X40CrMoV5-1 (1.2344 / AISI H13) Hot Work Tool Steel Forgings
Also written X40CrMoV51 and X40CrMoV5.1. Equivalent to AISI H13, JIS SKD61, GB/T 4Cr5MoSiV1, AFNOR Z40CDV5.
X40CrMoV5-1 is a chromium-molybdenum-vanadium hot work tool steel with material number 1.2344, standardised in EN ISO 4957 and equivalent to AISI H13, JIS SKD61 and Chinese GB/T 4Cr5MoSiV1. Its nominal composition is 0.40% carbon, 1.00% silicon, 5.30% chromium, 1.40% molybdenum and 1.00% vanadium. The steel is air hardening, reaches about 52-56 HRC as quenched from 1020-1060 °C, and is normally used at a working hardness of 40-52 HRC. It has high hot strength and hot wear resistance, good toughness, and good resistance to thermal fatigue. It is the usual choice for aluminium die casting dies, hot extrusion tooling, hot forging dies and plastic moulds running abrasive fillers.
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. forges X40CrMoV5-1 to order as round, square and flat bars, blocks and discs, hollow bars and sleeves, and seamless rolled rings. Material is delivered soft annealed at max 229 HB, or quenched and tempered to an agreed hardness, with an EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate.
X40CrMoV5-1 at a glance
- Material number
- 1.2344 (Werkstoff-Nr.)
- Steel type
- 5% Cr hot work tool steel, air hardening
- Standard
- EN ISO 4957 (formerly DIN 17350)
- Closest US grade
- AISI H13 / ASTM A681
- Density
- 7.80 g/cm³
- Delivery hardness
- Soft annealed, max 229 HB
- Hardening
- 1020-1060 °C, air / oil / N2 / hot bath
- Tempering
- 550-650 °C, minimum two cycles of 2 h
- Working hardness
- 40-52 HRC depending on application
- Max service temp.
- approx. 540 °C continuous
- Main uses
- Die casting dies, extrusion tooling, hot forging dies
- Supplied as
- Open-die forgings: bars, rings, blocks, hollow bars
International equivalents and designations for X40CrMoV5-1
X40CrMoV5-1 carries a different designation in almost every national standard. The grades below are treated as interchangeable in normal hot work tooling practice. Permitted composition bands differ slightly between standards, so the exact standard should be stated on the purchase order.
| Country / standard | Designation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Germany / Europe, EN ISO 4957 | X40CrMoV5-1, W.-Nr. 1.2344 | Reference grade for this page |
| USA, AISI / ASTM A681 | H13, UNS T20813 | Wider C and V bands; 1.2344 falls inside H13 |
| Japan, JIS G4404 | SKD61 | Direct equivalent |
| China, GB/T 1299 | 4Cr5MoSiV1 | Direct equivalent |
| France, AFNOR NF A35-590 | Z40CDV5 | Direct equivalent |
| United Kingdom, BS 4659 | BH13 | Direct equivalent |
| Italy, UNI | X35CrMoV05 KU | Slightly lower carbon aim |
| Spain, UNE | X40CrMoV5 | Direct equivalent |
| Sweden, SS | 2242 | Direct equivalent |
| Russia, GOST | 4Kh5MFS | Near equivalent |
| Common trade names | Orvar Supreme, W302, Thyrotherm 2344, VDC | Proprietary versions with tighter cleanliness |
Trade names are the property of their respective owners and are listed for cross-reference only. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. supplies material to the EN ISO 4957, ASTM A681 or GB/T specification named on the order.
Chemical composition of X40CrMoV5-1 (1.2344)
The chemical composition of X40CrMoV5-1 is specified in EN ISO 4957. Every heat is checked by spectrometric analysis and the result is reported on the mill test certificate.
| Element | EN ISO 4957, 1.2344 | Typical aim | ASTM A681, H13 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 0.37 - 0.43 | 0.40 | 0.32 - 0.45 |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.90 - 1.20 | 1.00 | 0.80 - 1.20 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.30 - 0.50 | 0.40 | 0.20 - 0.60 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 4.80 - 5.50 | 5.30 | 4.75 - 5.50 |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 1.20 - 1.50 | 1.40 | 1.10 - 1.75 |
| Vanadium (V) | 0.85 - 1.15 | 1.00 | 0.80 - 1.20 |
| Phosphorus (P) | max 0.030 | 0.020 max | max 0.030 |
| Sulphur (S) | max 0.030 | 0.010 max | max 0.030 |
| Iron (Fe) | Balance | Balance | Balance |
The 5% chromium gives hardenability and oxidation resistance. Molybdenum and vanadium form stable carbides that resist softening at temperature, which is what lets X40CrMoV5-1 hold hardness in hot service. The 1% silicon improves resistance to scaling and to attack by molten aluminium.
Physical properties of X40CrMoV5-1
Typical values for hardened and tempered X40CrMoV5-1. These are indicative design figures, not guaranteed minimum values.
| Property | 20 °C | 400 °C | 600 °C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density, g/cm³ | 7.80 | 7.70 | 7.65 |
| Modulus of elasticity, GPa | 215 | 180 | 150 |
| Thermal conductivity, W/(m·K) | 25.0 | 27.0 | 27.5 |
| Specific heat capacity, J/(kg·K) | 460 | 550 | 590 |
| Electrical resistivity, Ω·mm²/m | 0.52 | 0.86 | 1.06 |
| Temperature range | 20-100 °C | 20-200 °C | 20-300 °C | 20-400 °C | 20-500 °C | 20-600 °C | 20-700 °C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expansion coefficient | 10.9 | 11.5 | 11.9 | 12.2 | 12.4 | 12.7 | 12.9 |
Hardness and tempering behaviour
X40CrMoV5-1 shows pronounced secondary hardening. Hardness falls gently up to about 450 °C, rises again to a peak near 500-530 °C as fine molybdenum and vanadium carbides precipitate, then drops steeply above 600 °C. For this reason the tempering temperature is always chosen above the secondary peak, and at least 30-50 °C above the working temperature of the tool.
| Tempering temperature | 200 °C | 300 °C | 400 °C | 500 °C | 550 °C | 600 °C | 650 °C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardness, HRC | 53 | 52 | 52 | 54 | 51 | 45 | 37 |
| Application | Working hardness | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium high-pressure die casting dies | 44 - 48 HRC | Balance of heat-checking resistance and strength |
| Large die casting dies, blocks over 400 mm | 40 - 44 HRC | Toughness prioritised over hardness |
| Shot sleeves, cores, inserts | 46 - 50 HRC | Erosion and soldering resistance |
| Aluminium extrusion dies and tooling | 46 - 50 HRC | Hot wear resistance at the bearing |
| Hot forging dies | 42 - 48 HRC | Impact loading requires toughness |
| Hot shear blades, trimming tools | 46 - 52 HRC | Edge retention |
| Plastic moulds with abrasive fillers | 48 - 52 HRC | Wear resistance, polishability |
Heat treatment of X40CrMoV5-1
Forging
Heat slowly and uniformly to 1100 °C, soak through, and finish forging above 900 °C. Cool slowly in the furnace or in dry ash, then soft anneal without delay. Do not let a forging cool in still air from forging heat. The steel is air hardening and will crack.
Soft annealing
Heat to 750-800 °C, soak, then cool in the furnace at 10-20 °C per hour down to about 600 °C and freely in air after that. Hardness: max 229 HB. This is the standard delivery condition.
Stress relief annealing
After rough machining, heat to 600-650 °C, soak two hours, cool in the furnace to 500 °C and then in air. This removes machining stress and reduces distortion during hardening. It is worth doing on all die blocks and on any part with deep cavities.
Hardening
- Preheat in two or three stages: 600-650 °C, then 850 °C, equalising at each stage.
- Austenitise at 1020-1060 °C. Some datasheets allow up to 1080 °C for higher hardness, at the cost of grain size.
- Soak 15-30 minutes once the core has reached temperature. Do not over-soak, as grain coarsening reduces toughness.
- Quench in oil, pressurised nitrogen (vacuum furnace, minimum 5 bar for die blocks), still air, or a hot bath or salt bath at 500-550 °C, then cool in air to 50-70 °C.
- As-quenched hardness: about 52-56 HRC.
- Temper at once. Do not let the tool stand at room temperature.
Tempering
Temper a minimum of twice, at least two hours per cycle, cooling to room temperature between cycles. Tempering temperature 550-650 °C, chosen to give the working hardness required from Table 5. A third temper is normal for high pressure die casting dies and is required by NADCA #207. The first temper must be above the secondary hardening peak of about 510 °C.
Nitriding and surface treatment
X40CrMoV5-1 takes gas and plasma nitriding well at 480-540 °C, giving a case of 0.10-0.30 mm at a surface hardness of about 1000-1100 HV. Nitride below the tempering temperature so the core hardness is not lost. Nitriding improves resistance to soldering and erosion on die casting cores and extrusion dies. A thick, brittle compound layer promotes heat checking and should be limited or removed.
Welding
Repair welding is possible if the tool is preheated to 350-400 °C and held at that temperature throughout welding. Use a matching hot work filler, keep heat input low, cool slowly to about 80 °C, then temper at 25-50 °C below the original tempering temperature. Welding a cold hardened tool will normally crack it.
X40CrMoV5-1 forged products supplied by Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. is an open-die forging factory and produces X40CrMoV5-1 to customer drawings rather than from stock sizes. This suits tooling sections that are not available as standard flat stock, and sizes that fall between catalogue steps.
| Form | Size range | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Forged round bars, rods, shafts | Dia. 80 - 1200 mm, length to 6000 mm | Punches, mandrels, extrusion stems, cores |
| Square and rectangular flat bars | Thickness 60 - 800 mm, width to 1500 mm | Die blocks, bolsters, die holders |
| Blocks, discs, plates | Thickness 60 - 900 mm, dia. or side to 2000 mm | Die casting dies, forging die blocks |
| Seamless rolled rings | OD 200 - 4000 mm, wall from 40 mm | Shrink rings, containers, liners |
| Hollow bars, sleeves, bushings, cylinders | OD 150 - 1200 mm, ID from 60 mm | Shot sleeves, extrusion liners, dummy blocks |
| Maximum single piece weight | approx. 20 t | — |
Delivery condition and documentation
- Soft annealed, max 229 HB. Standard condition, for customers doing their own heat treatment.
- Or quenched and tempered to an agreed hardness band, with the hardness reported on the certificate.
- Surface: as forged, black rough turned or milled, or machined to drawing with an agreed allowance.
- EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate as standard. 3.2 with third-party inspection on request.
- Ultrasonic testing to SEP 1921 Class 3 or ASTM A388 on request.
- Microstructure and cleanliness assessment to NADCA #207 on request for die casting applications.
Standard lead time for open-die forged X40CrMoV5-1 is about 25-40 days, depending on section size and heat treatment scope.
Applications of X40CrMoV5-1 (1.2344 / H13)
X40CrMoV5-1 is used where a tool is loaded mechanically while hot and is cycled between high and low temperature. Common applications:
- Pressure die casting dies, cavities, cores and inserts for aluminium, magnesium and zinc
- Die casting shot sleeves and plunger tips
- Aluminium extrusion dies, die holders, backers and bolsters
- Extrusion stems, mandrels, liners, dummy blocks and containers
- Hot forging dies and die inserts
- Press dies, forming punches and stamping dies for hot work
- Hot shear blades and scrap shears
- Trimming tools
- Tools and dies for hollow bodies, screws, nuts, rivets and bolts
- Cold heading die casings, gripper and header dies
- Shrink rings and wear-resisting hot work parts
- Plastic injection moulds, worms and cylinders, for glass- and mineral-filled compounds
- Rolls for profiling tools
- Nitrided ejectors and ejector pins
How X40CrMoV5-1 compares with neighbouring hot work grades
| Grade | Key difference | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|
| 1.2343 / H11 (X37CrMoV5-1) | About 0.4% V instead of 1.0% | Toughness and heat-check resistance matter more than hot wear: large die casting dies, heavy forging dies |
| 1.2344 / H13 (X40CrMoV5-1) | The reference grade | General hot work: die casting, extrusion, forging. Best all-round balance |
| 1.2367 (X38CrMoV5-3) | About 3% Mo | Higher service temperature and better temper resistance: hot extrusion, brass dies, heavily loaded inserts |
| 1.2365 (32CrMoV12-28) | Lower C, higher Mo | Maximum thermal shock resistance, water-cooled tooling |
| 1.2344 ESR / premium H13 | Same chemistry, remelted, tighter cleanliness | Thick sections, high pressure die casting, NADCA #207 requirements |
Machining and finishing notes
Rough machine in the soft annealed condition at max 229 HB, stress relieve at 600-650 °C, then finish machine and harden. Leave 0.3-0.5% of the section as grinding allowance for distortion. X40CrMoV5-1 can be hard machined up to about 48 HRC with carbide or CBN tooling, and it polishes and photo-etches well after hardening, which is why it is also used for filled plastic moulds. Grind after hardening with a soft, open wheel and plenty of coolant. Grinding burn is a common starting point for early heat checking.
Frequently asked questions about X40CrMoV5-1
What is X40CrMoV5-1 steel?
X40CrMoV5-1 is a chromium-molybdenum-vanadium hot work tool steel with material number 1.2344, standardised in EN ISO 4957. It contains nominally 0.40% carbon, 5.3% chromium, 1.4% molybdenum and 1.0% vanadium. It is air hardening, with high hot strength, good resistance to thermal fatigue and good toughness. It is the most widely used steel for aluminium die casting dies, hot extrusion tooling and hot forging dies. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. supplies it as open-die forged bars, rings, blocks and hollow bars.
Is X40CrMoV5-1 the same as H13?
For practical purposes, yes. X40CrMoV5-1 (1.2344) is the European designation and AISI H13 (ASTM A681) the American designation for the same 5% chromium hot work tool steel. The composition bands differ slightly: H13 allows 0.32-0.45% carbon and 0.80-1.20% vanadium, while X40CrMoV5-1 is specified at 0.37-0.43% carbon and 0.85-1.15% vanadium, so 1.2344 sits inside the H13 range. JIS SKD61 and Chinese GB/T 4Cr5MoSiV1 are the same grade again.
What is the chemical composition of 1.2344?
Per EN ISO 4957: carbon 0.37-0.43%, silicon 0.90-1.20%, manganese 0.30-0.50%, chromium 4.80-5.50%, molybdenum 1.20-1.50%, vanadium 0.85-1.15%, phosphorus max 0.030%, sulphur max 0.030%, balance iron. Typical aim values are 0.40% C, 1.00% Si, 0.40% Mn, 5.30% Cr, 1.40% Mo, 1.00% V. Full detail is in Table 2.
What hardness can X40CrMoV5-1 reach?
It is delivered soft annealed at max 229 HB. After hardening from 1020-1060 °C it reaches about 52-56 HRC as quenched. After the normal double temper it is used at 40-52 HRC: 44-48 HRC for aluminium die casting dies, 46-50 HRC for extrusion tooling and 42-48 HRC for hot forging dies. Tempering at 500-530 °C gives a secondary hardening peak of about 54 HRC, but that temperature is too low for service use.
What is the correct heat treatment cycle for X40CrMoV5-1?
Preheat in two or three steps at about 600-650 °C and 850 °C, austenitise at 1020-1060 °C, soak 15-30 minutes after through-heating, then quench in oil, pressurised nitrogen, still air or a hot bath at 500-550 °C. Temper at least twice, minimum two hours per cycle at 550-650 °C, cooling to room temperature between tempers. The first temper must be above the secondary hardening peak of about 510 °C.
What is the maximum working temperature of X40CrMoV5-1?
About 540 °C in continuous service. Above roughly 600 °C the steel over-tempers and softens, so the tempering temperature must always be at least 30-50 °C above the expected tool surface temperature. For hotter duty, 1.2367 (X38CrMoV5-3) or 1.2365 (32CrMoV12-28) are the usual alternatives.
Can X40CrMoV5-1 be welded?
Yes, with care. Preheat to 350-400 °C and hold that temperature throughout welding, use a matching hot work filler, keep heat input low, cool slowly to about 80 °C, then temper at once at 25-50 °C below the original tempering temperature. Welding a tool that has not been preheated will normally crack it.
What is the difference between 1.2344 and 1.2343?
1.2343 (X37CrMoV5-1, AISI H11) has about 0.4% vanadium against 1.0% in 1.2344 (H13). The lower vanadium gives 1.2343 better toughness and thermal shock resistance, so it is preferred for large die casting dies and tools exposed to severe heat checking. 1.2344 has higher hot wear resistance and hot strength, so it is preferred for extrusion tooling, shot sleeves and smaller die casting inserts.
What is premium or ESR grade H13, and when is it needed?
Premium and superior grades have the same chemistry but are melted or remelted to tighter cleanliness and forged to a finer, more isotropic structure, then checked against NADCA #207 for microstructure, impact toughness and ultrasonic soundness. Electroslag remelted (ESR) 1.2344 has lower segregation and more uniform properties through thick sections. Specify premium or ESR for high pressure die casting dies and for any section above about 400 mm. Standard 1.2344 is normally adequate for hot forging dies and general hot work tooling.
In what sizes and forms does Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal supply X40CrMoV5-1?
As open-die forged round bars 80-1200 mm diameter, square and flat bars, blocks, discs and plates, hollow bars, sleeves and shot sleeves, and seamless rolled rings 200-4000 mm outside diameter, up to about 20 tonnes single piece weight. Material is delivered soft annealed to max 229 HB or quenched and tempered to an agreed hardness, with an EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate. Enquiries: sales@steelforgepieces.com or +86-189-2135-9659.
Request a quotation for X40CrMoV5-1 (1.2344 / H13) forgings
Send a drawing, or simply the dimensions, required delivery hardness and quantity. Quotations are normally returned within one working day.
Company Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd.
Address No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province 214423, China
Phone +86-189-2135-9659 (also WhatsApp and WeChat)
Email sales@steelforgepieces.com
Data disclaimer. The values on this page are typical values taken from published standards and from general hot work tooling practice. They are given for guidance in material selection and are not guaranteed values for any particular delivery. Guaranteed values for an order are those in the applicable standard and on the mill test certificate. Compiled by the technical department of Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. Last reviewed .