A2 / X100CrMoV5 vs HS6-5-2-5: 11% composition overlap. Significantly different materials serving different application areas.
A2 / X100CrMoV5 vs HS6-5-2-5
Side-by-side chemical composition and mechanical property comparison.
Overview
A2 / X100CrMoV5
1.2363
Air-hardening cold-work tool steel. Combines good wear resistance with excellent dimensional stability during heat treatment (minimal distortion). Used for punching/blanking dies, forming tools, shear blades, gauges, and precision tooling where low distortion is critical.
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.
| A2 / X100CrMoV5 | HS6-5-2-5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Material Number | 1.2363 | 1.3243 |
| Category | Tool Steel | Tool Steel |
| Standard | EN ISO 4957 | EN ISO 4957 |
Chemical composition (wt%)
| Element | A2 / X100CrMoV5 | HS6-5-2-5 | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 0.95–1.05% | 0.86–0.94% | No overlap |
| Si | 0.1–0.4% | 0–0.45% | OK |
| Mn | 0.4–0.8% | 0–0.4% | Partial |
| Cr | 4.8–5.5% | 3.75–4.5% | No overlap |
Mechanical properties
| Property | A2 / X100CrMoV5 | HS6-5-2-5 | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| hardness_hrc | 57–62 | 64–66 | HRC |
| hardness_hb | ≤ 229 | ≤ 280 | HB |
| e_modulus | ≥ 210 | ≥ 210 | GPa |
Compatibility Assessment
A2 / X100CrMoV5 and HS6-5-2-5 have significantly different compositions (11% overlap). These materials are not interchangeable and serve different application areas.
Automated assessment based on composition analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
Is A2 / X100CrMoV5 the same as HS6-5-2-5?
A2 / X100CrMoV5 and HS6-5-2-5 have a 11% composition overlap. They are generally not directly interchangeable.
Can I replace A2 / X100CrMoV5 with HS6-5-2-5?
Generally not recommended. The compositions differ significantly (11% overlap). These materials have different alloying concepts and are intended for different applications.
What is the difference between A2 / X100CrMoV5 and HS6-5-2-5?
The main differences are in the following elements: C, Mn, Cr, Mo. A2 / X100CrMoV5 is a Tool Steel grade, while HS6-5-2-5 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.