AISI D3 tool steel

Introduction

We manufacture forging ingots, billets, and blooms in tool steel specifically for AISI D3, designed for extreme wear resistance in cold working applications requiring high surface hardness and dimensional stability.

Aisi D3 is a high-carbon, high-chromium tool steel with very high wear resistance and excellent hardness retention. It is specially engineered for applications that demand long tool life under abrasive conditions, such as shearing, blanking, and forming operations.

The high chromium content provides excellent corrosion resistance and wear protection, making it a preferred choice for tough cold work tooling.

Chemical composition

Element	Content (%)	Function / effect
Carbon (c)	1.40 – 1.60	Provides high hardness and wear resistance
Chromium (cr)	11.00 – 13.00	Enhances hardenability, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance
Molybdenum (mo)	0.70 – 1.20	Improves toughness and wear resistance
Vanadium (v)	0.90 – 1.20	Improves wear resistance and refines grain
Manganese (mn)	0.30 – 0.60	Increases toughness and hardness
Silicon (si)	0.20 – 0.50	Improves elasticity and oxidation resistance
Phosphorus (p)	Max 0.030	Controlled to improve toughness
Sulphur (s)	Max 0.030	Controlled for better machinability

Mechanical properties (typical – quenched & tempered)

• Tensile strength: 1200 – 1800 MPa
• Yield strength: 1000 – 1400 MPa
• Hardness: 60 – 67 HRC
• Toughness: Moderate to good

Heat treatment

• Annealing: to soften steel for machinability prior to final processing
• Preheating: gradual heating to avoid cracking during hardening
• Hardening: heat to 980 – 1020°c, followed by oil or air quenching
• Tempering: reheat to 150 – 250°c to relieve internal stresses and improve toughness

Key features and benefits

• Extremely high wear resistance and surface hardness
• Excellent dimensional stability after heat treatment
• Improved corrosion resistance compared to lower chromium steels
• Suitable for heavy-duty cold work applications with high abrasion
• Long tool life and reduced maintenance costs

Typical applications

• High-performance blanking and shearing tools
• Dies for cold forming and stamping
• Cutting and slitting blades
• Wire drawing dies
• Tooling requiring extreme wear resistance

Equivalent steel grades

• Din 1.2080
• Jis skd1
• En 1.2080

Why choose AISI D3 for your application?

Aisi D3 provides exceptional wear resistance and surface hardness, making it ideal for tooling that faces intense abrasive conditions. Its excellent dimensional stability after heat treatment ensures accurate tooling performance and long service life, reducing downtime and maintenance costs.

Comparison table for similar grades

Grade	Carbon (%)	Chromium (%)	Key applications	Comments
Aisi D3	1.40 – 1.60	11.00 – 13.00	Extreme wear resistance tools	Higher hardness and dimensional stability than D2
Aisi D2	1.40 – 1.60	11.00 – 13.00	High wear resistance tools	Good balance of toughness & hardness
Aisi m2	0.85 – 1.05	3.75 – 4.50	High speed cutting tools	High toughness and wear resistance

Summary

Aisi D3 is a high-carbon, high-chromium tool steel optimized for extreme wear resistance applications in cold work tooling. It is widely used in manufacturing dies, cutting tools, and blades that require long-lasting performance under severe abrasive conditions.