§01
What is X153CrMoV12 steel?
X153CrMoV12 is the workhorse cold work tool steel of European tooling practice, sitting between the very hard but brittle 12 % chromium grades and the tougher, less wear-resistant 5 % chromium grades. Around 1.55 % carbon combines with 12 % chromium to precipitate a dense network of hard chromium carbides, while molybdenum and vanadium refine those carbides and add secondary hardening. What comes out of that is high resistance to abrasive and adhesive wear together with very low dimensional change through hardening, which is why it is specified for precision blanking dies and gauges.
It air hardens in thin sections, which keeps distortion low, and it holds its hardness to about 58 HRC after tempering at 500 °C. That secondary hardening response is the practical reason it accepts nitriding and PVD coating without the core softening.
Common misconceptions
- Not a stainless steel. The 12 % chromium is locked into carbides, not dissolved in the matrix, so no passive layer forms. Tools rust and need oiling or coating in storage. For genuine corrosion resistance in a cold work tool, look at AISI 440C instead.
- Not for hot work. Service above roughly 200 °C softens it. Hot work belongs to H13 / 1.2344.
- Not a high-impact grade. The carbide network that gives it wear resistance also limits toughness. Where shock dominates over abrasion, a 5 % chromium grade such as 1.2363 (A2) or a silicon-manganese grade is the better answer.
On the two names. X153CrMoV12 and 1.2379 are the same steel: one is the EN grade name, the other its EN material number. The superseded DIN 17350:1980 name, still common on older drawings, was X155CrVMo12-1.
Specification summary
- EN designation
- X153CrMoV12EN ISO 4957
- Material number
- 1.2379
- Steel type
- Ledeburitic cold work tool steel12 % Cr, high carbon
- Delivery condition
- Soft annealed≤ 255 HB
- Hardness, hardened
- 62–64 HRC58–62 HRC in service
- Hardening
- 1000–1040 °COil, air or hot bath
- Forging range
- 1050 → 900 °C
- Max forged piece
- 30,000 kgMinimum order 10 kg
§02
Chemical composition of X153CrMoV12 (1.2379)
EN ISO 4957 specifies X153CrMoV12 as 1.45–1.60 % C, 11.00–13.00 % Cr, 0.70–1.00 % Mo and 0.70–1.00 % V, with phosphorus and sulphur each capped at 0.030 %. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal melts to the middle of this window and verifies the analysis at the furnace by optical emission spectrometry before the heat is teemed.
| Element | C | Si | Mn | P | S | Cr | Mo | V |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specified range | 1.45–1.60 | 0.10–0.60 | 0.20–0.60 | ≤ 0.030 | ≤ 0.030 | 11.00–13.00 | 0.70–1.00 | 0.70–1.00 |
| Nominal / typical | 1.55 | 0.30 | 0.35 | 0.020 | 0.015 | 12.00 | 0.85 | 0.85 |
How the composition compares with D2, SKD11 and Cr12Mo1V1
All four grades share one alloy concept: high carbon plus 12 % chromium, with molybdenum and vanadium added. The specified windows differ, and the visible difference is vanadium. EN ISO 4957 holds it in a narrow, relatively high band, while JIS allows SKD11 far less. Higher vanadium refines the carbide structure and lifts wear resistance.
| Element | X153CrMoV12 1.2379 (EN) |
AISI D2 ASTM A681 |
SKD11 JIS G4404 |
Cr12Mo1V1 GB/T 1299 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 1.45–1.60 | 1.40–1.60 | 1.40–1.60 | 1.40–1.60 |
| Si | 0.10–0.60 | ≤ 0.60 | ≤ 0.40 | ≤ 0.60 |
| Mn | 0.20–0.60 | ≤ 0.60 | ≤ 0.60 | ≤ 0.60 |
| P | ≤ 0.030 | ≤ 0.030 | ≤ 0.030 | ≤ 0.030 |
| S | ≤ 0.030 | ≤ 0.030 | ≤ 0.030 | ≤ 0.030 |
| Cr | 11.00–13.00 | 11.00–13.00 | 11.00–13.00 | 11.00–13.00 |
| Mo | 0.70–1.00 | 0.70–1.20 | 0.80–1.20 | 0.70–1.20 |
| V | 0.70–1.00 | 0.50–1.10 | 0.20–0.50 | 0.50–1.10 |
| Ni | not specified | not specified | ≤ 0.50 | not specified |
| Cu | not specified | not specified | ≤ 0.25 | not specified |
Practical consequence: a tool ordered simply as “D2” can legitimately arrive with 0.50 % vanadium, at the bottom of the ASTM band. If wear life matters, order against EN ISO 4957 X153CrMoV12 and state the vanadium requirement on the purchase order. On chemistry alone the closest Japanese grade is SKD10 rather than SKD11, though SKD11 is the grade actually stocked and substituted in practice.
§03
International equivalents and cross-reference
The same steel is sold under at least a dozen national designations and as many proprietary trade names. The table below maps them. Equivalences are for identification; where a specification is contractual, order to the named standard rather than to an equivalent.
| Standard or producer | Designation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EN ISO 4957 (Europe) | X153CrMoV12 · 1.2379 | The governing designation used on this page |
| DIN 17350:1980 (Germany) | X155CrVMo12-1 | Superseded; still appears on legacy drawings |
| ASTM A681 / AISI (USA) | D2 · UNS T30402 | Wider Mo and V windows than EN |
| SAE (USA) | J437 · J438 type D2 | Tool steel standards referencing AISI D2 |
| JIS G4404 (Japan) | SKD11 | Lower vanadium; SKD10 is the closer chemistry |
| GB/T 1299 (China) | Cr12Mo1V1 | Cr12MoV is a related but leaner grade, not an equal |
| BS 4659 (UK) | BD2 | National standard superseded by EN ISO 4957 |
| AFNOR NF (France) | Z160CDV12 | National standard superseded by EN ISO 4957 |
| UNI (Italy) | X155CrVMo12-1 KU | National standard superseded by EN ISO 4957 |
| SS (Sweden) | 2310 | National standard superseded by EN ISO 4957 |
| GOST (Russia) | Kh12MF · Х12МФ | Approximate; verify analysis before substituting |
| PN (Poland) | NC11LV | National standard superseded by EN ISO 4957 |
| Böhler | K110 | Trade name |
| Uddeholm | Sverker 21 | Trade name |
| ASSAB | XW-42 | Trade name |
| Hitachi | SLD | Trade name |
| Daido | DC11 | Trade name |
Ordering across standards. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal melts to customer chemistry, so a single order can be certified to EN ISO 4957, ASTM A681 or GB/T 1299 as the drawing requires. State the governing standard on the enquiry and the melt is aimed at that window rather than reconciled to it afterwards.
§04
Physical and mechanical properties
Density is 7.70 g/cm³ at 20 °C and the modulus of elasticity is 210 GPa, falling to about 180 GPa at 400 °C. Thermal conductivity is low for a steel at roughly 20 W/(m·K), which is why heavy sections need slow, stepped heating to avoid cracking.
| Property | 20 °C | 200 °C | 400 °C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density, g/cm³ | 7.70 | 7.65 | 7.60 |
| Modulus of elasticity, GPa | 210 | 200 | 180 |
| Thermal conductivity, W/(m·K) | 20.0 | 21.0 | 23.0 |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion from 20 °C, ×10⁻⁶ /K | not applicable | 11.5 | 12.2 |
| Specific heat capacity, J/(kg·K) | 460 | not stated | not stated |
| Condition | Hardness | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Soft annealed, as delivered | ≤ 255 HB | Machinable condition; the standard supply state |
| As quenched from 1020–1040 °C | 62–64 HRC | Before tempering; retained austenite present |
| Hardened and low tempered (180–250 °C) | 60–62 HRC | Maximum hardness route, blanking and forming tools |
| Hardened and high tempered (500–540 °C) | 58–60 HRC | Secondary hardening route, before nitriding or PVD |
| Typical working hardness | 58–62 HRC | Set by the balance of wear life against chipping risk |
Values are typical and indicative, gathered for design guidance. They are not a substitute for testing on the delivered section. Every forging leaves Jiangyin with a measured hardness and a mechanical test report against the order.
§05
Heat treatment of X153CrMoV12
The complete route is forge at 1050–900 °C, soft anneal at 820–860 °C, stress relieve at 600–650 °C after rough machining, harden from 1000–1040 °C and temper at least twice for two hours each. The grade is crack sensitive because of its ledeburitic carbide network, so every heating step is slow and stepped.
| Operation | Temperature | Procedure | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forging | 1050 → 900 °C | Preheat slowly to 650–750 °C and equalise, then raise to forging heat. Stop reduction before 900 °C. Cool slowly in the furnace. | Worked structure, carbide network broken up |
| Soft annealing | 820–860 °C | Hold through section, cool at 10–20 °C per hour to 600 °C in the furnace, then air cool. | ≤ 255 HB |
| Stress relieving | 600–650 °C | After rough machining. Hold 2 hours, cool slowly in the furnace. | Machining stresses removed before hardening |
| Hardening | 1000–1040 °C | Preheat in two stages at 600–650 °C and 850–900 °C. Soak 20–30 minutes at temperature. Quench in oil, still or pressurised gas, or a hot bath at 500–550 °C. | 62–64 HRC as quenched |
| Deep freezing (optional) | −70 to −80 °C | Immediately after quenching, before tempering. Hold 3–4 hours, return to room temperature, then temper without delay. | +1 to +3 HRC, improved dimensional stability |
| Tempering, low | 180–250 °C | Minimum two cycles of 2 hours, cooling to room temperature between cycles. | 60–62 HRC |
| Tempering, secondary peak | 500–540 °C | Minimum two, preferably three cycles of 2 hours. Use where nitriding or PVD coating follows. | 58–60 HRC |
| Nitriding | 470–550 °C | After all grinding and EDM work. Temper above the nitriding temperature first. | ≈ 700–800 HV surface |
Tempering response
X153CrMoV12 shows a secondary hardening peak near 500 °C, where fine alloy carbides precipitate and hardness recovers rather than falling away. That is what makes the high-temperature tempering route viable and is the reason the grade tolerates a coating cycle.
| Tempering temperature, °C | 100 | 200 | 300 | 400 | 450 | 500 | 525 | 550 | 600 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardness, HRC | 63 | 61 | 59 | 58 | 58 | 59 | 58 | 55 | 50 |
Never temper once. A single tempering cycle leaves untransformed retained austenite that converts on cooling and puts the tool back into a stressed, brittle state. Two cycles minimum, three when tempering at the secondary peak.
Machining and grinding notes
- Machinability in the annealed condition is roughly 45–55 % of a 1 % carbon plain tool steel, limited by abrasive chromium carbides. Use rigid setups and carbide or coated carbide tooling.
- Avoid dwelling. The surface work hardens quickly; a stalled feed produces a hard skin that destroys the next cutting edge.
- Sequence matters. Rough machine, stress relieve at 600–650 °C, finish machine, then harden. Skipping the stress relief is the most common cause of distortion complaints.
- Grinding after hardening needs a soft, open wheel, light passes and generous coolant. Grinding burn on this grade produces surface cracks that only show up as early tool failure.
- EDM leaves a recast white layer that must be stress relieved or removed by polishing before the tool goes into service.
§06
Typical applications
X153CrMoV12 is specified wherever abrasive wear governs tool life and impact loading is moderate, principally in sheet metal working, cold forming and cutting. It is the default choice for blanking dies in material up to about 6 mm thick.
Blanking and punching
Blanking dies, punches, punch retainers, trim dies, piercing tools, fine blanking tools and lamination dies for electrical sheet.
Forming and drawing
Deep drawing tools, forming dies, bending dies, flanging and straightening rolls, cold extrusion dies, coining dies, drawing dies.
Cutting and shearing
Shear blades, slitting cutters, rotary cutting dies, granulator and shredder blades, scrap chopper knives, plate cutting dies, machine knives.
Rolling and threading
Thread rolling dies and jaws, knurling tools, cold rolling rolls, tube section forming rolls, seaming rolls, die chasers.
Moulds and wear parts
Mould plates and inserts for abrasive and glass-filled plastics, wear plates, sliding guides, jaw holders, guide rails, powder compacting dies.
Measuring and misc.
Gauges and fixtures needing dimensional stability, burnishing tools, reamers, sandblast nozzles, injection screw tip components.
Where to choose something else
| Grade | Relative to X153CrMoV12 | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|
| 1.2080 / D3 | Higher wear resistance, no Mo or V, markedly less tough, oil hardening only | Pure abrasion with no shock and simple geometry; largely displaced by 1.2379 |
| 1.2363 / A2 | 5 % Cr, tougher, less wear resistant, better through-hardening in thick sections | Impact and chipping dominate over abrasion, or sections are heavy |
| 1.2767 | Ni-Cr, much tougher, lower hardness ceiling | Heavy blanking of thick plate, cold heading dies, high shock |
| H13 / 1.2344 | Hot work grade; retains hardness at temperature but far less wear resistant cold | Service above ~200 °C: die casting, hot forging, extrusion |
| PM cold work grades | Finer, more uniform carbides; better toughness and wear resistance together; higher cost | High volume production where tool change cost exceeds the material premium |
§07
Forged X153CrMoV12 product forms and sizes
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal melts this grade in-house and open-die forges it, with no purchased billet of unknown origin. Tool steel heats run through the medium-frequency induction furnaces, and where cleanliness governs, through the protective-atmosphere electroslag remelting route. Steel is then forged, heat treated in one of fourteen furnaces, machined and tested without leaving the site.
Forms supplied
- Round bars: forged and peeled or black, soft annealed
- Flat bars, square bars and plates: cut to length or to size
- Die blocks and mould blocks: six-face machined on request
- Discs and blanks: upset forged, proof machined for ultrasonic testing
- Seamless rolled rings and forged rings: rectangular or contoured section
- Hollow bars, sleeves, bushing blanks and bored cylinders: bored from solid forged blanks, never welded
- Rolls, rollers and shafts: for cold and semi-hot rolling applications
| Product | Size limit | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Seamless rolled rings | up to OD 6,000 mm | 6 m radial-axial ring mill |
| Discs, blocks and plates | up to Ø5,000 mm machined | Ø5,000 mm vertical turning lathe |
| Bars, rolls and shafts | up to 14,000 mm turned length | C61160 horizontal lathe |
| Bored hollows and sleeves | up to Ø1,600 × 10,000 mm | CNC deep-hole drilling machine |
| Single-piece weight | up to 30,000 kg | 6,300 t hydraulic press; 60 t maximum heat |
| Minimum order | 10 kg, no minimum piece count | Batched to share furnace and setup time |
| Lead time | 20–60 days from order confirmation | Longer where a remelting step is specified |
Cold work tooling rarely approaches these limits. They are stated because they define what is possible, and because large mould plates, roll bodies and shredder rotor components in this grade do sit at the upper end.
Delivery condition and documentation
Standard delivery is soft annealed at 255 HB maximum, in the as-forged, rough machined or finish machined condition as ordered. Hardening and tempering to a specified HRC can be carried out before shipment. EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates are supplied as standard, covering melt analysis, hardness, heat treatment record and dimensional report; EN 10204 3.2 certificates witnessed by a classification society or by SGS, TÜV or the customer's own inspector are available on request.
Because the steel is melted on site, the certificate traces each piece back to its melt number rather than stopping at a purchased billet. The works holds CCS, BV, DNV, LR and NK classification society approvals and runs its own laboratory: optical emission spectrometry, infrared carbon and sulphur analysis, tensile and Charpy impact testing, ultrasonic and magnetic particle inspection, and metallography for grain size and carbide distribution.
§08
Frequently asked questions about X153CrMoV12
What is X153CrMoV12 steel?
X153CrMoV12 is a ledeburitic high-carbon, high-chromium cold work tool steel specified in EN ISO 4957 under material number 1.2379. Nominal composition is 1.55 % carbon, 12 % chromium, 0.85 % molybdenum and 0.85 % vanadium. It is supplied soft annealed at 255 HB maximum and reaches 60 HRC or more after hardening, with a typical working hardness of 58–62 HRC. It is used for blanking, forming, drawing and thread rolling tools, shear blades and wear parts.
Is X153CrMoV12 the same as 1.2379?
Yes. X153CrMoV12 is the name of the grade and 1.2379 is its material number; both identify the same steel in EN ISO 4957. The older DIN 17350:1980 designation was X155CrVMo12-1, which still appears on legacy drawings and older stock certificates.
Is X153CrMoV12 equivalent to AISI D2?
X153CrMoV12 is the accepted European equivalent of AISI D2 (UNS T30402), and the two are interchangeable for most tooling. The compositions are not identical. EN ISO 4957 fixes vanadium at 0.70–1.00 % and molybdenum at 0.70–1.00 %, while ASTM A681 allows D2 a wider 0.50–1.10 % vanadium and 0.70–1.20 % molybdenum.
For critical tooling, order against EN ISO 4957 rather than relying on the equivalence alone. A bar supplied as D2 can legitimately sit at the bottom of the vanadium band.
What hardness can X153CrMoV12 reach?
As quenched from 1020–1040 °C it reaches 62–64 HRC. After tempering it is normally used at 58–62 HRC. Tempering at 180–250 °C gives the highest hardness and is the usual choice for blanking and forming tools. Tempering at 500–540 °C uses the secondary hardening peak to hold about 58–60 HRC while raising the tempering temperature above any later nitriding or PVD coating cycle.
In the soft annealed delivery condition, hardness is 255 HB maximum.
Is X153CrMoV12 stainless or corrosion resistant?
No. Despite containing about 12 % chromium, X153CrMoV12 is not a stainless steel. Most of the chromium is tied up in hard chromium carbides rather than dissolved in the matrix, so there is not enough free chromium to form a passive layer. Tools will rust and must be oiled or coated in storage. Where genuine corrosion resistance is needed in a cold work tool, a martensitic stainless grade such as AISI 440C is the alternative.
What is the difference between X153CrMoV12 and SKD11?
Both are 12 % chromium cold work tool steels of the D2 family, but the vanadium window differs. EN ISO 4957 specifies 0.70–1.00 % vanadium for X153CrMoV12, while JIS G4404 allows SKD11 only 0.20–0.50 %. Higher vanadium refines the carbide structure and improves wear resistance. The Japanese grade closest to X153CrMoV12 on chemistry is actually SKD10, though SKD11 is far more widely stocked and is the usual substitution in practice.
What temperature is X153CrMoV12 forged at?
Forging runs from 1050 °C down to a finishing temperature of about 900 °C. The steel is preheated slowly to 650–750 °C, equalised, then raised to forging heat. Because ledeburitic carbides make the grade crack sensitive, reduction must stop before the piece falls below roughly 900 °C. The forging is then cooled slowly in the furnace and soft annealed at 820–860 °C to reach the 255 HB maximum delivery condition.
Can X153CrMoV12 be nitrided or PVD coated?
Yes, and it responds well to both because it secondary hardens. Nitriding at 470–550 °C produces a surface of roughly 700–800 HV. For PVD coating, harden and then temper at 500–540 °C so that the tempering temperature sits above the coating temperature, which prevents the core softening during the coating cycle. Nitride after all grinding and EDM work is complete.
What forms and sizes of X153CrMoV12 does Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal supply?
Open-die forged round bars, flat and square bars, die blocks, discs, seamless rolled and forged rings, and bored hollow sections such as sleeves and bushing blanks. The plant envelope allows rings to 6,000 mm outside diameter on the 6 m radial-axial mill, discs and blocks machined to 5,000 mm diameter, bored sections to 1,600 mm diameter by 10,000 mm long, and a maximum single forged piece of 30 tonnes. Minimum order is 10 kg with no minimum piece count.
How is X153CrMoV12 machined in the annealed condition?
Machinability is roughly 45–55 % of a 1 % carbon plain tool steel because of the abrasive chromium carbides. Use rigid setups, carbide or coated carbide tooling, moderate speeds and positive feeds, and avoid dwelling, which work hardens the surface.
Rough machine, stress relieve at 600–650 °C, then finish machine before hardening to control distortion. Grinding after hardening should use a soft, open wheel and generous coolant to avoid grinding cracks.
Should X153CrMoV12 tools be cryogenically treated?
Deep freezing to between −70 and −80 °C for 3–4 hours immediately after quenching and before tempering converts retained austenite to martensite, typically adding 1–3 HRC and improving dimensional stability. It is worth doing for gauges and precision dies. It is not recommended for complex shapes with sharp section changes, where the added stress raises the risk of cracking.
What certification is supplied with X153CrMoV12 forgings?
EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates are supplied as standard, covering melt analysis, hardness, heat treatment record and dimensional report. EN 10204 3.2 certificates witnessed by a classification society or a third-party body such as SGS or TÜV are available on request.
Because Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal melts its own steel, traceability runs from the melt number through forging and heat treatment to shipment rather than stopping at a purchased billet certificate. The works holds CCS, BV, DNV, LR and NK approvals.
§09
Request a quotation for X153CrMoV12 forgings
Quotations are prepared from a drawing or a written specification, normally within two working days. Sending the items below in the first email removes a round trip.
| # | Item | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grade and governing standard | X153CrMoV12 to EN ISO 4957 (or AISI D2 to ASTM A681) |
| 2 | Form, dimensions or drawing | Die block 600 × 400 × 150 mm, six faces machined |
| 3 | Quantity and repeat volume | 8 pcs, approx. 3 × per year |
| 4 | Delivery condition | Soft annealed ≤ 255 HB, or hardened and tempered to 60 ± 1 HRC |
| 5 | Testing requirements | Ultrasonic to EN 10228-3; carbide distribution per ASTM E112 |
| 6 | Certification and destination port | EN 10204 3.2 witnessed by SGS · Hamburg |
Sales & engineering
Send a drawing or a specification and an English-speaking engineer will respond. Customer audits, pre-shipment inspections and third-party witness testing are welcome at the works.
- Company
- Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd.
- Plant address
- No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town,
Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province 214423, China - Telephone · WhatsApp · WeChat
- +86 189 2135 9659
- Business hours
- Monday–Saturday, 08:00–17:30 China Standard Time (UTC+8)
- Getting here
- Wuxi Shuofang International Airport 30 km · Shanghai airports 160 km · Export via Zhangjiagang and Shanghai
Related tool and die steels
- H13 hot work tool steel
- 1.2344 (X40CrMoV5-1)
- 1.2888 (X20CoCrWMo10-9)
- 1.2327
- All tool & die steel grades
- Forged bars & blocks
- Seamless rolled rings
Data sheet reviewed: 19 September 2026 · Compiled by the metallurgical department of Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. against EN ISO 4957, ASTM A681, JIS G4404 and GB/T 1299. Property values are typical and indicative for design guidance; order-specific values are confirmed on the mill test certificate for the delivered heat.