D2

Blanking and Punching Dies – Ideal for high-volume stamping due to excellent wear resistance. Shear Blades – Used in cutting operations where long-lasting sharpness is critical. Forming Dies – Handles repeated cold forming with minimal wear. Drawing and Bending Tools – Suitable for tools that experience continuous sliding contact. Thread Rolling Dies – Withstands pressure and wear in threading applications. Industrial Knives – Common in paper, plastic, and food industries for their cutting performance. Cold Extrusion Dies – Maintains dimensional stability and strength under pressure. Plastic Molds (Inserts) – Provides wear resistance in injection molding applications. Wear Strips and Liners – Used in heavy-duty machinery for low-friction, long-lasting performance. Hand Tools and Specialty Knives – Favored by knife makers for edge retention and hardness.

We are a trusted dealer, stockist, and supplier of Cold Work Tool Steel D2, offering high-quality material to meet demanding industrial needs. Our inventory includes D2 steel in round bars, flat bars, and blocks, available in various sizes and finishes.

Annealed Condition: Typically around 200–250 HB (Brinell Hardness) Hardened Condition: After heat treatment, D2 can reach a hardness of 55–62 HRC (Rockwell Hardness) Tempered Condition: Depending on tempering temperature, hardness may slightly reduce but improves toughness and dimensional stability.

Annealing: Heat to 850–900°C Hold until thoroughly soaked Furnace cool slowly to around 600°C, then air cool Result: Softens the steel for improved machinability Hardening: Preheat in two stages: 450–500°C, then 850–870°C Final austenitizing temperature: 1020–1040°C Quench in still air or pressurized gas Result: Achieves high hardness and wear resistance Tempering: Temper immediately after hardening to reduce brittleness Typical range: 150–550°C, depending on desired hardness Double tempering recommended for dimensional stability Result: Balances hardness and toughness Stress Relieving : After rough machining: Heat to 650–700°C, hold for 1–2 hours Air cool Helps reduce internal stresses before hardening

Preheating: Begin with a two-stage preheat: • First stage: 450–500°C •Second stage: 850–870°C This reduces thermal shock and ensures uniform temperature. Austenitizing (Hardening Temperature): Heat to 1020–1040°C Hold at temperature until fully soaked (typically 20–30 minutes depending on section size). Quenching: Quench in still air, pressurized gas, or salt bath (around 500–550°C). D2 is air-hardening, so it cools and hardens in air without the need for oil or water. Tempering (Post-Hardening Step): Temper immediately after quenching. Usually done at 150–550°C, depending on the desired final hardness and toughness.

Preheating: Preheat the steel to 250–400°C to minimize thermal shock. Use Suitable Filler Metal Use high-alloy filler rods specifically made for tool steels or D2-equivalent. Welding Process: Use low-hydrogen processes like TIG (GTAW) or MIG (GMAW) for better control. Keep heat input as low and controlled as possible. Post-Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT): Perform immediate stress relieving or tempering at around 550–600°C. This helps to reduce cracking and restore mechanical properties. Avoid Welding on Hardened D2: If necessary, anneal the part before welding to reduce hardness and brittleness.

Machinability Rating: D2 has a machinability rating of ~50% (relative to free-cutting steels like B1112 = 100%). This means it is tough to cut, especially after heat treatment. Tooling: Use carbide or ceramic cutting tools High-speed steel (HSS) tools can work in the annealed state but wear quickly Maintain rigid setups to avoid chatter Coolant & Lubrication: Always use plenty of coolant (preferably oil-based) to control heat Helps improve tool life and surface finish Annealed State Preferred: Best to machine D2 in the annealed condition (~200 HB) Finish machining should be done before hardening Finish Operations: Grinding or EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) is preferred for hardened parts