H13 steel is a tool steel developed for strength and hardness at high temperatures. It contains chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, and nickel which provide strength and resistance to softening at high temperatures. H13 steel scores highly on ease of fabrication factors like machinability, grindability, weldability, and resistance to distortion. It is particularly useful for small and medium sized extrusion dies, ejector pins, and die casting components where precision is required. A major advantage of H13 steel is that it can be precision-cast, saving on machining costs and waste.

1. H13 STEEL
VIRAT SPECIAL STEELS Pvt. Ltd. Introduce H-13 material & Modify H13 (DIN 2344 / SKD61/
AISI H13) for the application of drop forgings, Extrusion, Pressure Die Casting etc. H13 steels belong to
a family of Hot-Working Steels, a group of steel that is used to cut or shape material at high temperatures.
These H-group tool steels were developed for strength and hardness during prolonged exposure to
elevated temperatures. These tool steels are low carbon and moderate alloy with significant carbide
content resulting in good hot hardness and toughness, coupled with fair wear resistance. The main alloy
constituents of H13 are Chromium (4.75 to 5.5%); Molybdenum (1.1 to 1.75%); Vanadium (0.8 to 1.2%);
and nominal volume of Nickel (only 0.3%).
While Molybdenum and Vanadium provide strength, the high Chromium content makes H13 resistant to
softening when at high temperatures (red hardness). H-13 is also resilient in to shock and abrasion. It is
capable of withstanding rapid cooling and not prone to heat checking (cracking because of large changes
in temperature).
Ease of fabrication is an important consideration in selection of tool steel and H13 steels score highly on
this issue. The primary factors that influence easy fabrication are:good Machinability (H series steels
score 70 on the Index where W-class steels are at 100), Grindability, Weldability, Hardenability, and
Resistance to Distortion, Safety (cracking resistance) and Decarburizing Tendency. H13 steels are high on
all these and can be formed (shaped into tool or mould) by conventional means.
Weldability matters mainly for large tools and is the ability to make, alter and repair a tool by welding
without the material cracking. A simplistic explanation of Hardenability is whether hardness is
maintained through the depth of the material.
H13 steels are particularly useful where precision is required such as for small and medium sized
extrusion dies; and ejector pins, apparatus holders and shrink fit chucks. Also for making inserts, cores,
and cavities for die casting dies, die casting shot sleeves, hot forging dies, and plastic mould cavities and
parts that require a smooth finish.
A major advantage with H13 steels is that they can be Precision-Cast. Not only are cast tools superior to
wrought tools in terms of resistance to thermal checking; but if they can be precision cast to near finished
size they save significantly on waste and machining. They also allow for pattern making costs to be
spread over a large population of tools.
H13 tool steels are practically equivalent to DIN 1.2344 (Europe) and quite similar to grades AFNOR Z
40 COV 5, UNI KU,JIS SKD61, SS 2242, B.S. BH 13 & ASTM A681.