D3 tool steel is a high‑carbon, high‑chromium cold work tool steel designed for applications that need very high hardness and extreme wear resistance. It belongs to the same family as Cr12, SKD1 and 1.2080, and is one of the most widely used cold work tool steels for blanking dies, punching dies, cold forming dies, trimming dies, shear blades, slitting knives and other wear‑resistant tools.
Because of its high carbon and chromium content, D3 forms a large amount of hard carbides in a strong martensitic matrix. These carbides provide excellent abrasion resistance, making D3 particularly suitable for long‑run production, high‑volume stamping and cutting. When correctly heat treated, D3 typically reaches 57–64 HRC, giving a very hard, wear‑resistant working surface with good compressive strength.
Compared with many conventional cold work steels, D3 cold work tool steel offers:
This combination of properties helps extend tool life, reduce downtime and lower total tooling cost in real production environments.
Blanking dies and punching dies
Cold forming and deep drawing dies
Cold extrusion and heading dies
Shear blades and industrial cutting tools
| ZEICIN Grade | GB | AISI | JIS | DIN | KS | AFNOR | UNI | CNS | NACHI |
D3 | Cr12 | D3 | SKD1 | 1.2080 / X210Cr12 | STD1 | Z200C12 | X210Cr13KU | T21200 | – |
| C | Cr | Mn | Si | Ni | S | P | V |
| 2.00-2.35 | 11.00-13.50 | ≤0.60 | ≤0.60 | ≤0.75 | ≤0.03 | ≤0.03 | ≤1.00 |
Heat to 780–820°C, then cool slowly in the furnace. Annealed hardness: ≤255 HB.
Heat to 950–980°C, then oil quench, air cool, or salt bath quench. Hardness after quenching & tempering: 57–64 HRC;wear resistance and toughness adjustable.
Temper at 175–280°C for at least 1 hour. Double tempering is recommended to improve toughness and dimensional stability.
ZEICIN Steel provides D3 cold work tool steel in a wide range of product forms, including round bar, flat bar, square bar, and steel plate. Available surface conditions include black, annealed, shot blasted, milled, peeled, turned, and ground to meet different tooling, machining, and industrial application needs.
We provide custom sizes, tailored processing options, and stable bulk supply, helping customers meet different industrial and tooling requirements efficiently.
| Type | Specification (mm) | Surface Condition |
| Round Bar | Φ20–300 or Customized | Black / Ground / Turned / Peeled |
| Flat Bar | (20-200)*(200-610)*(2500-5800) | Annerled / Shot-Blasted / Milled |
| Square Bar | (20-200)*(20-200)*(2500-5800) | Annerled / Milled / Black |
| Steel Plate | (50-200)*(210-610)*(2500-5800) | Black / Sandblasted / Granding |
Different surface conditions affect appearance, dimensional accuracy, and machining allowance. The images below show common delivery options (actual products may vary by size and batch).
ZEICIN STEEL specializes in high-performance cold-work tool steels. Our focus is on cleaner steel, uniform carbide distribution, stable heat treatment response, and improved wear resistance, ensuring longer tool life and consistent batch performance.
Our R&D team participates in national-level research programs and advanced technology projects. With strong technical support, we continuously improve the performance and reliability of high-performance tool steels.
We adopt advanced refining routes such as EAF + LF + VD + ESR, which improve steel cleanliness, reduce segregation, and enhance microstructure uniformity. This ensures better wear resistance and consistent performance.
We specialize in cold work tool steels such as D2 for dies, punches, shear blades, and wear-resistant components. Our materials provide high hardness, excellent wear resistance, and stable dimensional performance in demanding industrial environments.
“We use ZEICIN tool steels for our blanking dies. The wear resistance and dimensional stability are excellent, and tool life is much longer than before.”
“ZEICIN tool steels deliver high hardness and consistent cutting performance. The quality is reliable, and delivery is always on time for our production needs.”
“Stable quality and excellent heat treatment response. The materials perform very well in our punching tools and wear parts during long-term use.”
Yes. We are a factory. ZEICIN STEEL produces high-quality, cost-effective special steels, including stainless steel, tool & die steel, and high-speed steel. We also have our own import/export license, so we can serve overseas customers directly and support stable supply with batch traceability.
Yes. For first-time cooperation, we can provide a limited quantity of samples for verification (such as grade confirmation, machining trials, or heat-treatment evaluation). Samples can be shipped by international courier, and the courier cost is paid by the buyer. We value honest cooperation and look forward to a long-term win-win partnership.
Our common international payment methods include T/T and L/C. For trade terms, we can also support options such as DDU based on the order. The final payment method and terms can be confirmed according to your country/region, order value, and delivery method.
Our products use standard industrial packaging to ensure safe transportation. If you need custom packaging, please let us know when placing your order.
If the products are in stock, delivery usually takes 5–7 days.
If the products are not in stock, delivery time is about 30–40 days, depending on the order quantity.
