5CrMnMo vs 5CrNiMo
These two grades are listed as equivalents of each other: their chemistry windows overlap and they serve the same applications. They are not always identical — check the differences below before substituting, especially in certified designs.
5CrMnMo
Tool Steel
5CrMnMo is the nickel-free companion to 5CrNiMo in GB/T 1299: manganese replaces nickel for hardenability in medium forging die blocks. It is the cost-saving standard for smaller hammer and press dies in China.
Standards: DIN — (1.2341 family, near) · AISI H11 family (near) · GB 5CrMnMo
5CrNiMo
Tool Steel
5CrNiMo is China’s standard hammer forging die steel (GB/T 1299), a Ni-Cr-Mo grade that through-hardens in very large die blocks while staying tough. It has served Chinese forge shops for decades as the default die-block material.
Standards: DIN 1.2713 (55NiCrMoV6, close) · AISI L6 (family) · JIS SKT4 · GB 5CrNiMo
Chemical composition compared (%)
| Element | 5CrMnMo | 5CrNiMo |
|---|---|---|
| C | 0.50–0.60 | 0.50–0.60 |
| Si | 0.25–0.60 | 0.15–0.35 |
| Mn | 1.20–1.60 | 0.50–0.80 |
| Cr | 0.60–0.90 | 0.50–0.80 |
| Mo | 0.15–0.30 | 0.15–0.30 |
| Ni | — | 1.40–1.80 |
Properties compared
| Property | 5CrMnMo | 5CrNiMo |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery condition | Annealed or prehardened | Annealed or prehardened |
| Working hardness | 34–44 HRC (forging dies) | 34–44 HRC (forging dies) |
| Density | 7.85 g/cm³ | 7.85 g/cm³ |
| Toughness | — | Very high in large blocks |
Sourcing either grade?
Nasteel stocks both families from Shenzhen with EN 10204 3.1 mill certificates by heat number.
Ask for a quotationSee full data sheets: 5CrMnMo · 5CrNiMo. Substitution decisions for certified parts stay with the design authority.