1.2601 Tool Steel |X165CrMoV12

1.2601 Tool Steel |X165CrMoV12 Product Introduction

1.2601 Tool Steel

1.2601 Tool Steel is a high-carbon, high-chromium cold work tool steel according to the German DIN standard (corresponding to grade X165CrMoV12) and belongs to the category of Rheinitic steels. Its chemical composition is based on carbon (1.55-1.75%) and chromium (11.00-12.00%), with molybdenum (0.50-0.70%) and vanadium (0.10-0.50%) added to optimise the carbide distribution. hardenability, high hardness (≥58 HRC after quenching) and excellent wear resistance and microdeformation characteristics, through the vacuum refining technology to ensure material cleanliness.

X165CrMoV12 tool steel

X165CrMoV12 Tool Steel is an equivalent grade of 1.2601 steel, which is also classified as a high-alloyed cold work tool steel in accordance with the German DIN 17350 standard. The composition range is consistent with 1.2601, with emphasis on high carbon (1.55-1.75%) and high chromium (11.00-12.00%) design, supplemented by molybdenum and vanadium to enhance thermal stability and wear resistance; physical properties include a density of 7.7 g/cm³, a coefficient of thermal expansion of 11.5 x 10 -Physical properties include a density of 7.7 g/cm³, a coefficient of thermal expansion of 11.5 x 10⁶/K, a hardness of 60-63 HRC after heat treatment, and good dimensional stability and hardenability.

1.2601 Tool Steel |X165CrMoV12 Product Types and Options

The table below shows the size range, surface condition and tolerance details for 1.2601/X165CrMoV12 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

1.2601 Tool Steel |X165CrMoV12 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. 1.2601,X165CrMoV12 Cold Work Tool Steel Electroslag Remelting (ESR): premium option with higher purity and isotropic properties for critical applications.

1.2601 Tool Steel |X165CrMoV12 Chemical Composition

Standard/Steel Grade		Chemical Composition(%)
		C	Si	Mn	Cr	Mo	V
DIN/W-Nr.	X165CrMoV12/1.2601	1.55~1.75	0.25~0.40	0.20~0.40	11.00~12.00	0.50~0.70	0.10~0.50
GB	Cr12MoV	1.45~1.70	≤0.40	≤0.40	11.00~12.50	0.40~0.60	0.15~0.30
ГOСТ	X12MΦ	1.45~1.65	0.10~0.40	0.15~0.45	11.00~12.50	0.40~0.60	0.15~0.30

1.2601 Tool Steel |X165CrMoV12 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.

T1 Tool Steel |1.3355 | S18-0-1 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.

1.2601 Tool Steel |X165CrMoV12 Technical Specifications

Properties	Specifications	Test Methods
Density	7.70 g/cm³	ASTM B311
Annealed Hardness	≤ 255 HB	ASTM E10
Hardness after Heat Treatment	58-62 HRC	ASTM E18
Compressive Strength	2,200 MPa	ASTM E9
Tensile Strength	850-950 MPa (annealed condition)	ASTM E8
Young's Modulus	210 GPa	ASTM E111
Thermal Conductivity	20 W/m·K	ASTM E1461
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion	10.5 x 10⁻⁶/K (20-400°C)	ASTM E228
Electrical Resistivity	0.65 μΩ·m	ASTM B193
Relative Machinability	40-45% (1212 steel = 100%)	Comparative Testing
Corrosion Resistance	Moderate (better than low-chromium steels)	ASTM B117

1.2601 Tool Steel |X165CrMoV12 Product Applications

Key application scenarios

1.Stamping and deburring dies

X165CrMoV12 tool steel excels in high-volume stamping and deburring operations, and is particularly well suited for processing abrasive or high-strength materials. Its combination of high wear resistance and compressive strength enables the production of precision parts while minimising edge wear. An automotive parts supplier uses 1.2601 stamping dies to machine high-strength steels, increasing tool life by 45% and reducing downtime by 30%.

2. Cold forming and deep drawing tools

The excellent dimensional stability and surface hardness of 1.2601 tool steel make it ideal for complex cold forming and deep drawing applications. The material maintains precise geometry even under high stress loads, ensuring consistent part quality throughout the tool life cycle. Precision sheet metal fabricators using X165CrMoV12 forming tools have seen maintenance intervals extended by 35-40%, and the surface quality of finished products significantly improved.

3. Wire Rolling Dies

Wire rolling operations require materials with excellent wear resistance and surface stability. X165CrMoV12 provides high hardness and edge retention for high-volume wire rolling production while maintaining dimensional accuracy. Industrial fastener manufacturers use our 1.2601 wire rollers to produce more than 500,000 pieces in a single run without rework, a 25% improvement over previous tooling solutions.

4. Industrial Shear Blades

The combination of high hardness, wear resistance and appropriate toughness makes 1.2601 steel an ideal material for industrial shear applications. Its ability to maintain a sharp edge and resist chipping significantly extends blade life. Metal fabricators use X165CrMoV12 shear blades to cut high-strength alloys with 50-60% longer life.

5. Precision blanking tools

X165CrMoV12's excellent edge retention and dimensional stability make it particularly valuable in precision blanking, where precision is a key requirement. The material's consistent behaviour over multiple heat treatment cycles ensures reliable production of complex parts. Precision component manufacturers have achieved scrap rates of less than 0.5 per cent and tool life increases of 30-35 per cent with the adoption of 1.2601 precision blanking tools.

6. Powder Compaction Tooling

For powder metallurgy applications, X165CrMoV12 provides the necessary wear resistance and compressive strength to withstand the abrasion of metal powders under high pressure. Its dimensional stability ensures consistent compaction geometry over long production runs. Powder metallurgy producers have experienced 60% longer tool life and improved part density consistency with 1.2601 dies.

Industry-specific applications

1. Automotive Manufacturing: high-volume stamping dies for chassis components, progressive dies for complex sheet metal parts, wire rolling dies for fastener production, precision blanking tools for transmission components, cold extrusion dies for steering and drive components.
2. Aerospace Industry: precision forming tools for thin-walled parts, special cutting tools for high-strength alloys, drop forging dies for landing gear components, wire rolling dies for special fasteners, blanking tools for turbine components.
3. Electronics Manufacturing: microstamping tools for connector assemblies, progressive dies for leadframes, precision blanking punches for precision electronic housings, embossing dies for heat sinks and mounting brackets, shearing tools for circuit board materials.
4. Medical Device Manufacturing: precision forming tools for surgical instruments, cutting punches for implantable device components, rolling dies for orthopaedic screws, imprinting dies for prosthetic components, stretching dies for medical tubing.
5. General Industrial Applications: industrial shear blades for sheet metal working, cold heading dies for fastener production, powder compaction dies for sintered components, roll dies for profile forming, mandrels for tube stretching.

1.2601 Tool Steel |X165CrMoV12 Competitive Advantage Comparison

Performance Attributes	X165CrMoV12/1.2601 Tool Steel (FCS Factory)	X165CrMoV12/1.2601 Tool Steel (Market Standard)
Wear Resistance	Excellent (9/10)	Good (7/10)
Edge Retention	Excellent (9/10)	Good (7.5/10)
Dimensional Stability	Excellent (9/10)	Good (7/10)
Toughness	Moderate (5.5/10)	Moderate (5/10)
Corrosion Resistance	Good (7/10)	Moderate (6/10)
Machinability (Annealed Condition)	Moderate (5/10)	Moderate (5.5/10)
Heat Treatment Complexity	Moderate	Moderate
Relative Material Cost	1.2x	1.0x
Total Cost of Ownership	Low	Moderate

1.2601 Tool Steel |X165CrMoV12 Customer Success Stories

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T1 Tool Steel |1.3355 | S18-0-1 Pricing Structure Information

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1.2601 Tool Steel |X165CrMoV12 Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between X165CrMoV12 and D2 (1.2379) tool steel?
A: X165CrMoV12 has a higher carbon (1.65% vs. 1.5%) and chromium (12% vs. 11.5%) content than D2 with optimised molybdenum and vanadium additions. This results in better wear resistance, heat treatable dimensional stability and edge retention in cutting applications. Our materials typically have 30-45% longer tool life in comparable applications.

Q: Can X165CrMoV12 be machined in the hardened condition?
A: While machining with appropriate carbide tools or EDM is feasible, machining in the annealed condition (230-250 HB) is recommended for best results. Hard state machining should be limited to final finishing operations and material removal should be minimised. EDM is effective in the hardened condition if necessary.

Q: What surface finishes are compatible with this material?
A: X165CrMoV12 is an ideal substrate for a variety of surface treatments, including PVD coatings (TiN, TiCN, TiAlN, CrN), CVD coatings, and nitriding processes. 12% chromium content provides good corrosion resistance that complements these surface treatments. Specific preparation protocols for each coating type can be found in the Surface Finish Compatibility Guide.

Q: How does the material perform in thermal cycling applications?
A: The balanced alloy composition of X165CrMoV12 provides good resistance to thermal fatigue up to approximately 500°C. The material maintains structural integrity and hardness better than standard cold work tool steels during repeated thermal cycling and is suitable for moderate thermal stress applications. For severe thermal cycling applications, it is recommended that the technical team be consulted for special variants.