{"id":12254,"date":"2026-01-16T10:01:49","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T02:01:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aobosteel.com\/?page_id=12254"},"modified":"2026-04-26T00:04:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T16:04:51","slug":"h10-tool-steel-heat-treatment-guide","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/aobosteel.com\/es\/h10-tool-steel-heat-treatment-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Gu\u00eda de tratamiento t\u00e9rmico del acero para herramientas H10"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Home<\/mark> <\/a>> Tool Steel Heat Treatment Technical Center<\/mark> <\/a> > H10 Tool Steel Heat Treatment Guide<\/h6><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Aobo Steel | Global Tool Steel Supplier in China<\/em><\/h4><\/div>\n\n\n\n

H10 Tool Steel Heat Treatment Guide<\/h1>

Practical heat treatment guidance for H10 tool steel to improve thermal shock resistance and toughness in demanding hot-work die applications.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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H10 Material Specifications<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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H10 hot-work tool steel<\/a> is a chromium-molybdenum-vanadium alloy steel characterized by high-temperature resistance to softening and high toughness. It is widely used in die-casting molds, forging dies, and extrusion tools where high pressure and thermal fatigue are encountered. The H10 steel supplied by our company, Aobo Steel, is in the annealed condition, featuring a microstructure composed of a ferritic matrix and spheroidized carbides. This condition exhibits low hardness, which facilitates machining for our customers. We also offer electroslag remelted\u00a0(ESR)\u00a0H10, featuring higher purity and a more uniform microstructure, thereby significantly extending its service life.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the ultimate realization of H10’s superior performance relies on subsequent hardening heat treatment, which transforms the soft annealed matrix into a hardened martensitic structure after tempering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This heat treatment process primarily includes: stress relief, preheating, austenitization, quenching, and tempering. This paper will discuss these critical steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Quick Checklist for H10 Tool Steel Heat Treatment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tiempo necesario: <\/span>1 d\u00eda<\/p>

Perform hardening heat treatment to transform the soft annealed matrix of H10 tool steel into a hardened martensitic structure.
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  1. Stress Relief<\/strong><\/strong>

    Heat uniformly to 650\u00b0C to 675\u00b0C (1200\u00b0F to 1250\u00b0F) and hold for 1 hour per inch of thickness (minimum 1 hour). Cool slowly in the air.<\/p> <\/li>

  2. Preheating<\/strong><\/strong>

    Heat to approximately 650\u00b0C (1200\u00b0F) for the initial preheat, then heat to 845\u2013870\u00b0C (1555\u20131600\u00b0F) for a second preheat if using salt baths or processing complex geometries.<\/p> <\/li>

  3. Austenitizing<\/strong><\/strong>

    Heat to 1010\u00b0C to 1040\u00b0C (1850\u00b0F to 1900\u00b0F) in a controlled atmosphere (salt bath, inert atmosphere, or vacuum furnace), then hold for 15 to 40 minutes.<\/p> <\/li>

  4. Quenching<\/strong><\/strong>

    Cool rapidly using air, an inert gas, or a graded oil\/salt bath (maintain oil\/salt at 595\u2013650\u00b0C \/ 1105\u20131200\u00b0F) until the workpiece reaches 50-66\u00b0C (120-150\u00b0F).<\/p> <\/li>

  5. Tempering<\/strong><\/strong>

    Heat slowly to a temperature between 400\u00b0C and 650\u00b0C (750\u00b0F – 1200\u00b0F) immediately after quenching, and hold for a minimum of 2 hours per inch of thickness in two separate cycles.<\/p> <\/li><\/ol><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Stress Relief Heat Treatment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Machining and forming operations generate residual stresses within H10 tool steel. If these stresses are not relieved prior to subsequent hardening heat treatment, their release can easily cause severe deformation or warping of H10 workpieces. Stress relief treatment does not alter the existing microstructure of H10 material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    During the specific operation, the H10 workpiece must be uniformly heated to 650\u00b0C to 675\u00b0C (1200\u00b0F to 1250\u00b0F). The holding time is typically calculated as 1 hour per inch of thickness of the H10 workpiece’s cross-section, with a minimum holding time of 1 hour. The workpiece is then slowly cooled in air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Preheating Before Austenitizing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Preheating minimizes the risk of deformation and cracking in H10 tool steel caused by temperature differentials. In practice, the H10 workpiece is first heated to approximately 650\u00b0C (1200\u00b0F) for the initial preheat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Subsequently, for H10 components undergoing high-temperature salt bath treatment or featuring complex cross-sectional geometries, a second preheat at 845\u2013870\u00b0C (1555\u20131600\u00b0F) is recommended. This staged heating approach effectively mitigates thermal shock to H10 components before entering the austenitizing stage, thereby ensuring the structural integrity and dimensional stability of the H10 tool steel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Austenitizing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    After preheating is complete, the H10 steel must be heated to the austenitizing temperature. The austenitizing temperature for H10 steel ranges from 1010\u00b0C to 1040\u00b0C (1850\u00b0F to 1900\u00b0F). Strict control of the furnace atmosphere is essential to prevent surface decarburization of H10. It is recommended to use molten-salt baths, inert atmospheres, or vacuum furnaces for surface protection. Once the entire workpiece reaches the preset temperature, it should be held for 15 to 40 minutes. Particular attention must be paid to controlling holding time to avoid excessive grain growth in the microstructure from prolonged exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Quenching<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Quenching is the process of transforming austenite into a hard martensitic structure through controlled rapid cooling. H10 exhibits deep quenching penetration, enabling complete hardening at relatively slow cooling rates compared with ordinary carbon steels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Standard quenching media include air, inert gas, or graded oil\/salt baths; water quenching is strictly prohibited to prevent cracking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In terms of process selection, gas(air) quenching is suitable for various cross-sections and minimizes deformation. Graded oil\/salt quenching, however, effectively reduces scale formation and ensures uniform hardening of large-section workpieces by maintaining temperature equilibrium in a 595\u2013650\u00b0C (1105\u20131200\u00b0F) medium before air cooling H10 components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Quenching should be terminated promptly when the H10 tool cools to approximately 50\u00b0C to 66\u00b0C (120\u00b0F to 150\u00b0F), and the tempering process should be initiated immediately to prevent stress cracking in the workpiece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    H10 Tool Steel Isothermal Transformation Diagram Chemical Composition: C: 0.40%, Mn: 0.55%, Si: 1.00%, Cr: 3.25%, Mo: 2.50%, V: 0.33%, Austenitizing Temperature: 1035\u00b0C (1895\u00b0F), Source: Crucible Steel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n