H13 1.2344 SKD61 Hot-work Tool Steel Bars and Plates
This steel, used for die casting molds, is equivalent to H13 steel as specified in ASTM A681. It exhibits excellent toughness, good hot strength, superior thermal fatigue resistance, and a certain degree of wear resistance. It can be hardened by air cooling with minimal distortion during heat treatment. Currently, it is one of the most widely used hot-work die steels. However, if even higher wear resistance is required, surface treatments such as nitriding or PVD coating should be applied.
Applications of H13
This steel boasts excellent thermal fatigue resistance, high-temperature toughness, stable hardness and low thermal deformation. Suited for hot forming and precision molding, it is widely used for non-ferrous alloy die casting dies, hot working tools and cyclic-heat injection molds, delivering long-lasting reliable performance for automotive and machinery industries.
- Die-casting die: It is suitable for manufacturing die-casting dies of aluminum, magnesium, zinc and light alloys, such as those used in automobile, motorcycle and electronic equipment industries.
- Hot extrusion die: It is used to manufacture hot extrusion dies of various metal materials, such as aluminum profiles and copper pipes, etc.
- Hot forging die: It can be used to manufacture hot forging dies, such as forging dies for automotive parts and mechanical parts, etc.
- Plastic die: It can be used to manufacture some plastic die components that require high wear resistance and toughness, such as the core and cavity of injection molds, etc.
- High temperature bearing: Because of its excellent high temperature performance and wear resistance, it can be used to manufacture bearings that work in high temperature environments, such as high temperature bearings in aerospace, petrochemical and other fields.
- Aerospace field: It can be used to manufacture important components in the aviation industry, such as aircraft, rockets and other structural parts that can withstand a working temperature of 400～500℃.
Equivalent Grades and Commonly Used Specifications of H13
| Steel Grade | Specification | Specification Name |
| 4Cr5MoSiV1 / T23353 | GB/T 1299 | Tool and Mould Steels |
| H13/ T20813 | ASTM A681 | Standard Specification for Tool Steels Alloy |
| 1.2344 / X40CrMoV 5-1 | DIN EN ISO 4957 | Tool Steels |
| 4H5MF1S | GOST 5950 | Bars, Strips and Hanks Made of Tool Alloy Steel |
| SKD61 | JIS G 4404 | Alloy tool steels |
| Products produced as per other specifications or technical agreements (if need) are available. | ||
Typical Chemical Composition of H13
|
Elements |
C | Si | Mn | P | S | Cr | Mo | V |
| Content % | 0.32~0.45 | 0.80~1.20 | 0.20~0.50 | ≤0.025 | ≤0.025 | 4.75~5.50 | 1.10~1.75 |
0.80~1.20 |
| Products produced as per other specifications or technical agreements (if need) are available. | ||||||||
Typical Heat Treatment Condition and Mechanical Properties of H13
|
Delivery Condition |
Mechanical Properties and Hardness of Heat-Treated Specimens | ||||||
| Rp0.2/(N/mm2) | Rm/(N/mm2) | A/% | Zb/% | Aku2d/J | HBW |
HRC |
|
|
Annealed Condition |
/ | / | / | / | / | ≤229 |
/ |
|
As-quenched Condition（Preheat at 790℃ ±15℃; heat treatment at 1000℃ for salt bath heating or 1010℃ ±6℃ under controlled furnace atmosphere, hold for 5–15 minutes then oil quench; perform double tempering at 550℃ ±6℃, 2 hours per tempering cycle. |
/ | / | / | / | / | / |
/ |
| Products produced as per other specifications or technical agreements (if need) are available. | |||||||
Process Properties
It has good machinability and can be machined by milling, drilling, turning, etc. It has high thermal plasticity, low deformation resistance and less tendency to forging cracks, but the hot forging temperature must be strictly controlled at 900~1100℃. The tools used for forging should be preheated to 150~250℃ to prevent surface quality problems caused by excessive temperature difference when the tool comes into contact with the steel.
Isothermal Transformation Curve and Continuous
Transformation Curve of Undercooled Austenite of H13
Relationship Between Tempering Temperature and
Hardness After Quenching at Qifferent Temperatures
Relationship Between Impact Toughness and Fracture Toughness After Quenching and Tempering Temperature
Relationship Between Impact Toughness and Fracture Toughness After Quenching and Tempering Temperature
Product Forms and Size Range of H13
|
Product forms |
Size range |
| Bars |
Diameter or side length: 5.0mm~1000mm |
| Flats |
thickness: 4.0mm~1000mm width: 300mm~2200mm |
| Produce as other form and size according to technical requirements are available. | |
