It is a steel developed in Europe and is a variant of AISI P20 steel, to which nickel (Ni) has been added to improve hardenability, thereby developing:
- A smaller variation in hardness from the surface to the center, an appreciable characteristic in large dimensions.
- More uniform mechanical properties throughout its volume.
- Good machining characteristics and better polishability.
- Ease of applications for gravure.
It can be surface hardened via nitriding processes.