Tool Steel
Hardenable, wear-resistant steels for dies, molds, punches and cutting tools.
Tool steels are high-carbon, alloy-rich steels engineered to be hardened to extreme hardness and wear resistance. They hold a cutting edge, resist abrasion and withstand repeated impact, making them the material of choice for tooling.
D2 is a high-wear cold-work die steel; A2 offers a balance of toughness and wear; H13 is a hot-work steel that resists thermal fatigue for die casting and forging dies; and M2 high-speed steel holds an edge at high temperature for cutting tools.
Material properties
| Density | ~7.7 g/cm³ |
|---|---|
| Hardness (after HT) | up to 62 HRC |
| Wear resistance | Excellent |
| Toughness | Good (A2/H13) |
| Max service temp | up to ~540 °C (H13) |
| Machinability | Fair annealed / poor hardened |
| Relative cost | Medium–High |
Typical values for reference; exact properties depend on grade, temper and heat treatment. Full material certification is provided on every order.
Machinability
Tool steels are machined in the soft (annealed) state, then heat-treated to final hardness; features requiring tight tolerance after hardening are finished by grinding or EDM. Machining hardened tool steel directly requires EDM or specialist hard-milling.
Typical applications
Related engineering guides
Frequently asked questions
Are tool steel parts machined hard or soft?
They are machined in the annealed (soft) state, then hardened. Post-hardening precision features are produced by grinding or EDM.
D2 vs A2 — which should I choose?
D2 offers higher wear resistance for long die life; A2 is tougher and more forgiving of shock, making it a good general-purpose choice.
What is H13 used for?
H13 is a hot-work tool steel that resists thermal cycling and is the standard for die-casting dies, forging dies and extrusion tooling.