d2 tool steel
D2 tool steel stands as a premier high-carbon, high-chromium alloy that has established itself as an industry standard for demanding applications. This versatile material contains approximately 1.5% carbon and 12% chromium, providing exceptional wear resistance and maintaining dimensional stability during heat treatment. The steel's unique composition allows it to achieve high hardness levels between 55-62 HRC while retaining good toughness properties. D2 tool steel excels in applications requiring sharp cutting edges and high wear resistance, making it particularly valuable in manufacturing processes. Its superior performance stems from the formation of carbides during heat treatment, which enhances its wear resistance and edge retention capabilities. The material demonstrates remarkable resistance to abrasive wear and exhibits excellent deep hardening properties, ensuring consistent performance throughout the tool's cross-section. D2 tool steel's balanced combination of hardness and toughness makes it suitable for cold work tooling applications, including blanking dies, forming dies, punches, and industrial knives. The material also shows good resistance to softening at elevated temperatures, though it's primarily designed for cold work applications.