# Z160CDV12 Tool Steel, AFNOR Designation for AISI D2 / DIN 1.2379

Z160CDV12 is the French AFNOR designation, under standard NF A35-590, for a
high-carbon, high-chromium, ledeburitic cold-work tool steel containing roughly
1.6 % carbon and 12 % chromium. It is the recognised equivalent of AISI D2,
DIN/EN 1.2379 (X153CrMoV12), JIS SKD11 and GB Cr12Mo1V1. The grade air-hardens to
60-62 HRC with very little dimensional change, and is specified for tooling where
abrasive wear resistance and shape stability matter more than impact toughness.

Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. is an open-die forging factory in Jiangyin,
Jiangsu Province, China. We forge Z160CDV12 into round bars, flat and square bars,
hollow bars, seamless rolled rings, discs and blocks, supplied soft annealed to
255 HB maximum with EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates.

- Source page: https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Alloy-Steel/Z160CDV12.html
- Manufacturer: Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd.
- Address: No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China
- Telephone: 0086-189-2135-9659
- Email: sales@steelforgepieces.com
- Last updated: 19 September 2026

## Quick reference

| Item | Value |
| --- | --- |
| AFNOR designation | Z160CDV12 (NF A35-590); also written Z160CDV12.1, X160CrMoV12 |
| Steel category | High-carbon high-chromium ledeburitic cold-work tool steel |
| Nearest equivalents | AISI D2, DIN/EN 1.2379, X153CrMoV12, JIS SKD11, GB Cr12Mo1V1, UNS T30402, BS BD2 |
| Typical composition | 1.55 % C, 12.0 % Cr, 0.8 % Mo, 0.8 % V |
| Delivery condition | Soft annealed, 255 HB maximum |
| Hardened hardness | 60 HRC minimum, typically 60-62 HRC |
| Hardening temperature | 960-1030 °C, quenched in air, oil or vacuum |
| Forging temperature | 850-1050 °C, followed by slow furnace cooling |
| Density | 7.70 g/cm³ at 20 °C |
| Weldability | Poor. Repair welding only, with pre-heat and immediate tempering |
| Forged forms supplied | Round, flat and square bars, hollow bars and sleeves, seamless rolled rings, discs, blocks, plates |
| Manufacturer | Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd., Jiangyin, Jiangsu Province, China |

## Equivalent grades by standard

Z160CDV12 belongs to the D2-type family of 12 % chromium cold-work tool steels.
The grades listed below are treated as commercially interchangeable for most
tooling, but the specification windows for vanadium, molybdenum, silicon and
manganese differ slightly between standards. On high-load or long-run dies, check
the mill test certificate before substituting one designation for another.

| Standard | Country / region | Designation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AFNOR NF A35-590 | France | Z160CDV12, Z160CDV12.1, X160CrMoV12 |
| AISI / ASTM A681 / UNS | United States | D2, T30402 |
| DIN / EN ISO 4957 | Germany / EU | 1.2379, X153CrMoV12 (former X155CrVMo12-1) |
| JIS G4404 | Japan | SKD11 |
| GB/T 1299 | China | Cr12Mo1V1 (close: Cr12MoV) |
| BS 4659 | United Kingdom | BD2 |
| UNI | Italy | X155CrVMo121KU |
| UNE | Spain | X160CrMoV12, F.5211 |
| SS | Sweden | SS 2310 |
| GOST | Russia | Kh12MF, nearest equivalent |
| PN | Poland | NC11LV |
| KS | South Korea | STD11 |
| Proprietary brands | — | Böhler K110, Uddeholm Sverker 21, SIHARD 2379 |

Naming convention: in the AFNOR system, Z marks a high-alloy steel, 160 is the
carbon content multiplied by 100 (1.60 %), the letters C, D and V stand for
chromium, molybdenum and vanadium, and the final 12 is the chromium content in
percent.

## Chemical composition

The composition below is the supply specification we apply to forged Z160CDV12.
It conforms to EN ISO 4957 for grade 1.2379 and to ASTM A681 for grade D2. Each
heat is checked by optical emission spectrometry before forging, and the result
is recorded on the mill test certificate.

| Element | C | Si | Mn | P | S | Cr | Mo | V | Ni | W | Cu |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Specified % | 1.50-1.70 | 0.15-0.40 | 0.15-0.45 | 0.030 max | 0.030 max | 11.0-13.0 | 0.70-1.00 | 0.60-0.80 | 0.35 max | 0.20 max | 0.35 max |
| Typical % | 1.55 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.020 | 0.015 | 12.00 | 0.80 | 0.80 | 0.20 | 0.05 | 0.15 |

Chromium combines with the high carbon content to precipitate a large volume of
hard M7C3 carbides. Those carbides give the steel its resistance to abrasive
wear. They also lower thermal conductivity, which helps a cutting edge survive
local overheating in service. Molybdenum raises hardenability and produces the
secondary-hardening response on tempering. Vanadium forms fine, very hard MC
carbides that refine the grain and restrain grain growth while the steel is held
at 1010-1030 °C for austenitising.

## Physical and mechanical properties

| Property | Value | Unit / condition |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Density | 7.70 | g/cm³ at 20 °C |
| Modulus of elasticity | 210 | GPa at 20 °C |
| Thermal conductivity | 20.0 | W/(m·K) at 20 °C |
| Specific heat capacity | 460 | J/(kg·K) at 20 °C |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion | 10.5 / 11.5 | 10⁻⁶·K⁻¹ at 20-100 °C / 20-400 °C |
| Electrical resistivity | 0.65 | Ω·mm²/m at 20 °C |
| Hardness, soft annealed | 255 max | HB, as-delivered condition |
| Hardness, as hardened | 60 min | HRC |
| Typical working hardness | 58-62 | HRC after hardening and tempering |
| Compressive strength | 2000-2500 | MPa at 60-62 HRC |
| Machinability, annealed | 45 | % relative to 1 % C tool steel = 100 % |
| Corrosion resistance | Limited | Slight resistance in dry air; not a stainless steel |
| Weldability | Poor | Repair welding only, pre-heat 300-400 °C |

Values are indicative for the annealed and hardened conditions. They vary with
section size, heat-treatment route and test direction. Certified values for a
specific heat are stated on the mill test certificate issued with the shipment.

## Tempering response

Z160CDV12 shows the secondary-hardening behaviour typical of high-chromium
cold-work tool steels. Hardness falls to a shallow minimum near 350-400 °C,
recovers to a small peak around 500 °C as fine alloy carbides precipitate, then
drops sharply above 550 °C. Tempering between 480 °C and 520 °C is used where a
tool will later be nitrided or PVD coated. Tools that need maximum hardness are
tempered at 180-220 °C.

| Tempering temperature (°C) | Hardness (HRC) | Typical use |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 200 | 60 min | Maximum wear resistance, blanking and piercing dies |
| 300 | 58.2 | Slightly improved toughness |
| 350 | 58.0 | Hardness minimum before secondary hardening |
| 400 | 58.0 | — |
| 450 | 58.5 | Secondary hardening begins |
| 500 | 58.8 | Secondary-hardening peak, before nitriding or coating |
| 550 | 55.2 | Upper limit for dimensional stability |
| 600 | 50.0 | Over-tempered, not recommended for cold-work tooling |

## Forging and heat treatment

| Process | Temperature (°C) | Cooling / notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Open-die forging | 850-1050 | Pre-heat slowly to 750-800 °C, soak, then raise. Stop forging above 900 °C and cool slowly in the furnace or in an insulating medium |
| Hot rolling | 850-1050 | Slow cooling after deformation |
| Soft (spheroidise) annealing | 820-860 | Furnace cool at 10-20 °C/h to 600 °C, then still air, giving 255 HB maximum |
| Stress relieving | 600-700 | After rough machining. Hold 2 h, furnace cool |
| Hardening (austenitising) | 960-1030 | Two-step pre-heat at 600-650 °C and 850 °C. Quench in air, oil, salt bath, or vacuum with gas |
| Tempering | 220-550 | Two cycles minimum, 2 h each, cooled to room temperature between cycles |
| Deep freezing (optional) | −70 to −80 | Directly after quenching and before the first temper, to reduce retained austenite |
| Nitriding | 470-550 | Surface hardness 1000-1200 HV. Temper above the nitriding temperature first |

Practical notes on forging Z160CDV12:

- The high carbide content makes the grade sensitive to cracking if it is heated
  too quickly, so a controlled two-stage pre-heat is essential on heavy sections.
- Forging must stop before the workpiece falls below about 900 °C. Working the
  steel below that temperature causes cracking along the carbide network.
- Forged pieces go straight into the annealing furnace. Air-cooling a heavy
  Z160CDV12 forging without annealing leaves a hardness gradient that cannot be
  machined out.
- We apply a forging reduction ratio of at least 4:1 to break up the as-cast
  ledeburitic carbide network and improve transverse toughness.

## Forged product forms and size range

We supply Z160CDV12 as open-die forged and seamless rolled product rather than as
rolled bar. This allows heavy sections, non-standard dimensions and near-net
shapes that a stockholder cannot cut from bar.

| Product form | Dimensional range | Typical use |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Forged round bar | Ø 80-1200 mm, up to 6000 mm long | Die blocks, punches, roll blanks |
| Forged flat, square and rectangular bar | Thickness 40-800 mm, width up to 1500 mm | Blanking dies, shear blades, wear plates |
| Forged hollow bar, sleeves, bushings | OD 150-1500 mm, ID from 80 mm | Extrusion containers, liners, die cases |
| Seamless rolled rings | OD 200-3000 mm | Ring dies, wear rings, roller shells |
| Forged discs, blocks and plates | Diameter or width up to 1500 mm | Mould plates, die inserts, lamination dies |
| Forged rolls, rollers and shafts | To customer drawing | Cold and semi-hot rolling rolls, thread-rolling rolls |
| Maximum single-piece forging weight | Up to 25 t | — |

Surface conditions available:

- Black or as-forged, with machining allowance
- Rough machined, peeled or turned to drawing
- Finish machined and ground to tolerance
- Soft annealed to 255 HB maximum as standard, or hardened and tempered to a
  specified HRC on request

## Typical applications

Z160CDV12 is chosen where abrasive wear, edge retention and dimensional stability
in hardening are the controlling requirements and impact loading stays moderate.
It is not the right grade for heavy shock loading. A tougher, lower-carbon grade
such as 1.2714 should be used there.

Cutting and blanking: blanking, piercing and trimming dies; shear blades and
plate-cutting dies; slitting cutters and rotary cutting knives; fine-blanking
tools; knives for nail manufacture.

Forming and drawing: deep-drawing and forming dies; cold extrusion and
cold-heading tools; drawing dies and die chasers; bending, flanging and
straightening tools; coining dies.

Rolls and rolling tools: thread-rolling dies, rolls and jaws; cold and semi-hot
rolling rolls; tube-section forming rolls; seaming rolls; knurling and burnishing
tools.

Wear parts and moulds: wear plates, sliding guides and guide rails; moulds for
abrasive and glass-filled plastics; lamination dies and mould inserts; scrap
choppers, tyre shredders and granulator blades; gauges and measuring tools.

## Compared with related cold-work grades

| Grade | Equivalents | Wear resistance | Toughness | Choose it when |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Z160CDV12 | D2, 1.2379, SKD11 | Very high | Moderate | Long production runs, abrasive sheet, minimum distortion in hardening |
| Z200C12 | D3, 1.2080, SKD1 | High | Low | Oil-hardening is acceptable and cost matters more than toughness |
| 90MV8 | O1, 1.2510, SKS3 | Moderate | Good | Small tools, simple shapes, easy machining and a lower hardening temperature |
| 55NCDV7 | L6, 1.2714, SKT4 | Low | Very high | Heavy shock loading, hot-work service, or large die blocks |

If a drawing specifies D2, 1.2379 or SKD11 and the material is being bought in
China, Cr12Mo1V1 is the corresponding GB grade. We forge to whichever designation
appears on the purchase order and certify the heat against that standard.

## Quality control, testing and certification

Every Z160CDV12 forging that leaves our plant is traceable to its heat number.
The checks below are standard. Additional tests are carried out on request and
confirmed on the order acknowledgement.

Standard testing:

- Chemical analysis by optical emission spectrometry, per heat
- Ultrasonic examination to SEP 1921 or ASTM A388
- Brinell hardness to ISO 6506, Rockwell to ISO 6508
- Dimensional inspection against the approved drawing
- Visual and surface inspection of every piece

On request:

- Microstructure and carbide-distribution assessment
- Grain size to ASTM E112
- Non-metallic inclusion rating to ASTM E45 or DIN 50602
- Magnetic particle examination
- Third-party inspection by SGS, BV, TÜV or the buyer's own inspector

Standard shipments include an EN 10204 type 3.1 mill test certificate stating heat
number, full chemical analysis, delivery hardness, heat-treatment condition,
dimensions and the applicable standard. EN 10204 type 3.2 certification with
third-party countersignature is available when it is specified at order stage.
Export documents are issued for every shipment, including commercial invoice,
packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, and fumigation certificate
where required.

## About the manufacturer

Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. is an open-die forging factory at No.1
Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China. We
forge carbon steel, alloy steel, tool and die steel, stainless steel and nickel
alloys into bars, rings, discs, blocks, hollow sections and near-net-shape
components, supplying tool makers, die shops, machine builders, and the oil and
gas, power generation and petrochemical industries.

Jiangyin lies in the Yangtze River Delta between Shanghai and Nanjing, within easy
reach of the ports of Shanghai and Zhangjiagang. On Z160CDV12 our work is open-die
forging and seamless ring rolling: heavy sections, one-off sizes, and parts made to
drawing rather than cut from stock bar.

Material scope:

- Tool and die steel: Z160CDV12 / D2 / 1.2379, hot-work and plastic-mould grades
- Alloy steel: 42CrMo4, 34CrNiMo6, 18CrNiMo7-6, AISI 4140, AISI 4340
- Stainless steel: 17-4PH, 15-5PH, PH13-8Mo, 17-7PH
- Nickel alloys: Inconel 625 and 718, Incoloy 800H and 825, Nimonic grades

How to order Z160CDV12:

- Send the grade, form, finished dimensions and quantity, or simply the drawing
- State the required delivery condition, annealed or a target HRC
- State the certificate type, EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2, and any extra NDT
- Quotation normally returned within one working day

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Z160CDV12 steel?

Z160CDV12 is the French AFNOR designation, under standard NF A35-590, for a
high-carbon high-chromium ledeburitic cold-work tool steel with roughly 1.6 %
carbon, 12 % chromium, 0.8 % molybdenum and 0.8 % vanadium. It air-hardens to
60-62 HRC with very little dimensional change and is used for blanking dies, shear
blades, thread-rolling tools and other long-run cold-work tooling.

### Is Z160CDV12 the same as AISI D2?

Yes. Z160CDV12 and AISI D2 are the same steel type under two different national
standards, along with DIN/EN 1.2379 (X153CrMoV12), JIS SKD11 and GB Cr12Mo1V1, and
they are commercially interchangeable for most cold-work tooling. They are not
literally identical. The permitted ranges for vanadium, molybdenum, silicon and
manganese differ slightly between standards, and GB Cr12Mo1V1 also allows up to
about 1 % cobalt, which AISI D2 does not define. On high-load or long-run dies,
check the mill test certificate before substituting one designation for another.

### What hardness can Z160CDV12 reach?

Z160CDV12 reaches at least 60 HRC after hardening, and 60-62 HRC is the normal
working hardness after a low-temperature temper at 180-220 °C. It is delivered soft
annealed at 255 HB maximum so it can be machined before heat treatment. Tempering
above 550 °C drops the hardness sharply, to around 50 HRC at 600 °C, so that range
is avoided for cold-work tooling.

### What is the correct hardening temperature for Z160CDV12?

Z160CDV12 is austenitised at 960-1030 °C, and 1010-1030 °C is the usual window for
maximum hardness. It is then quenched in air, oil, salt bath, or vacuum with gas.
Because the grade is sensitive to cracking, a two-step pre-heat at roughly
600-650 °C and 850 °C is used before the final soak. At least two tempering cycles
of two hours each follow, with cooling to room temperature between cycles.

### Can Z160CDV12 be welded?

Z160CDV12 has poor weldability, and welding should be treated only as a way of
repairing a damaged tool, never as a construction method. If repair is unavoidable,
pre-heat to 300-400 °C, weld with a matching or tool-steel-compatible filler, keep
the interpass temperature up, and temper immediately afterwards below the tool's
original tempering temperature.

### Is Z160CDV12 a stainless steel?

No. Although Z160CDV12 contains about 12 % chromium, most of that chromium is
locked into carbides rather than dissolved in the matrix, so the steel does not
form a stable passive layer. It shows slight resistance to corrosion in dry air and
fresh water when hardened and polished, but it will rust in humid or aggressive
conditions and must be oiled or coated in storage.

### What is the difference between Z160CDV12 and Z200C12 (D3 / 1.2080)?

Z200C12 (AISI D3 / DIN 1.2080) has higher carbon and no molybdenum or vanadium, so
it is oil-hardening rather than air-hardening, with lower toughness and less
dimensional stability in heat treatment. Z160CDV12 is the better choice wherever
distortion control matters or the tool will see long production runs. Z200C12 is
chosen mainly on cost, for simple shapes and shorter runs.

### In what forms does Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal supply Z160CDV12?

Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. supplies Z160CDV12 as open-die forged round, flat
and square bars, forged hollow bars, sleeves and bushings, seamless rolled rings,
forged discs, blocks and plates, and forged rolls and shafts made to drawing.
Forged round bar runs from about Ø 80 mm to Ø 1200 mm, and seamless rolled rings to
about 3000 mm outside diameter. Because the plant forges rather than stocks bar,
non-standard and heavy sections can be produced that stockholders cannot supply.

### What certificate is supplied with Z160CDV12 forgings?

Every shipment of Z160CDV12 from Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. carries an
EN 10204 type 3.1 mill test certificate stating the heat number, full chemical
analysis, delivery hardness, heat-treatment condition, dimensions and applicable
standard. EN 10204 type 3.2 certification and third-party inspection by SGS, BV or
TÜV can be arranged when specified at order stage.

### How do I request a quotation for Z160CDV12?

Email the grade, product form, finished dimensions, quantity and required delivery
condition, or simply the drawing, to sales@steelforgepieces.com, or call
0086-189-2135-9659. We normally return a quotation within one working day, and can
quote against whichever designation appears on your drawing, whether that is
Z160CDV12, D2, 1.2379, SKD11 or Cr12Mo1V1.

---

Technical data reviewed against EN ISO 4957, ASTM A681 and NF A35-590 by the
technical team of Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. Figures are indicative.
Certified values for a given heat are stated on the mill test certificate.

© 2026 Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd., Open-Die Forging Factory, Jiangyin,
Jiangsu, China.