How To Choose Metal Shear Blade Materials？

Common Material Guide for Metal Shear Blades

• Cross-section: Rectangular

• Hardness: HRC50 to 62

• Cutting effect: High precision, no burrs

• Customization: Available per your drawings

Common Material Grades Comparison

Common Material Overview

Detailed Material Features

9CrSi Alloy Tool Steel

• Features: High hardness, wear-resistant, balanced performance, good value, widely used

• Hardness: HRC 58-60 (after heat treatment)

• Uses: Thin cold-rolled, galvanized, aluminum, copper plates; plastic, leather

6CrW2Si Alloy Tool Steel

• Features: Has tungsten and silicon, good heat resistance, harder than 9CrSi, tough

• Hardness: HRC 60-62 (after heat treatment)

• Uses: Hot cutting, light stainless steel, medium-strength steel

Cr12MoV / SKD11 High Carbon High Chromium Steel

• Features: Very wear-resistant, easy to harden, small deformation, long service life

• Hardness: HRC 58-60 (after heat treatment)

• Uses: All thicknesses of low-carbon steel, Q235, aluminum, copper plates

H13 (4Cr5MoSiV1) Hot Work Die Steel

• Features: Good high-temperature strength, tough, heat-resistant, no softening/deformation

• Hardness: HRC 50-55 (after heat treatment)

• Uses: Hot-cut strip steel, thick plate; cold-cut high-strength steel, stainless steel thick plate

D2 (American Standard)

• Features: High carbon/chromium, very wear-resistant, anti-deformation, no chipping

• Hardness: HRC 58-62 (after heat treatment)

• Uses: Q195/Q235/45# steel, aluminum/copper plates; plastic, rubber, composite materials

LD (7Cr7Mo2V2Si) Cold Work Die Steel

• Features: High strength, tough, wear-resistant, no chipping; fine grain from V and Mo

• Hardness: HRC 58-62 (after heat treatment)

• Uses: High-strength steel, thick plate, stainless steel; large hydraulic/CNC shears

Powder Metallurgy Steel (e.g. ASP23, ASP60)

• Features: Made by powder process, ultra-hard (HRC 62-65+), wear-resistant, stable

• Uses: High-precision cutting; high wear-resistance and long service life needs

Balancing Hardness vs. Toughness

• Hardness: Ability to resist deformation and wear

• Toughness: Ability to take impact without chipping

• Tip: When cutting high-strength materials (e.g., wear-resistant plates), reduce hardness a little for more toughness (avoids chipping).

Cold Cutting vs. Hot Cutting

• Cold Cutting: Focus on wear resistance. Choose D2 or Cr12MoV.

• Hot Cutting: Focus on heat resistance. Must choose H13 or H11 (they don’t soften at high temps).

The Role of Heat Treatment

• Good material needs proper vacuum heat treatment.

• Ask your supplier for multiple tempering treatments (eliminates internal stress).

Material Selection Guide

• Ordinary carbon steel (Q195, Q235): Choose 9CrSi or Cr12MoV (good value, fits all thicknesses)

• Medium/low hardness steel, aluminum/copper plates: Choose SKD11 or D2 (wear-resistant, long life)

• Light stainless steel, medium-strength steel: Choose SKD11 or D2 (balanced wear resistance and toughness)

• Stainless steel thick plate, high-strength steel: Choose H13 or LD (strong, tough, no chipping)

• Hot cutting (strip steel, thick plate): Choose H13 or H13K (heat-resistant, no softening)

• High-precision, heavy cutting: Choose powder metallurgy steel (ASP23/ASP60, longest life)

Important Notes

• Higher hardness is not better: Too hard = chipping; Too soft = dulling. Choose based on cutting material and load.

• Heat treatment matters: Good material needs professional quenching (maximizes wear resistance and toughness).

• Sticky materials (stainless steel, aluminum, copper): Choose Cr12MoV or SKD11 (prevents sticking and chipping).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why does my shear blade chip?

• Unbalanced hardness and toughness: Too hard = brittle, chips easily.

• Wrong material: Using cold-cut materials (e.g., D2) for hot cutting; using low-toughness materials for hard materials.

• Poor heat treatment: Bad quenching causes internal stress, reduces toughness.

• Too much load: Cutting materials that are too hard, or materials with hard spots.

Can I use D2 for hot shearing?

Related Guides

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Best steel for cutting scrap metal

Industrial knife material selection guide

Conclusion