· KAIPU Engineering · materials-encyclopedia · 1 min read
AISI D7 High-Carbon, High-Chromium + Vanadium Cold-Work Tool Steel
Materials encyclopedia entry for D7.
AISI D7 High-Carbon, High-Chromium + Vanadium Cold-Work Tool Steel is a reference entry for industrial cutting tools and blades. The composition, hardness, heat treatment and application guidance are summarised below for engineering reference.
Standard composition: C 2.15–2.50 %, Cr 11.5–13.5 %, Mo 0.70–1.20 %, V 3.80–4.40 %, Mn ≤ 0.60 %, Si ≤ 0.60 %, balance Fe
Hardness: Annealed HB 235–262; hardened HRC 58–64
Heat treatment: Austenitise 1,010–1,050 °C, air cool, double temper 150–200 °C
Properties: Excellent wear resistance from the high V content (4 %). Very difficult to grind — the V carbides chew up abrasive wheels. Toughness lower than D2. Use only when wear is the dominant failure mode.
Applications: Slitter blades on ceramic, fired-ferrite magnets, and sintered carbide blanks; brick and tile cutting; wear parts in abrasive environments.
Cross-reference: ≈ DIN 1.2380.
See also: D2 vs SKD11 comparison, Material Grade Converter, The KAIPU 5-Factor Blade Selection Framework.