September, 2026

The choice of the appropriate tool steel involves a compromise between hardness, wear resistance, impact toughness, thermal fatigue resistance and the general tool life. While generic steel grades are common, specialized imported tool steels are vital for demanding applications such as hot work, forging and cold stamping.

Lucchini Italy is the international reference for ultra-clean tool steels with high durability. Complete guide on technical properties, international & IS standards, manufacturing processes, detailed grade comparison and procurement of tool steel in India.

What is Lucchini DB6 Tool Steel?

Lucchini DB6 is a low-alloy steel for hot work and impact tools. High Nickel content (1.50″–” 1.80%) formulated and secondary metallurgical refined (EAF->LF->Vacuum Degassing->ESR) This process provides structural purity and minimum non-metallic inclusions with uniform hardenability from core to surface.

Material Standards & Cross-Reference

• DIN / EN Standard: DIN 1.2714 / EN ISO 4957 (56NiCrMoV7)
• AISI Standard: AISI L6 (Modified)
• JIS Standard: SKT4
• IS Standard (India): T55Ni7Cr4Mo5V1 equivalent

Mechanical and Physical Properties

Property	Value / Specification	Remarks
Toughness	Excellent	Resists cracking under heavy shock
Impact Resistance	High	Critical for hammer and forging dies
Wear Resistance	Good to moderate	Suitable for high-impact hot work
Hardenability	Good	Provides consistent through-hardening
Dimensional Stability	Good	Maintains shape during thermal cycles
Large Section Performance	Excellent	Ideal for heavy forging die blocks

Same Chemistry on Paper, a Different Story on the Ground

On a certificate, Lucchini DB6 Tool steel and local DB6 tool steels can look almost identical — both fall within the same DIN 1.2714 tool steels chemical window. The real difference shows up upstream of the numbers, in how tightly that chemistry is held, batch after batch, and how clean the steel is once it’s melted and forged.

Element	Lucchini DB6 / 1.2714 (%) DOCX	Standard Local 1.2714 (%) DOCX	Metallurgical Function DOCX
Carbon (C)	0.50 – 0.60	0.50 – 0.60	Controls baseline hardness and yield strength.
Silicon (Si)	0.10 – 0.40	0.10 – 0.40	Increases oxidation resistance and strength.
Manganese (Mn)	0.60 – 0.95	0.60 – 0.95	Enhances deep hardenability.
Chromium (Cr)	0.80 – 1.20	0.80 – 1.20	Enhances wear resistance and hardenability.
Molybdenum (Mo)	0.35 – 0.55	0.35 – 0.55	Retains high-temperature yield strength.
Nickel (Ni)	1.50 – 1.80	1.50 – 1.80	Primary driver for extreme impact toughness.
Vanadium (V)	0.07 – 0.15	0.05 – 0.15	Refines grain structure and carbide formation.
Phosphorus (P)	max 0.015	max 0.030	Kept low to prevent cold shortness/brittleness.
Sulfur (S)	max 0.010	max 0.030	Kept low to preserve steel cleanliness and fatigue life.

Key takeaway: nominal composition alone doesn’t separate premium DB6 from ordinary DB6 tool steels. What matters far more is the consistency of chemistry control, steel cleanliness, and manufacturing discipline behind that certificate — and that is precisely where an established European mill like Lucchini has a structural advantage over less consistent local supply.

Manufacturing & Heat Treatment Parameters

1. Soft Annealing: Heated to 680–720°C, slowly furnace cooled. Delivered (annealed) Hardness: max 229–248 HB (≈ 22–24 HRC)
2. Stress Relieving: 600–650°C, following rough machining, then air cooled slowly.
3. Hardening (Quenching): Austenitized at 840–870°C, quenched in oil or vacuum pressure gas.
4. Double Tempering: Reheated to 540–600°C (minimum 2 cycles) to stabilize dimensions and relieve retained austenite.

Recommended Working Hardness by Application

Application	Target Hardness
Drop Hammer Dies & Heavy Impact Tooling	38 – 42 HRC
Press Forging Dies & Inserts	44 – 48 HRC
Hot Shear Blades & Trimming Tools	48 – 52 HRC

NOTE: Lower hardness (38-42 HRC) is more shock and impact resistant; higher hardness (48-52 HRC) is more wear resistant and holds a sharper edge. Choose based on whether you experience more impact load or more abrasive wear in your tooling.

Comparison Table: Lucchini DB6 Tool Steel vs. Local Indian DB6 Tool Steel

Parameter / Feature	Lucchini Italy DB6 Steel (DIN 1.2714)	Local Indian DB6 Tool Steel	Practical / Industrial Impact
Manufacturing & Melting Route	Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) + Ladle Furnace (LF) + Vacuum Degassing (VD) / ESR option	Standard EAF or Induction Furnace melting	Superior steel cleanliness, lower gas content, and higher purity in Lucchini steel.
Forging Reduction Ratio	Multi-directional 3D forging (Min. 4:1 upsetting ratio)	Standard 2D forging or conventional rolling	Higher structural integrity and better grain flow alignment.
Microstructural Uniformity	Extremely high and consistent throughout the block	May vary across core to surface	Predictable machining, heat treatment, and die performance.
Purity & Inclusion Levels	Strictly controlled Sulfur (≤ 0.030%) & Phosphorus (≤ 0.030%)	Controlled to basic standards (0.035%)	Lower inclusion levels directly improve fatigue life and crack resistance.
Impact Toughness	Outstanding and uniform (20–25 J/cm²)	Moderate to high (can vary by batch)	Higher crack resistance under extreme hammer shock loads.
Through-Hardening (Large Blocks)	Uniform hardness even in large sections (400 mm)	Depends on forging quality and section size	Prevents soft core issues in massive die blocks.
Heat Treatment Response	Highly predictable and repeatable across batches	May vary slightly between batches	Minimal distortion risk and consistent target HRC achievement.
Thermal Fatigue Resistance	Superior resistance to heat checking	Application dependent	Withstands repeated heating/cooling cycles longer during hot forging.
Impact Toughness	Up to 30% – 40% increase in production cycles	Baseline standard die life	Significantly reduces shop floor downtime and tooling replacement costs.
Quality Documentation	100% EN 10204 3.1 MTC with SEP 1921 Class D/d UT certification	Standard MTC and basic UT reporting	Complete global batch traceability and defect-free guarantee.
Initial Material Cost	Premium / Higher investment	Cost-effective / Lower initial price	Higher initial cost of Lucchini steel is offset by lower tooling cost-per-component.

Key Advantages of Lucchini DB6 tool steel (DIN 1.2714)

• Extreme Impact Toughness: High nickel (1.50–1.80%) prevents cracking under heavy drop-hammer shock loading.
• In demanding forging applications, premium-quality DB6 with controlled metallurgy, cleanliness and appropriate heat treatment can help improve die reliability and service life compared with lower-quality material.
• Deep Through-Hardening: Delivers uniform core-to-surface hardness in large blocks (400 mm).
• Thermal Fatigue Resistance: Withstands heat checking from repeated heating and cooling cycles.
• High Metallurgical Cleanliness: Low sulfur and phosphorus reduce inclusions and enhance fatigue strength.
• Perfect Quality Assurance: Certified by 100% Ultrasonic Testing (UT) and EN 10204 3.1 Mill Test Certificates.  Available Sizes of DB6 Tool Steel

Virat Special Steels supplies Lucchini DB6 Tool Steel in a wide range of standard and custom sizes to meet the requirements of die makers, tool rooms, automotive, engineering, and precision manufacturing industries.

Custom Processing Services

To minimize machining time and material wastage, we also offer:

• Precision cut-to-size material
• Bandsaw cutting
• Surface machining (on request)
• Bulk supply with batch-wise traceability
• Material Test Certificate (MTC) and EN 10204 3.1 certification (where applicable)

Case Study: DB6 Increases Die Life by 40%

Customer Challenge

A drop-forging plant for automotive components experienced premature die cracking of crankshaft forging dies made from standard hot work steels leading to expensive downtime.

Solution

The tooling was upgraded to DB6 (DIN 1.2714) supplied by Virat Special Steels, vacuum heat treated and double tempered to an optimized 46-48 HRC.

Results

40% increased die service life Eliminate catastrophic die cracking in high energy impact Lower maintenance and machine downtime Forged at a lower cost per part

Certifications Available

Reputable suppliers typically provide:

• Mill Test Certificate (MTC)
• Ultrasonic Tested Material
• Hardness Test Report
• Chemical Test Report

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Appropriate DB6 Tool Steel

Some important points to consider before buying DB6 Tool Steel (DIN 1.2714) to get the best out of your application:

1. Choose the Right Hardness

Pick the hardness for your application:

• 38-42 HRC – Greater toughness and impact resistance
• 50-56 HRC – Increased wear resistance and extended tool life

2. Choose the required form of material

DB6 Tool Steel is supplied in:

• Forged and Rolled blocks
• Round and Flat Bars
• ESR and Non ESR Blocks

3. Material Quality Inspection

Always ask for:

• Mill Test Certificate (MTC) Ultrasonic Tested Material
• Material Traceability Spectro Tested Material

4. Match the App

Select DB6, depending on your tooling needs, such as:

• Forging Dies
• Hammer Dies
• Extrusion
• Holders for
• Casting Dies

5. Select a Trusted Supplier

Join hands with a supplier who can support with ready stock, custom machining, technical support and PAN India delivery for consistent quality and timely supply.

Why Choose Virat Special Steels for Lucchini DB6?

Virat Special Steels is a trusted supplier of imported tool steels to forging, die-making, automotive, engineering and manufacturing industries across India. With over 70 years of experience in special and tool steels, we provide quality-assured material, trusted sourcing, technical support and application-driven solutions.

Imported Lucchini DB6 Tool Steel We supply Lucchini DB6 Tool Steel (DIN 1.2714) for applications where high toughness, impact resistance, hardenability, and reliable tooling performance are required, with relevant mill documentation and material traceability subject to the specific product and supply condition.

Ready Stock Availability Our ready-stock inventory helps customers reduce procurement lead times and maintain production schedules. DB6 material can be supplied in different forms and sizes depending on availability and project requirements.

DB6 Round Bars & Flat Bars We supply DB6 round bars and flat bars in standard and customized dimensions — diameter, thickness, width, and length — subject to stock availability.

Forged DB6 Blocks For heavy-duty tooling and die applications, we offer forged DB6 blocks in suitable dimensions for machining large dies, die inserts, and other industrial tooling components.

Cut-to-Size Services DB6 Tool Steel can be supplied in cut-to-size dimensions according to customer requirements, helping reduce material wastage and bring material closer to final machining dimensions.

Machining Services Where required, we provide machining and material preparation services for DB6 Tool Steel, reducing in-house preparation time before the material moves to further tooling operations.

UT-Tested Material For applications where internal material quality is critical, Ultrasonic Testing (UT) can be provided according to applicable inspection requirements, helping identify internal discontinuities and support quality verification.

Mill Test Certificate (MTC) DB6 Tool Steel can be supplied with a Mill Test Certificate where applicable, covering heat/lot identification, chemical composition, mechanical properties, and other specified inspection results.

Spectro & Chemical Verification Spectro/chemical verification can be carried out where applicable to support material identification and chemistry verification — customers can discuss specific testing and certification requirements with our technical team before ordering.

PAN India Delivery Our logistics network supports PAN India delivery for forging companies, die makers, tool rooms, automotive manufacturers, engineering companies, and other industrial users.

Technical Support Choosing the right DB6 material involves more than selecting a grade. Our technical team can assist with grade selection, material form, dimensions, hardness requirements, heat-treatment considerations, testing requirements, and application suitability.

Whether you require Lucchini DB6 round bars, flat bars, forged blocks, cut-to-size material, or machined components, Virat Special Steels can help you source the appropriate material for your application.

Our Supply Network Across India

Virat Steels is one of the leading suppliers of DB6 Tool Steel (DIN 1.2714) to the manufacturers in the major industrial hubs of India like Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Belgaum, Chennai, Coimbatore, Hosur,Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Faridabad, Manesar, Bhiwadi, Gurugram, Delhi NCR, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab and Jamshedpur.

Our strong logistics network, ready stock and technical knowledge enable us to provide fast PAN India delivery to forging companies, die makers, tool rooms, plastic mould manufacturers, die casting industries and heavy engineering businesses.

Conclusion

The right tool steel choice directly affects the tooling cost per component, production downtime, and product quality. For low volume applications standard die steels may be sufficient but major advantages are available for high duty forging and hammer die work with certified imported grades such as Lucchini DB6 (DIN 1.2714).

An experienced stockiest like Virat Special Steels offers manufacturers across India the facility of genuine imported DB6, ready stock, cut-to-size material and complete metallurgical documentation.

Need DB6 tool steel for your next project? Contact our technical team for availability, required sizes, testing documentation, and quotations.

Get a Quote for Lucchini DB6 Tool Steel

Looking for Lucchini DB6 Tool Steel (DIN 1.2714) or other hot work tool steel in India? Virat Special Steels supplies imported DB6 in round bars, flat bars, forged blocks, rolled blocks, and cut-to-size material, subject to stock availability.

We can also support your requirements with ready stock, MTC, UT-tested material, spectro/chemical verification where applicable, custom machining, and PAN India delivery. Our technical team can assist with material selection, dimensions, hardness requirements, testing documentation, and application-specific requirements.

For other hot work tool steel, cold work tool steels, plastic mould steels, Alloy steel, high speed steel requirements

Call: +91-98140 21775
Email: info@viratsteels.com
Locations: Gurgaon (Haryana) | Ludhiana (Punjab)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Lucchini Tool Steel?

 Lucchini tool steel refers to specialized high-cleanliness alloy steels manufactured by Lucchini Italy for forging, die casting, and industrial tooling.

2. Is DB6 a hot work or cold work steel?

DB6 (DIN 1.2714) is classified as a low-alloy hot work tool steel valued for extreme impact toughness.

3. What is the AISI equivalent of DB6 steel?

The closest approximate AISI equivalent is AISI L6.

4. What is the standard hardness of annealed DB6?

In soft annealed condition, DB6 has a maximum hardness of 250 HB (25 HRC).

5. Can DB6 steel be pre-hardened?

Yes, DB6 is frequently supplied in a pre-hardened state (360-430 / 38-44 HRC).

6. Why is Nickel (Ni) added to DB6 tool steel?

Nickel (1.50-1.80) provides deep hardenability and structural impact toughness.

7. What is the quenching medium for DIN 1.2714?

It is typically quenched in oil or vacuum pressure gas after austenitizing at (840-870)

8. Why is double tempering necessary?

Double tempering ensures full transformation of retained austenite and stabilizes dimensional accuracy.

9. How does Ultrasonic Testing (UT) protect buyers?

UT inspection ensures blocks are 100% free of internal voids, pipe shrinkage, or sub-surface cracks.

10. Is DB6 suitable for plastic injection moulds?

Yes, pre-hardened DB6 is widely used for large plastic mould frames requiring core toughness.

11. What is the density of DIN 1.2714 tool steel?

The density is 7.85 g/cm³ (7,850 kg/m³).

12. What is the IS Standard equivalent for 1.2714 steel?

It corresponds to Indian Standard classifications such as T55Ni7Cr4Mo5V1.

13. Why choose Lucchini DB6 over standard local die blocks?

 Lucchini DB6 provides superior structural cleanliness, higher impact toughness, and up to 30–40% longer die life.

14.What is stress relieving and when is it done?

Stress relieving involves heating machined tooling to 600–650°C to release internal machining stresses before hardening.

15. What industry sectors heavily consume Lucchini DB6?

Automotive forging, drop-forging plants, aluminum extrusion, and heavy machinery tooling.

16. How can I get authentic Lucchini tool steel in India?

Contact technical stockists like Virat Special Steels, who supply genuine certified imported tool steels with complete MTC documentation.

17. What is the density of DB6 (DIN 1.2714) tool steel?

The density is 7.85 g/cm³ (7,850 kg/m³).

18.Can DB6 steel be supplied pre-hardened?

Yes, DB6 can be supplied pre-hardened, typically in the 38–42 HRC range depending on the intended application.

19. How can I source genuine Lucchini DB6 tool steel in India?

Work with a technical stockist like Virat Special Steels, which supplies certified imported DB6 with complete MTC documentation and batch traceability.