Applications
Typical applications include die casting dies for aluminium,
magnesium and zinc, extrusion dies for aluminium and brass, liners,
mandrels, pressure pads, followers, bolsters, die cases, die
holders and adaptor rings for copper and brass extrusion. H13 is
used to produce hot stamping and press forge dies, split hot
heading dies, gripper dies, hot punching, piercing and trimming
tools. Other applications include plastic moulds, shear blades for
hot work and hot swaging dies.
Forging
Preheat slowly to 750° C then increase the temperature more rapidly
to 1050-1100 ° C. Do not forge below 850° C. It is essential to
cool the H13 slowly after forging, either in a furnace or in
vermiculite.
Annealing
Soak thoroughly at 840-860° C before furnace cooling at a maximum
rate of 20° C per hour down to 600° C followed by cooling in air.
Stress Relieving
When tools made from H13 tool steel are heavily machined or ground,
the relief of internal strains is advisable before hardening to
minimise the possibility of distortion. Stress relieving should be
done after rough machining. To stress relieve, heat the component
carefully to 700° C, allow a good soaking period (two hours per
25mm of ruling section). Cool in the furnace or in air. The tools
may then be finish machined before hardening.
Hardening
Preheat to 780-820° C. Soak thoroughly, then increase rapidly to
the final hardening temperature of 1000-1030° C. When the H13 has
attained this temperature, soak for approximately thrity minutes.
Cool in air. Large sections may be quenched in oil. To reduce
scaling or decarburisation, we recommend isothermal molten salt
bath treatment. Preheat in salt at 780-820° C then transfer to salt
bath standing at 1000-1030° C. Soak and quench into salt standing
at 500-550° C. Allow to equalise, withdraw and cool in air.
Alternatively, this tool steel may be vacuum hardened or pack
hardened. Tools should be tempered as soon as they become hand
warm.
Tempering
Heat uniformly to the required temperature allowing a soaking time
of two hours per 25mm of ruling section. Withdraw from the furnace
and allow to cool in air. A second tempering is strongly
recommended, the H13 tool being allowed to cool to room temperature
between tempers. The usual tempering range is 530-650° C depending
on the hardness requirements and the operating temperature of the
tool.
Welding
In general, we do not advise the welding of tool steel but users
sometimes prefer to weld in order to avoid the cost of retooling.
It should be remembered that this grade is an air hardening steel
and that in welding the area of the weld attains a temperature of
about 1000° C. Cracking is likely to occur during cooling unless
proper precautions are taken. Popular methods of welding are atomic
hydrogen and argon arc. We recommend you contact your welding
consumables supplier who should provide you full assistance and
information on welding tool steels.
H13 Tool Steel
Standard | Steel NO. | C | Si | Mn | Cr | Mo | V | P | S | Ni |
| ChinaGB | 4Cr5MoSiV1 | 0.32 /
0.45 | 0.80 /
1.20 | 0.20 /
0.50 | 4.75 /
5.50 | 1.10 /
1.75 | 0.80 /
1.20 | ≤0.030 | ≤0.030 | _ |
| USAAISI | H13 | 0.32 /
0.45 | 0.80 /
1.20 | 0.20/
0.60 | 4.75 /
5.50 | 1.10 /
1.75 | 0.80 /
1.20 | ≤0.030 | ≤0.030 | _ |
| Japan JIS | SKD61 | 0.35 /
0.42 | 0.80 /
1.20 | 0.25/0.50 | 4.80 /
5.50 | 1.00 /
1.50 | 0.80 /
1.15 | ≤0.030 | ≤0.030 | _ |
| GermanyDIN | 1.2344 | 0.37 /
0.42 | 0.90 /
1.20 | 0.30 /
0.50 | 4.80 /
5.50 | 1.20 /
1.50 | 0.90 /
1.10 | ≤0.030 | ≤0.030 | |
