AISI H13 hot-work tool steel (EN 1.2344, X40CrMoV5-1) H13 (EN 1.2344)

spore: profile
id: tool-steel-h13
spore_version: 0.2
family: tool-steels
name: AISI H13 hot-work tool steel (EN 1.2344, X40CrMoV5-1)
abbreviation: H13 (EN 1.2344)
role: hot-work tool steel
category: metals
type: steels-and-stainless
summary: AISI H13 (EN 1.2344, X40CrMoV5-1) is the standard chromium-molybdenum-vanadium hot-work tool steel, used for die-casting, extrusion and forging tools. It keeps its hardness and strength at elevated temperature and resists heat checking, but those properties depend on hardening and tempering, so each value here carries the cycle it was printed with.
best_for: Die-casting, extrusion and forging tools that run hot and need hardness, strength at elevated temperature and resistance to heat checking
weakest_at: 'Corrosion: no corrosion rating or test for H13 was found in the fetched sources. Uddeholm also warns that tempering between 425 and 550 °C causes temper brittleness.'
identity:
  formula: Iron-based steel. Typical analysis 0.39 C, 1.0 Si, 0.4 Mn, 5.2 Cr, 1.4 Mo, 0.9 V (wt%, Uddeholm Orvar Supreme, an ESR superior AISI H13). Dörrenberg 1.2344 typical analysis 0.40 C, 5.30 Cr, 1.40 Mo, 1.00 V (wt%; the sheet prints decimal commas, shown here with points). Both are typical values; no composition limits are printed.
  source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
  where: Page 3, Typical analysis table (Uddeholm); Dörrenberg page 1, Chemical composition row; designations from the Uddeholm standard specification row and the Dörrenberg page 1 cover table
  designations:
    - system: AISI
      code: H13
      note: Superior AISI H13 per NADCA#207 Grade B, as printed
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 3, Standard specification row
    - system: EN
      code: '1.2344'
      source: doerrenberg-1-2344
      where: Page 1, Material No. column
    - system: EN name
      code: X40CrMoV5-1
      source: doerrenberg-1-2344
      where: Page 1, Code column
    - system: Trade name
      code: Orvar Supreme
      note: Uddeholm ESR superior-quality AISI H13; the properties in this profile are from this brand
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 1, title and product description
    - system: Trade name
      code: WP5V
      note: Dörrenberg brand for 1.2344, DE brand column
      source: doerrenberg-1-2344
      where: Page 1, DE Brand column
tags:
  environments: []
  stresses: []
  applications:
    - mechanisms
properties:
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density at 20 °C
    value: 7800
    unit: kg/m3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      heat_treatment: 'Uddeholm PROPERTIES note, default for the section: austenitised 1025 °C for 30 min, air quenched, tempered 2 + 2 h at 610 °C (45 +/- 1 HRC)'
      temperature: 20 °C (68 °F)
    method: Physical data table, Density row (kg/m3), 20 °C column, printed as 7 800
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 4, Physical data table, Density row, 20 °C column
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density at 400 °C
    value: 7700
    unit: kg/m3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      heat_treatment: 'Uddeholm PROPERTIES note, default for the section: austenitised 1025 °C for 30 min, air quenched, tempered 2 + 2 h at 610 °C (45 +/- 1 HRC)'
      temperature: 400 °C (750 °F)
    method: Physical data table, Density row (kg/m3), 400 °C column, printed as 7 700
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 4, Physical data table, Density row, 400 °C column
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density at 600 °C
    value: 7600
    unit: kg/m3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      heat_treatment: 'Uddeholm PROPERTIES note, default for the section: austenitised 1025 °C for 30 min, air quenched, tempered 2 + 2 h at 610 °C (45 +/- 1 HRC)'
      temperature: 600 °C (1110 °F)
    method: Physical data table, Density row (kg/m3), 600 °C column, printed as 7 600
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 4, Physical data table, Density row, 600 °C column
  - benchmark: elastic_modulus
    label: Modulus of elasticity at 20 °C
    value: 210000
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      heat_treatment: 'Uddeholm PROPERTIES note, default for the section: austenitised 1025 °C for 30 min, air quenched, tempered 2 + 2 h at 610 °C (45 +/- 1 HRC)'
      temperature: 20 °C (68 °F)
    method: Physical data table, Modulus of elasticity row (MPa), 20 °C column, printed as 210 000 MPa; 30.5 x 10^6 psi alongside
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 4, Physical data table, Modulus of elasticity row, MPa, 20 °C column
  - benchmark: elastic_modulus
    label: Modulus of elasticity at 400 °C
    value: 180000
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      heat_treatment: 'Uddeholm PROPERTIES note, default for the section: austenitised 1025 °C for 30 min, air quenched, tempered 2 + 2 h at 610 °C (45 +/- 1 HRC)'
      temperature: 400 °C (750 °F)
    method: Physical data table, Modulus of elasticity row (MPa), 400 °C column, printed as 180 000 MPa
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 4, Physical data table, Modulus of elasticity row, MPa, 400 °C column
  - benchmark: elastic_modulus
    label: Modulus of elasticity at 600 °C
    value: 140000
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      heat_treatment: 'Uddeholm PROPERTIES note, default for the section: austenitised 1025 °C for 30 min, air quenched, tempered 2 + 2 h at 610 °C (45 +/- 1 HRC)'
      temperature: 600 °C (1110 °F)
    method: Physical data table, Modulus of elasticity row (MPa), 600 °C column, printed as 140 000 MPa
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 4, Physical data table, Modulus of elasticity row, MPa, 600 °C column
  - benchmark: cte
    label: Coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 400 °C
    value: 12.6
    unit: ppm/K
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      heat_treatment: 'Uddeholm PROPERTIES note, default for the section: austenitised 1025 °C for 30 min, air quenched, tempered 2 + 2 h at 610 °C (45 +/- 1 HRC)'
      temperature: 20 to 400 °C (68 to 750 °F), coefficient measured from 20 °C
      unit_in_source: x 10-6 per °C (printed as 12.6 x 10-6)
    method: Physical data table, Coefficient of thermal expansion per °C from 20 °C, 400 °C column; the printed unit 10-6 per °C is the same as ppm/K
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 4, Physical data table, coefficient of thermal expansion row, 400 °C column
  - benchmark: cte
    label: Coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 600 °C
    value: 13.2
    unit: ppm/K
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      heat_treatment: 'Uddeholm PROPERTIES note, default for the section: austenitised 1025 °C for 30 min, air quenched, tempered 2 + 2 h at 610 °C (45 +/- 1 HRC)'
      temperature: 20 to 600 °C (68 to 1110 °F), coefficient measured from 20 °C
      unit_in_source: x 10-6 per °C (printed as 13.2 x 10-6)
    method: Physical data table, Coefficient of thermal expansion per °C from 20 °C, 600 °C column; the printed unit 10-6 per °C is the same as ppm/K
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 4, Physical data table, coefficient of thermal expansion row, 600 °C column
  - benchmark: thermal_conductivity
    label: Thermal conductivity at 20 °C
    value: 25
    unit: W/(m·K)
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      heat_treatment: 'Uddeholm PROPERTIES note, default for the section: austenitised 1025 °C for 30 min, air quenched, tempered 2 + 2 h at 610 °C (45 +/- 1 HRC)'
      temperature: 20 °C (68 °F)
      unit_in_source: W/m °C (a temperature interval, so the same unit as W/(m·K)); 176 Btu in/(ft2 h °F) alongside
    method: Physical data table, Thermal conductivity row, 20 °C column, printed as 25
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 4, Physical data table, Thermal conductivity row, 20 °C column
  - benchmark: thermal_conductivity
    label: Thermal conductivity at 400 °C
    value: 29
    unit: W/(m·K)
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      heat_treatment: 'Uddeholm PROPERTIES note, default for the section: austenitised 1025 °C for 30 min, air quenched, tempered 2 + 2 h at 610 °C (45 +/- 1 HRC)'
      temperature: 400 °C (750 °F)
      unit_in_source: W/m °C; 204 Btu in/(ft2 h °F) alongside
    method: Physical data table, Thermal conductivity row, 400 °C column, printed as 29
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 4, Physical data table, Thermal conductivity row, 400 °C column
  - benchmark: thermal_conductivity
    label: Thermal conductivity at 600 °C
    value: 30
    unit: W/(m·K)
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      heat_treatment: 'Uddeholm PROPERTIES note, default for the section: austenitised 1025 °C for 30 min, air quenched, tempered 2 + 2 h at 610 °C (45 +/- 1 HRC)'
      temperature: 600 °C (1110 °F)
      unit_in_source: W/m °C; 211 Btu in/(ft2 h °F) alongside
    method: Physical data table, Thermal conductivity row, 600 °C column, printed as 30
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 4, Physical data table, Thermal conductivity row, 600 °C column
  - benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
    label: Tensile strength Rm at 52 HRC, room temperature
    value: 1820
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      hardness: 52 HRC
      heat_treatment: Austenitising, quench and tempering for this column are not stated in the sheet; the sheet's general specimen note (1025 °C, air, 2 + 2 h at 610 °C) gives 45 HRC, not 52
      temperature: room temperature (the table heading)
      specimen: centre of a 407 x 127 mm bar; direction not stated for this table
    method: Mechanical properties table, Approximate tensile strength at room temperature, Tensile strength Rm row, 52 HRC column, printed as 1820 MPa (185 kp/mm2, 117 tsi and 263 000 psi alongside)
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 4, Mechanical properties table, Rm row, 52 HRC column
  - benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
    label: Tensile strength Rm at 45 HRC, room temperature
    value: 1420
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      hardness: 45 HRC (45 +/- 1 HRC per the sheet)
      heat_treatment: austenitised 1025 °C for 30 min, air quenched, tempered 2 + 2 h at 610 °C (the sheet's general specimen note)
      temperature: room temperature (the table heading)
      specimen: centre of a 407 x 127 mm bar
    method: Mechanical properties table, Approximate tensile strength at room temperature, Tensile strength Rm row, 45 HRC column, printed as 1420 MPa (145 kp/mm2, 92 tsi and 206 000 psi alongside)
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 4, Mechanical properties table, Rm row, 45 HRC column
  - benchmark: yield_strength
    label: Yield strength Rp0.2 at 52 HRC, room temperature
    value: 1520
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      hardness: 52 HRC
      heat_treatment: Austenitising, quench and tempering for this column are not stated in the sheet; the sheet's general specimen note gives 45 HRC, not 52
      temperature: room temperature (the table heading)
      specimen: centre of a 407 x 127 mm bar; direction not stated for this table
    method: Mechanical properties table, Approximate tensile strength at room temperature, Yield strength Rp0.2 row, 52 HRC column, printed as 1520 MPa (155 kp/mm2, 98 tsi and 220 000 psi alongside)
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 4, Mechanical properties table, Rp0.2 row, 52 HRC column
  - benchmark: yield_strength
    label: Yield strength Rp0.2 at 45 HRC, room temperature
    value: 1280
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      hardness: 45 HRC (45 +/- 1 HRC per the sheet)
      heat_treatment: austenitised 1025 °C for 30 min, air quenched, tempered 2 + 2 h at 610 °C (the sheet's general specimen note)
      temperature: room temperature (the table heading)
      specimen: centre of a 407 x 127 mm bar
    method: Mechanical properties table, Approximate tensile strength at room temperature, Yield strength Rp0.2 row, 45 HRC column, printed as 1280 MPa (130 kp/mm2, 83 tsi and 185 000 psi alongside)
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 4, Mechanical properties table, Rp0.2 row, 45 HRC column
  - benchmark: hardness_rockwell_c
    label: Hardness after tempering 2 + 2 h at 610 °C
    value: 45
    uncertainty: +/-1 HRC (printed as 45 +/- 1 HRC)
    unit: HRC
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      heat_treatment: austenitised 1025 °C for 30 min, air quenched, tempered 2 + 2 h at 610 °C (1130 °F)
      temperature: not stated in the sheet
    method: 'Sheet''s PROPERTIES note: after the stated cycle, ''the hardness were 45 ± 1 HRC'''
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 4, PROPERTIES note
  - benchmark: hardness_rockwell_c
    label: Hardness before tempering after austenitising at 1025 °C
    value: 53
    uncertainty: +/-2 HRC (printed as 53 +/- 2 HRC)
    unit: HRC
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      heat_treatment: austenitised 1025 °C (1875 °F) for 30 min soaking; quench medium not stated for this row; before tempering
      temperature: not stated in the sheet
    method: Hardening table, Hardness before tempering column, 1025 °C row, printed as 53±2 HRC
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 5, Hardening table, 1025 °C row
  - benchmark: hardness_rockwell_c
    label: Hardness before tempering after austenitising at 1050 °C
    value: 54
    uncertainty: +/-2 HRC (printed as 54 +/- 2 HRC)
    unit: HRC
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      heat_treatment: austenitised 1050 °C (1920 °F) for 15 min soaking; quench medium not stated for this row; before tempering
      temperature: not stated in the sheet
    method: Hardening table, Hardness before tempering column, 1050 °C row, printed as 54±2 HRC
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 5, Hardening table, 1050 °C row
  - benchmark: hardness_rockwell_c
    label: Hardness after tempering at 250 °C, scrap shears and severe cold punching
    value: 50
    value_high: 53
    bound: range
    unit: HRC
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      heat_treatment: austenitised 1020 to 1030 °C; tempered 250 °C (480 °F); holding time and quench not stated in this table
      temperature: not stated in the sheet
    method: Other applications table, HRC column, Severe cold punching, scrap shears row, printed as 50–53
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 4, Other applications table, scrap shears row
  - benchmark: hardness_rockwell_c
    label: Hardness after tempering at 575 °C, wear-resisting parts
    value: 50
    value_high: 52
    bound: range
    unit: HRC
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      heat_treatment: austenitised 1020 to 1030 °C; tempered 575 °C (1070 °F); holding time and quench not stated in this table
      temperature: not stated in the sheet
    method: Other applications table, HRC column, Wear-resisting parts row, printed as 50–52
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 4, Other applications table, Wear-resisting parts row
  - benchmark: hardness_rockwell_c
    label: Hardness after tempering at 575 to 600 °C, shrink rings
    value: 45
    value_high: 50
    bound: range
    unit: HRC
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      heat_treatment: austenitised 1020 to 1030 °C; tempered 575 to 600 °C (1070 to 1110 °F); holding time and quench not stated in this table
      temperature: not stated in the sheet
    method: Other applications table, HRC column, Shrink rings row, printed as 45–50
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 4, Other applications table, Shrink rings row
  - benchmark: hardness_brinell
    label: Hardness, soft annealed delivery maximum
    value: 229
    bound: upper
    unit: HB
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Dörrenberg 1.2344 X40CrMoV5-1 (described on the sheet as similar to AISI H13)
      heat_treatment: soft annealed at 750 to 800 °C, furnace cooled (Dörrenberg heat treatment table)
      temperature: not stated in the sheet
    method: Condition of delivery row and heat treatment table, Soft annealing row, printed as max. 229 HB
    status: ground
    source: doerrenberg-1-2344
    where: Page 1, Condition of delivery row; Heat treatment table, Soft annealing row
  - benchmark: hardness_brinell
    label: Hardness, soft annealed delivery condition (approximate)
    value: 180
    uncertainty: approximate, as printed (approx. 180 HB)
    unit: HB
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      heat_treatment: delivery condition, soft annealed; the sheet's soft annealing cycle is heating through to 850 °C, cooling in the furnace at 10 °C per hour to 650 °C, then air
      temperature: not stated in the sheet
    method: Standard specification and delivery condition row, printed as Soft annealed to approx. 180 HB
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 3, Delivery condition row
  - benchmark: surface_hardness_hv
    label: Surface hardness after gas or plasma nitriding
    value: 1100
    unit: HV0.2
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      process: gas nitriding in ammonia at 510 °C (950 °F), or plasma nitriding in a 75% hydrogen and 25% nitrogen mixture at 480 °C (895 °F)
      heat_treatment: hardened and tempered at least 25 to 50 °C above the nitriding temperature before nitriding (the sheet's requirement)
      temperature: not stated (the test temperature of the surface hardness is not given)
    method: Nitriding and nitrocarburizing text, printed as a surface hardness of about 1100 HV0.2
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 7, Nitriding and nitrocarburizing text
  - benchmark: surface_hardness_hv
    label: Surface hardness after nitrocarburizing
    value: 900
    value_high: 1000
    bound: range
    unit: HV0.2
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      process: gas or salt-bath nitrocarburizing (the sentence gives no temperature; the depth table uses 580 °C)
      heat_treatment: hardened and tempered base, as the sheet describes for nitriding
      temperature: not stated (the test temperature of the surface hardness is not given)
    method: Nitriding and nitrocarburizing text, printed as 900–1000 HV0.2
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 7, Nitriding and nitrocarburizing text
  - benchmark: case_depth
    label: Nitrided depth, gas nitriding 10 h
    value: 0.12
    unit: mm
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      process: gas nitriding in ammonia at 510 °C (950 °F), 10 h
      heat_treatment: hardened and tempered base, tempered at least 25 to 50 °C above the nitriding temperature (the sheet's requirement)
      temperature: process temperature 510 °C (950 °F); depth read after treatment, measurement temperature not stated
    method: Depth of nitriding table, Gas nitriding at 510 °C, 10 h row, printed as 0.12 mm (0.0047 inch)
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 7, Depth of nitriding table, gas nitriding 510 °C, 10 h row
  - benchmark: case_depth
    label: Nitrided depth, gas nitriding 30 h
    value: 0.2
    unit: mm
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      process: gas nitriding in ammonia at 510 °C (950 °F), 30 h
      heat_treatment: hardened and tempered base, tempered at least 25 to 50 °C above the nitriding temperature (the sheet's requirement)
      temperature: process temperature 510 °C (950 °F); depth read after treatment, measurement temperature not stated
    method: Depth of nitriding table, Gas nitriding at 510 °C, 30 h row, printed as 0.20 mm (0.0079 inch)
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 7, Depth of nitriding table, gas nitriding 510 °C, 30 h row
  - benchmark: case_depth
    label: Nitrided depth, plasma nitriding 30 h
    value: 0.18
    unit: mm
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      process: plasma nitriding in 75% hydrogen and 25% nitrogen at 480 °C (895 °F), 30 h
      heat_treatment: hardened and tempered base, tempered at least 25 to 50 °C above the nitriding temperature (the sheet's requirement)
      temperature: process temperature 480 °C (895 °F); depth read after treatment, measurement temperature not stated
    method: Depth of nitriding table, Plasma nitriding at 480 °C, 30 h row, printed as 0.18 mm (0.0071 inch)
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 7, Depth of nitriding table, plasma nitriding 480 °C, 30 h row
  - benchmark: case_depth
    label: Nitrocarburized depth, gas at 580 °C for 2.5 h
    value: 0.11
    unit: mm
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13)
      process: nitrocarburizing in gas at 580 °C (1075 °F), 2.5 h
      heat_treatment: hardened and tempered base (the sheet's requirement for nitriding)
      temperature: process temperature 580 °C (1075 °F); depth read after treatment, measurement temperature not stated
    method: Depth of nitriding table, Nitrocarburizing in gas at 580 °C, 2.5 h row, printed as 0.11 mm (0.0043 inch)
    status: ground
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 7, Depth of nitriding table, nitrocarburizing in gas row
corrosion:
  - environment: Atmosphere, humidity or aqueous media (no corrosion test or rating found)
    headline: No corrosion rating or test for H13 in the fetched sources
    effect: The Uddeholm and Dörrenberg sheets say nothing about corrosion resistance, and the Wikipedia paragraph on hot-work steels does not discuss it. The corrosion rating for this grade therefore stays unknown, and no stainless claim is made. The only stainless word in the Uddeholm sheet is the work-material column for extrusion tools.
    rating: unknown
    conditions:
      basis: absence of any corrosion statement in the fetched sheets; no test conditions
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Whole sheet searched for corrosion, rust and stainless; page 3, Tools for extrusion, Stainless steel column
risks:
  hazards:
    - text: Uddeholm states that the steel is classified according to EU Directive 1999/45/EC and refers to its material safety data sheets. The sheet prints no hazard statement, and no safety data sheet for H13 steel was reached.
      ghs: []
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Inside cover (PDF page 2), legal notice line
    - text: PubChem's record for chromium (CID 23976) reports that 50% (1,202 of 2,404) of reports do not meet GHS hazard criteria; among companies that give hazard codes, H317 (may cause an allergic skin reaction) is notified at 20.7%, H319 (causes serious eye irritation) at 19.1% and H334 (may cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled) at 20.3%. This describes the element, not H13 steel.
      ghs: []
      source: pubchem-chromium
      where: GHS Classification section, Hazard statements and Note
    - text: PubChem's record for vanadium (CID 23990) reports 'Not Classified' for 95.4% (431 of 452) of reports, and 21 of 452 reports give hazard codes. This describes the element, not H13 steel.
      ghs: []
      source: pubchem-vanadium
      where: GHS Classification section, Not Classified and ECHA C&L notification summary
    - text: PubChem's record for molybdenum (CID 23932) reports that 57.4% (874 of 1,523) of reports do not meet GHS hazard criteria; H228 (flammable solid) is notified at 30% among companies that give hazard codes, and H361 (suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child) at 29.5%. This describes the element, not H13 steel.
      ghs: []
      source: pubchem-molybdenum
      where: GHS Classification section, Hazard statements and Note
  failure_risks:
    - mode: Temper brittleness
      trigger: Tempering in the range 425 to 550 °C
      consequence: Uddeholm says this range is normally avoided because of temper brittleness and the reduction in toughness.
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 6, Tempering; page 7, impact strength text
    - mode: Heat checking
      trigger: Thermal and mechanical fatigue in die-casting, forging and extrusion tools
      consequence: Uddeholm says higher hardness slows the formation of heat-checking cracks, and tools may run 1 to 2 HRC harder without loss of toughness.
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 3, Improved tooling performance
    - mode: Brittle nitrided layer
      trigger: Mechanical or thermal shock on a nitrided surface, with risk rising with layer thickness
      consequence: Uddeholm says the nitrided layer is brittle and may crack or spall, and does not recommend case depths above 0.3 mm for hot-work applications.
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 7, Nitriding and nitrocarburizing text
    - mode: White layer after nitriding
      trigger: Gas or plasma nitriding that forms the white layer
      consequence: Uddeholm says the white layer is not recommended for hot-work service ; it can readily be avoided, with plasma nitriding preferred, and careful gas nitriding can also give acceptable results.
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 7, Nitriding and nitrocarburizing text
    - mode: White re-cast layer after EDM
      trigger: Spark erosion in the hardened and tempered condition
      consequence: The re-cast layer should be removed mechanically, then the tool given an additional temper about 25 °C below the previous tempering temperature.
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 9, Electrical discharge machining
    - mode: Hydrogen embrittlement after plating
      trigger: Hard-chromium plating
      consequence: Uddeholm says parts should be tempered at 180 °C for 4 hours within 4 hours of plating to avoid the risk of hydrogen embrittlement.
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 9, Hard-chromium plating
    - mode: Decarburisation and oxidation
      trigger: Hardening without protecting the part
      consequence: Uddeholm says the part must be protected against decarburisation and oxidation during hardening.
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 5, Hardening note
    - mode: Quench cracking and distortion
      trigger: Fast quench in gas, vacuum or a martempering bath
      consequence: Uddeholm recommends an interrupted quench where distortion control and quench cracking are a concern.
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 6, Quenching media, note 2
    - mode: Lower hardness in real tools
      trigger: Actual tool size and heat-treatment parameters
      consequence: Uddeholm says lower hardness than the tempering curves can be expected in real tools and dies.
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 6, note under the tempering graph
    - mode: Orange peel or pitting after polishing
      trigger: Over-polishing
      consequence: Uddeholm says over-polishing can lead to a poor surface finish, orange peel or pitting.
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 9, Polishing note
  side_effects: []
  handling:
    - text: 'Soft anneal: protect the steel, heat through to 850 °C, cool in the furnace at 10 °C per hour to 650 °C, then cool freely in air.'
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 5, Soft annealing
    - text: 'Dörrenberg soft anneal: 750 to 800 °C, furnace cooled, to a maximum of 229 HB.'
      source: doerrenberg-1-2344
      where: Page 1, Heat treatment table, Soft annealing row
    - text: 'Stress relief: heat through to 650 °C, hold 2 h after rough machining, cool slowly to 500 °C, then cool freely in air.'
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 5, Stress relieving
    - text: Preheat in two steps at 600 to 850 °C before hardening.
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 5, Hardening, pre-heating temperature
    - text: Harden at 1020 to 1050 °C, normally 1020 to 1030 °C, with soaking of 30 min at 1025 °C or 15 min at 1050 °C.
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 5, Hardening table
    - text: 'Dörrenberg hardening: 1020 to 1060 °C, then cool in oil, pressure gas (N2), air or a hot bath at 500 to 550 °C.'
      source: doerrenberg-1-2344
      where: Page 1, Heat treatment table, Hardening row
    - text: Quench in high-speed gas or a circulating atmosphere, or in vacuum with high-speed gas at positive pressure; use an interrupted quench where distortion or quench cracking is a concern. Martempering baths or fluidised beds at 450 to 550 °C or 180 to 220 °C are followed by air cooling; warm oil is also listed.
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 6, Quenching media
    - text: Temper as soon as the tool reaches 50 to 70 °C; temper at least twice with intermediate cooling to room temperature; lowest tempering temperature 250 °C; hold at least 2 h; do not temper in the range 425 to 550 °C.
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 6, Tempering and note 1
    - text: 'Dörrenberg: limited water cooling is possible, and the steel is resistant to hot cracking.'
      source: doerrenberg-1-2344
      where: Page 1, Steel properties row
    - text: Weld at a working temperature of 325 to 375 °C with TIG or MMA; cool at 20 to 40 °C per hour for the first 2 to 3 h, then freely in air. Hardness after welding is 50 to 55 HRC.
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 9, Welding table
    - text: After EDM in the hardened and tempered state, remove the white re-cast layer mechanically and give an additional temper about 25 °C below the previous tempering temperature.
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 9, Electrical discharge machining
    - text: After hard-chromium plating, temper at 180 °C for 4 hours within 4 hours of plating.
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 9, Hard-chromium plating
    - text: Protect the part against decarburisation and oxidation during hardening.
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 5, Hardening note
    - text: 'Polish with care: over-polishing causes orange peel or pitting. The ESR route gives a homogeneous structure and low non-metallic inclusions, which Uddeholm says help the finish.'
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 9, Polishing
  mitigations:
    - text: Use an interrupted quench where distortion control and quench cracking matter.
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 6, Quenching media, note 2
    - text: A working hardness 1 to 2 HRC higher slows heat checking, according to Uddeholm, without loss of toughness.
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 3, Improved tooling performance
    - text: Keep the nitrided case at 0.3 mm or less for hot work; gas nitriding at 510 °C gives 0.12 mm after 10 h and 0.20 mm after 30 h.
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 7, Nitriding text and depth of nitriding table
    - text: Nitriding gives a surface of about 1100 HV0.2, which Uddeholm says is very resistant to wear and erosion.
      source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
      where: Page 7, Nitriding and nitrocarburizing text
uses:
  - application: mechanisms
    device: Die-casting dies for tin, lead and zinc alloys, and for aluminium and magnesium alloys
    example: Uddeholm lists dies for tin, lead and zinc alloys at 46 to 50 HRC, and for aluminium and magnesium alloys at 42 to 48 HRC.
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 3, Tools for die casting, Dies row
  - application: mechanisms
    device: Fixed inserts, cores and sprue parts for die casting
    example: Uddeholm lists fixed inserts and cores at 46 to 52 HRC and sprue parts at 48 to 52 HRC for tin, lead and zinc alloys.
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 3, Tools for die casting, Fixed inserts, cores and sprue parts rows
  - application: mechanisms
    device: Extrusion dies, backers, die-holders, liners, dummy blocks and stems
    example: Uddeholm lists extrusion dies at 44 to 50 HRC for aluminium and magnesium alloys, 43 to 47 HRC for copper alloys and 45 to 50 HRC for stainless steel.
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 3, Tools for extrusion
  - application: mechanisms
    device: Forging tools for aluminium, magnesium, copper alloys and steel
    example: Uddeholm gives austenitising at 1020 to 1030 °C for aluminium and magnesium forging tools at 44 to 52 HRC, and 1040 to 1050 °C for steel forging at 50 to 52 HRC.
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 3, Tools for forging
  - application: mechanisms
    device: Severe cold punching, scrap shears and hot shearing knives
    example: Uddeholm lists severe cold punching and scrap shears at 50 to 53 HRC after tempering at 250 °C, and hot shearing at 50 to 53 HRC after 250 °C or 45 to 50 HRC after 575 to 600 °C.
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 4, Other applications table
  - application: mechanisms
    device: Shrink rings for cemented-carbide dies, and wear-resisting parts
    example: Uddeholm lists shrink rings at 45 to 50 HRC after tempering at 575 to 600 °C, and wear-resisting parts at 50 to 52 HRC after tempering at 575 °C.
    source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
    where: Page 4, Other applications table, Shrink rings and Wear-resisting parts rows
  - application: mechanisms
    device: Hot forming tools, extrusion tools, forging dies, pressure casting tools, hot shear knives and tools for the plastic industry
    example: Dörrenberg lists these as standard uses of 1.2344, and says EFS and ESR variants are available where better properties are required.
    source: doerrenberg-1-2344
    where: Page 1, Applications row
supply:
  - subject: Chromium
    abundance: World resources are greater than 12 billion tons of shipping-grade chromite, sufficient to meet conceivable demand for centuries; 95% of world chromium resources are in Kazakhstan and southern Africa (USGS 2026). US net import reliance was 79% of apparent consumption in 2025e.
    producers:
      - country: South Africa
        share_percent: 45.1
        year: 2025
      - country: Turkey
        share_percent: 17.6
        year: 2025
      - country: Kazakhstan
        share_percent: 13.7
        year: 2025
      - country: India
        share_percent: 5.9
        year: 2025
      - country: Brazil
        share_percent: 3.9
        year: 2025
      - country: Zimbabwe
        share_percent: 3.9
        year: 2025
      - country: Finland
        share_percent: 3.7
        year: 2025
    critical_lists:
      - list: 'USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals: chromium, used in stainless steel'
        listed: true
    recycling: In 2025, recycled chromium in reported stainless-steel scrap receipts accounted for 21% of apparent consumption.
    substitutes:
      - Chromium has no substitute in stainless steel, the leading end use, or in superalloys, the major strategic end use (USGS 2026).
    source: usgs-mcs2026-chromium
    where: 'Salient Statistics, net import reliance 2025e column; World Mine Production and Reserves, 2025e column (thousand t, gross weight): South Africa 23,000, Turkey 9,000, Kazakhstan 7,000, India 3,000, Brazil 2,000, Zimbabwe 2,000, Finland 1,900, world total 51,000 (rounded); shares computed over that printed total; World Resources; Substitutes; Recycling. Critical-list status from usgs-critical-2025 (read with WebFetch)'
  - subject: Molybdenum
    abundance: Identified resources are about 5.4 million tons in the United States and about 20 million tons in the rest of the world; world reserves are 17,000 thousand metric tons. Molybdenum is used principally as an alloying agent in cast iron, steel and superalloys (USGS 2026). The USGS table prints E (net exporter) for net import reliance from 2021 to 2025e.
    producers:
      - country: China
        share_percent: 37.3
        year: 2025
      - country: Chile
        share_percent: 16.2
        year: 2025
      - country: United States
        share_percent: 15.4
        year: 2025
      - country: Peru
        share_percent: 15
        year: 2025
      - country: Mexico
        share_percent: 6.5
        year: 2025
    critical_lists:
      - list: 'USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals: molybdenum not on the list'
        listed: false
    recycling: Molybdenum recycled as part of new and old steel and other scrap may be as much as 30% of the apparent supply of molybdenum (USGS 2026).
    substitutes:
      - There is little substitution for molybdenum in steels and cast irons; potential substitutes include boron, chromium, niobium and vanadium in alloy steels, and tungsten in tool steels (USGS 2026).
    source: usgs-mcs2026-molybdenum
    where: 'Domestic Production and Use; Salient Statistics, footnote E (net exporter); World Mine Production and Reserves, 2025e column (metric tons, molybdenum content): China 97,000, Chile 42,000, United States 40,000, Peru 39,000, Mexico 17,000, world total 260,000 (rounded); shares computed over that printed total; Reserves column; World Resources; Substitutes; Recycling. Critical-list status from usgs-critical-2025 (read with WebFetch)'
  - subject: Vanadium
    abundance: World resources of vanadium exceed 63 million tons, and world reserves are 21,000 thousand metric tons. More than 90% of 2025 domestic reported consumption was metallurgical, mainly as an alloying agent for iron and steel. US net import reliance was 41% of apparent consumption in 2025e (USGS 2026).
    producers:
      - country: China
        share_percent: 74.5
        year: 2025
      - country: Russia
        share_percent: 19.1
        year: 2025
      - country: Brazil
        share_percent: 4.8
        year: 2025
      - country: South Africa
        share_percent: 4.5
        year: 2025
    critical_lists:
      - list: 'USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals: vanadium, used to strengthen iron and steel'
        listed: true
    recycling: Recycling of vanadium is mainly associated with reprocessing vanadium catalysts into new catalysts (USGS 2026).
    substitutes:
      - Steels with other combinations of alloying elements can be substituted for vanadium steels; manganese, molybdenum, niobium, titanium and tungsten are to some degree interchangeable with vanadium in steel (USGS 2026).
    source: usgs-mcs2026-vanadium
    where: 'Domestic Production and Use; Salient Statistics, net import reliance 2025e column; World Mine Production and Reserves, 2025e column (metric tons, vanadium content): China 82,000, Russia 21,000, Brazil 5,300, South Africa 5,000, world total 110,000 (rounded). Shares are computed over the printed world total, so the four shares add to about 103 percent, because the printed national figures total 113,300 t. Reserves column; World Resources; Substitutes; Recycling. Critical-list status from usgs-critical-2025 (read with WebFetch)'
media: []
documents:
  - title: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme technical datasheet (ESR superior AISI H13), Edition 13, 06.2021
    type: datasheet
    url: https://uddeholm.com/app/uploads/sites/247/2024/09/Tech-Uddeholm-Orvar-Supreme-EN.pdf
    year: 2021
  - title: Dörrenberg Edelstahl datasheet 1.2344 X40CrMoV5-1 (English), 02/24
    type: datasheet
    url: https://doerrenberg.de/fileadmin/special_steel/files/pdf_en_products_neues_Design/1.2344_en.pdf
    year: 2024
  - title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Chromium'
    type: report
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-chromium.pdf
    year: 2026
  - title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Molybdenum'
    type: report
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-molybdenum.pdf
    year: 2026
  - title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Vanadium'
    type: report
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-vanadium.pdf
    year: 2026
  - title: 'USGS: About the 2025 List of Critical Minerals'
    type: report
    url: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/mineral-resources-program/science/about-2025-list-critical-minerals
    year: 2025
  - title: 'PubChem: Chromium (CID 23976), GHS classification'
    type: database
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/23976
  - title: 'PubChem: Vanadium (CID 23990), GHS classification'
    type: database
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/23990
  - title: 'PubChem: Molybdenum (CID 23932), GHS classification'
    type: database
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/23932
gaps:
  - No composition limits (minimum and maximum, wt%) for H13 are printed in the fetched sources; the recipe gives typical analyses from Uddeholm (Orvar Supreme) and Dörrenberg (1.2344). No H13 safety data sheet and no ASTM A681 or EN ISO 4957 composition table was reached.
  - UNS T20813 is not printed by any fetched source, so it is not recorded as a designation.
  - JIS SKD61 is not printed by any fetched source, so it is not recorded as a designation.
  - ASTM A681 (H13) is not printed by any fetched source. Only the Uddeholm standard specification row, Superior AISI H13 per NADCA#207 Grade B, is recorded.
  - 'Tensile and yield strength at elevated temperature: the Uddeholm sheet plots Rm and Rp0.2 from 100 to 700 °C (longitudinal direction) but prints only scale ticks, so no elevated-temperature strength values are recorded.'
  - 'Hardness against tempering temperature: the Uddeholm tempering graph (page 6) and the Dörrenberg tempering diagram (page 2) are curves without printed values. The points recorded are the printed hardness ranges after tempering at 250, 575 and 575 to 600 °C, and the 610 °C test point.'
  - Impact energy against testing temperature and against tempering temperature (Uddeholm pages 5 and 7) is plotted without printed values, so it is not recorded.
  - Dörrenberg's thermal expansion rows (20 to 100, 300, 500 and 700 °C) and thermal conductivity rows (20, 350 and 700 °C) are printed with decimal commas, for example 10,8 and 25,6. The source check cannot match decimal commas, so they are not recorded. They differ from Uddeholm's 25 W/m °C at 20 °C.
  - Specific heat, melting range, Poisson's ratio, elongation and Charpy impact at a fixed temperature are not printed in any fetched H13 source.
  - 'Corrosion: no corrosion rating, test or statement on corrosion resistance was found for H13 in the fetched sources, so the rating is recorded as unknown.'
  - The hazard entries are the Uddeholm classification line and PubChem element records for chromium, vanadium and molybdenum. None of them is a safety data sheet for H13 steel, and no dust or fume hazard for H13 was read.
  - The Uddeholm values are for Orvar Supreme, an ESR superior AISI H13 with its own cleanliness and toughness rating. Values for conventional H13 may differ and are not separated in this file.
  - The 52 HRC tensile and yield values do not state the hardening or tempering cycle for their column. The 45 HRC values use the sheet's general specimen note (1025 °C, air, 2 + 2 h at 610 °C).
  - The hardness before tempering at 1025 and 1050 °C does not state the quench medium, and no hardness value in the sheets states its test temperature.
  - Shares for chromium and molybdenum producers are computed from the printed 2025e tonnages over the printed world totals. Vanadium shares add to about 103 percent, because the printed national tonnages exceed the printed world total.
  - Critical-list status comes from the USGS 2025 list page, read with WebFetch because curl returned 403; the list was not read as raw text.
  - 'Property names not in property-canon: hardness_rockwell_c, hardness_brinell, surface_hardness_hv and case_depth.'
  - No flight, space, vacuum, radiation or cryogenic data for H13 were read. The uses are terrestrial tooling, and the application slug mechanisms is the closest fit in the site taxonomy.
  - Wikipedia's H1 to H19 paragraph (based on about 5 percent chromium) is a group statement, not a value for this grade, and is used for context only.
  - Böhler W302, MatWeb and Total Materia pages were not reached; no URL for any of them was known in this run.
sources:
  uddeholm-orvar-supreme:
    title: Uddeholm Orvar Supreme (ESR superior AISI H13), technical datasheet
    id: Edition 13, 06.2021
    url: https://uddeholm.com/app/uploads/sites/247/2024/09/Tech-Uddeholm-Orvar-Supreme-EN.pdf
    year: 2021
    kind: datasheet
    license: supplier datasheet, cited not reproduced
  doerrenberg-1-2344:
    title: 'Dörrenberg Edelstahl: 1.2344 X40CrMoV5-1 datasheet (English), described as similar to AISI H13'
    id: Material No. 1.2344, edition 02/24
    url: https://doerrenberg.de/fileadmin/special_steel/files/pdf_en_products_neues_Design/1.2344_en.pdf
    year: 2024
    kind: datasheet
    license: supplier datasheet, cited not reproduced
  wikipedia-tool-steel:
    title: 'Tool steel (Wikipedia): hot-working steels paragraph and the example DIN 1.2344 tool steel (H13)'
    id: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tool_steel
    url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tool_steel
    kind: web
    license: CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikipedia)
  usgs-mcs2026-chromium:
    title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Chromium'
    id: mcs2026-chromium
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-chromium.pdf
    year: 2026
    kind: report
    license: public domain (USGS)
  usgs-mcs2026-molybdenum:
    title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Molybdenum'
    id: mcs2026-molybdenum
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-molybdenum.pdf
    year: 2026
    kind: report
    license: public domain (USGS)
  usgs-mcs2026-vanadium:
    title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Vanadium'
    id: mcs2026-vanadium
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-vanadium.pdf
    year: 2026
    kind: report
    license: public domain (USGS)
  usgs-critical-2025:
    title: 'USGS: About the 2025 List of Critical Minerals'
    id: 2025 List of Critical Minerals
    url: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/mineral-resources-program/science/about-2025-list-critical-minerals
    year: 2025
    kind: web
    license: public domain (USGS)
  pubchem-chromium:
    title: 'PubChem: Chromium (CID 23976), GHS Classification section'
    id: CID 23976
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/23976
    kind: database
    license: PubChem (NCBI) terms
  pubchem-vanadium:
    title: 'PubChem: Vanadium (CID 23990), GHS Classification section'
    id: CID 23990
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/23990
    kind: database
    license: PubChem (NCBI) terms
  pubchem-molybdenum:
    title: 'PubChem: Molybdenum (CID 23932), GHS Classification section'
    id: CID 23932
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/23932
    kind: database
    license: PubChem (NCBI) terms
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-10-24'
review:
  status: draft
  method: assistant
  checked_values: 29
  unreachable: 0
  caveats: 5
  note: 'Read by an AI assistant on 2026-10-24 from pages fetched in this run: the Uddeholm Orvar Supreme datasheet (Edition 13, 06.2021) and the Dörrenberg 1.2344 datasheet (PDF text), USGS MCS 2026 chromium, molybdenum and vanadium (PDF text), the Wikipedia Tool steel page (HTML), and PubChem GHS records for chromium, vanadium and molybdenum. The USGS 2025 critical list page was read with WebFetch because curl returned 403. Web search was unavailable in this run. Not reached: an H13 safety data sheet, ASTM A681, JIS SKD61, UNS T20813 and the MakeItFrom page (403). The fetched text prints no elevated-temperature strength values and no impact values as numbers.'
story:
  why: AISI H13 (EN 1.2344, X40CrMoV5-1) is the standard hot-work tool steel. Its hardness and strength hold up at high temperature, it resists heat checking, and it is tough enough for die-casting, extrusion and forging tools. Its numbers depend on the hardening and tempering cycle, so each value here shows the cycle it was printed with.
  recipe:
    line: H13 is an iron-based steel with 0.39 to 0.40 percent carbon, 5.2 to 5.3 percent chromium, 1.4 percent molybdenum and 0.9 to 1.0 percent vanadium, from the typical analyses of Uddeholm and Dörrenberg. Both are typical values, not composition limits. Wikipedia places the grade in its H1 to H19 group, which it describes as based on about 5 percent chromium.
    parts:
      - name: Iron
        symbol: Fe
        share_note: balance (the rest of the composition)
        role: Matrix of the steel
      - name: Carbon
        symbol: C
        share_percent: 0.39
        share_note: typical 0.39 (Uddeholm); Dörrenberg typical 0.40
        role: Hardening and carbide formation (general metallurgy)
        source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
        where: Page 3, Typical analysis table
      - name: Silicon
        symbol: Si
        share_percent: 1
        share_note: typical 1.0 (Uddeholm)
        role: Deoxidation and strength (general metallurgy)
        source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
        where: Page 3, Typical analysis table
      - name: Manganese
        symbol: Mn
        share_percent: 0.4
        share_note: typical 0.4 (Uddeholm)
        role: Deoxidation and hardenability (general metallurgy)
        source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
        where: Page 3, Typical analysis table
      - name: Chromium
        symbol: Cr
        share_percent: 5.2
        share_note: typical 5.2 (Uddeholm); Dörrenberg typical 5.30
        role: Carbide former and hardenability (general metallurgy); about 5 percent in the H group (Wikipedia)
        source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
        where: Page 3, Typical analysis table
      - name: Molybdenum
        symbol: Mo
        share_percent: 1.4
        share_note: typical 1.4 (Uddeholm and Dörrenberg)
        role: Carbide former; Uddeholm lists good high-temperature strength
        source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
        where: Page 3, Typical analysis table
      - name: Vanadium
        symbol: V
        share_percent: 0.9
        share_note: typical 0.9 (Uddeholm); Dörrenberg typical 1.00
        role: Fine carbides for wear resistance (general metallurgy)
        source: uddeholm-orvar-supreme
        where: Page 3, Typical analysis table
  risk_groups:
    - title: For people
      level: 1
      verdict: No grade safety data sheet read
      lead: The steel's own safety data sheet was not reached. Uddeholm says only that the steel is classified under EU Directive 1999/45/EC. PubChem's records describe the elements, not the steel.
      points:
        - label: Grade
          line: Uddeholm refers to its material safety data sheets and prints no hazard statement.
        - label: Chromium record
          line: PubChem reports that 50 percent of reports do not meet GHS criteria; among companies that give codes, H317, H319 and H334 are each notified at about 19 to 21 percent.
        - label: Vanadium record
          line: PubChem reports Not Classified for 95.4 percent of reports.
        - label: Molybdenum record
          line: Among companies that give codes, PubChem notifies H228 at 30 percent and H361 at 29.5 percent.
    - title: Heat treatment
      level: 2
      verdict: Hardness and toughness follow the cycle
      lead: The same steel is soft, hard or tough depending on the cycle. The values here are printed table figures; the tempering curves are graphs and are not read as numbers.
      points:
        - label: Hardening
          line: Austenitising at 1025 °C for 30 min gives 53 plus or minus 2 HRC before tempering (Uddeholm).
        - label: Tempering
          line: Tempering 2 + 2 h at 610 °C gives 45 plus or minus 1 HRC. Uddeholm says not to temper between 425 and 550 °C because of temper brittleness.
        - label: Soft anneal
          line: Dörrenberg gives a maximum of 229 HB in the soft-annealed state.
    - title: Service life
      level: 2
      verdict: Heat checking and brittle nitrided layers
      lead: Thermal fatigue, nitrided-layer cracking and hydrogen embrittlement after plating are the named failure modes.
      points:
        - label: Heat checking
          line: Uddeholm says higher hardness slows heat-checking cracks, and tools may run 1 to 2 HRC harder without loss of toughness.
        - label: Nitrided layer
          line: The nitrided layer is brittle and may crack or spall. Uddeholm does not recommend case depths above 0.3 mm for hot work.
        - label: Plating
          line: Temper at 180 °C for 4 h within 4 h of hard-chromium plating to avoid hydrogen embrittlement.
    - title: Corrosion
      gap: No corrosion rating or test for H13 was found in the fetched sources.
      verdict: Unknown; no rating found
      lead: The sources do not rate corrosion resistance for this grade, so no stainless claim is made.
      points:
        - label: Rating
          line: Recorded as unknown in the corrosion section.
  uses:
    - where: Die-casting dies
      line: Uddeholm lists dies for tin, lead and zinc alloys at 46 to 50 HRC, and for aluminium and magnesium alloys at 42 to 48 HRC.
    - where: Extrusion dies
      line: Uddeholm lists dies for aluminium and magnesium alloys at 44 to 50 HRC, for copper alloys at 43 to 47 HRC and for stainless steel at 45 to 50 HRC.
    - where: Forging tools
      line: Uddeholm gives austenitising at 1020 to 1030 °C for aluminium and magnesium forging tools, at 44 to 52 HRC.
    - where: Shears and cold punching
      line: Uddeholm lists severe cold punching and scrap shears at 50 to 53 HRC after tempering at 250 °C.
    - where: Shrink rings and wear parts
      line: Uddeholm lists shrink rings for carbide dies at 45 to 50 HRC after tempering at 575 to 600 °C.
    - where: Hot forming and plastic tools
      line: Dörrenberg lists hot forming tools, extrusion tools, forging dies, pressure casting tools, hot shear knives and tools for the plastic industry.
  can_do:
    - label: Hardness
      line: Hardening at 1025 °C for 30 min gives 53 plus or minus 2 HRC before tempering. Tempering 2 + 2 h at 610 °C gives 45 plus or minus 1 HRC (Uddeholm).
    - label: Strength at room temperature
      line: Tensile strength is 1820 MPa at 52 HRC and 1420 MPa at 45 HRC; yield strength is 1520 MPa and 1280 MPa (Uddeholm).
    - label: Stiffness
      line: The modulus of elasticity is 210000 MPa at 20 °C, 180000 MPa at 400 °C and 140000 MPa at 600 °C (Uddeholm).
    - label: Heat conduction
      line: Thermal conductivity is 25 W/(m·K) at 20 °C, 29 at 400 °C and 30 at 600 °C (Uddeholm).
    - label: Surface hardening
      line: Gas nitriding at 510 °C gives about 1100 HV0.2 at the surface, with depths of 0.12 mm after 10 h and 0.20 mm after 30 h (Uddeholm).
    - label: Heat checking
      line: Uddeholm says the steel has a high level of resistance to thermal shock and thermal fatigue, and that higher hardness slows heat checking.
  compare: Within the sources for this grade, Uddeholm (Orvar Supreme) is the only source of density, modulus, thermal conductivity and tensile values. Dörrenberg's 1.2344 sheet gives a delivery maximum of 229 HB against Uddeholm's approximate 180 HB, and it recommends hardening at 1020 to 1060 °C where Uddeholm gives 1020 to 1050 °C. Its thermal expansion and conductivity rows use decimal commas, so the source check cannot match them and they are not recorded.
  compare_rows:
    - label: Stiffness
      benchmark: elastic_modulus
    - label: Density
      benchmark: density
    - label: Strength at 52 HRC
      benchmark: yield_strength
  handling:
    - 'Soft anneal: heat through to 850 °C, cool in the furnace at 10 °C per hour to 650 °C, then cool freely in air (Uddeholm).'
    - 'Dörrenberg soft anneal: 750 to 800 °C, furnace cooled, to a maximum of 229 HB.'
    - 'Stress relieve: heat through to 650 °C, hold 2 h, cool slowly to 500 °C, then cool freely in air.'
    - Preheat in two steps at 600 to 850 °C before hardening.
    - Harden at 1020 to 1050 °C, normally 1020 to 1030 °C, with 30 min soaking at 1025 °C (Uddeholm); Dörrenberg gives 1020 to 1060 °C.
    - Quench in high-speed gas or vacuum with positive pressure, interrupted where distortion matters, or in a martempering bath or fluidised bed at 450 to 550 °C or 180 to 220 °C, then air. Warm oil is also listed.
    - Temper as soon as the tool reaches 50 to 70 °C, at least twice, at 250 °C or above, for 2 h minimum each time, and avoid 425 to 550 °C (Uddeholm).
    - Weld at 325 to 375 °C working temperature with TIG or MMA, cool at 20 to 40 °C per hour for the first 2 to 3 h, then air. Hardness after welding is 50 to 55 HRC.
    - After EDM in the hardened and tempered state, remove the white re-cast layer and temper about 25 °C below the previous tempering temperature (Uddeholm).
    - After hard-chromium plating, temper at 180 °C for 4 h within 4 h of plating (Uddeholm).
    - Protect the part against decarburisation and oxidation during hardening (Uddeholm).
  good_for:
    - Die-casting dies and cores for aluminium and magnesium at 42 to 48 HRC (Uddeholm).
    - Extrusion dies for aluminium, magnesium and stainless steel (Uddeholm).
    - Forging dies, pressure casting tools and hot shear knives (Dörrenberg and Uddeholm).
    - Shears, scrap shears and cold punching at 50 to 53 HRC after tempering at 250 °C (Uddeholm).
  watch_out:
    - 'Temper brittleness: do not temper between 425 and 550 °C (Uddeholm).'
    - Nitrided layers are brittle; Uddeholm does not recommend case depths above 0.3 mm for hot work.
    - 'Hydrogen embrittlement after plating: temper at 180 °C within 4 h of plating (Uddeholm).'
    - 'Corrosion: no rating was found for H13; see the corrosion section and gaps.'
    - Real tools can be softer than the tempering curves, because of tool size and heat treatment (Uddeholm).
  verdict: H13 is the standard hot-work tool steel for die-casting, extrusion and forging tools. Its hardness and heat-checking resistance are the reasons to pick it, and its numbers hold only for the cycle they were printed with. The fetched sources give no elevated-temperature strength values, no corrosion rating and no hazard statement for the steel itself.