Steel H22
AISI/SAE H22 · UNS T20822
H22 is a tungsten hot-work die steel (UNS T20822) with lower chromium and higher tungsten than H21, giving good hot hardness for hot-punching and hot-shearing tools.
Reference datasheet — H22 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the ANN condition
H22 tempers and conditions
H22 is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. ANN 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANNDefault Annealed | Stock condition for machining dies before hardening; max ~235 HB per ASTM A681. | 470 | 790 | 18 | 212 HB | — |
Hot rolled | Mill condition of forged bar before soft annealing — hard and stressed, normally annealed before use. | 900 | 1,150 | 10 | 37 HRC | 3 % IACS |
Hardened & tempered 44–46 HRC | Pick for hot forging dies and mandrels where thermal-fatigue cracking, not wear, is the failure mode. | 1,250 | 1,470 | 9 | 45 HRC | — |
Hardened, tempered and gas-nitrided surface | Nitrided case (~0.1–0.2 mm, 900–1100 HV) on a 45–50 HRC core for extra washout and erosion resistance on hot punches. | 1,380 | 1,620 | 7 | 48 HRC | 3 % IACS |
Hardened & tempered 48–52 HRC | Standard working hardness after ~1200 °C austenitizing and 600–650 °C double temper — best balance of hot hardness and toughness. | 1,450 | 1,720 | 7 | 50 HRC | 28 W/m·K |
Hardened & tempered 53–55 HRC | Use only for short-run hot punches and extrusion mandrels where abrasion dominates and shock loading is low. | 1,620 | 1,930 | 4 | 54 HRC | — |
What is H22?
H22 is a tungsten hot-work die steel (UNS T20822) with lower chromium and higher tungsten than H21, giving good hot hardness for hot-punching and hot-shearing tools. It is supplied annealed or hot-rolled and put into service at QT45, QT50 or QT54, frequently with a QT+NIT nitrided face. Annealed properties are 470 MPa yield, 790 MPa tensile, 18 % elongation and 212 HB, with a 500 °C maximum service temperature; machinability (32) and formability (15) are low and corrosion resistance is poor (16), so tools need oil or VCI protection. H21 is the nearest grade when more toughness is wanted. H22 has a density of 8.45 g/cm³ (0.305 lb/in³), heavier than 99% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F). H22 has a yield strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 790 MPa (115 ksi) — stronger than 57% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).
What is H22 used for?
- Hot punches
- Hot shear blades
- Extrusion tooling
- Hot forming dies
Advantages
- High service temperature — 500°C (932 °F), better than 90% of steel grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 3.6 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 94% of steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 3.1 % IACS, worse than 89% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 32/100, worse than 87% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 15/100, worse than 87% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 27 W/m·K (15.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 86% of steel grades
H22 properties
Typical room-temperature values for H22-ANN; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
H22 has a density of 8.45 g/cm³ (0.305 lb/in³), heavier than 99% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical16
H22 has a yield strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 790 MPa (115 ksi) — stronger than 57% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).
Thermal6
H22 is rated for continuous service to 500°C (932 °F). It conducts heat at 27 W/m·K (15.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 86% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11 µm/m·K (6.11 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
H22 conducts electricity at 3.1 % IACS, worse than 89% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (16/100), better than 79% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of H22 takes about 52 MJ of energy and emits 3.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 94% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 45%.
Manufacturability8
H22's machinability is poor (32/100, worse than 87% of steel grades); weldability poor (30/100); formability poor (15/100).
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. H22 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with H22
Is H22 easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed condition with rigid setups, positive-rake carbide or coated carbide at low speed; the coarse tungsten carbides are abrasive, and above ~45 HRC switch to grinding or EDM (stress-relieve/temper after EDM).
Can H22 be welded?
Repair-weld with matched W-alloy hot-work filler after preheating the whole tool to 350–450 °C, weld hot, cool slowly and re-temper 20–30 °C below the last tempering temperature.
Can H22 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work only: forge 1050–1150 °C, stop above 900 °C, cool slowly in furnace or ash, then soft anneal 850–900 °C at ≤20 °C/h to ≤235 HB; harden 1150–1200 °C, air or oil quench, double temper 600–650 °C.
H22 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 | 0.3 – 0.4 | 0.35 |
| Mn | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Crlower Cr than H21 | 1.75 – 3.75 | 2.5 |
| Wprimary hot-hardness element | 10 – 11.75 | 11 |
| V | 0.25 – 0.5 | 0.35 |
| Moresidual, not intentionally added | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Niresidual | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Curesidual | ≤ 0.25 | |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on H22?
No anodizing; use gas nitriding, oxidizing/black finish or PVD (CrN, AlTiN) for wash resistance, and keep oiled or VCI-wrapped since the low-Cr matrix rusts quickly.
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).
Organic Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel H22 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- T20822
How much does H22 cost?
H22 is a high-cost steel ($$$$), pricier than about 78% 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.
H22 — frequently asked
What is H22 used for?
H22 is typically used for hot punches, hot shear blades, extrusion tooling and hot forming dies. In short: high-tungsten H21 variant; 500 °C service capability; low corrosion resistance.
What is the yield strength of H22?
H22 has a typical yield strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 790 MPa (115 ksi) — stronger than 57% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is H22 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (32/100, worse than 87% of steel grades). Machine only in the annealed condition with rigid setups, positive-rake carbide or coated carbide at low speed; the coarse tungsten carbides are abrasive, and above ~45 HRC switch to grinding or EDM (stress-relieve/temper after EDM).
Can H22 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (30/100). Repair-weld with matched W-alloy hot-work filler after preheating the whole tool to 350–450 °C, weld hot, cool slowly and re-temper 20–30 °C below the last tempering temperature.
What surface finishes work on H22?
No anodizing; use gas nitriding, oxidizing/black finish or PVD (CrN, AlTiN) for wash resistance, and keep oiled or VCI-wrapped since the low-Cr matrix rusts quickly.
Can H22 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot work only: forge 1050–1150 °C, stop above 900 °C, cool slowly in furnace or ash, then soft anneal 850–900 °C at ≤20 °C/h to ≤235 HB; harden 1150–1200 °C, air or oil quench, double temper 600–650 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of H22?
H22 is rated for continuous use to about 500°C (932 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between H22-ANN and H22-QT54?
ANN is the default condition — stock condition for machining dies before hardening; max ~235 HB per ASTM A681. QT54: use only for short-run hot punches and extrusion mandrels where abrasion dominates and shock loading is low. Yield strength is 470 MPa in ANN versus 1,620 MPa in QT54.
How much does H22 cost?
H22 is a high-cost steel ($$$$), pricier than about 78% 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.
Sources
- ASTM A681 — Standard Specification for Tool Steels, Alloy — ASTM International (2015)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (Hot-Work Tool Steels) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.4: Heat Treating (Tool Steel Heat Treatment) — ASM International (1991)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16: Machining (Machinability of Tool Steels) — ASM International (1989)
- SAE J438 / UNS T20822 tool steel designations — SAE International (2019)
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.