SKD11 Tool Steel / AISI D2 / DIN 1.2379

SKD11 is an internationally recognised benchmark for high-performance cold work tool steel (compliant with Japanese JIS standards). Its core composition features high carbon (approximately 1.5%) and high chromium (approximately 12%) content, reinforced through the addition of alloying elements such as molybdenum and vanadium. This precise alloy composition, combined with specialised heat treatment processes, endows SKD11 with comprehensive properties far exceeding ordinary tool steels. This makes it the benchmark material for high-demand, high-load mould manufacturing applications.

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Xiri Tool Steel is a leading supplier of SKD11 tool steel (AISI D2) in China. SKD11 is a general-purpose cold-worked die steel with high carbon and high chromium content. It is renowned for its extremely high wear resistance and good hardenability, and is a classic material for cold working dies such as stamping and forming.

Whether you need SKD11 flat bars, D2 steel plates, or 1.2379 forged rounds, we provide custom dimensions with machining or grinding services. Our materials are strictly tested to ensure premium metallurgical structure.

Equivalent Grades of SKD11 Steel

Japan JIS	EU EN	Germany DIN	China GB	USA AISI
SKD11	X153CrMoV12-1	1.2379	Cr12Mo1V1	D2

Chemical Composition of SKD11 tool steel

C	Si	Mn	Cr	P	S	Mo	V
1.40-1.60	0.1-0.40	max 0.60	11.00-13.00	max 0.030	max 0.030	0.60-0.80	0.90-1.10

Supply Form & Size Range of SKD11 tool steel

We supply SKD11 steel in various forms to meet your manufacturing needs:

Round bar: Diameter 10mm – 800mm

Steel Plate / Flat: Thickness 5mm – 400mm x Width 200mm – 800mm

Surface: Black, Peeled, Rough machined or Grinded.

Delivery Condition: Annealed (Hardness 255 HB max.)

Exceptional balance of hardness and toughness: Following quenching and high-temperature tempering (secondary hardening), SKD11 consistently achieves a high hardness of 60-62 HRC. Crucially, its unique internal carbide distribution structure and high purity ensure outstanding toughness alongside this hardness. This effectively resists impact loads and stress concentration, significantly reducing the risk of chipping and cracking during mould operation.

Exceptional Wear Resistance: High chromium content generates abundant fine, hard chromium carbides uniformly dispersed throughout the matrix. These hard particles act as a protective ‘armour’ against wear, substantially reducing dimensional loss caused by material friction and abrasion during operation. This makes SKD11 particularly suited for prolonged, high-volume production applications such as stamping, forming, and shearing, extending tool life exponentially.

Superior heat treatment stability and dimensional stability: SKD11 exhibits excellent hardenability, achieving uniform hardness even in larger cross-sections. Its secondary hardening characteristic (increased hardness after high-temperature tempering) and low tendency for heat treatment distortion ensure high dimensional accuracy and stable, reliable performance in the final mould. It demonstrates outstanding resistance to dimensional changes caused by temperature rise or residual stresses during prolonged use.

Superior compressive strength: SKD11’s high compressive strength is pivotal for demanding applications like cold heading and precision stamping, where it withstands immense pressure without cavities collapsing or deforming.

Leveraging its comprehensive performance advantages, SKD11 has become the material of choice for numerous critical mould applications:

Precision Stamping Dies: Cutting, bending, and forming dies for precision components like electronic connectors, lead frames, and micro-motor cores, demanding sharp and durable cutting edges.

Cold heading dies: High-strength, high-speed cold heading punches and dies for standard fasteners like bolts, nuts, and rivets.

Cold extrusion dies: Punch and die sleeves subjected to immense extrusion stresses.

Shearing tools: Demanding applications including slicing blades, slitting shears, and guillotine blades.

Thread rolling dies and dies: Thread forming tools.

Powder metallurgy dies: Press forming dies demanding high wear resistance and dimensional stability.

Gauges and wear-resistant components: High-precision gauges, fixtures, and other industrial parts requiring exceptional wear resistance and dimensional stability.

Our advantages in Processing SKD11 Tool Steel

Selecting SKD11 offers outstanding performance as a foundation, but consistent, reliable quality is the lifeblood of your continuous production. We fully recognise the critical importance of tool steel quality, establishing a comprehensive quality assurance system throughout production:

Pure Raw Materials and Precise Melting: Strictly selecting high-purity raw materials, employing advanced electric arc furnaces or refining furnaces (e.g., VOD/VAR) to minimise harmful impurities (sulphur, phosphorus) and non-metallic inclusions in molten steel, ensuring purity and homogeneity from the outset.

Forging and rolling process control: Through precise forging and rolling techniques, coarse carbides within the cast structure are thoroughly fragmented. This optimises their morphology and distribution, ensuring fine, uniformly dispersed carbides – crucial for achieving high toughness, wear resistance, and homogeneity.

Rigorous heat treatment processes: Precise control of quenching temperatures (typically 1020–1040°C), holding time, and cooling rate (oil quenching or high-pressure gas quenching), coupled with precise high-temperature tempering (typically two tempering cycles at 520-550°C), fully relieves stresses, stabilises the microstructure, and maximises SKD11’s optimal hardness-toughness balance alongside secondary hardening effects.

Comprehensive Inspection and Verification:

Chemical Composition Analysis: Utilising advanced equipment such as direct-reading spectrometers to ensure each batch’s chemical composition fully complies with JIS SKD11 or stricter in-house control standards.

Hardness and Metallographic Examination: Multi-point hardness testing guarantees uniform hardness compliance; metallographic microscopy examines carbide morphology, distribution, size, and purity (inclusion grading) to evaluate microstructural uniformity and heat treatment efficacy.

Ultrasonic Testing: Non-destructive inspection of critical large-dimension or high-grade materials effectively detects internal cracks, porosity, and other defects, guaranteeing material internal density.

Dimensions and Appearance: Rigorous dimensional tolerance control and surface quality inspection (free from cracks, folds, severe scratches, etc.).

Not sure about the best equivalent for your application?

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Why Manufacturers Choose Huangshi Xiri

Huangshi Xiri combines international-standard steel grades, a complete tool steel portfolio, strict quality control and reliable global supply. We match DIN / JIS / AISI equivalents precisely, offer cutting and heat-treatment services, and control every step from smelting to inspection. With stable capacity, on-time delivery and responsive technical support, we help manufacturers reduce risk, save costs and run production with confidence.

International Standard Grades

We supply tool steel, mold steel and alloy steel produced to DIN, JIS and AISI equivalents. Precise grade matching ensures your engineers receive the same properties they expect: stable hardness, toughness and wear resistance, with mill test certificates and technical support to help you replace or localize imported brands without compromising performance or tool life.

One-Stop Steel Portfolio

Huangshi Xiri offers a full range of cold work, hot work, plastic mould and high-speed tool steels in bars, plates and blocks. We support cutting-to-size, pre-hardening and heat-treatment services, helping mold shops, machining centers and end users reduce preparation time, material waste and processing costs while keeping projects on schedule and within budget.

Strict Quality Control

Every batch follows a controlled route from smelting and forging to heat treatment, grinding and final inspection. Chemical composition, hardness and microstructure are carefully checked to ensure consistent performance in demanding applications. This stable quality helps reduce mold failure, unplanned downtime and rework, giving manufacturers greater confidence in long-term production runs and repeat orders.

Reliable Supply & Service

With a stable production base and logistics network covering more than forty countries, we support both trial orders and long-term framework purchases. Fast response, clear communication and flexible packaging options help you receive materials safely and on time. Our technical and sales teams work together to recommend suitable grades and cost-effective alternatives for your projects.

Contact Us

Contact Huangshi Xiri today for quotations, grade selection and technical support on tool steel, mold steel and alloy steel. Whether you need samples, cutting-to-size service or long-term supply for your projects, our engineers and sales team are ready to respond quickly with professional advice and reliable solutions for your manufacturing needs.

Huangshi Xiri Trading Co., Ltd.