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H13 Tool Steel

1.2344

  • EN1.2344
  • ENX40CrMoV5-1
  • AISIH13

Hot work tool steel that retains its mechanical properties, and therefore its wear resistance, at high temperatures. Very good thermal stability and good toughness. Suitable for nitriding.

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01Material Properties

  • Good hot strength and temper resistance
  • Thermal shock resistance
  • Good high toughness and ductility
  • Weldability
  • Easy machining
  • Hardenable up to 54 HRC by heat treatment
  • Recommended working hardness 44–52 HRC
  • Good nitriding response
  • Suitable for coating

02Applications

  • Aluminium extrusion dies and tooling: dies, backers, bolsters, rings, stems, dummy blocks
  • Die inserts and dies for all press forging applications
  • Shot sleeves and sleeve counterparts in die casting
  • Secondary areas of die casting dies: gate inserts, heels etc.
  • High-volume plastic injection molds and applications requiring wear resistance above 48 HRC
  • Upper and lower dies in low-pressure die casting
  • Gravity casting dies
  • Industrial knives

03Delivery Condition

  • 230 HB, soft annealed

04Heat Treatment

Typical values

Soft annealing
750–800 °C, slow furnace cooling; max. 229 HB
Stress relieving
600–650 °C after rough machining; furnace cooling
Preheating
Stepwise: 600–650 °C and 850 °C; soak per section
Hardening
1020–1050 °C; austenitising 20–30 min (depending on section)
Quenching medium
Pressurised gas in vacuum, oil, or 500–550 °C salt bath + air
As-quenched hardness
≈ 52–54 HRC
Tempering
At least twice, min. 2 h each; 550–650 °C
Working hardness
44–52 HRC (depending on application)
Nitriding
500–550 °C; below the tempering temperature

Heat treatment cycle (schematic)

020040060080010001200Stress relieve625°1. Stress relieve — 625 °CPreheat650°2. Preheat — 650 °CPreheat850°3. Preheat — 850 °CAustenitise1035°4. Austenitise — 1035 °C5. Quench — 60 °CTemper585°6. Temper — 585 °C7. Cool — 25 °CTemper585°8. Temper — 585 °C9. Cool — 25 °CTime (schematic, not to scale)°C
Stages and temperatures are typical values; soaking times depend on section size.

Tempering diagram (approximate)

203040506001002003004005006007000 °C → 54 HRC100 °C → 53.5 HRC200 °C → 52.5 HRC300 °C → 51.5 HRC400 °C → 51.5 HRC500 °C → 53 HRC525 °C → 54 HRC550 °C → 52.5 HRC600 °C → 48 HRC650 °C → 41 HRC700 °C → 31 HRCTempering temperature (°C)Hardness (HRC)
Approximate hardness versus tempering temperature after hardening from the typical austenitising temperature.

Values are approximate and for information only; they vary with section size, heat and furnace conditions. Binding values are determined from the manufacturer’s data under laboratory conditions.

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