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Tool Steel dealers in UAE

H13 / 1.2344 / X40CrMoV5-1

H13 / 1.2344 (X40CrMoV5-1) — chromium-molybdenum-vanadium hot work tool steel with outstanding thermal fatigue resistance, toughness at elevated temperature, and versatility across die casting, extrusion, and plastic injection moulding applications.

Industries Served

Automotive
Manufacturing
Mould & Die
Aerospace & Defense
Oil & Gas
Heavy Engineering

Applications

  • Aluminium, magnesium, and zinc die casting dies and inserts for automotive and consumer goods production
  • Aluminium and copper extrusion dies, mandrels, and die holders for profile production in UAE and GCC
  • Plastic injection mould cavities and cores for elevated-temperature processing and abrasive compounds
  • Hot forging dies for aluminium, copper, and mild steel components in automotive and engineering manufacture
  • Die casting shot sleeves, plunger tips, and die casting machine tooling components
  • Hot work punches, piercing tools, and forming dies for high-temperature metal forming operations
  • Glass forming moulds and parison moulds for glass container and flat glass production
  • Die casting runner systems, biscuit cutters, and ejector pins requiring thermal fatigue resistance
  • Plastic blow moulding and thermoforming tooling for packaging production
  • High-temperature tooling for aerospace and defence forging applications requiring toughness above 500 degrees C

Chemical Composition

0.39 %
C

Carbon

0.32 – 0.45 %

1 %
Si

Silicon

0.8 – 1.2 %

0.35 %
Mn

Manganese

0.2 – 0.5 %

P

Phosphorus

≤ 0.03 %

S

Sulphur

≤ 0.03 %

5.15 %
Cr

Chromium

4.75 – 5.5 %

1.4 %
Mo

Molybdenum

1.1 – 1.75 %

1 %
V

Vanadium

0.8 – 1.2 %

Typical value Range (min–max) Minimum (≥) Maximum (≤) Hover / tap for notes

Standard

ASTM A681 - current edition

Available Forms

Round Bar

Diameter range 10-500 mm (stock 20-500 mm). Forged and rolled. Applicable standards: ASTM A681, BS EN ISO 4957. For extrusion mandrels, die inserts, core pins, and cylindrical tooling.

Flat Bar

Thickness 10-200 mm, width up to 650 mm. Primary form for H13 die inserts, die cavities, and bolster plates. Often supplied as cut-to-size slabs.

Plate

Thickness 20-600 mm; forged and rolled large-section block. Most common form for injection moulding cavities, die casting dies, and extrusion tooling. Cut-to-size available. ESR quality available on request for large sections.

Block

Thickness 20-600 mm; forged and rolled large-section block. Cut-to-size for die casting dies and large mould cavities. ESR quality available on request for large sections.

Designations & Equivalents

StandardDesignationNotes
AISI / SAEH13AISI / SAE designation.
EN NameX40CrMoV5-1DIN / EN systematic chemical name.
EN / Werkstoff1.2344Werkstoff-Nr.
ISOX40CrMoV5-1 (1.2344)Designation per BS EN ISO 4957 (EN / ISO tool steel standard).
BSBH13BS 4659 designation.
JISSKD61JIS G4404 equivalent.
ASTMASTM A681 Grade H13ASTM standard designation.
Common NameASSAB 8407Swedish ASSAB trade name for premium H13. Do not use in slug/URL.
Common NameUddeholm Orvar SupremeUddeholm trade name for premium H13. Do not use in slug/URL.

Compliance & Certification

StandardStatusNotes
EN 10204 3.1SuitableEN 10204 3.1 Mill Test Certificate supplied as standard with all material - confirms chemical composition, annealed hardness, and full traceability to mill source.
EN 10204 3.2ConditionalEN 10204 3.2 third-party inspection available on request. ESR certification and ultrasonic testing (UT) to DIN EN 10228-3 or SEP 1921 available on request for premium-quality die blocks. NACE standards not applicable.

Specifications

Mechanical Properties

Values are minimums unless noted; hardness is a maximum.

PropertyH13 / 1.2344 / X40CrMoV5-1 — ASTM A681 — AnnealedDefault
Tensile Strength (UTS)max930 MPaCondition: Room temp, annealedNotes: Annealed condition reference value. Not a structural specification.
Yield Strength (0.2% Proof Stress)max700 MPaCondition: Room temp, annealed
Elongationmax12 %Condition: 50 mm gauge length
Reduction of Areamax40 %Condition: LongitudinalNotes: Higher than D2 annealed due to lower carbon and chromium carbide density.
Hardnessrange185–229 HBTypical: 207 HBCondition: Surface, BrinellNotes: Max 229 HB per ASTM A681 annealed. H13 is harder to machine than alloy steels in annealed state - carbide tooling required.
Impact Energy (Charpy)—Notes: Not specified for annealed tool steel.

Physical Properties

PropertyH13 / 1.2344 / X40CrMoV5-1 — ASTM A681 — AnnealedDefault
Density20 degrees C7.76 g/cm3
Modulus of Elasticity25 degrees C210 GPa
Thermal Conductivity100 degrees C24.6 W/m.K
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion20-100 degrees C11.5 um/m.degC
Specific Heat Capacity20 degrees C460 J/kg.K
Melting Point / RangeSolidus1360 degrees C
ENGINEERING NOTES
Weldability
Fair

H13 / 1.2344 can be welded for tool repair purposes, though welding as a primary manufacturing process is not recommended. For repair welding of hardened H13 dies: (1) Preheat the tool to its tempering temperature (typically 540-600 degrees C) before welding; (2) Use matching H13-type filler wire or electrode (AWS E/ER H13 type); (3) Weld in short passes, maintaining interpass temperature equal to preheat temperature; (4) After welding, re-temper at the original tempering temperature immediately while still warm. Welding of annealed H13 is more straightforward: preheat to 200-300 degrees C, weld, stress relieve at 730-760 degrees C. For premium die repair, laser welding and TIG micro-welding with H13-match filler gives best results. H13 is significantly more weldable than D2 due to lower carbon content. Recommended filler metals: matching ER H13-type TIG/GTAW wire (e.g. UTP 73 G2) and E H13-type SMAW stick electrode (e.g. UTP 73) for die repair (preheat to working temperature and re-temper mandatory); ER312 high-alloy austenitic buffer layer for emergency repair where H13-match filler is unavailable.

Machinability
Fair

Machine in fully annealed condition (185-229 HB). H13 machines better than D2 in the annealed state but is harder to machine than alloy steels. Carbide tooling recommended - TiN or TiAlN coated inserts for best results. Cutting speeds 40-60% of standard alloy steel speeds. High-speed machining (HSM) of pre-hardened H13 at 44-48 HRC is widely practised using ball-nose carbide end mills in high-speed machining centres - this eliminates post-hardening distortion risk for complex die profiles. EDM (wire cutting and die sinking) is used for intricate cavity details. Grind using low-stress grinding wheels and generous coolant flow to prevent grinding burns.

Overview

H13 (DIN 1.2344, X40CrMoV5-1, JIS SKD61, BS BH13) is a chromium-molybdenum-vanadium hot work tool steel containing 5.00% chromium, 1.25-1.75% molybdenum, and 0.80-1.20% vanadium. It is the most widely specified hot work tool steel globally, used across die casting, aluminium extrusion, plastic injection moulding, and forging die applications. H13 achieves 44-54 HRC in the hardened and tempered condition while retaining strength and toughness at operating temperatures up to 600 degrees C - a performance profile made possible by its chromium content (providing oxidation and thermal fatigue resistance), molybdenum (high-temperature strength and hot hardness), and vanadium (grain refinement and wear resistance). H13 is preferred over H11 where higher operating temperatures or greater wear resistance is required, and is the benchmark hot work steel against which all premium alternatives are evaluated.

Nifty Alloys supplies H13 / 1.2344 from stock in Dubai, UAE, in round bar, flat bar, and plate/block in the annealed condition. All material is supplied with EN 10204 3.1 Mill Test Certificates as standard - confirming chemical composition, annealed hardness, and full traceability to mill source. EN 10204 3.2 third-party inspection is available on request. Premium ESR (electroslag remelted) quality is available for demanding die casting and moulding applications - specify at enquiry stage. We deliver across the UAE within 24-48 hours and export to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain. Contact our team for same-day quotation and stock availability.

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H13 / 1.2344 (X40CrMoV5-1) is the most widely specified hot work tool steel globally, used wherever tooling must withstand repeated heating and cooling cycles while maintaining hardness and dimensional stability. Key applications in UAE and international markets include: aluminium, magnesium, and zinc die casting dies and inserts for automotive component production; aluminium and copper extrusion dies and mandrels for profile production; plastic injection mould cavities and cores for engineering polymer processing; hot forging dies for aluminium and copper components; die casting shot sleeves and plunger tips; glass forming moulds; and hot punching and piercing tools. H13 is the default hot work steel specification for die casting and extrusion tooling globally due to its optimal balance of hot hardness, thermal fatigue resistance, and toughness at 44-54 HRC.

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Ras Al Khor Ind. Area-2, Dubai United Arab Emirtates

+971 565450916

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