Steel H13-ESR
Grade
AISI/SAE H13 · UNS T20813 · EN 1.2344, X40CrMoV5-1 · JIS SKD61 · GB 4Cr5MoSiV1
ESR = electroslag remelted premium grade
Specify for large or highly stressed dies and mirror-polished mould cavities: cleaner steel, low sulphur, isotropic toughness.
Values for the ESR condition
Other H13 tempers and conditions
H13 is listed in 10 conditions; see the grade overview at H13.
Compare all 10 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
600–650 °C after rough machining | Pick after heavy rough machining or EDM of annealed blanks to minimise distortion in the subsequent hardening cycle. | 510 | 750 | 24 | 16 HRC | 3.3 % IACS |
AnnealedDefault soft annealed, ≤235 HB | Standard as-supplied bar/plate condition for machining dies before hardening. | 520 | 760 | 25 | 205 HB | — |
Toughness-biased temper | Choose for large die-casting dies and forging dies where heat-checking and gross cracking resistance outrank wear. | 1,330 | 1,520 | 13 | 45 HRC | — |
ESRThis page Electroslag remelted premium grade | Specify for large or highly stressed dies and mirror-polished mould cavities: cleaner steel, low sulphur, isotropic toughness. | 1,340 | 1,600 | 10 | 46 HRC | 3 % IACS |
Quenched and tempered | Standard die-casting / extrusion die working hardness: best balance of hot strength and toughness. | 1,400 | 1,620 | 12 | 47 HRC | — |
laser powder-bed fusion, as-built (self-quenched martensite) | AM conformal-cooling inserts straight off the machine: very hard and strong but brittle with high residual stress — stress relieve before use. | 1,400 | 1,750 | 3 | 53 HRC | 22 W/m·K |
Q&T core + gas/plasma nitrided case | Use on extrusion and die-casting dies to raise surface hardness and soldering/wear resistance; keep case thin (0.05–0.15 mm) to avoid heat-check initiation. | 1,400 | 1,620 | 8 | 47 HRC | 3.2 % IACS |
Hot isostatic pressed | Use for additively manufactured or PM H13 where internal porosity must be closed to restore fatigue and impact life. | 1,450 | 1,720 | 9 | 48 HRC | — |
Balanced wear/toughness temper | Typical for hot extrusion dies, mandrels and plastic mould inserts needing more wear resistance than 46 HRC. | 1,500 | 1,760 | 10 | 49 HRC | — |
Wear-biased temper | For small cores, punches and hot shear blades where abrasive wear dominates and section sizes are small. | 1,570 | 1,900 | 9 | 51 HRC | — |
What is H13-ESR?
H13-ESR is H13 in the ESR grade — specify for large or highly stressed dies and mirror-polished mould cavities: cleaner steel, low sulphur, isotropic toughness. H13-ESR has a yield strength of 1,340 MPa (194 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,600 MPa (232 ksi) — stronger than 95% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi). H13-ESR 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). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; ESR is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 90/100, better than 100% of steel grades
- High strength — 1,340 MPa (194 ksi), better than 95% of steel grades
- High service temperature — 550°C (1,022 °F), better than 95% of steel grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 24/100, better than 91% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited formability — 5/100, worse than 99% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 20/100, worse than 97% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 10%, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 3 % IACS, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 25 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 88% of steel grades
H13-ESR properties
Typical room-temperature values for H13-ESR; 23 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are H13 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
H13-ESR 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).
Mechanical15
H13-ESR has a yield strength of 1,340 MPa (194 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,600 MPa (232 ksi) — stronger than 95% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
H13-ESR is rated for continuous service to 550°C (1,022 °F). It conducts heat at 25 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 88% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.9 µm/m·K (6.06 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
H13-ESR conducts electricity at 3 % IACS, worse than 91% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (24/100), better than 91% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of H13-ESR takes about 34 MJ of energy and emits 2.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 45%.
Manufacturability7
H13-ESR's machinability is poor (20/100, worse than 97% of steel grades); weldability poor (30/100); formability not recommended (5/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with H13-ESR
Is H13 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed condition (~200 HB) with carbide and rigid setups; after hardening to 45–52 HRC use ceramic/CBN, hard-milling strategies or EDM, and stress-relieve after heavy EDM.
Can H13 be welded?
Repair-weldable with matching H13 or nickel-base filler at 300–350 °C preheat, interpass held above Ms, followed immediately by tempering 15–25 °C below the last temper.
Can H13 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work only (forge 1050–1120 °C, slow cool then anneal at 850–900 °C); cold forming is not practical — expect ~0.1–0.2 % size growth on air hardening.
What surface finishes work on H13?
Takes a mirror polish (best on ESR grades); protect surfaces with nitriding, plasma/PVD CrN-AlTiN, oxide or black nitride — no anodising, and store oiled since bare H13 rusts quickly.
H13 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C | 0.32 – 0.45 | 0.39 |
| Si | 0.8 – 1.2 | 1 |
| Mn | 0.2 – 0.6 | 0.4 |
| Cr | 4.75 – 5.5 | 5.15 |
| Mo | 1.1 – 1.75 | 1.4 |
| V | 0.8 – 1.2 | 1 |
| Niresidual | ≤ 0.3 | — |
| Curesidual | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Ppremium/NADCA grades ≤0.015 | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Spremium/NADCA grades ≤0.005 | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
H13-ESR — frequently asked
What is H13-ESR used for?
H13-ESR is typically used for aluminium die-casting dies and inserts, hot extrusion dies and mandrels, hot forging dies, core pins and die-cast cores, hot stamping and hot-forming tooling and printed conformal-cooling mould inserts. In short: standard hot-work tool.
What is the yield strength of H13-ESR?
H13-ESR has a typical yield strength of 1,340 MPa (194 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,600 MPa (232 ksi) — stronger than 95% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is H13-ESR easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (20/100, worse than 97% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed condition (~200 HB) with carbide and rigid setups; after hardening to 45–52 HRC use ceramic/CBN, hard-milling strategies or EDM, and stress-relieve after heavy EDM.
Can H13-ESR be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (30/100). Repair-weldable with matching H13 or nickel-base filler at 300–350 °C preheat, interpass held above Ms, followed immediately by tempering 15–25 °C below the last temper.
What surface finishes work on H13-ESR?
Takes a mirror polish (best on ESR grades); protect surfaces with nitriding, plasma/PVD CrN-AlTiN, oxide or black nitride — no anodising, and store oiled since bare H13 rusts quickly.
Can H13-ESR be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work only (forge 1050–1120 °C, slow cool then anneal at 850–900 °C); cold forming is not practical — expect ~0.1–0.2 % size growth on air hardening.
What is the maximum service temperature of H13-ESR?
H13-ESR 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 H13 Annealed and H13-HIP?
Annealed is the default condition — standard as-supplied bar/plate condition for machining dies before hardening. HIP: use for additively manufactured or PM H13 where internal porosity must be closed to restore fatigue and impact life. Yield strength is 520 MPa in Annealed versus 1,450 MPa in HIP.
Can FabDigit make parts in H13-ESR?
Yes — H13-ESR is available for CNC machining and 3D printing with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM A681 — Tool Steels Alloy — ASTM International (2015)
- GB/T 1299 (4Cr5MoSiV1) — SAC (2014)
- JIS G4404 (SKD61) — JSA (2015)
- EN ISO 4957 (1.2344 / X40CrMoV5-1) — CEN (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Uddeholm Orvar Supreme / Dievar datasheet — Uddeholm (2023)
- Böhler W302 hot-work tool steel datasheet — voestalpine Böhler Edelstahl (2022)
- NADCA #207 Special Quality Die Steel & Heat Treatment Acceptance Criteria — NADCA (2021)
- (H13/4Cr5MoSiV1) — Mysteel / 1688 (2025)
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.