Material 1. - versatile tool steel for hot work
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The material 1. (X37CrMoV5-1) belongs to the group of tool steels and to the subgroup tool steel for hot work.
Typical applications for the material 1. are:
- Die casting tools as well as ingot molds in light metal processing.
- Tools in extrusion plants
- Dies and die inserts in forging shops
- Mandrel bars for the production of seamless tubes
- Plastic molds, mold inserts
- Extruder screws, extruder barrels
- Ejector pins
- Die holders, chucks
- reinforcement rings
Material 1.- what characterizes this steel
This tool steel for hot work is a chromium-molybdenum-vanadium alloy.
The chemical composition of material 1. is:
C: 0,37 %
Si: 1.00 %
Mn: 0,40 %
Cr: 5.30 %
Mo: 1.30 %
V: 0,40 %
The alloy exhibits first-class toughness, good thermal shock resistance, high high-temperature strength and good hot wear resistance.
An essential factor in the manufacturing process of heavily loaded tools is proper heat treatment. Tempering twice allows the microstructural transformation to complete. For maximum toughness, three times of tempering is recommended.
This procedure reduces the risk of premature tool wear.
Machining of material 1.
1) Recommendation for case hardening of tool steel for hot work according to material number 1.
The following guide values for hardness in the as-built condition apply to various fields of application:
- Casting tools for die casting 44-52 HRC, low pressure die casting and gravity die casting 300-360 HB.
- Dies for extrusion of light metal 34-50 HRC and steel 34-48 HRC
- Die forging tools 41-54 HRC
- Molds for glass processing 180-230 HB
- Mandrel bars for pipe manufacturing 266-375 HB
- Tools for plastics processing 40-54 HRC
- Tool holders 48-54 HRC
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Precise H11 tool steel heat treatment is crucial for achieving its optimal performance as a 5% chromium hot-work die steel and ultrahigh-strength steel, similar to H11 Modified and H13. This process tunes the microstructure for demanding factory tooling.
This steel is easily forged, with a suitable forging temperature range of to °C ( to °F). We recommend preheating the billet to 790 to 815°C ( to °F), then uniformly heating it to the forging temperature. The forging temperature must NOT be lower than 925°C (°F). If the temperature drops near this level, it must be reheated before continuing the forging process.
Austenitizing, the primary hardening step, involves heating to transform its structure into austenite. This allows uniform conversion and dissolution of alloying elements and carbides.
Preheating: Preheating H11 to 760-815 °C (- °F) before austenitizing is recommended to minimize thermal shock and cracking, especially for this high-alloy material.
Austenitizing Temperatures and Soaking Times: The Austenitizing Temperature is 995 to °C ( to °F). The soaking time is 20 minutes + 5 minutes per 25 mm (1 inch) of thickness.
Holding at the austenitizing temperature ensures uniform transformation and dissolution.
After austenitizing, H11 steel is rapidly quenched to form hard martensite. H11 is an air-hardening steel, providing uniform hardening through large sections with minimal residual stress and dimensional change. Air cooling is the standard and preferred method for H11 tool steel. While air cooling is standard, oil quenching from 995 °C ( °F) is a possible alternative. H11 and other hot work tool steels must never be water quenched, as this can lead to cracking.
After hardening, tempering H11 tool steel by reheating to a lower temperature is crucial for improving toughness, relieving stress, and stabilizing properties. Steel H11 is a secondary hardening steel. It achieves its best performance when tempered at temperatures above 510°C (950°F). We recommend performing multiple tempering treatments on it to achieve optimal toughness and extend tool life. Allow parts to cool to room temperature between each tempering cycle to minimize residual austenite.
The annealing temperature is 845-900°C (-°F). The cooling rate is 22-40°C/h (40-75°F/h). The hardness after annealing is 192-229 HB.
Normalizing: This process is generally not recommended for H11 or H13 tool steels due to the high risk of cracking, especially with surface decarburization.
Stress-Relief: After H11 has undergone processing, such as grinding, welding, or EDM (electrical discharge machining), we strongly recommend that it undergo stress relief treatment at 650°C. This treatment should be carried out at a temperature 14–28°C (25–50°F) lower than the previous tempering temperature. After stress relief, cool slowly at a maximum rate of 300°C/h to prevent new stresses from forming.
Cryogenic Treatment: Sub-zero treatment (e.g., -73°C / -100°F) can reduce retained austenite, but H11’s high tempering temperatures usually make it unnecessary for achieving maximum secondary hardening response.
Surface Protection: Protecting its surfaces from oxidation and decarburization during high-temperature treatments, such as austenitizing and annealing, is vital. This is often achieved using controlled atmospheres, vacuum furnaces, or salt baths.
1. What is H11 steel?
H11 steel is primarily an air-cooling type hot work mold steel, often referred to as DIN 1. or JIS SKD6. It is a chromium-based hot work tool steel highly valued for its exceptional toughness and ability to retain its properties even at elevated temperatures. It is used extensively in the manufacturing of molds.
2. What are the key characteristics and properties of H11 tool steel?
H11 tool steel is noted for its excellent impact toughness, strong resistance to thermal fatigue (also known as heat checking), and high strength, maintaining these qualities at temperatures approaching 600°C. It also offers good wear resistance, hardenability, plasticity, corrosion resistance, high temperature stability, oxidation resistance, and weldability, making it relatively easy to process.
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3. What are the international equivalent grades for H11 steel?
H11 steel is recognized globally under various designations, including DIN 1. (Germany), JIS SKD6 (Japan), and BH11 (British Standard). In the USA, it aligns with standards like ASTM A681, FED QQ-T-570, SAE J437, SAE J438, SAE J467, and its Unified Numbering System (UNS) designation is T.
4. What is the main difference between H11 and H13 steel?
H11 steel contains less vanadium than H13 steel. This results in H11 having higher toughness and superior resistance to thermal fatigue cracking (better handling of repeated heating and cooling cycles) compared to H13, though it might have slightly less wear and temper resistance.
5. Why might H11 steel be preferred over H13 steel for specific applications?
H11 steel is often chosen when the application demands maximum resistance to cracking and thermal shock, particularly when water cooling is involved in service or under frequent heating and cooling cycles. Its superior toughness and generally easier machinability (due to lower hardness) also make it a favorable choice over H13 for certain projects.
6. What are the typical applications of H11 tool steel?
H11 tool steel is frequently used in hot tooling applications that require high resistance to cracking. Key applications include die casting dies (especially for aluminum and magnesium alloys), forging dies, hot punches, hot shear blades, and extrusion tooling. It is also utilized in the aerospace industry for critical structural components, such as aircraft landing gear.
7. Is H11 steel suitable for plastic molds?
Yes, H11 steel is widely used in the manufacturing of plastic molds, particularly for the insert parts of the mold.
8. What forms is H11 tool steel typically supplied in?
H11 tool steel is commonly available as round bars, sheets, plates, and flat bars. It can also be supplied as slabs, billets, wire, shapes, steel coils, and pipes. Surface conditions vary, including original black, peeled, polished, machined, hot rolled, ground, turned, drawn, or cold rolled.
9. How is H11 tool steel typically heat-treated for hardening?
For hardening, H11 tool steels are generally preheated to 816°C (°F) and then directly heated to °C (°F), where they are held at that temperature for 15 to 40 minutes. The hardening process is completed by air-quenching, which is effective due to H11’s very high hardenability. Some methods involve oil cooling after quenching from °C to °C, followed by air cooling.
10. What is the recommended tempering process for H11 steel?
Tempering of H11 steel is performed at temperatures ranging from 538 to 649°C ( to °F) to achieve a Rockwell C hardness between 54 and 38. Double tempering is highly recommended, with each tempering step lasting one hour at the chosen temperature, followed by air cooling.
11. Can H11 steel be welded?
Yes, H11 tool steels can be welded using conventional methods. However, special procedures are often necessary, including pre-heating and using filler materials that match the base material’s composition. It’s important to note that H11 is susceptible to hydrogen-induced cracking (HIC) due to its high alloy content and hardenability, so precise temperature control (e.g., 310-370°C for hardfacing) during welding is crucial.
12. Is H11 steel easy to machine?
Yes, H11 steel exhibits good machinability. Its machinability rate is approximately 75% to 80% compared to 1% carbon steel and about 75% of “W” group tool steels. It is often considered easier to machine than H13 steel because of its lower hardness.
13. What is the forging temperature for H11 tool steel?
H11 tool steels are typically forged at around °C (°F). Forging below 899°C (°F) is not recommended. The precise temperature can vary, generally falling within a range of to °C ( to °F), depending on desired deformation properties.
14. Can H11 steel be nitrided or PVD coated?
Yes, H11 steel serves as an excellent substrate for PVD coating. For nitriding, a small diffusion zone is preferred, and the formation of compound and oxidized layers should be avoided. H11 is suitable for bath, gas, and plasma nitriding processes and can be nitrided at temperatures of 500-600°C to achieve a hard surface. Studies have also explored TiN coatings on H11 steel.
15. What is the typical hardness range for H11 steel after heat treatment?
The hardness of H11 steel post-heat treatment varies with tempering. For general applications, a hardness of 50-54 HRC is common. When air-cooled from °C (°F) for 45 minutes, it can reach up to 57 HRC. Tempering within the range of 538-649°C (-°F) can result in a Rockwell C hardness from 54 down to 38.
16. Can H11 tool steel be produced using additive manufacturing (3D printing)?
Yes, H11 tool steel (specifically DIN 1. / AISI H11) can be produced through additive manufacturing processes, such as Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF). Research indicates that subsequent heat treatments after LPBF can be used to precisely tailor the microstructure and hardness of these additively manufactured steels.
17. What is the machinability of H11 tool steel?
H11 is typically rated at 60-70% when compared to water-hardening tool steel W1 (which serves as a benchmark at 100% machinability for tool steels).
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