Tool Steel Selection for Die Casting Dies & Inserts

Select tool steel by casting alloy, molten metal temperature, heat checking resistance, hot hardness, erosion resistance, and toughness requirement. For die casting dies and inserts, the main choice is usually between thermal fatigue resistance, hot strength, erosion resistance, and resistance to cracking.

Quick Selection Guide by Tool Steel Grade

Choose the grade according to whether the die is used for aluminum, magnesium, zinc, lead, brass, copper, inserts, cores, or holder blocks.

Aluminum Die Casting

H13 Tool Steel 1.2344 / SKD61

Recommended for aluminum and magnesium die casting dies, inserts, and cores.

Reason: H13 gives a strong balance of hot hardness, toughness, thermal fatigue resistance, and erosion resistance against molten aluminum.

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High Toughness Inserts

H11 Tool Steel 1.2343 / SKD6

Recommended for aluminum and magnesium die casting inserts, cores, and tooling where toughness is critical.

Reason: H11 provides high toughness, hot strength, and resistance to thermal shock, helping delay heat-checking crack growth.

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Zinc Die Casting

P20 Mold Steel 1.2311

Recommended for short to medium-run zinc die casting dies, inserts, and die holder blocks.

Reason: P20 is commonly supplied prehardened, allowing machining to final dimensions without post-machining heat treatment distortion.

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Long-Run Zinc Dies

H13 Tool Steel 1.2344 / SKD61

Recommended for long-run zinc die casting dies that need superior wear life over many casting cycles.

Reason: H13 provides better wear life and heat-checking resistance than prehardened mold steel in long-run zinc die casting.

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Copper & Brass Dies

H21 Tool Steel 1.2581 / SKD5

Recommended for brass and copper die casting dies and inserts under high operating temperatures.

Reason: H21 contains high tungsten, giving strong red hardness and resistance to softening under severe molten brass or copper contact.

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High-Temperature Dies

H10 Tool Steel 1.2365 / SKD7

Recommended for high-temperature die casting dies and inserts where stronger hot-work performance is required.

Reason: H10 is a hot-work tool steel option for applications that need hot strength, tempering resistance, and resistance to thermal fatigue.

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Selection Summary

This table gives a faster comparison when the buyer already knows the casting alloy and main die failure risk.

Die Casting Application	Main Requirement	Aobo Steel Grades
Aluminum and magnesium die casting dies, inserts, and cores	Thermal fatigue resistance, hot hardness, toughness, and erosion resistance	H13, H11
High-velocity aluminum flow or erosion-prone areas	Resistance to washing, soldering, and molten aluminum erosion	H13
Short to medium-run zinc die casting dies and holder blocks	Cost control, prehardened supply, and low distortion risk	P20
Long-run zinc die casting dies	Higher wear life and heat-checking resistance over many cycles	H13, H11
Brass and copper die casting dies and inserts	Red hardness and resistance to softening at high temperature	H21
High-temperature hot-work die casting applications	Hot strength, tempering resistance, and thermal fatigue resistance	H10, H21

Need Tool Steel for Die Casting Dies or Inserts?

Send your grade, size, quantity, casting alloy, and die application. Aobo Steel can support bulk supply of hot-work tool steel and mold steel round bars and plates for industrial buyers.

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