AISI H10 X32CrMoV33 1.2365 SKD7 Hot Work Tool Steel

Product Overview

DIN 1.2365 is a premium chromium-molybdenum-vanadium hot work tool steel standardized under German DIN 17350, engineered for extreme high-temperature industrial applications. Its alloy composition (Cr, Mo, V) delivers outstanding mechanical properties that resist softening, thermal cracking and wear under continuous high-heat and cyclic stress conditions—making it a top choice for die-casting, forging and extrusion manufacturing. Due to its balanced properties, several countries have developed equivalent grades, including: H10 from the American standard ASTM A681, 32CrMoV12-28 from the International standard ISO 4957, SKD7 from the Japan standard JIS G4404, 4Cr3Mo3SiV from the China standard GB/T 1299.

This steel grade has been globally standardized with equivalent grades across major industrial countries, ensuring universal compatibility and sourcing flexibility for international manufacturing projects. It is produced via advanced steelmaking processes to guarantee chemical homogeneity and structural integrity, meeting the strictest industrial quality standards for heavy-duty tooling.

Global Equivalent Grades

1.2365 has established equivalent grades in all major international steel standards, with minor chemical variations adapted to regional manufacturing requirements while retaining core performance characteristics:

Product Features

Chemical Composition

The precise chemical formulation of 1.2365 and its equivalents is optimized for high-temperature performance, with strict control of impurity elements (P, S) to ensure toughness and avoid brittleness:

Mechanical Properties & Hardness

1.2365 exhibits consistent hardness across different heat treatment conditions, with a minimum tempered hardness of HRC46 to ensure long tool life under heavy loads:

Tempering Property Characteristic

When quenched at 1040°C and oil-cooled, 1.2365 (32CrMoV12-28) maintains excellent hardness retention up to 600°C, with hardness gradually decreasing as tempering temperature rises—critical for applications with sustained high-heat exposure.

Supply Specifications & Tolerances

We offer 1.2365 in a full range of hot-rolled and hot-forged forms, with precise dimensional tolerances and surface finishes to meet diverse manufacturing needs.

Product Sizes & Lengths

Surface Finish & Dimensional Tolerance

Non-Destructive Testing

All 1.2365 products undergo ultrasonic testing in accordance with EN10228-3 Class III or Sep 1921-84 D/D to detect internal defects and ensure structural integrity for heavy-duty applications.

Steel Making & Forging Process

Advanced Steel Making Technology

We use state-of-the-art steelmaking processes to ensure chemical purity and structural homogeneity, with optional electroslag remelting (ESR) for ultra-high purity requirements:

• EF+LF+VD (Electric Furnace + Ladle Furnace + Vacuum Degassing)

• EAF+LF+VD (Electric Arc Furnace + Ladle Furnace + Vacuum Degassing)

• EF+LF+VD+ESR (Ultra-purity grade for critical applications)

• EAF+LF+VD+ESR (Ultra-purity grade for critical applications)

Professional Forging Procedure

1. Preheating: 600-650°C, slow and uniform heating to eliminate internal stress

2. Forging Temperature: Initial 1050-1100°C, minimum finishing temperature 850°C (prevents grain coarsening)

3. Cooling: Sand cooling after forging to reduce thermal stress and avoid cracking

4. Post-forging Treatment: Stress relief annealing to ensure machinability

Standard Heat Treatment Process

Proper heat treatment is critical to unlocking 1.2365's full performance potential. We recommend the following standardized processes for optimal results:

1. Annealing

• Heating temperature: 840-860°C

• Furnace cooling: ≤30°C/h to below 500°C

• Final cooling: Air cooling to room temperature

• Result: Uniform hardness (HB≤229), excellent machinability for complex tool fabrication

2. Quenching & Tempering

• Preheating: 788°C (single-stage preheating to avoid thermal shock)

• Austenitizing: 1030-1050°C in salt bath furnace (uniform heating for consistent hardenability)

• Quenching: Oil cooling (fast cooling to achieve full hardness without cracking)

• Tempering: 540-560°C (tempering twice for stress relief)

• Final cooling: Air cooling

• Result: HRC≥46, excellent combination of hardness, toughness and thermal fatigue resistance

Above curve in figure is the tempering properties of the steel.

Typical Applications

1.2365 is the ideal material for high-temperature tooling and molds across multiple industries, leveraging its balanced properties of toughness, wear resistance and thermal cracking resistance:

1. Hot Work Molds (Core Application)

• Die Casting Molds: Core pins, cavity inserts, sprue bushings, ejector pins, slide blocks, die holders (for aluminum, zinc and magnesium alloy die casting)

• Forging Molds: Hammer forging dies, press forging dies, punches, concave dies, forging blanks (for carbon steel and alloy steel forging)

• Extrusion Molds: Extrusion cylinders, bushings, extrusion rods, mold inserts (for metal profile extrusion)

2. Plastic Molding Tools

Hot runner system components, die nuts, precision mold inserts (for high-temperature plastic injection molding)

3. Other High-Temperature Industrial Tools

• Hot Stamping Dies: Stainless steel plate hot stamping, high-strength steel forming dies

• Rolls: High-temperature rolling mill aids, calendering rolls

• Wear Parts: Hot shear blades, cutting tools for high-temperature materials, furnace fixtures

FAQ

Q1: What is the main difference between AISI H10 and AISI H13?

A1: The key difference lies in the alloy balance. H13 has higher chromium and vanadium, offering superior wear resistance and high-temperature strength. H10 has a slightly lower alloy content, which gives it higher toughness and ductility. Choose H10 for tools where cracking or chipping is a primary concern (e.g., complex cores). Choose H13 for applications demanding maximum wear resistance and hot hardness (e.g., long-run extrusion dies).

Q2: Can 1.2365 be welded for mold repair?

A2: Yes, 1.2365 can be welded with proper preheating (300-400°C) and post-weld tempering (500-550°C) to avoid cracking. We recommend using matching alloy welding rods and minimal heat input during welding.

Q3: How to choose between 1.2365 and its equivalent SKD7/H10?

A3: The grades are functionally interchangeable for most applications. Choose based on regional supply standards and manufacturing specifications: SKD7 for Japanese manufacturing projects, H10 for American standards, and 1.2365 for European/German standards.

Q4: Can 1.2365 be used for cold work tooling?

A4: While 1.2365 has good hardness, it is not optimized for cold work applications (e.g., cold stamping, blanking). For cold work tooling, choose dedicated cold work steels with higher carbon and chromium content for better wear resistance.

Q5: How to store 1.2365 to prevent corrosion?

A5: Store in a dry, well-ventilated warehouse with relative humidity ≤60%. For long-term storage, apply anti-rust oil and wrap with waterproof plastic film—especially for polished/ground surfaces.

Quality Assurance & Certification

All our 1.2365 hot work tool steel products come with complete quality documentation, including:

• Chemical composition test report (spectrometer analysis)

• Hardness test certificate

• Ultrasonic non-destructive testing report

• Heat treatment process record

• Mill test certificate (MTC) in accordance with EN 10204 3.1/3.2

We adhere to ISO 9001 quality management system and DIN 17350 standard for all production processes, ensuring consistent quality for every batch.

Inquire Now for detailed pricing, custom specifications and technical data sheets. Our sales and engineering team is ready to provide personalized solutions for your hot work tooling needs.