DIN 1.2344 X40CrMoV5-1 H13 SKD61 Hot Work Tool Steel

Product Overview

DIN 1.2344 is a high-performance hot work tool steel compliant with the German standard DIN 17350. It is renowned for its exceptional thermal strength, superior wear resistance, and outstanding resistance to thermal fatigue. These properties make it a top choice for applications involving high temperatures, repeated heating and cooling cycles, and heavy mechanical loads.

Due to its versatility and reliable performance, DIN 1.2344 has equivalent grades across major industrial countries. AISI H13 from American ASTM A681, X40CrMoV5-1 from International standard ISO 4957, SKD61 from Japan standard JIS G4404, 4Cr5MoSiV1 from China standard GB/T1299 all share similar chemical compositions and mechanical characteristics. They can be used as alternatives in various industrial scenarios.

The steel contains key alloying elements including molybdenum and vanadium, which act as effective strengthening agents to enhance the material's overall toughness and durability. Its chromium content provides critical resistance to softening when exposed to high operating temperatures, ensuring long-term stability.

Steel Equivalent Grades Comparison

Different countries and regions have established their own standards for hot work tool steels. The following table clearly shows the equivalent grades of DIN 1.2344 across major standards:

Product Features

Chemical Composition of 1.2344 Steel

The precise chemical composition is the foundation of DIN 1.2344's excellent performance. The following table details the element content ranges for DIN 1.2344 and its equivalent grades:

Mechanical Properties: Hardness & Hardenability

The hardness of DIN 1.2344 varies significantly with different heat treatment processes, directly affecting its application scope:

After proper quenching and tempering, DIN 1.2344 achieves high hardness while maintaining good toughness. This enables it to withstand impact and wear in high-temperature working environments.

Supply Specifications: Size, Tolerance & Stock

We offer a comprehensive range of DIN 1.2344 products in various forms to meet diverse customer needs.

Product Size Range

Surface Finish & Tolerance

Different surface treatments are available to match specific application requirements, with corresponding tolerance standards:

In-Stock Sizes

We maintain large monthly stocks of hot rolled and forged bars, with the following commonly available diameters:

• Hot Rolled Bar Stock Diameters (mm): 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30, 32, 35, 38, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190

• Hot Forged Bar Stock Diameters (mm): 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, 360, 370, 380, 390, 400

Note: Stock availability changes daily. Please contact our sales team for the latest stock information.

Ultrasonic Testing Standard

All our DIN 1.2344 products undergo strict ultrasonic testing to ensure internal quality. The testing complies with EN10228-3 Class III or Sep 1921-84 D/D standards, effectively detecting internal defects such as cracks and inclusions.

Steel Making & Forging Process

The manufacturing process directly determines the quality of the steel. We adopt advanced production techniques to ensure the superior performance of DIN 1.2344:

1. Steel Making Process

We offer two levels of steel making processes to meet different quality requirements:

• Standard Process: EF+LF+VD / EAF+LF+VD

• Premium Process: EF+LF+VD+ESR / EAF+LF+VD+ESR

• The ESR (Electroslag Remelting) process further refines the steel structure, reduces impurities, and improves the material's uniformity and toughness

2. Forging Processing Steps

• Preheat the 1.2344 ingot in a furnace to 600-700℃ to ensure uniform heating.

• Continue heating the ingot to the initial forging temperature of 1050-1100℃.

• Perform forging operations, ensuring the forging temperature does not drop below 850-900℃ to avoid cracking.

• After forging, cool the workpiece in sand to reduce cooling rate and relieve internal stress.

Heat Treatment Guidelines

Proper heat treatment is crucial to maximizing the performance of DIN 1.2344. The following are detailed heat treatment procedures:

1. Annealing Process

• Heat the 1.2344 steel to 800-850℃ in a furnace.

• Maintain this temperature for sufficient soaking time to ensure uniform internal structure.

• Cool slowly in the furnace to room temperature, achieving a hardness of HB 229 max and improving machinability.

2. Quenching and Tempering Process

• Preheating: Heat the steel to 788℃ to reduce thermal shock during subsequent high-temperature heating.

• Austenitizing: Heat to 1010-1030℃ in a salt bath furnace and hold for the required time.

• Quenching: Rapidly cool the steel in oil to achieve a martensitic structure.

• Tempering: Heat the quenched steel to 540-560℃, hold for a sufficient period, then air-cool to room temperature. This step ensures hardness of HRC 50 min while eliminating brittleness.

Above curve in figure is just a rough guide to the tempering behaviour of steels. When applying the curves for an estimation of the hardness which can be expected in quenched and tempered tools, it should be taken into account that the optimum heat-treatment conditions for the tools are not necessarily identical with those specified for the test pieces.

3. Heating Time Reference for Test Pieces

The heating time of test pieces in a salt batch shall be as give in below table:

Total heating time of test pieces in a salt bath

Note: For tools with larger thicknesses or non-salt bath heating, the heating time should be appropriately extended.

Application Scenarios

Thanks to its excellent high-temperature performance, DIN 1.2344 is widely used in various industrial fields:

• Die Casting Dies: Ideal for aluminum, magnesium, and zinc alloy die casting molds, withstanding repeated heating and cooling cycles.

• Extrusion Dies: Suitable for aluminum and copper extrusion processes, resisting wear and high extrusion pressure.

• Forging Dies: Used in hot forging of steel and non-ferrous metals, capable of withstanding high impact loads at high temperatures.

• Injection Molds: Applied in high-temperature plastic injection molding, especially for engineering plastics requiring high thermal stability.

• Compression Molds: Suitable for manufacturing plastic components under high pressure and temperature conditions.

• Hot Stamping Tools: A key material in the automotive industry for forming high-strength steel parts.

• Hot Shear Blades: Perfect for cutting hot materials in steel mills and other metallurgical applications.

• Mandrels and Cores: Used in tube and pipe manufacturing due to their superior wear resistance.

• Hot Runner Systems: Applied in plastic injection molding to maintain consistent material flow at high temperatures.

FAQ

Q1: What is the difference between DIN 1.2344 and AISI H13?

A1: DIN 1.2344 and AISI H13 are essentially equivalent hot work tool steels. They have similar chemical compositions and mechanical properties. The main difference lies in their respective national standards: DIN 1.2344 follows German DIN 17350, while H13 complies with American ASTM A681. In most cases, they can be used interchangeably.

Q2: Can DIN 1.2344 be welded?

A2: DIN 1.2344 is not recommended for welding in most cases. The high alloy content makes welding prone to cracking and reduced performance. If welding is necessary, preheating to 300-400℃ before welding and stress relief annealing after welding are required. It is best to consult our technical team for specific welding solutions.

Q3: How to choose the right surface finish for DIN 1.2344 products?

A3: The choice of surface finish depends on the application:

• Grinding or polished finishes are suitable for precision molds requiring high surface accuracy.

• Turned or milled finishes are cost-effective options for general mechanical parts.

• Black forged or rolled finishes are used for rough blanks that require subsequent machining.

Q4: Is DIN 1.2344 suitable for cold work applications?

A4: Although DIN 1.2344 is primarily designed for hot work applications, it can also be used for some light cold work scenarios. However, for heavy cold work applications involving high impact and wear, dedicated cold work tool steels are more recommended.

Q5: How to check the stock availability of specific sizes?

A5: Stock availability changes daily. You can contact our sales team via email or phone, providing the required product type, size, and quantity. We will reply with the latest stock information and quotation within 24 hours.

Why Choose Us?

• Large Stock: We maintain monthly stocks of over 10,000 tons of hot rolled and forged bars, ensuring quick delivery.

• Strict Quality Control: All products undergo ultrasonic testing and comply with international standards to ensure zero-defect quality.

• Advanced Production Technology: We adopt EF+LF+VD+ESR steel making processes to produce high-purity steel with uniform structure.

• Professional Technical Support: Our team of engineers provides one-stop solutions from material selection to heat treatment guidance.

• Competitive Price: We offer factory-direct prices with no middlemen, providing customers with cost-effective products.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about DIN 1.2344 or need customized solutions, please feel free to contact us

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