Steel 1.2344 · heat-treated state
Steel 1.2344 Hardened & Tempered
Properties of the Hardened & Tempered condition, compared with the other 1.2344 tempers.
Higher-hardness tooling condition for wear-critical punches, shear blades and plastic-mould inserts.
What is 1.2344 Hardened & Tempered?
1.2344 Hardened & Tempered is 1.2344 heat treated to Hardened & Tempered — higher-hardness tooling condition for wear-critical punches, shear blades and plastic-mould inserts. 1.2344 Hardened & Tempered has a yield strength of 1,550 MPa (225 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,850 MPa (268 ksi) — stronger than 97% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi). 1.2344 Hardened & Tempered 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). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Hardened & Tempered is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High strength — 1,550 MPa (225 ksi), better than 97% of steel grades
- High service temperature — 520°C (968 °F), better than 92% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 15/100, worse than 98% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 8%, worse than 95% of steel grades
- 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 87% of steel grades
1.2344 Hardened & Tempered properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1.2344 Hardened & Tempered — 14 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 1.2344 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
1.2344 Hardened & Tempered 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 Hardened & Tempered has a yield strength of 1,550 MPa (225 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,850 MPa (268 ksi) — stronger than 97% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
1.2344 Hardened & Tempered is rated for continuous service to 520°C (968 °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 Hardened & Tempered conducts electricity at 3.3 % IACS, worse than 87% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (20/100), better than 87% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1.2344 Hardened & Tempered takes about 36 MJ of energy and emits 2.7 kg of CO₂ — more than 88% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability7
1.2344 Hardened & Tempered's machinability is poor (15/100, worse than 98% of steel grades); weldability fair (35/100); formability poor (20/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 1.2344 tempers and conditions
1.2344 is also supplied in 6 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 1.2344 overview.
- AnnealedDefaultStandard stock condition for bar, plate and blocks; machine to shape here, then harden and temper.500 MPa yield · 215 HB
- Q&T 52-54 HRCUse only for small wear-dominated tools (hot punches, mandrels, shear knives) where impact loading is low.1,650 MPa yield · 53 HRC
- Hardened & TemperedHigher-hardness tooling condition for wear-critical punches, shear blades and plastic-mould inserts.1,550 MPa yield · 50 HRC
- Q&TGeneral-purpose working hardness for die-casting dies and hot extrusion tooling: best balance of hot strength and toughness.1,450 MPa yield · 48 HRC
- Q&T 44-46 HRCPick for large aluminium die-casting dies and forging dies where thermal-fatigue cracking, not wear, is the failure mode.1,250 MPa yield · 45 HRC
Working with 1.2344 Hardened & Tempered
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.
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.
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 | — |
1.2344 Hardened & Tempered — frequently asked
What is 1.2344 Hardened & Tempered used for?
1.2344 Hardened & Tempered 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 Hardened & Tempered?
1.2344 Hardened & Tempered has a typical yield strength of 1,550 MPa (225 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,850 MPa (268 ksi) — stronger than 97% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is 1.2344 Hardened & Tempered easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (15/100, worse than 98% 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 Hardened & Tempered 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 Hardened & Tempered?
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 Hardened & Tempered 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 Hardened & Tempered?
1.2344 Hardened & Tempered is rated for continuous use to about 520°C (968 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in 1.2344 Hardened & Tempered?
Yes — 1.2344 Hardened & Tempered 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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.