D2 Powder

Overview of D2 Powder

D2 powder is a cold work tool steel powder offering an excellent combination of high hardness, wear resistance, and toughness. It is a versatile chromium-molybdenum-vanadium alloy widely used for pressing into cutting tools, dies, precision parts, and wear components across industrial sectors.

Key properties and advantages of D2 powder include:

D2 Powder Properties and Characteristics

Properties	Details
Composition	Fe-1.5Cr-0.3C-0.4V-1Mo alloy
Density	7.7 g/cc
Particle shape	Spherical or irregular
Size range	10-150 microns
Apparent density	Up to 60% of true density
Flowability	Good
Hardness	60-62 HRC when heat treated
Toughness	Very good

D2’s exceptional combination of hardness, strength, and impact resistance make it the top choice for cold work tooling needing extended service life.

D2 Powder Composition

Typical composition of D2 tool steel powder:

D2 Powder Composition

Element	Weight %
Iron (Fe)	Balance
Chromium (Cr)	11-13%
Carbon (C)	1.4-1.6%
Molybdenum (Mo)	0.75-1.2%
Vanadium (V)	0.7-1.2%
Manganese (Mn)	0.3-0.6%
Silicon (Si)	0.15-0.4%

• Iron provides the ferritic matrix
• Chromium contributes to hardness and wear resistance
• Carbon enables high hardness in heat treated condition
• Molybdenum and vanadium form carbides enhancing wear resistance
• Manganese and silicon improve solid solution strengthening

The composition is designed to achieve an optimal combination of hardness, toughness and grindability required in tooling applications.

 

D2 Powder Physical Properties

D2 Powder Physical Properties

Property	Value
Density	7.7 g/cc
Melting point	1460-1500°C
Thermal conductivity	21 W/mK
Electrical resistivity	0.7 μΩ-m
Curie temperature	1010°C
Maximum service temperature	180-200°C

• High density provides component miniaturization capabilities
• Retains high hardness and strength at elevated temperatures
• Becomes paramagnetic above Curie point
• Relatively low service temperature due to tempering effect

The properties allow D2 to be used in cold work tooling applications at high hardness levels.

D2 Powder Mechanical Properties

D2 Powder Mechanical Properties

Property	Value
Hardness	60-62 HRC
Transverse rupture strength	1900-2100 MPa
Tensile strength	2050-2200 MPa
Yield strength	1700-1900 MPa
Elongation	8-11%
Impact toughness	12-15 J/cm2

• Exceptional hardness when heat treated
• Very high strength with reasonable ductility
• Excellent impact toughness for a tool steel
• High fatigue strength for extended tool life
• Strength and ductility values depend on heat treatment

The properties make D2 suitable for the most demanding cold work tooling and die applications requiring extreme wear resistance.

D2 Powder Applications

Typical applications of D2 tool steel powder include:

D2 Powder Applications

Industry	Example Uses
Manufacturing	Press tooling, punch and dies
Automotive	Blank, pierce, trim, and forming dies
Aerospace	Forming dies, fixtures
Consumer goods	Razors, knives, scissors
Industrial	Drawing dies, thread rolling dies

Some specific product uses:

• Cold heading dies for fastener manufacturing
• Coining dies for minting precise parts
• Thread rolling dies for bolt production
• Draw, punch, blanking dies across sectors
• Surgical tools and cutlery
• Pelletizing tooling

D2 is the premier powder metal tool steel preferred for the longest lasting cold work tooling, metal forming dies, and precision components across all industries.

D2 Powder Specifications

Key specifications for D2 tool steel powder:

D2 Powder Standards

Standard	Description
ASTM A681	Standard for tool steels alloys
DIN 1.2379	Equivalent to AISI D2
JIS G 4404	Cold work tool steels
ISO 4957	Tool steels
GOST 5950	Tool steel grades

These define:

• Chemical composition limits of D2 steel
• Required mechanical properties in heat treated condition
• Permissible impurities
• Approved production methods like gas atomization
• Compliance testing protocols
• Packaging, identification requirements

D2 powder made to these specifications ensures suitability for tooling applications requiring maximum wear resistance, impact toughness and dimensional stability.

D2 Powder Particle Sizes

D2 Powder Particle Size Distribution

Particle Size	Characteristics
10-22 microns	Ultrafine grade provides highest density
22-53 microns	Most commonly used size range
53-105 microns	Coarser size provides good flowability

• Finer particles allow greater densification during sintering
• Coarser particles improve powder flow into die cavities
• Size is selected based on final part properties needed
• Both gas and water atomized particles used

Controlling size distribution optimizes pressing behavior, sintered density, and final component performance.

D2 Powder Apparent Density

D2 Powder Apparent Density

Apparent Density	Details
Up to 60% of true density	For spherical powder morphology
4.5-5.5 g/cc typical	Higher density improves flow and compressibility

• Spherical powder shape provides high apparent density
• Irregular powder has lower density around 50%
• Higher apparent density improves press fill efficiency
• Enables easier compaction into complex tool geometries

Higher apparent density leads to better manufacturing productivity and component quality.

D2 Powder Production Method

D2 Powder Production

Method	Details
Gas atomization	High pressure inert gas breaks up molten alloy stream into fine droplets
Vacuum induction melting	High purity input materials melted under vacuum
Multiple remelting	Enhances chemical homogeneity
Sieving	Classifies powder into different particle size fractions

• Gas atomization provides spherical powder shape
• Vacuum melting eliminates gaseous impurities
• Multiple remelting improves uniformity
• Post-processing allows particle size customization

Fully automated processes combined with strict quality control ensures reliable and consistent properties of D2 powder critical for tooling performance.

D2 Powder Pricing

D2 Powder Pricing

Factor	Impact on Price
Purity level	Higher purity increases cost
Particle size	Ultrafine powder more expensive
Order quantity	Price decreases with larger volume
Powder properties	Higher density powder costs more
Additional services	Customization adds cost

Indicative Pricing

• D2 spherical powder: $15-25 per kg
• D2 irregular powder: $10-20 per kg
• Large volume pricing can be 40% lower

Pricing depends on purity, particle size and shape, order quantity, density, and any additional customization.

D2 Powder Suppliers

D2 Powder Suppliers

Company	Location
Höganäs	Sweden
Erasteel	USA, Europe
Carpenter Powder Products	USA
Sandvik Osprey	UK
Jingdong New Material	China
CNPC Powders	China

Key supplier selection factors:

• Powder grades offered
• Production capacity
• Particle size distribution
• Powder characterization and testing
• Pricing and minimum order quantity
• Packaging and lead times
• Customer technical support

D2 Powder Handling and Storage

D2 Powder Handling

Recommendation	Reason
Ensure adequate ventilation	Prevent exposure to fine metal particles
Wear protective gear	Avoid accidental ingestion
Ground all equipment	Prevent static sparks
Avoid ignition sources	Flammable dust risk
Use non-sparking tools	Prevent ignition during handling
Follow safe protocols	Reduce fire, explosion, and health risks

Storage Recommendations

• Store sealed containers in a cool, dry area
• Limit exposure to moisture, acids, chlorides
• Maintain temperatures below 27°C

Proper precautions during handling and storage help preserve purity and prevent health or fire hazards.

D2 Powder Inspection and Testing

D2 Powder Testing

Test	Details
Chemical analysis	Verifies composition using optical or ICP spectroscopy
Particle size distribution	Determines sizes using laser diffraction or sieving
Apparent density	Measured using Hall flowmeter as per ASTM B212
Powder morphology	SEM imaging to determine particle shape
Flow rate analysis	Gravity flow rate through specified funnel
Tap density test	Density measured after mechanically tapping powder sample

Testing ensures the powder meets the required chemical composition, physical characteristics, particle size distribution, morphology, density, and flow rate specifications.

D2 Powder Pros and Cons

Advantages of D2 Powder

• Exceptional hardness when heat treated
• Excellent wear and abrasion resistance
• Very high strength combined with good impact toughness
• Dimensional stability in cold work service
• Good grindability compared to other tool steels
• Relatively cost-effective

Limitations of D2 Powder

• Moderate corrosion resistance without surface treatment
• Limited high temperature strength and creep resistance
• Requires careful heat treatment by experienced providers
• Not weldable using conventional welding methods
• Large sections can experience embrittlement
• Brittle fracture mode limits cold formability

Comparison With S7 Tool Steel Powder

D2 vs S7 Tool Steel Powder

Parameter	D2	S7
Hardness	60-62 HRC	63-65 HRC
Toughness	Very good	Good
Wear resistance	Excellent	Outstanding
Corrosion resistance	Moderate	Low
Cold strength	Excellent	Very good
Cost	Low	High

• D2 has slightly lower hardness but much better toughness
• S7 provides the maximum wear resistance
• D2 has better corrosion resistance uncoated
• S7 has higher hot hardness and hot strength
• D2 is more cost effective

D2 Powder FAQs

Q: What are the main applications of D2 tool steel powder?

A: Main applications include cold pressing tooling, blanking and punching dies, coin minting dies, thread rolling dies, surgical tools, knives, industrial knives, and precision ground shafts and pins.

Q: What heat treatment is used for D2 tool steel powder?

A: D2 is typically heat treated by austenitizing at 1010-1040°C, quenching in oil or air, and tempering at 150-350°C to achieve a hardness of 60-62 HRC.

Q: How does vanadium improve the properties of D2 steel?

A: Vanadium forms fine carbides with iron and chromium that impart significant wear resistance and abrasion resistance while also enhancing impact toughness.

Q: What precautions should be taken when working with D2 powder?

A: Recommended precautions include ventilation, inert atmosphere, avoiding ignition sources, grounding equipment, using non-sparking tools, protective gear, and safe storage away from moisture or contamination.