Sichuan Liaofu Special Steel Company is one of the most experienced manufacturers and suppliers of d2 alloy steel sheet plate for knife in China. With over 20 years' experience, our factory offer high quality products made in China with competitive price. Welcome to contact us for wholesale service.
D2 Alloy Steel Sheet & Plate for Knife Making
D2 Alloy Steel Sheet & Plate (Cold-Work Tool Steel, AISI D2 / EN X155CrMoV12-1)
(Available in Annealed, Pre-Hardened, and Fully Heat-Treated States)
d2 steel is an alloy of iron, carbon, and a few other elements. d2 steel can be used to manufacture cold working dies with large section, complex shape, high impact force and high wear resistance.
D2 steel has high wear-resisting, micro-deformation cold working die steel, wind hardening tool steel, carbon content up to 1.5%, chromium content up to 11.5%, heat treatment hardness up to 60HRC.
D2 steel, such as silicon steel sheet punching die, cold cutting scissors, edge cutting die, etc.
Material Composition
A high-carbon, high-chromium cold-work tool steel optimized for blade performance. Key chemical composition (%):
| Element | Content Range | Role in Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 1.40–1.60 | Provides extreme hardness for edge retention and wear resistance. |
| Chromium (Cr) | 11.0–13.0 | Forms hard carbides, enhancing corrosion resistance and toughness. |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 0.70–1.20 | Improves hardenability and prevents temper brittleness. |
| Vanadium (V) | 0.10–0.30 | Refines grain structure, boosting wear resistance and dimensional stability. |
| Manganese (Mn) | ≤1.00 | Enhances hardenability and tensile strength. |
International Equivalent Grades
| Region | Standard | Grade/Steel Number | Key Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | AISI/SAE J4340 | D2 | Most widely used cold-work tool steel for knives and dies. |
| Europe | EN 10088-1 | X155CrMoV12-1 (1.2379) | High chromium content for superior wear and corrosion resistance. |
| Japan | JIS G4404 | SKD11 | Equivalent grade for precision cutting tools and stamping dies. |
| China | GB/T 1299 | Cr12MoV | Customized for heavy-duty knife manufacturing and mold applications. |
Key Mechanical Properties & Advantages
| Property | Typical Value (Heat-Treated) | Application Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness (HRC) | 58–62 (as-quenched) | Retains sharp edges longer than conventional tool steels, ideal for high-use knives. |
| Wear Resistance (ASTM G65) | Excellent (3x better than 1095 carbon steel) | Reduces edge degradation in abrasive materials like stainless steel or hardwood. |
| Corrosion Resistance | Moderate (superior to plain carbon steels) | Suitable for outdoor knives and marine applications with proper surface treatment. |
| Dimensional Stability | Low distortion (<0.08% linear change) during heat treatment | Ensures tight tolerances for precision blade grinding and sharpening. |
| Toughness (Charpy) | 15–20 J/cm² @ 20°C | Balances hardness with resistance to impact damage in tactical or survival knives. |
available sizes
Cold rolled steel sheets:Thickness 1.0-2.5mm,Width 650-850mm,Length more than 1500mm
Hot rolled steel sheets:Thickness 2.55-12mm,Width 650-850mm,Length more than 1500mm
D2 / 1.2379 steel plate Application
1.Wide variety of tool making applications
2. Blanking dies and punches
3.Deep drawing dies, cupping dies, forming dies, sheet metal forming rolls
4.Master hobs for cold hobbing moulds and cut moulds for plastics
steel sheet production range
| Description | thinkness(mm) | width(mm) | length(m) | Operative norm |
| cold/hot rolled steel sheet | 1.6-8 | 600-800 |
more than 1.5m |
GB9943-2008 |
| Forged steel sheet | 5-18 | 410/510/610 | more than 1.8m | GB9943-2008 |
Core Features for Knife Making Excellence
1. Unmatched Edge Retention & Wear Resistance Carbide-Rich Structure:
High chromium and carbon form hard (M7C3) carbides, creating a blade surface that resists micro-abrasion from repeated cutting, slicing, and chopping. Long-Lasting Sharpness: Maintains a razor edge through thousands of uses, reducing re-sharpening frequency for professional chefs, hunters, and tactical tool users.
2. Precision Heat Treatment Control Vacuum Hardening:
Hardens to 60–62 HRC with minimal distortion (≤0.05mm/m), ensuring consistent blade geometry for precision tools like scalpels or engraving knives. Tempering Flexibility: Can be tempered at 150–500°C to adjust toughness-hardness balance: Low-temp tempering (150–200°C): Maximum hardness for fine-edged knives. High-temp tempering (400–500°C): Improved toughness for heavy-duty blades (e.g., machetes, axes).
3. Versatile Fabrication for Blade Manufacturers Annealed Workability:
Soft state (≤250 HB) allows easy machining, drilling, and profiling-ideal for cutting blank blades or complex knife geometries. Weldability: Pre-heating (200–300°C) enables TIG/MIG welding for repairing blade tips or fabricating composite handles.
4. Corrosion Protection & Surface Finish Chromium Advantage:
12% Cr content provides better resistance to rust and mild acids than carbon steels, suitable for kitchen knives and outdoor tools. Custom Surface Treatments: Polished (Ra ≤0.4μm): Mirror finish for decorative blades or high-end cutlery. Shot Blasted (Sa 2.5): Textured surface for improved grip during handle bonding.
ailored Solutions for Knife Makers
Form & Size:
Sheets: Thickness 0.5mm–6mm, width 600mm–1500mm, length 1000mm–3000mm.
Plates: Thickness 6mm–100mm, custom-cut to your blade blank dimensions (tolerance ±0.02mm).
Special Shapes: Pre-ground knife blanks (e.g., drop-point, tanto, sheepsfoot) with beveled edges for reduced grinding time.
Heat Treatment States:
Annealed (soft): Ready for machining and profiling.
Pre-hardened (30–35 HRC): For preliminary shaping and handle assembly.
Fully hardened & tempered: Delivered at your specified hardness (58–62 HRC) for direct use in final blade finishing.
Certifications:
Mill Test Reports (MTR): Chemical composition, hardness, and ultrasonic testing (UT) results.
Third-Party Inspection: SGS/BV certification for compliance with EU RoHS or FDA standards (for medical blades).
FAQ
Q: Is D2 a good choice for a knife that will see hard use in the field?
A: Yes, if you accept lower toughness in exchange for edge holding. D2 at HRC 58–62 resists abrasive wear about three times better than 1095. For skinning, slicing, and cutting cardboard or rope, it stays sharp much longer. But for chopping or batoning, a tougher steel like 3V or A2 is safer. D2 can chip if the edge is too thin or the hardness is pushed too high.
Q: Will D2 rust if I use it for a kitchen or fishing knife?
A: It has 11–13% chromium, so it stains less than plain carbon steel, but it is not stainless. Salt water and acidic food will leave marks if you do not dry and oil the blade. For a kitchen knife that gets wiped often, it is manageable. For a boat knife or dive knife, choose 440C, 14C28N, or a coated blade instead.
Q: How should I heat treat a D2 blade to get the best balance of hardness and toughness?
A: Austenitize, quench, then temper. For maximum edge retention, temper at 150–200°C and aim for HRC 60–62. For a larger blade that sees impact, temper at 400–500°C and accept HRC 58–60. The steel is air-hardening, so a vacuum furnace or controlled atmosphere gives the least distortion. Plate thickness matters too. Thin stock heats and quenches faster, so watch your soak time.
Q: Can I buy D2 in a pre-hardened state and just grind the bevel?
A: Yes. We stock pre-hardened D2 at 30–35 HRC. You can profile, drill, and surface grind it without a full heat treat cycle. But that hardness is for shaping, not for final edge performance. Once the blade geometry is close, you still need to harden and temper to 58–62 HRC before sharpening. If you want to skip heat treatment entirely, we can supply fully hardened and tempered plates at your target hardness.
Q: Do you offer pre-ground knife blanks in D2, or only flat plate?
A: We can cut and pre-grind blanks to your profile, including drop-point, tanto, and sheepsfoot shapes. Tolerance is about ±0.02mm on the profile. The bevels can be left with grinding allowance so you finish the edge yourself. This saves a lot of rough grinding time, especially on thick stock. Send a DXF or drawing with thickness, length, and hardness state.
Q: What thickness D2 plate should I order for a hunter or tactical knife?
A: For a full-tang hunter, 3–4mm is common. For a tactical or survival knife, 4–6mm gives more strength for prying and chopping. For a thin kitchen or fillet knife, 1.5–2.5mm works if you keep the blade geometry stable during hardening. We stock cold rolled sheet from 1.0–2.5mm and hot rolled plate from 2.55–12mm, so you can match the thickness to the blade type without over-ordering.
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