Steel 8407 QT44-46
Heat-treated state
AISI/SAE 8407
QT44-46 = q&T 44–46 HRC
Balanced toughness/hot strength for aluminium die-casting dies and hot-extrusion tooling.
Values for the QT44-46 condition
Other 8407 tempers and conditions
8407 is listed in 9 conditions; see the grade overview at 8407.
Compare all 9 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANNDefault Annealed | Standard mill delivery condition for bar, plate and forged blocks; machine to shape, then harden and temper. | 520 | 800 | 18 | 11 HRC | 3.3 % IACS |
ESR premium H13 quality (annealed supply) | Standard ESR premium quality for general hot-work and die-casting tooling at lower cost than Supreme. | 520 | 800 | 18 | 180 HB | 3.3 % IACS |
8407 Supreme | Top quality level with lowest S/inclusion content and best transverse toughness — for large, thermally-cycled die-casting dies and mirror-polished moulds. | 520 | 800 | 20 | 180 HB | 3.3 % IACS |
Q&T 40–44 HRC | Pick for large forging dies and heavy-section die-casting dies where gross cracking risk outweighs wear resistance. | 1,150 | 1,350 | 12 | 42 HRC | — |
QT44-46This page Q&T 44–46 HRC | Balanced toughness/hot strength for aluminium die-casting dies and hot-extrusion tooling. | 1,250 | 1,480 | 11 | 45 HRC | — |
Q&T 46–48 HRC | Choose for aluminium/magnesium die-casting inserts, cores and pins needing better erosion and wear resistance. | 1,350 | 1,600 | 10 | 47 HRC | — |
Q&T 46–48 HRC + gas/plasma nitrided case | Surface-hardened die condition for soldering/erosion resistance in aluminium die casting; brittle white layer must be controlled. | 1,350 | 1,600 | 9 | 47 HRC | 25 W/m·K |
Q&T 48–50 HRC | For extrusion dies, hot shear blades and punches where indentation and wear dominate over impact. | 1,450 | 1,750 | 9 | 49 HRC | — |
Q&T 50–52 HRC | Maximum wear resistance for small cores, pins and plastic-mould inserts; toughness and thermal-fatigue life are reduced. | 1,570 | 1,900 | 8 | 51 HRC | — |
What is 8407 QT44-46?
8407 QT44-46 is 8407 heat treated to QT44-46 — balanced toughness/hot strength for aluminium die-casting dies and hot-extrusion tooling. 8407 QT44-46 has a yield strength of 1,250 MPa (181 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,480 MPa (215 ksi) — stronger than 95% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 11% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi). 8407 QT44-46 has a density of 7.8 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), lighter than 87% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F). ANN is the default condition FabDigit quotes; QT44-46 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 90/100, better than 100% of steel grades
- High strength — 1,250 MPa (181 ksi), better than 95% of steel grades
- High service temperature — 550°C (1,022 °F), better than 95% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 22/100, worse than 95% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 40 MPa·√m (36.4 ksi·√in), worse than 92% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 2.8 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 90% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 11%, worse than 89% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 25.5 W/m·K (14.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 88% of steel grades
8407 QT44-46 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 8407 QT44-46; 15 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 8407 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
8407 QT44-46 has a density of 7.8 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), lighter than 87% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical17
8407 QT44-46 has a yield strength of 1,250 MPa (181 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,480 MPa (215 ksi) — stronger than 95% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 11% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal5
8407 QT44-46 is rated for continuous service to 550°C (1,022 °F). It conducts heat at 25.5 W/m·K (14.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 88% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
8407 QT44-46 conducts electricity at 3.3 % IACS, worse than 86% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (18/100), better than 83% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 8407 QT44-46 takes about 35 MJ of energy and emits 2.8 kg of CO₂ — more than 87% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 45%.
Manufacturability6
8407 QT44-46's machinability is poor (22/100, worse than 95% of steel grades); weldability fair (45/100); formability poor (25/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 8407 QT44-46
Is 8407 easy to machine?
Machine fully in the annealed state with rigid setups and coated carbide (Vc ≈ 80–150 m/min); after hardening to 45–50 HRC use hard-milling, EDM or grinding, and stress-relieve after rough machining.
Can 8407 be welded?
Repairable by TIG/MMA with matching H13 filler at 325–400 °C preheat, interpass held, then slow cool and temper 15–25 °C below the last tempering temperature.
Can 8407 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work only — forge 1050–1150 °C, finish above 900 °C, slow cool and soft-anneal at 850–900 °C; cold forming is not practical.
What surface finishes work on 8407?
Excellent mirror/photo-etch polishability thanks to ESR cleanliness; commonly nitrided, PVD (CrN/AlTiN) or duplex-coated for die-soldering resistance, and must be oiled or coated to prevent rusting.
8407 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 range 0.32–0.45; 8407 nominal 0.39 | 0.35 – 0.42 | 0.39 |
| Si | 0.8 – 1.2 | 1 |
| Mn | 0.25 – 0.55 | 0.4 |
| Cr | 4.9 – 5.5 | 5.2 |
| Mo | 1.2 – 1.6 | 1.4 |
| V | 0.8 – 1.1 | 0.9 |
| PESR practice, typically ≤0.015 | ≤ 0.02 | — |
| Ssuper-clean ESR, typically ≤0.003 | ≤ 0.01 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
8407 QT44-46 — frequently asked
What is 8407 QT44-46 used for?
8407 QT44-46 is typically used for aluminum die-casting dies, extrusion dies and plastic mold cores. In short: ESR-clean H13 type; mirror-polishable die steel; higher toughness than standard H13.
What is the yield strength of 8407 QT44-46?
8407 QT44-46 has a typical yield strength of 1,250 MPa (181 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,480 MPa (215 ksi) — stronger than 95% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 8407 QT44-46 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (22/100, worse than 95% of steel grades). Machine fully in the annealed state with rigid setups and coated carbide (Vc ≈ 80–150 m/min); after hardening to 45–50 HRC use hard-milling, EDM or grinding, and stress-relieve after rough machining.
Can 8407 QT44-46 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). Repairable by TIG/MMA with matching H13 filler at 325–400 °C preheat, interpass held, then slow cool and temper 15–25 °C below the last tempering temperature.
What surface finishes work on 8407 QT44-46?
Excellent mirror/photo-etch polishability thanks to ESR cleanliness; commonly nitrided, PVD (CrN/AlTiN) or duplex-coated for die-soldering resistance, and must be oiled or coated to prevent rusting.
Can 8407 QT44-46 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work only — forge 1050–1150 °C, finish above 900 °C, slow cool and soft-anneal at 850–900 °C; cold forming is not practical.
What is the maximum service temperature of 8407 QT44-46?
8407 QT44-46 is rated for continuous use to about 550°C (1,022 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 8407-ANN and 8407 QT50-52?
ANN is the default condition — standard mill delivery condition for bar, plate and forged blocks; machine to shape, then harden and temper. QT50-52: maximum wear resistance for small cores, pins and plastic-mould inserts; toughness and thermal-fatigue life are reduced. Yield strength is 520 MPa in ANN versus 1,570 MPa in QT50-52.
Sources
- ASSAB 8407 Supreme / 8407 2M hot work tool steel datasheet — ASSAB / Uddeholm (voestalpine) (2023)
- Uddeholm Orvar Supreme — Uddeholm AB (2022)
- ASTM A681 – Standard Specification for Tool Steels Alloy (H13) — ASTM International (2015)
- GB/T 1299 (4Cr5MoSiV1) — SAC (2014)
- NADCA #207 Special Quality Die Steel & Heat Treatment Acceptance Criteria — North American Die Casting Association (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 – Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
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.