drop dies, molding tools and precision cutting tools. It is available in a wide range of forms, including round and plate, and comes with custom machining and heat treating services.

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SKD2 Tool Steel Product Introduction

SKD2 Tool Steel

SKD2 tool steel is a Japanese JIS standard high-carbon, high-chromium cold work die steel, belonging to the Rheinzite steel type, corresponding to German DIN grade 1.2436 (X210CrW12), American ASTM/AISI grade D2, and Chinese GB grade Cr12Mo1V.SKD2 tool steel excels in applications that require excellent wear resistance, high compressive strength, and good dimensional stability. FCS TOOL STEEL as a trusted supplier of SKD2 steel, we offer a wide range of general-purpose materials in various forms, including plates and round bars.

SKD2 Tool Steel Types and Options

SKD2 Tool Steel Types and Options

The table below shows the size range, surface condition and tolerance details for SKD2 Mould Steel:SKD2 Tool Steel Types and Options

SKD2 Tool Steel Customized Options

SKD2 Tool Steel Types and 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. SKD2 Tool Steel Electroslag Remelting (ESR): premium option with higher purity and isotropic properties for critical applications.

SKD2 Tool Steel Chemical Composition

SKD2 Tool Steel Chemical Composition

SKD2 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.

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.

SKD2 Tool Steel Quality Inspection

SKD5 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.

SKD2 Tool Steel Technical Specifications

SKD2 Tool Steel Technical Specifications

SKD2 Tool Steel Product Applications

Main application scenarios

Drop and Stamping Dies

SKD2 tool steel excels in drop and stamping applications where edge retention and wear resistance are critical. A major automotive parts manufacturer uses our SKD2 drop dies for high-volume production, reporting 40% longer sharpening intervals and a 30% reduction in tooling replacement costs compared to the previous material.

Cold Forming Tools

SKD2's high compressive strength and wear resistance make it ideal for cold forming applications. An industrial fastener manufacturer used our custom machined SKD2 forming tools in a cold heading operation, significantly reducing the frequency of tool changes and maintaining consistent part dimensions, even after hundreds of thousands of cycles.

Cutting Tools and Shear Knives

For industrial cutting tools that process high-strength materials, SKD2 offers superior edge retention and durability. A metal fabrication facility uses our heat-treated SKD2 shear blades to cut stainless steel strip with less blade maintenance downtime and more accurate cuts than with previous tool materials.

Plastic Mold Components

SKD2 provides superior wear protection in plastic molding applications where abrasive fillers are present. A precision parts molder used our SKD2 inserts in glass-filled nylon components and reported minimal cavity wear and consistent part dimensions, even after millions of injection cycles.

Industry-specific applications

  1. Automotive manufacturing: stamping dies, trimming tools and forming dies for high-volume sheet metal parts.
  2. Aerospace industry: precision cutting tools, special alloy forming dies and measuring fixtures.
  3. Electronics manufacturing: progressive dies for connector assemblies and fine blanking tools for precision parts.
  4. Heavy machinery: wear plates, cutting edges and tools for high-stress parts.
  5. Medical device manufacturing: precision cutting tools and forming dies for surgical instruments.

SKD2 Tool Steel Competitive Advantage Comparison

SKD2 Tool Steel Competitive Advantage Comparison

SKD2 Tool Steel Customer Success Stories

Skip the middleman link, source factory purchasing, reduce purchasing cost and improve market competitiveness.

SKD2 Tool Steel Pricing Structure Information

Serving the world, whole cabinet sales, factory wholesale price.

SKD2 Tool Steel Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the main differences between SKD2 and regular D2 tool steels?
A: While both are high-carbon, high-chromium tool steels, SKD2 typically offers more consistent chemical control according to Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS), resulting in more predictable heat treatment response and performance characteristics. These materials are very similar and SKD2 typically exhibits slightly superior wear resistance in controlled tests.

Q: How does SKD2 compare to SKD11 in cold work applications?
A. SKD2 typically provides superior wear resistance but is slightly less tough than SKD11. For high compression, high wear applications with minimal impact, SKD2 typically provides longer service life. Applications with significant shock loading may benefit from the enhanced toughness of SKD11.

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