Steel H13 · heat-treated state
Steel H13 Q&T
Properties of the Q&T condition, compared with the other H13 tempers.
Standard die-casting / extrusion die working hardness: best balance of hot strength and toughness.
What is H13 Q&T?
H13 Q&T is H13 heat treated to Q&T — standard die-casting / extrusion die working hardness: best balance of hot strength and toughness. H13 Q&T has a yield strength of 1,400 MPa (203 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,620 MPa (235 ksi) — stronger than 96% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi). H13 Q&T 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; Q&T is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 80/100, better than 97% of steel grades
- High strength — 1,400 MPa (203 ksi), better than 96% of steel grades
- High service temperature — 540°C (1,004 °F), better than 93% of steel grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 22/100, better than 89% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 15/100, worse than 98% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 24.5 W/m·K (14.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 89% of steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 3.3 % IACS, worse than 87% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 2.6 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 86% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 12%, worse than 84% of steel grades
H13 Q&T properties
Typical room-temperature values for H13 Q&T — 15 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every H13 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
H13 Q&T 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 Q&T has a yield strength of 1,400 MPa (203 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,620 MPa (235 ksi) — stronger than 96% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
H13 Q&T is rated for continuous service to 540°C (1,004 °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 10.9 µm/m·K (6.06 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
H13 Q&T conducts electricity at 3.3 % IACS, worse than 87% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (22/100), better than 89% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of H13 Q&T 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 Q&T'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 H13 tempers and conditions
H13 is also supplied in 10 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the H13 overview.
- AnnealedDefaultStandard as-supplied bar/plate condition for machining dies before hardening.520 MPa yield · 205 HB
- Q&T 50-52 HRCFor small cores, punches and hot shear blades where abrasive wear dominates and section sizes are small.1,570 MPa yield · 51 HRC
- Q&T 48-50 HRCTypical for hot extrusion dies, mandrels and plastic mould inserts needing more wear resistance than 46 HRC.1,500 MPa yield · 49 HRC
- Hardened & TemperedGeneric hardened condition when the drawing calls out hardness rather than a fixed band; secondary hardening peak near 500–540 °C temper.1,450 MPa yield · 48 HRC
- HIPUse for additively manufactured or PM H13 where internal porosity must be closed to restore fatigue and impact life.1,450 MPa yield · 48 HRC
- Q&TStandard die-casting / extrusion die working hardness: best balance of hot strength and toughness.1,400 MPa yield · 47 HRC
- As PrintedAM conformal-cooling inserts straight off the machine: very hard and strong but brittle with high residual stress — stress relieve before use.1,400 MPa yield · 53 HRC
- Q&T 44-46 HRCChoose for large die-casting dies and forging dies where heat-checking and gross cracking resistance outrank wear.1,330 MPa yield · 45 HRC
Working with H13 Q&T
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 Q&T — frequently asked
What is H13 Q&T used for?
H13 Q&T 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 Q&T?
H13 Q&T has a typical yield strength of 1,400 MPa (203 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,620 MPa (235 ksi) — stronger than 96% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 11 listed tempers.
Is H13 Q&T easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (15/100, worse than 98% 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 Q&T be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (35/100). 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 Q&T?
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 Q&T 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 Q&T?
H13 Q&T is rated for continuous use to about 540°C (1,004 °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 Q&T?
Yes — H13 Q&T 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.