MnCrWv Tool Steel Guide: Properties, Applications & How to Source

Cold work tool steels are essential materials used for tooling and die manufacturing under room-temperature deformation conditions. They must deliver high hardness, wear resistance, and dimensional stability, supporting processes such as stamping, forming, punching, and shearing.

This guide provides a deep look into the most used cold work tool steel plates—including Cr12, Cr12MoV, 9CrSi, GCr15, T10A, and especially the widely requested and cost-effective MnCrWv steel—covering properties, equivalents, applications, and sourcing considerations.

What Is Cold Work Tool Steel?

Cold work tool steels are high-carbon, high-alloy steels developed specifically for tooling that operates at temperatures typically below 200°C. These steels are characterized by:

• High wear resistance
• Stable hardness after heat treatment
• Good edge retention
• Dimensional stability during machining

They are widely applied in stamping dies, punches, drawing tools, shear blades, and precision cutting tools.

MnCrWv Steel – Balanced Performance for General Cold Work

Among commonly used grades, MnCrWv steel stands out for its balanced properties and affordability, making it a preferred choice for general-purpose cold dies and cutting tools.

1. Equivalent Standards：

China (GB)	AISI (USA)	DIN (Germany)	JIS (Japan)
MnCrWv steel	O1	1.2510	SKS3

2. Typical Chemical Composition (%):

C: 0.90–1.00 | Mn: 1.10–1.50 | Cr: 0.50–0.80 | W: 0.50–0.80

3. Hardness (HRC):

58–62 after quenching and tempering

4. Key Performance Advantages:

• Stable hardness with good toughness
• Easy machining and heat treatment
• Lower material cost than Cr12MoV (D2) while maintaining strong cutting edge durability

5. Ideal Use Cases:

• Punches, shearing blades, trimming tools
• General-purpose stamping dies
• Tools requiring frequent resharpening with low cost impact

MnCrWv vs Cr12MoV (D2) – Which One Should You Choose?

Property	MnCrWv	Cr12MoV (D2)
Wear Resistance	★★★	★★★★★
Toughness	★★★	★★
Machinability	★★★★	★★
Cost	Lower	Higher
Ideal For	General dies & punching	High-wear, high-precision dies

• If your production emphasizes wear life → choose Cr12MoV
• If your priority is cost + regrind efficiency → choose MnCrWv

Common Cold Work Tool Steel Comparison Table

Grade	Hardness (HRC)	Wear Resistance	Toughness	Machinability	Typical Use
Cr12	58–63	★★★★★	★	★★★	Blanking dies, cold shear blades
Cr12MoV	58–62	★★★★★	★★	★★★	High-speed stamping dies
MnCrWv	58–62	★★★	★★★	★★★★	General cold work tools
9CrSi	60–64	★★★★	★	★★	Punches, cutters
GCr15	60–64	★★★★	★★	★★	High-wear precision dies
T10A	58–62	★★★	★★	★★★★	Chisels, simple cutting tools

Recommended Applications Based on Working Conditions

Application Scenario	Recommended Grade(s)	Reasoning
High-wear operations	Cr12MoV, 9CrSi	Excellent wear resistance, holds edge well under abrasive conditions
General-purpose tooling with balanced performance	MnCrWv	Good hardness and toughness balance, easy to process, cost-effective
Complex tools requiring dimensional stability after heat treatment	Cr12MoV, GCr15	Low distortion after quenching, suitable for precision tools
Fine blanking, long-life shearing or trimming tools	Cr12MoV	High hardness with better toughness than Cr12
Punches and cutters for medium-load operations	9CrSi	High hardness and cutting edge retention
Budget-sensitive applications or tools with simple geometry	T10A, MnCrWv	Affordable, widely available, suitable for basic tools like chisels
High-speed mass production dies	GCr15, Cr12MoV	Superior wear life and thermal stability

Equivalent Grades Across Standards

China (GB)	AISI (USA)	DIN (Germany)	JIS (Japan)
Cr12	D3	1.2080	SKD1
Cr12MoV	D2	1.2379	SKD11
MnCrWv	O1	1.2510	SKS3
9CrSi	—	—	—
GCr15	52100	100Cr6	SUJ2
T10A	W1/W2	—	SK105

Related Reading: Wondering whether O1 or A2 tool steel fits your tooling project better?

Sourcing MnCrWv Tool Steel Plates

Factor	Specification Notes
Stock Sizes	10–300mm thickness, width up to 2000mm
Supply Condition	Annealed / quenched & tempered / ground
Processing Service	Saw cutting, milling, precision grinding
Certification	Mill Test Certificate (EN10204 3.1) available

We supply:

• MnCrWv tool steel plates (O1 / 1.2510 / SKS3)
• Cr12MoV / D2, Cr12 / D3, GCr15, 9CrSi, T10A
• Global delivery + export packaging

View our tool steel plate offering.

FAQs About Cold Work Tool Steels

• Q1: What’s the most wear-resistant cold work steel?
  A: Cr12MoV (D2) offers excellent wear resistance for most cold stamping and shearing applications.
• Q2: Is MnCrWv a good alternative to D2?
  A: MnCrWv is more economical and provides decent wear resistance, but it has lower toughness and durability than D2 (Cr12MoV).
• Q3: Do you provide customized plate sizes?
  A: Yes. Our plates can be flame cut or saw-cut to custom lengths, with optional rough machining and grinding.
• Q4: Can I get international equivalents if I only know my local grade?
  A: Yes. We provide material equivalency charts and technical consultation for cross-standard sourcing.

Need Material Selection Support?

Email: info@cjmstainlesssteel.com

WhatsApp: +86 181 9190 6640