1.2990 Material Detailed Information
1.2990 is a high-carbon, high-alloy tool steel that belongs to the cold work die steel category. It is known for its excellent wear resistance, high hardness, and strength. Due to its robust mechanical properties, 1.2990 is used for high-performance tooling applications that require exceptional durability and wear resistance. It is primarily used in the manufacturing of cutting tools, dies, and precision molds for cold working applications. 1.2990 is equivalent to D2 (AISI), X153CrMoV12 (DIN), and 1.2379 (Werkstoff) in international standards.
Key Features
- High Wear Resistance: Due to the high carbon and chromium content, 1.2990 offers excellent wear resistance, making it ideal for tools and dies that are exposed to high friction.
- High Hardness: 1.2990 can achieve hardness levels of up to 62 HRC after heat treatment, ensuring that tools made from this steel retain their shape and sharpness over extended use.
- Good Strength: It has high tensile and yield strength, enabling it to withstand heavy loads and pressures without deformation.
- Good Toughness: While its toughness is moderate, it is still better than many other high-carbon steels, offering a good balance between hardness and resistance to cracking or chipping.
- Dimensional Stability: 1.2990 exhibits good dimensional stability during heat treatment, ensuring precision in tool manufacturing.
Chemical Composition
| Element | Composition Range (%) |
| Carbon (C) | 0.95 – 1.05 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 7.00 – 8.00 |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 0.20 – 0.50 |
| Vanadium (V) | ≤ 0.30 |
| Silicon (Si) | ≤ 0.30 |
| Manganese (Mn) | ≤ 0.60 |
| Phosphorus (P) | ≤ 0.030 |
| Sulfur (S) | ≤ 0.030 |
- High Carbon Content: The high carbon content (up to 1.05%) provides 1.2990 with exceptional hardness after heat treatment.
- Chromium Content: The high chromium content (7-8%) contributes to its excellent wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and hardness retention at elevated temperatures.
- Molybdenum and Vanadium: These elements enhance toughness, strength, and improve the steel’s overall ability to resist wear and deformation during heavy-duty applications.
Mechanical Properties
| Property | Value |
| Hardness (Annealed) | ≤ 230 HB |
| Hardness (Hardened & Tempered) | 58 – 62 HRC |
| Tensile Strength | 2200 – 2500 MPa |
| Yield Strength | 1800 – 2200 MPa |
| Elongation | ≤ 5% |
| Impact Strength | Moderate toughness after tempering |
- Hardness (Hardened & Tempered): After heat treatment, 1.2990 can achieve a hardness of 58-62 HRC, making it highly resistant to wear and deformation.
- Tensile Strength: The tensile strength of 1.2990 is excellent, providing high resistance to deformation and maintaining its shape under heavy stress.
- Toughness: While 1.2990 offers good toughness, it is still more prone to brittleness under extreme stress when compared to steels with lower carbon content, like P20.
Comparison with SKD11 and D2
| Property | 1.2990 | SKD11 | D2 (AISI) |
| Toughness | Medium | Higher | Medium |
| Wear Resistance | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Hardness | 58-62 HRC | 58-62 HRC | 58-61 HRC |
| Machinability | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Heat Treatment Stability | Good | Good | Good |
- Wear Resistance: 1.2990, like SKD11 and D2, offers excellent wear resistance due to its high carbon and chromium content, making it suitable for high-stress, high-wear applications.
- Toughness: 1.2990 has moderate toughness, which is typical of high-carbon steels. It is not as tough as SKD11, which has better impact resistance due to its alloy composition.
- Hardness: All three materials can achieve hardness levels in the range of 58-62 HRC, but 1.2990 stands out due to its robust hardness retention over time.
- Machinability: 1.2990’s machinability is moderate, similar to SKD11 and D2, though it requires careful handling after hardening due to its high hardness.
Applications
1.2990 is widely used in the following industries and applications:
- Cold Work Dies: Including stamping, punching, and cutting dies that need high hardness and wear resistance.
- Cutting Tools: Such as industrial knives, shear blades, and other precision cutting tools that require high durability.
- Plastic Injection Molds: When high wear resistance is needed in molds.
- Forging Dies: In forging processes that require tooling materials capable of handling high-stress and wear.
- Precision Tools: For applications where fine, long-lasting tools are necessary.
- Forming and Blanking Dies: In cold working processes like blanking and forming.
Heat Treatment Process
The typical heat treatment process for 1.2990 is as follows:
Annealing
- Heat to 800-850°C → Slow cooling in the furnace to below 600°C → Air cooling to relieve internal stresses and make the material easier to machine.
Hardening
- Heat to 1000-1050°C → Quench in oil or air. This increases the hardness and strength of the material.
Tempering
- Heat at 150-250°C for 2-3 hours → Air cooling. Tempering adjusts the hardness to a desired level of 58-62 HRC while enhancing toughness.
Summary
1.2990 is a high-performance tool steel offering excellent wear resistance, high hardness, and good strength, making it ideal for cold work tooling and high-stress applications like cutting tools, dies, and molds. While it is not as tough as SKD11, its combination of high hardness and wear resistance makes it an excellent choice for applications where durability and precision are crucial. Proper heat treatment is essential to optimize its properties for specific applications, particularly to balance hardness and toughness effectively.
