Steel 1.2344
EN 1.2344 · JIS SKD61
1.2344 (X40CrMoV5-1) is a secondary-hardening hot-work tool steel with about 5% Cr, 1% Mo and 1% V, equivalent to AISI H13, SKD61 and 4Cr5MoSiV1.
Values for the Annealed condition
1.2344 tempers and conditions
1.2344 is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault soft annealed supply condition (≤235 HB) | Standard stock condition for bar, plate and blocks; machine to shape here, then harden and temper. | 500 | 800 | 20 | 215 HB | — |
electro-slag remelted premium grade, annealed | Choose for large die-casting dies and mirror-polished moulds needing low inclusion content, isotropic toughness and NADCA #207 cleanliness. | 510 | 800 | 22 | 16 HRC | 3.3 % IACS |
High-temper, maximum-toughness condition | Pick for large aluminium die-casting dies and forging dies where thermal-fatigue cracking, not wear, is the failure mode. | 1,250 | 1,500 | 12 | 45 HRC | — |
Quenched and tempered | General-purpose working hardness for die-casting dies and hot extrusion tooling: best balance of hot strength and toughness. | 1,450 | 1,700 | 10 | 48 HRC | 24 W/m·K |
Q&T then gas/plasma nitrided surface (900–1100 HV case) | Surface treatment on top of Q&T tooling to raise wear and soldering resistance in aluminium die casting and extrusion dies. | 1,450 | 1,700 | 9 | 48 HRC | — |
Low-temper, maximum-hardness condition | Use only for small wear-dominated tools (hot punches, mandrels, shear knives) where impact loading is low. | 1,650 | 2,000 | 5 | 53 HRC | — |
What is 1.2344?
1.2344 (X40CrMoV5-1) is a secondary-hardening hot-work tool steel with about 5% Cr, 1% Mo and 1% V, equivalent to AISI H13, SKD61 and 4Cr5MoSiV1. It combines hot strength, thermal-fatigue (heat-checking) resistance and deep hardenability, air-hardens with low distortion, and is supplied annealed as bar, plate and ESR blocks for die casting dies, hot extrusion tooling, forging dies and plastic moulds, then quenched and tempered to 44–52 HRC. Thermal conductivity is limited and it is not stainless, and toughness falls as hardness rises; continuous service is generally kept below about 540 °C. 1.2344 has a density of 7.8 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), lighter than 87% of steel grades. It melts at 1,427°C (2,601 °F). 1.2344 has a yield strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 800 MPa (116 ksi) — stronger than 63% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is 1.2344 used for?
- Die casting dies and inserts
- Hot extrusion dies and punches
- Forging dies
- Plastic injection mould cavities
- Die casting cores and pins
- Hot shear blades
- Extrusion mandrels and dummy blocks
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades
Limitations
- Poor heat conductor — 24.5 W/m·K (14.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 89% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 2.7 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 89% of steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 3.3 % IACS, worse than 86% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 20/100, worse than 80% of steel grades
1.2344 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1.2344-Annealed; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
1.2344 has a density of 7.8 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), lighter than 87% of steel grades. It melts at 1,427°C (2,601 °F).
Mechanical15
1.2344 has a yield strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 800 MPa (116 ksi) — stronger than 63% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
1.2344 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 24.5 W/m·K (14.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 89% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1.2344 conducts electricity at 3.3 % IACS, worse than 86% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (20/100), better than 87% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1.2344 takes about 36 MJ of energy and emits 2.7 kg of CO₂ — more than 89% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability7
1.2344's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades); weldability fair (35/100); formability poor (20/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the steel family
Yield strength against density for every steel grade FabDigit runs. 1.2344 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1.2344
Is 1.2344 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed condition with rigid setups, coated carbide and moderate speeds; leave 0.2–0.5 mm stock for post-hardening grinding/EDM, and stress-relieve rough-machined blocks before hardening.
Can 1.2344 be welded?
Weldable for repair only: preheat and hold at 300–450 °C, use matched H13 filler, weld continuously and temper immediately at 20–30 °C below the last tempering temperature to avoid cracking.
Can 1.2344 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work only — forge 1050–1100 °C with slow cooling and mandatory soft anneal at 750–800 °C; austenitize 1000–1030 °C, air/oil/vacuum quench, then double or triple temper (550–650 °C) to the target hardness.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit's quote engine applies to 1.2344. Design inside these and the part quotes instantly; outside them it routes to an engineer.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Fair45 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | P.2 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 180 / 210 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.8 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 5× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 1.6 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
1.2344 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| CAISI H13 allows 0.32–0.45 | 0.37 – 0.43 | 0.4 |
| Si | 0.9 – 1.2 | 1 |
| Mn | 0.3 – 0.5 | 0.4 |
| Cr | 4.8 – 5.5 | 5.2 |
| Mo | 1.1 – 1.5 | 1.3 |
| V | 0.85 – 1.15 | 1 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Smax; premium/ESR typically ≤0.005 | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1.2344?
Not stainless — protect with oil, phosphate or black oxide; nitriding, nitrocarburizing or PVD (CrN/AlTiN) is standard for die surfaces, and ESR grades take a mirror polish for plastic moulds.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on steel parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Plating
CVD Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel 1.2344 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- X40CrMoV5-1
- JIS
- SKD61
How much does 1.2344 cost?
1.2344 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 83% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
1.2344 — frequently asked
What is 1.2344 used for?
1.2344 is typically used for die casting dies and inserts, hot extrusion dies and punches, forging dies, plastic injection mould cavities, die casting cores and pins and hot shear blades. In short: hot-work die tool.
What is the yield strength of 1.2344?
1.2344 has a typical yield strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 800 MPa (116 ksi) — stronger than 63% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 1.2344 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 65% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed condition with rigid setups, coated carbide and moderate speeds; leave 0.2–0.5 mm stock for post-hardening grinding/EDM, and stress-relieve rough-machined blocks before hardening.
Can 1.2344 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (35/100). Weldable for repair only: preheat and hold at 300–450 °C, use matched H13 filler, weld continuously and temper immediately at 20–30 °C below the last tempering temperature to avoid cracking.
What surface finishes work on 1.2344?
Not stainless — protect with oil, phosphate or black oxide; nitriding, nitrocarburizing or PVD (CrN/AlTiN) is standard for die surfaces, and ESR grades take a mirror polish for plastic moulds.
Can 1.2344 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work only — forge 1050–1100 °C with slow cooling and mandatory soft anneal at 750–800 °C; austenitize 1000–1030 °C, air/oil/vacuum quench, then double or triple temper (550–650 °C) to the target hardness.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1.2344?
1.2344 is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does 1.2344 cost?
1.2344 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 83% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Can FabDigit make parts in 1.2344?
Yes — 1.2344 is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- EN ISO 4957 — Tool steels (X40CrMoV5-1) — ISO/CEN (2018)
- ASTM A681 — Alloy Tool Steels (H13) — ASTM (2015)
- GB/T 1299 — (4Cr5MoSiV1) — SAC (2014)
- JIS G 4404 — Alloy tool steels (SKD61) — JIS (2015)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Böhler W302 / Uddeholm Orvar Supreme hot-work tool steel datasheets — voestalpine Böhler Edelstahl / Uddeholm (2023)
- NADCA #207 — Special Quality Die Steel and Heat Treatment Acceptance Criteria — NADCA (2016)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.