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What is H13 tool steel? It is an air-hardening hot work tool steel and is one of the most widely used steels among all hot work tool steels. Compared to H11 tool steel, this steel offers higher thermal strength and hardness. Additionally, since it can be air-hardened, it exhibits low quenching deformation and residual stress and a minimal tendency for surface oxidation. Furthermore, it can produce secondary hardening, boasts excellent thermal stability, and effectively resists the erosion of aluminum alloy molten liquid.

Manufacturers widely use this steel to produce hot extrusion dies and mandrels, forging dies for drop hammers, and forging press dies. Additionally, it is commonly utilized for inserts in precision forging machines and die-casting molds for aluminum, copper, and their alloys. This versatility makes it a preferred choice for demanding industrial applications.

The designation in the U.S. ASTM A681 system is H13, and the name in the American AISI system is AISI H13 steel. Similarly, other national standards use comparable designations, such as ISO 40CrMoV5, Japan/JIS SKD61, USA/UNS T20813, Germany/DIN X40CrMoV5-1, Germany/W-Nr. 1.2344, and Czech Republic (CSN) 19554. For consistency, we will use H13 steel as a substitute in the following article. Next, we will discuss the properties of H13 tool steel in detail.

H13 tool steel Applications

1. Die Casting Dies:
H13 die steel exhibits excellent heat resistance and toughness, making it ideal for die-casting dies. Specifically, workers inject molten metal under high pressure and temperature during the die-casting process, requiring materials capable of withstanding extreme conditions.

2. Forging Dies:
H13 handles high impact and mechanical stress effectively, making it suitable for forging dies that shape metals at high temperatures. Additionally, its durability and resistance to thermal fatigue ensure reliable performance in demanding industrial applications.

3. Extrusion Dies:
H13 is strong and resists wear. This makes it useful for extrusion dies. These dies shape materials are under high pressure.

4. Plastic Molding Dies:
Manufacturers commonly use H13 tool steel to make molds for plastic injection because they need its heat resistance and wear resistance.

5. Hot Shear Blades:
Its ability to stay sharp at high temperatures makes it a great material for hot shear blades used in metal cutting processes.

6. Aluminum alloy building material mold materials:
Chinese industries widely use H13 as a mold material for aluminum alloy building materials, which is why people call it H13 mold steel.

H13 Steel: High-Temperature Excellence

H13 steel delivers superior strength, thermal fatigue resistance, and hardness above 500°C—ideal for die-casting molds, hot-working dies, and high-temperature fixtures. Trusted in aluminum and magnesium alloy die-casting, forging, and extrusion, it’s your go-to choice for peak performance.

H13 tool steel overview

H13 steel is a widely used hot work tool steel globally. It is renowned for its strength and toughness, high hardenability, and resistance to thermal cracking. This steel features higher levels of carbon and vanadium, which result in good wear resistance but relatively lower toughness. It offers good heat resistance, maintaining strong strength and hardness, high wear resistance, and toughness at elevated temperatures. Furthermore, it has excellent overall mechanical properties and high tempering resistance.

Chemical composition

Carbon (C)	Chromium (Cr)	Molybdenum (Mo)	Vanadium (V)	Silicon (Si)	Iron (Fe)	Nickel (Ni)	Copper (Cu)	Manganese (Mn)
0.32 – 0.45	4.75 – 5.50	1.10 – 1.75	0.80 – 1.20	0.80 – 1.20	≥ 90.9	≤ 0.3	≤ 0.25	Smaller amounts

Physical properties

Property	Value
Density	7.75 – 7.80 g/cm3
Tensile Strength, Ultimate	1200 – 2050 MPa (174000 – 231000 psi)
Tensile Strength, Yield	1000 – 1380 MPa (145000 – 200000 psi)
Hardness	45-52 HRC (Rockwell C Hardness)
Impact Toughness	20-40 J/cm2
Compressive Strength	2550 MPa

Heat Treatment

1. Pre-heating

a) Forging Process Specifications

Item	Heating Temperature (°C)	Forging Temperature (°C)	Finishing Temperature (°C)	Cooling Method
Ingot	1140-1180	1100-1150	900-850	Slow cooling (sand or pit cooling)
Billet	1120-1150	1050-1100	900-850	Slow cooling (sand or pit cooling)

b) Heat Treatment Process

Pre-Heat Treatment Plan	Process Parameters
Annealing Process	Heating temperature: 860 ~ 890°C, hold for 3 ~ 4 hours, furnace cool to below 500°C and then air cool, hardness after annealing ≤229HBW, structure: spheroidized pearlite + a small amount of carbides
Stress Relief Annealing	Heating temperature: 730 ~ 760°C, hold for 3 ~ 4 hours, furnace cool

c) Hardness and Microstructure Before and After Annealing

Condition	Indentation Diameter (mm)	HBW	Microstructure
Before Annealing	≈2.75	≈500	Martensite or Bainite
After Annealing	≥3.9	≥241	Spheroidized Pearlite + Small Amount of Carbides

2. Quenching

a)Recommended Tempering Process Specification

Quenching Temperature (°C)	Cooling	Quenching Medium	Quenching Medium Temperature (°C)	Cooling to	Hardness (HRC)
1020 ~ 1080		Oil or Air	20 ~ 60	Room Temperature	56 ~ 58

b)Relationship between quenching temperature, hardness, and grain size

Quenching Temperature (°C)	930	950	980	1000	1020	1040	1060	1080	1100
Hardness (HRC)	50.3	52	53.5	54.8	56.3	57.8	58.2	59.1	59.1
Grain Size (Level)	—	11.2	11.1	11.1	11.1	11	10	8	7

3. Tempering

a)Recommended Tempering Process Specifications

Purpose	Tempering Temperature (°C)	Equipment	Cooling Method	Tempering Hardness (HRC)
Relieve stress, reduce hardness	560 ~ 580	Melting salt bath furnace or air furnace	Air cooling	47 ~ 49

b)The relationship between tempering temperature and hardness

Tempering Temperature (°C)	Hardness (HRC)
100	59.0
200	57.0
300	54.5
400	54.5
450	57.5
500	57.5
550	53.5
600	49.5
650	40.0
700	30.0

From forging to extrusion, H13 steel delivers unmatched strength and versatility. Discover the difference today!

H13 steel equivalents: DIN 1.2344 and JIS SKD61

Under the German and Japanese standard systems, DIN 1.2344 and SKD61 are steels that can substitute H13. They share similar compositions and properties, and are internationally recognized air-hardening hot work die steels. These steels exhibit excellent high-temperature strength, toughness, and resistance to thermal fatigue, enabling them to withstand rapid temperature changes. They are suitable for prolonged operation under high-temperature conditions while maintaining superior machinability and polishing performance.

Introduction to DIN 1.2344 steel

Chemical composition

Carbon (C)	Silicon (Si)	Manganese (Mn)	Chromium (Cr)	Molybdenum (Mo)	Vanadium (V)	Phosphorus (P)	Sulfur (S)
0.35 – 0.42	0.8 – 1.2	0.25 – 0.5	4.8 – 5.5	1.2 – 1.5	0.85 – 1.15	≤0.030	≤0.030

1.2344 material properties

Machinability: Machine 1.2344 tool steel, which has moderate machinability, best in its annealed condition. Use proper cutting fluids and tools to reduce tool wear.
Weldability: Welding 1.2344 steel presents some challenges. To prevent cracking, welders must carefully preheat the material and perform post-weld heat treatment. Maintaining weld integrity requires specialized welding techniques.

Introduction to JIS SKD61 steel

Chemical composition

Carbon (C)	Chromium (Cr)	Molybdenum (Mo)	Vanadium (V)	Manganese (Mn)	Silicon (Si)	Phosphorus (P)	Sulfur (S)
0.32 – 0.42	4.50 – 5.50	1.00 – 1.50	0.80 – 1.20	0.20 – 0.50	0.80 – 1.20	≤ 0.03	≤ 0.03

Physical Properties

Property	Value
Density	7.8 g/cm³
Thermal Conductivity	28 W/m·K at 100°C
Elastic Modulus	210 GPa
Specific Heat Capacity	460 J/kg·K
Hardness (After Heat Treatment)	50 – 55 HRC