Purohit Steel is a leading Grade O2 / 1.2842 Stockist and Exporter in India, supplying premium oil-hardening cold work tool steel with verified chemical composition, mechanical properties and full traceability for tool rooms, gauge makers and manufacturers of precision cutting tools.
As an ISO-certified company established in 1965, we maintain ready stock of Grade O2 / 1.2842 in round bar and flat bar form, with in-house bandsaw cutting, machining, grinding and EDM support for fast turnaround across India and export markets.
Table of Contents
- 1. What is Grade O2 / 1.2842 Steel
- 2. Why Purohit Steel for O2
- 3. Comparison: O2 vs O1 vs D2
- 4. Chemical Composition
- 5. Mechanical Properties
- 6. Physical & Thermal Properties
- 7. Equivalent International Grades
- 8. Heat Treatment Guidelines
- 9. Available Forms & Sizes
- 10. Machining & Selection Notes
- 11. Applications & Uses
- 12. Industries We Serve
- 13. Related Products
- 14. Authorized Stockist Brands
- 15. Cities We Supply in India
- 16. Our Services
- 17. Frequently Asked Questions
- 18. About Purohit Steel
- Our Certifications
- Countries We Export Worldwide
- Export Packaging & Shipping
- Quality Inspection & Testing
- Latest Price List
- MOQ & Payment Terms
- People Also Search For
What is Grade O2 / 1.2842 Steel?
Grade O2 (DIN Werkstoffnummer 1.2842, chemical designation 90MnCrV8) is an oil-hardening, manganese-chromium-vanadium cold work tool steel manufactured to DIN EN ISO 4957. It is one of the most widely used general-purpose cold work grades, valued for its excellent machinability, uniform hardening response and high dimensional stability during heat treatment.
O2 can be milled, turned, ground and polished readily in the annealed condition, and hardens by simple oil quenching to 58-62 HRC with minimal distortion. This combination makes it a popular choice for gauges, jigs, fixtures and other precision components where exact size retention after hardening is critical.
Compared to O1, O2's higher manganese content improves hardenability uniformity and machinability, while its wear resistance is lower than the high-chromium D-series grades — see the comparison table below.
Why Purohit Steel for Grade O2 / 1.2842
- Ready Stock: Round bar and flat bar sizes held in inventory for immediate dispatch
- ISO-Certified Quality: Documented quality management since 1965
- Authorized Stockist: Sourced through globally reputed manufacturers, including NLMK Verona and SeAH CSS
- Value-Added Machining: In-house bandsaw cutting, precision machining, grinding, drilling, gun drilling, EDM and wire-cut
- Technical Support: Assistance with grade selection, heat treatment guidance and equivalence mapping
- Pan-India & Export Supply: Warehousing in Vasai with a sales outlet in Mumbai, serving customers across India and international markets
- Export-Ready Packaging: Palletised, moisture-protected packing suitable for both domestic transport and export shipment
Comparison: O2 vs O1 vs D2
Buyers often need to choose between related oil-hardening and high-chromium cold work grades. The table below compares O2 / 1.2842 against two other grades Purohit Steel stocks, to help select the right material for the application.
| Factor | O2 / 1.2842 | O1 / 1.2510 | D2 / 1.2379 / Dumac 11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key alloying difference | Mn-Cr-V, higher Mn | Mn-Cr-W | High-Cr (~12%), + Mo, V |
| Working hardness | 58-62 HRC | 57-62 HRC | 58-62 HRC |
| Machinability | Excellent, among the best cold work grades | Good | Moderate, harder to machine |
| Dimensional stability | Excellent, minimal quench distortion | Good | Excellent |
| Wear resistance | Good | Good, slightly better edge holding than O2 | Excellent, best of the three |
| Best suited for | Gauges, jigs, fixtures, precision punches and dies | General-purpose blanking, forming dies, hand tools | Long-run dies needing maximum wear resistance |
Grade O2 / 1.2842 Chemical Composition
Composition as per DIN EN ISO 4957 (typical mill range, weight %):
| Element | Symbol | Composition (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon | C | 0.85 - 0.95 |
| Silicon | Si | 0.10 - 0.40 |
| Manganese | Mn | 1.80 - 2.20 |
| Chromium | Cr | 0.20 - 0.50 |
| Vanadium | V | 0.05 - 0.20 |
| Phosphorus | P | 0.030 max |
| Sulphur | S | 0.030 max |
| Iron | Fe | Balance |
Mechanical Properties of Grade O2 / 1.2842
Typical values; supplied soft-annealed and hardened by the customer or on request:
| Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Supply hardness (annealed) | ≤210-230 HB |
| Hardness (hardened & tempered) | 58 - 62 HRC (up to ~63-64 HRC at lowest tempering temperature) |
| Machinability | Excellent, one of the most machinable cold work grades |
| Dimensional Stability | Excellent, minimal distortion on oil quenching |
| Wear Resistance | Good, suited to medium-duty cutting, punching and shearing |
| Toughness | Good, better resistance to chipping than high-carbide D-series grades |
| Edge Retention | Very good, suitable for blades and fine cutting edges |
| Modulus of Elasticity (E) | ~200-210 GPa |
Values are typical and vary with section size, tempering temperature and mill batch. Mill test certificates (EN 10204 2.2 / 3.1) are available on request.
Physical & Thermal Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | ~7.85 g/cm³ |
| Thermal Conductivity (room temp.) | ~34-36 W/(m·K) |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (20-200°C) | ~12-13 × 10-6 /K |
| Specific Heat Capacity | ~460 J/(kg·K) |
| Modulus of Elasticity | ~200-210 GPa |
Equivalent International Grades
| Country / Standard | Designation |
|---|---|
| Germany (Werkstoffnummer, DIN EN ISO 4957) | 1.2842 / 90MnCrV8 |
| USA (AISI / SAE, ASTM A681) | O2 |
| USA (UNS) | T31502 |
O2 is closely related to, but not identical to, O1 / 1.2510 — refer to the comparison table above before substituting grades.
Heat Treatment Guidelines
| Process | Guideline |
|---|---|
| Supply condition | Soft-annealed, ≤210-230 HB — ready to machine before hardening |
| Preheating (optional) | 300-500°C for larger or intricate sections |
| Hardening (austenitizing) | 780-820°C, hold approx. 30 min per 25 mm of section |
| Quenching | Oil quench; interrupt at approx. 66-93°C |
| Tempering | 150-260°C for 1 hr minimum per inch of thickness, depending on target hardness (lower temper for maximum hardness, higher for a toughness/wear balance) |
| Resulting hardness range | Approx. 58-64 HRC depending on tempering temperature; working range typically 58-62 HRC |
Available Forms & Sizes
- Round Bars
- Flat Bars
- Custom sizes cut to drawing via in-house bandsaw cutting
Material is machined, ground, drilled and finished in-house through our precision machining, grinding, drilling, gun drilling, EDM and wire-cut facilities.
Machining & Selection Notes
- Machinability: O2 is one of the easiest cold work grades to machine in the annealed condition, well suited to milling, turning, grinding and polishing of intricate details.
- Quenching: Oil-quench promptly for uniform hardness; the low-alloy composition means O2 responds predictably with minimal distortion, ideal for gauges and precision fixtures.
- Grinding: Grind with light cuts and adequate coolant after hardening to preserve fine cutting edges.
- Welding / repair: Limited weldability; preheat and stress-relieve after any weld repair.
- Grade selection: Choose O2 for gauges, fixtures and precision punches where machinability and dimensional stability matter most; choose O1 for broadly similar general-purpose tooling, or step up to D2 where maximum wear resistance is the priority — see the comparison table above.
Applications of Grade O2 / 1.2842 Steel
O2's balance of machinability, dimensional stability and edge retention makes it a versatile choice across precision tooling and manufacturing industries.
- Punches, dies and blanking tools
- Shear blades
- Gauges, jigs and fixtures
- Industrial cutting and trimming tools
- Woodworking tools (chisels and plane blades)
- Industrial, custom and craft knives
- Reamers, broaches and taps
- Measuring tools requiring tight tolerances
Gauges & Precision Fixtures
O2's excellent dimensional stability during hardening makes it a preferred choice for gauges, jigs and fixtures where exact size retention is critical to function.
Cutting Tools & Blades
Good edge retention and toughness make O2 suitable for industrial knives, woodworking blades and other cutting tools that need a durable, sharp edge.
Industries We Serve
- Tool room industry
- Precision gauge & fixture manufacturing
- Sheet metal stamping industry
- Woodworking industry
- Cutlery & blade manufacturing
- General engineering & industrial manufacturing
Authorized Stockist
Grade O2 / 1.2842 Supply Locations Across India
We supply Grade O2 / 1.2842 steel across major industrial cities including Mumbai, Pune, Khopoli, Nashik, Aurangabad, Navi Mumbai, Palghar, Umbergaon, Vapi, Valsad, Daman, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Cochin, Delhi, Gurgaon, Manesar and Sonipat — as well as to export markets.
Our Steel Products
Our Services
Frequently Asked Questions
About Purohit Steel
Purohit Steel was established in 1965 by Shree Bherumalji Rajpurohit, a visionary in metallurgy. Over the decades, we have built a strong reputation as a trusted stockist and exporter of tool steel, plastic mould steel and engineering steel products across India.
As an ISO-certified company, we source premium materials from globally reputed manufacturers and operate a modern warehousing facility in Vasai along with a sales outlet in Mumbai, enabling efficient storage, fast processing and timely delivery across India and export markets.
With decades of relationships with tool & die manufacturers and a customer-focused approach, Purohit Steel continues to deliver reliable, technically supported steel solutions for the tooling industry.
Read more about Purohit Steel, view our certifications, or get in touch with our technical sales team.
Our Certifications
Purohit Steel operates as an ISO-certified company, backed by documented quality management, safety and compliance certifications that support reliable supply to domestic and export customers.
View all certificates in detail on our Certifications page.
Countries We Export Worldwide
Beyond India, Purohit Steel exports tool & mould steel grades to customers across the following countries and regions:
| Export Destinations | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | Saudi Arabia | Oman | Bangladesh | Sri Lanka | Nepal |
| Vietnam | Thailand | Indonesia | Kenya | Nigeria | South Africa |
For export enquiries and destination-specific documentation, please contact our sales team.
Export Packaging & Shipping
Bars, flats and blocks are packed to withstand handling, transit and marine shipment, whether for domestic dispatch or export orders.
- Palletised and strapped packing for round bars, flat bars and blocks
- Moisture-protected wrapping to prevent surface corrosion in transit
- Seaworthy export packing with clear shipping marks and material identification
- Documentation support including packing lists, invoices and mill test certificates for customs clearance
- Shipment by road, rail or sea freight as per order requirement and destination
Quality Inspection & Testing
Every batch held in our stock is checked through documented inspection procedures before dispatch, so mould makers and OEMs receive material with verified, traceable quality.
- Chemical composition verification against mill certificates
- Hardness testing (Brinell / Rockwell) on received stock
- Dimensional inspection as per standard bar and block tolerances
- Visual and surface defect inspection
- EN 10204 2.2 / 3.1 mill test certificates provided on request
- Third-party inspection coordination available for export orders
Full material traceability is maintained from incoming stock through to dispatch for every order.
Latest Price List
Pricing depends on section size, quantity, form (round bar / flat bar / block) and current raw material rates. Indicative guidance is below — contact us for a firm, up-to-date quotation.
| Form | Typical Price Basis |
|---|---|
| Round Bar | Per Kg, based on diameter & length — contact for latest rate |
| Flat Bar / Plate | Per Kg, based on thickness & size — contact for latest rate |
| Block (cut to size) | Per Kg / Per Piece, based on drawing — contact for latest rate |
Prices are subject to change with raw material and freight costs. Share your required size and quantity via the quotation form or WhatsApp for the latest price.
MOQ & Payment Terms
Minimum Order Quantity: Flexible MOQ depending on size and form — from small trial quantities for tooling houses up to bulk orders for OEMs, subject to confirmation at enquiry stage.
Payment Terms: Advance payment / part-advance with balance before dispatch for domestic orders; T/T (bank transfer) or Letter of Credit (LC) for export orders, depending on order value and destination.