Steel Cr12MoV · heat-treated state
Steel Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered
Properties of the Hardened & Tempered condition, compared with the other Cr12MoV tempers.
Pick for maximum wear resistance and dimensional stability on thin-stock blanking punches and shear blades.
What is Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered?
Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered is Cr12MoV heat treated to Hardened & Tempered — pick for maximum wear resistance and dimensional stability on thin-stock blanking punches and shear blades. Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered has a yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,200 MPa (319 ksi) — stronger than 56% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi). Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Hardened & Tempered is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 78/100, better than 95% of steel grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 28/100, better than 93% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 6/100, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 180°C (356 °F), worse than 98% of steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 2.6 % IACS, worse than 97% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 20 W/m·K (11.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 96% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 91% of steel grades
Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered properties
Typical room-temperature values for Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered — 8 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every Cr12MoV temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Mechanical15
Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered has a yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,200 MPa (319 ksi) — stronger than 56% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered is rated for continuous service to 180°C (356 °F). It conducts heat at 20 W/m·K (11.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 96% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11 µm/m·K (6.11 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered conducts electricity at 2.6 % IACS, worse than 97% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is poor (28/100), better than 93% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered takes about 36 MJ of energy and emits 2.8 kg of CO₂ — more than 88% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 50%.
Manufacturability8
Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered's machinability is not recommended (6/100, worse than 100% of steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability poor (15/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other Cr12MoV tempers and conditions
Cr12MoV is also supplied in 6 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the Cr12MoV overview.
- AnnealedDefaultStandard mill/stockist condition for bar, flat and plate — machine the die here, then harden.460 MPa yield · 217 HB
- Hardened & TemperedPick for maximum wear resistance and dimensional stability on thin-stock blanking punches and shear blades.2,200 MPa tensile
- H&T 54-58 HRCChoose when toughness and resistance to chipping/warm working matter more than peak wear life (cold extrusion, heavy-section dies, nitriding base).1,900 MPa tensile
- Q&TDefault working condition for blanking, punching and forming dies where wear resistance dominates.1,800 MPa yield · 60 HRC
Working with Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered
Is Cr12MoV easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed state with rigid setups, sharp carbide or coated-carbide tooling and low feeds; after hardening use grinding, EDM or CBN — abrasive Cr carbides cut tool life sharply.
Can Cr12MoV be welded?
Essentially not a weldable steel: repair welding only, with 400–500 °C preheat, matching high-Cr or tool-steel electrodes, slow cooling and immediate re-temper to avoid quench cracks.
Can Cr12MoV be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1050→850 °C with slow furnace cooling and immediate anneal; cold forming is impractical — harden from 1020–1040 °C (oil, air or vacuum) and temper at least twice at 180–220 °C (or 500–520 °C for secondary hardening).
What surface finishes work on Cr12MoV?
Takes a fine polish for die surfaces but carbide pull-out limits mirror finishes; protect with black oxide, hard chrome, nitriding or PVD (TiN/TiCN/AlCrN) — cannot be anodised and will rust unoiled.
Cr12MoV chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| C | 1.45 – 1.7 | 1.55 |
| Si≤0.40 | ≤ 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn≤0.40 | ≤ 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Cr | 11 – 12.5 | 11.75 |
| Mo | 0.4 – 0.6 | 0.5 |
| V | 0.15 – 0.3 | 0.22 |
| Pimpurity limit | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Simpurity limit | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered — frequently asked
What is Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered used for?
Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered is typically used for cold blanking and piercing dies, cold forming and coining dies, thread rolling dies, shear and slitter blades, cold extrusion tooling and punches and die buttons. In short: cold-work die tool steel.
What is the yield strength of Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered?
Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered has a typical yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,200 MPa (319 ksi) — stronger than 56% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (6/100, worse than 100% of steel grades). Machine only in the annealed state with rigid setups, sharp carbide or coated-carbide tooling and low feeds; after hardening use grinding, EDM or CBN — abrasive Cr carbides cut tool life sharply.
Can Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Essentially not a weldable steel: repair welding only, with 400–500 °C preheat, matching high-Cr or tool-steel electrodes, slow cooling and immediate re-temper to avoid quench cracks.
What surface finishes work on Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered?
Takes a fine polish for die surfaces but carbide pull-out limits mirror finishes; protect with black oxide, hard chrome, nitriding or PVD (TiN/TiCN/AlCrN) — cannot be anodised and will rust unoiled.
Can Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1050→850 °C with slow furnace cooling and immediate anneal; cold forming is impractical — harden from 1020–1040 °C (oil, air or vacuum) and temper at least twice at 180–220 °C (or 500–520 °C for secondary hardening).
What is the maximum service temperature of Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered?
Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered is rated for continuous use to about 180°C (356 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered?
Yes — Cr12MoV Hardened & Tempered is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- GB/T 1299 (Cr12MoV) — SAC / (2014)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys (D2 cold-work tool steels) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16 — Machining (tool steel machinability ratings) — ASM International (1989)
- K110 / SKD11 cold-work tool steel datasheet — voestalpine Böhler Edelstahl (2021)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.