Everything You Need to Know About D3 Tool Steel (HCHCR Grade)

Tool steels are the backbone of modern manufacturing and when it comes to cold work operations, D3 tool steel (also known as HCHCR – High Carbon High Chromium) stands out for its wear resistance, dimensional stability, and hardenability.

At Goel Steel Enterprises, we stock and supply D3 in both machined round bars and flats, available in sizes from 40mm to 350mm, making it one of our most reliable and in-demand grades.

This blog takes a deep dive into what makes D3 special from composition to real-world usage all in simple, easy-to-understand language.

🧪 What is D3 Tool Steel?

D3 tool steel is a cold work tool steel with:

• High carbon content (~2%)

• High chromium content (~12%)

This combination gives it:

• Excellent wear resistance

• High compressive strength

• Good dimensional stability

📌 It is widely used for applications involving high abrasion, low impact, and cold cutting or shaping.

🔍 Chemical Composition of D3 Tool Steel

✅ D3 is also classified under DIN 1.2080 and is the AISI equivalent of D3.

🔧 How D3 is Made (Manufacturing Process)

1. Melting & Alloying
   Steel is melted in an electric arc or induction furnace and alloyed with high carbon and chromium.

2. Casting
   Liquid steel is cast into ingots or continuous casting molds.

3. Forging or Rolling
   The material is shaped into rounds, flats, or blocks — ready for machining or further heat treatment.

4. Annealing
   To make it machinable, D3 is soft annealed to reduce hardness to ~180–220 BHN.

5. Ultrasonic Testing & Inspection
   At Goel Steel Enterprises, all D3 rounds are UT-tested for internal soundness and come with chemical test certificates.

🏗️ Properties of D3 Tool Steel

🧰 Applications of D3 Tool Steel

D3 is ideal for cold working tools, where abrasion resistance is more important than impact toughness.

🔹 Common Uses:

• Blanking and punching dies

• Forming rolls

• Cutting blades and knives

• Wear plates

• Embossing dies

• Metal stamping dies

• Granulator knives

🧾 Machinability of D3 Steel

D3 is a high-carbon high-alloy steel, which means it’s not as free-machining as EN24 or EN8D, but it can be machined well when supplied in the annealed condition.

✅ At Goel Steel Enterprises, we only supply annealed D3 to make sure it's suitable for turning, milling, and shaping.

🏢 Stock Availability at Goel Steel Enterprises

We maintain ready stock of:

🔹 D3 Machined Rounds

📐 Sizes: 40mm to 350mm
📦 UT-tested, chemically certified, and free from surface scale

🔹 D3 Machined Flats & Blocks

✔️ Custom sizes on request
✔️ Suitable for EDM, die sinking, or machining operations

📄 All material comes with Material Test Certificates (MTC) and ultrasonic test results upon request.

🚛 Delivery & Services

Goel Steel Enterprises offers:

✅ Ready-to-Dispatch Stock
✅ Fast delivery across India
✅ Grade recommendations based on application
✅ Custom cut-to-size machining
✅ Annealed material for immediate use

💬 Quote of the Day

📞 Contact Goel Steel Enterprises

For the best quality D3 Tool Steel (HCHCR) in both round and flat form:

📞 Call: +91-9686477515
🌐 Website: www.goelsteelenterprises.com
📧 Email: [email protected]

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