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Decoding the DNA of Steel

The performance of any tool—whether it's a stamping die, a gear, or a drill bit—is dictated by its chemical makeup. At Sehgal Tools Corporation, we ensure every bar we supply adheres to strict metallurgical standards. Below is the comprehensive breakdown of the elements that give our steel its legendary strength.

Standard Chemical Composition Chart (Wt. %)

Grade C % Cr % Mn % Si % Mo % Ni % V / W %
D-3 (AISI) 2.00-2.35 11.00-13.00 0.60 Max 0.60 Max - - -
D-2 (AISI) 1.40-1.60 11.00-13.00 0.60 Max 0.60 Max 0.70-1.20 - V: 1.10 Max
H-11 (AISI) 0.35-0.45 4.75-5.50 0.20-0.50 0.80-1.20 1.10-1.75 - V: 0.30-0.60
H-13 (AISI) 0.32-0.45 4.75-5.50 0.20-0.50 0.80-1.20 1.10-1.75 - V: 0.80-1.20
EN-31 (Bearing) 0.90-1.20 1.00-1.60 0.50 Max 0.35 Max - - -
EN-24 (High Tensile) 0.36-0.44 1.00-1.40 0.45-0.70 0.10-0.35 0.20-0.35 1.30-1.80 -
EN-19 (AISI 4140) 0.35-0.45 0.90-1.20 0.50-0.80 0.10-0.35 0.20-0.40 - -
EN-8D (Carbon) 0.40-0.50 - 0.70-0.90 0.10-0.35 - - -
EN-353 0.10-0.20 0.75-1.25 0.50-1.00 0.35 Max 0.08-0.15 1.00-1.50 -
SAE 8620 0.18-0.23 0.40-0.60 0.70-0.90 0.15-0.35 0.15-0.25 0.40-0.70 -
20MnCr5 0.17-0.22 1.00-1.30 1.10-1.40 0.40 Max - - -
16MnCr5 0.14-0.19 0.80-1.10 1.00-1.30 0.40 Max - - -
SS-410 0.08-0.15 11.5-13.5 1.00 Max 1.00 Max - 0.75 Max -
M-2 HSS 0.85-0.95 3.80-4.50 0.20-0.40 0.20-0.40 4.50-5.50 - W: 5.50-6.75
V: 1.75-2.20
Note: Composition ranges may vary slightly based on the specific manufacturing standard (AISI vs DIN vs JIS).

Technical Data Center

The ultimate reference guide for engineers. Search by any grade (e.g., "1.2379" or "D2") to filter the tables below.

1. International Grade Equivalents

Category Sehgal Grade (India) AISI (USA) DIN (Germany) JIS (Japan) BS (UK)
Cold Work HcHcr D-3 D3 1.2080 / X210Cr12 SKD 1 BD 3
Cold Work HcHcr D-2 D2 1.2379 / X153CrMoV12 SKD 11 BD 2
Hot Work H-11 H11 1.2343 / X37CrMoV5-1 SKD 61 BH 11
Hot Work H-13 H13 1.2344 / X40CrMoV5-1 SKD 61 (Mod) BH 13
High Speed M-2 M2 1.3343 / HS-6-5-2 SKH 51 BM 2
Plastic Mold P-20 P20 1.2311 / 40CrMnMo7 - -
Alloy Steel EN-8 1045 1.1191 / C45E S45C 080M40
Alloy Steel EN-9 1055 1.1203 / C55 S55C 070M55
Alloy Steel EN-19 4140 1.7225 / 42CrMo4 SCM 440 708M40
Alloy Steel EN-24 4340 1.6582 / 34CrNiMo6 SNCM 439 817M40
Bearing Steel EN-31 52100 1.3505 / 100Cr6 SUJ 2 535A99
Carburizing EN-353 - 1.5511 / 20NiCrMo2 SNCM 220 815M17
Carburizing SAE 8620 8620 1.6523 / 21NiCrMo2 SNCM 220 805M20
Carburizing 20MnCr5 5120 1.7147 / 20MnCr5 SMnC 420 -

2. Heat Treatment & Hardness Guide

Grade Forging Temp (°C) Hardening Temp (°C) Quenching Medium Tempering Temp (°C) Final Hardness (HRC)
D-3 1050 - 850 950 - 980 Oil 150 - 400 58 - 62
D-2 1050 - 850 1020 - 1040 Air / Oil 150 - 500 58 - 60
H-11 1100 - 900 1000 - 1020 Air 540 - 650 48 - 52
H-13 1100 - 900 1020 - 1050 Air 540 - 650 48 - 52
M-2 1100 - 900 1190 - 1230 Oil / Air 540 - 560 (x3) 62 - 64
EN-24 1150 - 850 820 - 850 Oil 550 - 660 28 - 32 (Toughened)
EN-31 1000 - 800 830 - 860 Oil 150 - 200 60 - 63
EN-19 1100 - 850 830 - 860 Oil 550 - 650 28 - 32
EN-353 1150 - 850 880 - 930 (Carb) Oil 150 - 200 58 - 62 (Case)
20MnCr5 1150 - 850 880 - 930 (Carb) Oil 150 - 200 58 - 62 (Case)
⚠️ Disclaimer: These figures are for general reference. Actual heat treatment cycles should be adjusted based on section size and furnace type. Please consult our metallurgical team for specific advice.

3. Recommended Machining Parameters

Baseline speeds for rough turning in the Annealed Condition (using Carbide inserts).

Grade Machinability Rating Cutting Speed (Vc) m/min Feed Rate (mm/rev) Hardness (Annealed)
EN-8 / EN-9 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good 180 - 240 0.2 - 0.4 ~180 HB
EN-24 / EN-19 ⭐⭐⭐ Fair 140 - 180 0.2 - 0.35 ~220 HB
H-13 / H-11 ⭐⭐⭐ Fair 130 - 160 0.15 - 0.3 ~230 HB
D-2 / D-3 ⭐⭐ Difficult 80 - 120 0.1 - 0.2 ~250 HB
M-2 (HSS) ⭐ Very Difficult 60 - 90 0.1 - 0.15 ~260 HB

Hardness Conversion Tool

Instantly convert between Rockwell C (HRC), Brinell (HB), and Vickers (HV).
Essential for heat treatment verification.

Hardness Converter

Rockwell C
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HRC
Brinell
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HB
Vickers
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HV

The Alchemy: What Each Element Does

Carbon (C)

The Hardener. Carbon is the most important element. It dictates the maximum hardness a steel can reach.

Example: D3 has ~2.2% Carbon, making it glass-hard. H13 has only ~0.40%, prioritizing toughness over extreme hardness.

Chromium (Cr)

The Shield. Chromium adds corrosion resistance and deep hardenability. In high amounts (12%), it forms chromium-carbides, which act like microscopic diamonds in the steel matrix, resisting wear.

Vanadium (V)

The Refiner. Vanadium keeps the grain structure small and fine. This prevents the steel from becoming brittle. It also adds abrasion resistance. It is the secret weapon in D2 and M2 HSS.

Nickel (Ni)

The Toughener. Nickel increases the steel's impact strength. It allows the core of the steel to absorb shocks without snapping. Essential for Heavy Gears (EN353) and Shafts (EN24).

Molybdenum (Mo)

The Heat Resister. Mo gives steel "Red Hardness"—the ability to stay hard even when hot. This is why H13 is the industry standard for hot die casting.

Tungsten (W)

The Cutter. Used primarily in High Speed Steels (M2). Tungsten allows tools to cut metal at high RPMs without losing their sharp edge due to friction heat.

Frequently Asked Technical Questions

What is the difference between D2 and D3 Die Steel?

Both are High Carbon High Chrome steels. D3 (2.2% Carbon) is slightly harder but more brittle. D2 (1.5% Carbon) contains Vanadium and Molybdenum, which makes it tougher and less prone to chipping. For complex dies, D2 is often preferred.

Why use H13 for Die Casting instead of H11?

H13 contains higher Vanadium (1.0%) compared to H11 (0.5%). This extra Vanadium provides superior resistance to "heat checking" (surface cracks caused by rapid heating and cooling), making H13 the global standard for aluminium die casting.

When should I choose Case Hardening Steel (EN353 / SAE 8620)?

Choose these grades for components like gears and pinions that need a Hard Surface (to resist wear from teeth meshing) but a Soft Core (to absorb the shock of transmission). Through-hardened steels might snap under these conditions.

Need help selecting the right grade for your project?

Consult Our Experts