Are H13, 1.2344 and SKD61 exactly the same?
They are broadly comparable H13-type hot work tool steels, but they are not always identical line by line across every standard. The required standard, drawing and MTC should be the final reference.
H13 / 1.2344 / SKD61 Hot Work Tool Steel Supplier
H13 / DIN 1.2344 / JIS SKD61 / GB 4Cr5MoSiV1 is a Cr-Mo-V hot work tool steel for die casting dies, extrusion tooling, hot forging tools, inserts, cores, mandrels and high-temperature tooling. These grades are broadly comparable, but final order acceptance should follow the buyer's required standard, drawing and MTC.
Typical Specifications
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Grade | AISI H13 / DIN 1.2344 / Japan JIS SKD61 / Russia GOST 4Х5МФ1С / China GB 4Cr5MoSiV1 |
| Product | Plate, round bar, flat bar, block |
| Condition | Annealed / Q+T / ESR optional |
| Standard | H13 / 1.2344 / SKD61 / 4Cr5MoSiV1 |
Key Features
- High hot strength and thermal fatigue resistance
- Good toughness for hot work tooling
- Good machinability in annealed condition
- Suitable for heat treatment and surface treatment
Typical Applications
Aluminium die casting dies
Hot extrusion dies
Hot forging dies
Die inserts and core pins
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Quick Information
H13 / 1.2344 / SKD61 Supply Information
Practical procurement data for buyers comparing H13-type hot work steel across AISI, DIN, EN, JIS and GB drawings.
| Item | Typical supply information |
|---|---|
| Grade family | H13 / 1.2344 / X40CrMoV5-1 / SKD61 / 4Cr5MoSiV1 |
| Steel type | Chromium-molybdenum-vanadium hot work tool steel |
| Typical delivery condition | Soft annealed, black surface, milled, forged block, plate or round bar |
| Typical hardness before hardening | Usually supplied in annealed condition for machining |
| Final working hardness | Commonly 44-52 HRC depending on application and heat treatment |
| Available forms | Plate, block, round bar, cut-to-size piece, machined or milled block |
| Inspection support | MTC, hardness test, UT upon request |
| Main applications | Die casting dies, extrusion dies, hot forging tools, inserts, cores, mandrels, hot shear tools |
Equivalent Standards
Equivalent Grade Comparison
H13 / 1.2344 / SKD61 / 4Cr5MoSiV1 grades are broadly comparable, but final order acceptance should follow the buyer's required standard, drawing and MTC.
| Standard system | Grade | Designation | Buyer note |
|---|---|---|---|
| AISI / ASTM | H13 | H13 | Commonly used in North American and international drawings |
| DIN / W.Nr. | 1.2344 | X40CrMoV5-1 | Common European hot work tool steel designation |
| EN / ISO | 1.2344 | X40CrMoV5-1 | Used for hot work tooling under EN / DIN systems |
| JIS | SKD61 | SKD61 | Common in Japanese and Southeast Asian tooling projects |
| GB | 4Cr5MoSiV1 | 4Cr5MoSiV1 | Chinese equivalent grade for H13-type hot work steel |
These grades are broadly comparable, but they are not always identical line by line across all standards. For purchasing, the required standard and MTC should be the final reference.
Technical Overview
Why H13 Works in Hot Tooling
Chromium
Supports hot strength, oxidation resistance and resistance to softening.
Molybdenum
Supports secondary hardening, hot strength and temper resistance.
Vanadium
Supports wear resistance, carbide stability and grain refinement.
Silicon
Supports thermal fatigue resistance and high-temperature performance.
Chemical Composition
Chemical Composition Comparison
Reference ranges for comparing common H13-type standards. Small differences may exist across standards, mills and order specifications.
| Element | ASTM A681 H13 | DIN / EN 1.2344 X40CrMoV5-1 | JIS SKD61 | GB 4Cr5MoSiV1 reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 0.32-0.45 | 0.35-0.42 | 0.35-0.42 | 0.32-0.42 |
| Si | 0.80-1.25 | 0.80-1.20 | 0.80-1.20 | 0.80-1.20 |
| Mn | 0.20-0.60 | 0.25-0.50 | 0.25-0.50 | 0.20-0.50 |
| Cr | 4.75-5.50 | 4.80-5.50 | 4.80-5.50 | 4.75-5.50 |
| Mo | 1.10-1.75 | 1.10-1.50 | 1.00-1.50 | 1.10-1.75 |
| V | 0.80-1.20 | 0.85-1.15 | 0.80-1.15 | 0.80-1.20 |
| P | <=0.030 | <=0.030 | <=0.030 | <=0.030 |
| S | <=0.030 | <=0.020 | <=0.020 | <=0.030 |
These values are technical reference ranges only. Final acceptance must follow the required standard, customer drawing and MTC. For premium die casting tools, ESR may be required.
Properties
Key Properties for Buyers
| Property | Buyer value |
|---|---|
| Hot strength | Supports tooling exposed to high working temperature |
| Thermal fatigue resistance | Helps reduce heat checking in die casting and hot work applications |
| Toughness | Supports impact-loaded tools and inserts |
| Wear resistance | Useful for hot forming, extrusion and die casting tools |
| Temper resistance | Helps maintain hardness after exposure to elevated temperature |
| Hardenability | Suitable for blocks, plates and tool components with proper heat treatment |
| Machinability in annealed condition | Supports rough machining before hardening |
Delivery Condition
Typical Delivery Condition and Forms
- Soft annealed
- Black surface plate or block
- Forged block
- Hot rolled plate
- Round bar
- Peeled or turned round bar
- Milled plate or six-side machined block
- Cut-to-size pieces
- ESR material when required
Heat Treatment
H13 / 1.2344 / SKD61 Heat Treatment Guidance
Heat treatment must be selected according to tool size, geometry, application, required hardness, working temperature and cracking risk. The following guidance is for technical reference only. Final heat treatment should be confirmed by the heat treatment provider and the customer's tooling requirement.
Soft Annealing
| Process | Recommended range |
|---|---|
| Heating temperature | 840-880°C, typical |
| Holding | Hold until the section is uniformly heated |
| Cooling | Furnace cool slowly to approximately 500-550°C, then air cool |
| Typical result | Soft annealed condition for machining |
| Target hardness | Usually <= 235 HB, depending on standard and section size |
Stress Relieving
| Process | Recommended range |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 550-650°C |
| Holding time | 1-2 hours, depending on section size |
| Cooling | Air cool in still air |
| When to use | After rough machining, before final machining or hardening |
Preheating Before Austenitizing
| Step | Recommended range | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| First preheat | 600-650°C | Reduce thermal shock |
| Second preheat | 820-870°C | Equalize section temperature before austenitizing |
Austenitizing
| Application condition | Austenitizing temperature |
|---|---|
| General H13 / 1.2344 tooling | 1010-1030°C |
| High hot-strength requirement | 1020-1040°C |
| Special application by heat treatment instruction | 1040-1050°C, only when justified |
Higher temperature may improve hot strength and hardenability, but excessive temperature can increase grain growth and reduce toughness. Vacuum or protective atmosphere heat treatment is recommended to reduce oxidation and decarburization.
Quenching
| Quenching method | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Air cooling | Small or simple tools |
| Forced air / gas quenching | Vacuum heat treatment and controlled hardening |
| Oil interrupted quench | Special cases, complex geometry, only with careful process control |
Temper immediately after safe handling temperature is reached. Avoid delayed tempering because untempered martensite can increase cracking risk.
Tempering
| Target application | Typical tempering range | Typical working hardness |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum die casting dies | 560-620°C | 44-48 HRC |
| Extrusion dies and holders | 550-600°C | 44-50 HRC |
| Hot forging tools | 540-600°C | 46-52 HRC |
| Hot shear blades | 540-590°C | 48-52 HRC |
| Plastic molds requiring wear resistance | Application-specific | 48-52 HRC, if specified |
Double tempering is recommended. Cool to room temperature between tempering cycles. Triple tempering may be used for demanding die casting or extrusion tooling. Final hardness must be checked after heat treatment.
Application Heat Treatment
Application-Based Heat Treatment Reference
| Tool application | Common grade choice | Typical target hardness | Heat treatment focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum die casting die | H13 / 1.2344 / SKD61, ESR if required | 44-48 HRC | Thermal fatigue resistance, toughness, heat checking resistance |
| Die casting insert or core | H13 ESR / 1.2344 ESR when required | 44-50 HRC | Cleanliness, toughness, crack resistance |
| Extrusion die | H13 / 1.2344 / SKD61 | 44-50 HRC | Hot strength, wear resistance, dimensional stability |
| Hot forging die | H13 / 1.2344 / SKD61 | 46-52 HRC | Impact resistance, hot wear resistance |
| Hot shear blade | H13-type hot work steel | 48-52 HRC | Edge stability, hot wear resistance |
| Mandrel / holder / backer | H13 / 1.2344 | 42-48 HRC | Toughness, support strength |
| Plastic mold with higher wear requirement | H13 / 1.2344 if specified | 48-52 HRC | Polishability, wear resistance, thermal stability |
ESR Option
H13 ESR / 1.2344 ESR: When Is It Needed?
ESR can improve cleanliness, microstructure uniformity and toughness reliability. ESR is not needed for every H13 order, but it may be important for high-performance die casting dies, large inserts, severe thermal fatigue tooling, premium mold components, or customer drawings specifying ESR.
Applications
Typical Applications
- Die casting tooling: aluminum and magnesium die casting dies, zinc die casting tools, die inserts, cores, slides, sprue bushings and hot runners when specified
- Extrusion tooling: extrusion dies, die holders, backers, liners, dummy blocks, stems and mandrels
- Hot forging and hot forming: hot forging dies, hot punches, hot shear blades, trimming tools, forming inserts, mandrels and support blocks
- Other tooling uses: plastic molds requiring better thermal stability or wear resistance, wear-resistant components after proper heat treatment, shrink rings, tooling support parts, hot work fixtures and holders
Ordering Checklist
Buyer Checklist Before Ordering
- Required grade and standard
- Product form
- Size and tolerance
- Surface condition
- Delivery condition
- Hardness requirement
- ESR or non-ESR
- UT requirement and acceptance level
- MTC requirement
- Heat treatment requirement
- Marking and traceability
- Packing method
- Quantity and delivery schedule
- Destination port or delivery address
Supply Support
Haoyuan Supply and Processing Support
- Plate, block and round bar supply
- Cut-to-size pieces
- Black, milled, peeled or machined surface depending on order
- Forged block sourcing
- ESR material upon project requirement
- MTC support
- UT support upon request
- Hardness test support
- Export packing
- Heat number marking
- Shipment photos before dispatch if required
Fast Quotation
Information Needed for a Fast Quote
- Grade
- Required standard
- Product form
- Size
- Quantity
- Surface condition
- Annealed or heat-treated condition
- Hardness requirement
- ESR requirement
- UT requirement and acceptance level
- MTC requirement
- Destination port or delivery address
- Required delivery time
FAQ
H13 Tool Steel FAQ
What is the difference between H13 and 1.2344?
H13 is the AISI / ASTM designation, while 1.2344 / X40CrMoV5-1 is the DIN / EN designation. Composition ranges and acceptance rules should be checked against the order standard.
What is the JIS equivalent of H13?
JIS SKD61 is the common Japanese designation used for H13-type hot work tool steel.
What is the GB equivalent of H13?
GB 4Cr5MoSiV1 is commonly used as the Chinese equivalent grade for H13-type hot work tool steel.
Is H13 suitable for aluminum die casting dies?
Yes. H13 / 1.2344 / SKD61 is widely used for aluminum die casting dies, inserts, cores and related hot work tooling after suitable heat treatment.
When should I choose ESR H13?
Choose ESR when the drawing specifies it or when the tool requires improved cleanliness, toughness reliability and microstructure uniformity, such as premium die casting dies or large inserts.
What hardness is H13 usually used at?
Final working hardness is commonly about 44-52 HRC depending on application, tool size, heat treatment route and cracking risk.
Should H13 be double tempered?
Double tempering is recommended for most hardened H13 tooling. Demanding die casting or extrusion tooling may use triple tempering according to the heat treatment plan.
Can H13 be nitrided?
H13 can be nitrided when specified to improve surface wear resistance and thermal fatigue performance, but nitriding parameters should match the final tool requirement.
What information is needed for a quotation?
Send grade, required standard, product form, size, quantity, surface condition, heat treatment or hardness requirement, ESR and UT requirements, MTC request and destination port or address.
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