Z38CDV5 is the AFNOR (NF A35-590) designation for the chromium-molybdenum-vanadium hot-work tool steel better known internationally as DIN/EN X37CrMoV5-1 (Wnr. 1.2343) — the same alloy family as AISI H11. This is the base member of the French "Z38CDV5" naming family: it should not be confused with Z38CDV5-3 (Wnr. 1.2367, X38CrMoV5-3), a separate and more highly alloyed grade, which is already covered elsewhere on this chart. The two are related hot-work tool steels from the same design lineage, not the same material — Z38CDV5 corresponds to standard H11, while Z38CDV5-3 is a higher-alloy variant with greater secondary-hardening response.

Like the rest of the H11 family, Z38CDV5 combines roughly 5% chromium with moderate molybdenum and vanadium additions to deliver deep air-hardenability, good resistance to heat checking, and a useful balance of hot strength and toughness. That combination makes it a workhorse for die-casting dies, extrusion tooling, forging dies, and other hot-work applications that don't demand the extra hot-hardness of the higher-alloy Z38CDV5-3 grade. As with the rest of the H-series, it's normally supplied and machined in the annealed condition, then hardened and tempered afterward to reach working hardness — the machining data below applies to that annealed, pre-hardened state.

Composition per EN ISO 4957 for X37CrMoV5-1 (1.2343) — this is a distinct, lower-alloy composition from Z38CDV5-3 (Wnr. 1.2367), which carries higher molybdenum and vanadium content. Do not substitute one grade's data for the other.

In the annealed condition (typically around 190-229 HB), Z38CDV5 machines like a standard H11-class hot-work steel: cutting forces and edge temperatures run moderately above a plain low-alloy steel due to the chromium and vanadium carbide content, but it is noticeably less demanding on tooling than the higher-alloy Z38CDV5-3 grade, since it carries less molybdenum and vanadium to cut through in the mill-annealed state.

Chip control is generally manageable with a properly matched chipbreaker, and flank wear driven by heat at the tool-chip interface tends to be the limiting factor rather than sudden chipping, so coated carbide grades with good hot hardness consistently outperform uncoated tooling. Because dies made from this grade are usually machined close to final form before hardening, rigid workholding and steady feeds that keep the edge cutting rather than rubbing matter as much for dimensional control as they do for tool life.

Values assume favorable cutting conditions and nominal (annealed) material hardness, set moderately above Z38CDV5-3 given this grade's lower alloy content. Adjust down for interrupted cuts, poor rigidity, or harder-than-nominal stock. Always verify with a test cut.

Turning

Parting / Grooving

Milling