Modern D2 composition established by 1934: 1.55% C, 12% Cr, 0.25% V, 0.8% Mo.
Molybdenum added for true air hardening property; vanadium added to improve toughness by refining grain size and carbide structure.
D2 became one of the most popular tool steels, particularly in dies, due to air hardening, low distortion, and better machining quality than earlier high carbon high chromium steels.
Historical Context
Patent for D2 filed June 30, 1927 by Gregory Comstock of Firth-Sterling Steel Company; issued December 18, 1928 (U.S. Patent 1,695,916).
Earlier D3-type steels (2.2-2.4% carbon) had poor toughness and machinability; D2's lower carbon provided much greater toughness.
Vanadium and nickel additions had been experimented with D3-type steel, but D2 was tougher.
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