HS6-5-2-5 vs P20 / 40CrMnMo7: 9% composition overlap. Significantly different materials serving different application areas.
HS6-5-2-5 vs P20 / 40CrMnMo7
Side-by-side chemical composition and mechanical property comparison.
Overview
HS6-5-2-5
1.3243
Standard cobalt high speed steel with 5% Co — the most widely used cobalt HSS grade. Also known as M35 or HSS-E/HSSE. Better hot hardness and cutting performance than M2, lower cost than M42. HRC 64-66 hardened. The "go-to upgrade" when M2 performance is insufficient. Used for drill bits (HSS-Co branded), taps, end mills, saw blades, and general-purpose cutting tools for stainless steel and medium-hard alloys.
P20 / 40CrMnMo7
1.2311
Pre-hardened plastic mold steel (usually delivered at 28-34 HRC). The most widely used mold base steel globally. Good machinability in pre-hardened condition, good polishability. Used for injection molds, die-casting dies, extrusion tooling, and structural mold components.
| HS6-5-2-5 | P20 / 40CrMnMo7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Material Number | 1.3243 | 1.2311 |
| Category | Tool Steel | Tool Steel |
| Standard | EN ISO 4957 | EN ISO 4957 |
Chemical composition (wt%)
| Element | HS6-5-2-5 | P20 / 40CrMnMo7 | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 0.86–0.94% | 0.35–0.45% | No overlap |
| Si | 0–0.45% | 0.2–0.4% | OK |
| Mn | 0–0.4% | 1.3–1.6% | No overlap |
| P | — | 0–0.03% | — |
Mechanical properties
| Property | HS6-5-2-5 | P20 / 40CrMnMo7 | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| hardness_hrc | 64–66 | 28–34 | HRC |
| e_modulus | ≥ 210 | ≥ 210 | GPa |
| density | ≥ 8.08 | ≥ 7.85 | g/cm3 |
Compatibility Assessment
HS6-5-2-5 and P20 / 40CrMnMo7 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 HS6-5-2-5 the same as P20 / 40CrMnMo7?
HS6-5-2-5 and P20 / 40CrMnMo7 have a 9% composition overlap. They are generally not directly interchangeable.
Can I replace HS6-5-2-5 with P20 / 40CrMnMo7?
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 HS6-5-2-5 and P20 / 40CrMnMo7?
The main differences are in the following elements: C, Mn, Cr, Mo. HS6-5-2-5 is a Tool Steel grade, while P20 / 40CrMnMo7 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.