HS6-5-2 vs P20 / 40CrMnMo7: 30% composition overlap. Significantly different materials serving different application areas.
HS6-5-2 vs P20 / 40CrMnMo7
Side-by-side chemical composition and mechanical property comparison.
Overview
HS6-5-2
1.3343
The most widely used high-speed steel worldwide, known as AISI M2. Contains 6% W, 5% Mo and 2% V providing excellent red hardness (retains cutting ability at 600°C+), high wear resistance and good toughness. Hardened to 62–65 HRC. Standard material for twist drills, milling cutters, taps, reamers, broaches, saw blades, cold forming tools and punches. PM (powder metallurgy) variants available for improved toughness and grindability.
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 | P20 / 40CrMnMo7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Material Number | 1.3343 | 1.2311 |
| Category | Tool Steel | Tool Steel |
| Standard | EN ISO 4957 | EN ISO 4957 |
Chemical composition (wt%)
| Element | HS6-5-2 | P20 / 40CrMnMo7 | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 0.8–0.88% | 0.35–0.45% | No overlap |
| Si | ≤ 0.45% | 0.2–0.4% | OK |
| Mn | ≤ 0.4% | 1.3–1.6% | No overlap |
| P | ≤ 0.03% | 0–0.03% | OK |
Mechanical properties
| Property | HS6-5-2 | P20 / 40CrMnMo7 | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardness HB | ≤ 255 | — | HB |
| Hardness HRC | 62–65 | — | HRC |
| Density | 8.16 | — | g/cm³ |
Compatibility Assessment
HS6-5-2 and P20 / 40CrMnMo7 have significantly different compositions (30% overlap). These materials are not interchangeable and serve different application areas.
Automated assessment based on composition analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HS6-5-2 the same as P20 / 40CrMnMo7?
HS6-5-2 and P20 / 40CrMnMo7 have a 30% composition overlap. They are generally not directly interchangeable.
Can I replace HS6-5-2 with P20 / 40CrMnMo7?
Generally not recommended. The compositions differ significantly (30% overlap). These materials have different alloying concepts and are intended for different applications.
What is the difference between HS6-5-2 and P20 / 40CrMnMo7?
The main differences are in the following elements: C, Mn, Cr, Mo. HS6-5-2 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.