40CrMnMo7 vs M2 / HS6-5-2: 9% composition overlap. Significantly different materials serving different application areas.
40CrMnMo7 vs M2 / HS6-5-2
Side-by-side chemical composition and mechanical property comparison.
Overview
40CrMnMo7
1.2311
Pre-hardened plastic mold steel — delivered at 28-32 HRC, ready for machining without further heat treatment. The European equivalent of AISI P20. Cr-Mn-Mo composition for good through-hardenability in large sections. THE workhorse mold base material for injection molds, compression molds, and die casting dies. Good machinability, polishability, and photo-etchability. Used for mold frames, large injection molds, blow molds, and structural die components.
M2 / HS6-5-2
1.3343
The most widely used high-speed steel worldwide. W-Mo-Cr-V composition gives excellent red hardness (cuts at temperatures up to 600°C). Used for twist drills, end mills, taps, reamers, bandsaw blades, and general-purpose cutting tools. The benchmark HSS grade.
| 40CrMnMo7 | M2 / HS6-5-2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Material Number | 1.2311 | 1.3343 |
| Category | Tool Steel | Tool Steel |
| Standard | EN ISO 4957 | EN ISO 4957 |
Chemical composition (wt%)
| Element | 40CrMnMo7 | M2 / HS6-5-2 | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 0.35–0.45% | 0.8–0.88% | No overlap |
| Si | 0.2–0.4% | 0–0.45% | OK |
| Mn | 1.3–1.6% | 0–0.4% | No overlap |
| P | 0–0.03% | — | — |
Mechanical properties
| Property | 40CrMnMo7 | M2 / HS6-5-2 | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| tensile_strength | 900–1050 | — | MPa |
| yield_strength | 700–800 | — | MPa |
| hardness_hrc | 28–32 | 63–66 | HRC |
Compatibility Assessment
40CrMnMo7 and M2 / HS6-5-2 have significantly different compositions (9% overlap). These materials are not interchangeable and serve different application areas.
Automated assessment based on composition analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 40CrMnMo7 the same as M2 / HS6-5-2?
40CrMnMo7 and M2 / HS6-5-2 have a 9% composition overlap. They are generally not directly interchangeable.
Can I replace 40CrMnMo7 with M2 / HS6-5-2?
Generally not recommended. The compositions differ significantly (9% overlap). These materials have different alloying concepts and are intended for different applications.
What is the difference between 40CrMnMo7 and M2 / HS6-5-2?
The main differences are in the following elements: C, Mn, Cr, Mo. 40CrMnMo7 is a Tool Steel grade, while M2 / HS6-5-2 is a Tool Steel grade.
View full data for each material:
Data provided for reference only. Always verify against the applicable specification for critical applications.
All data is for reference only. Equivalents indicate similarity, not identity. Always verify against the applicable specification for safety-critical applications. materialref.com accepts no liability for decisions based on this data.