Tool Steel
H13
The chromium hot-work workhorse: retains hardness and resists thermal fatigue at high temperature. The standard for die casting, extrusion, and forging dies.
Last verified: 2026-07-10
| AISI classTool-steel group (hardening method / application). | H — hot-work |
|---|---|
| Carbon(%C)Nominal carbon content. | 0.4 |
| Key alloyingPrincipal alloying elements (nominal). | 5% Cr, Mo, V |
| Working hardness(HRC)Typical hardened + tempered working range. | 44–52 |
| Wear resistance | Good |
| Toughness | Good |
| Typical uses | Die-casting dies, extrusion tooling, forging dies, hot shears |
- Typical uses: aluminum/zinc die-casting dies, extrusion tooling, forging dies, hot punches and shears.
- Resists thermal fatigue (heat checking) and softening at elevated temperature.
- Run at a lower working hardness than cold-work grades — toughness at temperature is the priority.
Other tool steels
Sources
- AISI tool-steel classification (type letters and nominal compositions)
- ASM International — Tool Steels / Heat Treater's Guide (typical properties and working hardness)