Steel H26
AISI/SAE H26 · UNS T20826
H26 is a higher-carbon, higher-tungsten hot-work die steel (UNS T20826) with about 18 % W, giving greater hot hardness and wear resistance than H25 for demanding hot-working tooling.
Reference datasheet — H26 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
H26 tempers and conditions
H26 is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. ANN is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANNDefault Annealed | Standard mill supply condition for bar and forgings; machine tooling here, then harden and temper. | 560 | 850 | 18 | 229 HB | 26 W/m·K |
Stress relieved | Intermediate step after heavy rough machining of large dies to minimise distortion during hardening. | 575 | 860 | 17 | 235 HB | 3.1 % IACS |
Hot rolled | As-forged or hot-rolled stock supplied for further hot work or full anneal before machining; not a service condition. | 760 | 1,100 | 8 | 35 HRC | 3.1 % IACS |
Hardened & tempered 58–60 HRC | Toughness-biased working hardness for hot extrusion dies and punches where thermal shock and cracking risk dominate. | 2,000 | 2 | 59 HRC | 25 W/m·K | |
Hardened & tempered 60–63 HRC | Maximum hot hardness and wear resistance for hot punches, mandrels and hot-shear blades in low-impact service. | 2,150 | 1 | 62 HRC | — |
What is H26?
H26 is a higher-carbon, higher-tungsten hot-work die steel (UNS T20826) with about 18 % W, giving greater hot hardness and wear resistance than H25 for demanding hot-working tooling. It is supplied annealed, hot-rolled or stress-relieved and hardened to 58–60 HRC or 60–63 HRC. Annealed values are 560 MPa yield, 850 MPa tensile, 18 % elongation and 229 HB, with 26 W/m·K thermal conductivity and a 400 °C maximum service temperature in that state; machinability is 32 and formability 15. Choose H25 or H21 when toughness matters more than wear. H26 has a density of 8.89 g/cm³ (0.321 lb/in³), heavier than 100% of steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F). H26 has a yield strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) — stronger than 73% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is H26 used for?
- hot extrusion dies
- hot forging dies and inserts
- hot shear blades
- die-casting dies for brass/bronze
Limitations
- Heavy — 8.89 g/cm³ (0.321 lb/in³), worse than 100% of steel grades
- 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
- Poor heat conductor — 26 W/m·K (15 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 87% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 32/100, worse than 87% of steel grades
H26 properties
Typical room-temperature values for H26-ANN; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
H26 has a density of 8.89 g/cm³ (0.321 lb/in³), heavier than 100% of steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Mechanical14
H26 has a yield strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) — stronger than 73% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
H26 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 26 W/m·K (15 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 87% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.2 µm/m·K (6.22 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
H26 conducts electricity at 3.1 % IACS, worse than 89% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is poor (15/100), better than 75% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of H26 takes about 48 MJ of energy and emits 3.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 93% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 45%.
Manufacturability8
H26's machinability is poor (32/100, worse than 87% of steel grades); weldability poor (20/100); 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. H26 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with H26
Is H26 easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed condition with rigid setups, low speeds and carbide or cobalt HSS tooling; the ~18% W and vanadium carbides are abrasive, so finish-grind with soft, friable alumina or CBN wheels after hardening.
Can H26 be welded?
Fusion welding is limited to die repair — preheat to 400–500 °C, use matched or high-alloy filler, weld hot and immediately temper below the last tempering temperature to avoid cracking.
Can H26 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold forming is not practical; hot work between 1050 and 1150 °C, never below ~950 °C, and slow-cool/anneal at 870–900 °C after forging.
H26 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chigher C than H21/H25 for wear resistance | 0.45 – 0.55 | 0.5 |
| Mn | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.28 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.28 |
| Cr | 3.75 – 4.5 | 4.1 |
| Wprimary hot-hardness element | 17.25 – 19 | 18 |
| V | 0.75 – 1.25 | 1 |
| Moresidual limit | ≤ 0.3 | |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on H26?
Salt-bath or gas nitriding and PVD TiAlN/CrN coatings are common for extrusion tooling; oil or phosphate protection is needed for storage since corrosion resistance is low.
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 H26 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- T20826
How much does H26 cost?
H26 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.
H26 — frequently asked
What is H26 used for?
H26 is typically used for hot extrusion dies, hot forging dies and inserts, hot shear blades and die-casting dies for brass/bronze. In short: highest tungsten wear resistance; runs up to 60–63 HRC; less tough than H25.
What is the yield strength of H26?
H26 has a typical yield strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) — stronger than 73% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is H26 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, low speeds and carbide or cobalt HSS tooling; the ~18% W and vanadium carbides are abrasive, so finish-grind with soft, friable alumina or CBN wheels after hardening.
Can H26 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Fusion welding is limited to die repair — preheat to 400–500 °C, use matched or high-alloy filler, weld hot and immediately temper below the last tempering temperature to avoid cracking.
What surface finishes work on H26?
Salt-bath or gas nitriding and PVD TiAlN/CrN coatings are common for extrusion tooling; oil or phosphate protection is needed for storage since corrosion resistance is low.
Can H26 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold forming is not practical; hot work between 1050 and 1150 °C, never below ~950 °C, and slow-cool/anneal at 870–900 °C after forging.
What is the maximum service temperature of H26?
H26 is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between H26-ANN and H26-HR?
ANN is the default condition — standard mill supply condition for bar and forgings; machine tooling here, then harden and temper. HR: as-forged or hot-rolled stock supplied for further hot work or full anneal before machining; not a service condition. Yield strength is 560 MPa in ANN versus 760 MPa in HR.
How much does H26 cost?
H26 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 (2022)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (Tool Steels) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16 — Machining (tool steel machinability ratings) — ASM International (1989)
- Tool Steels, 5th Edition (Roberts, Krauss, Kennedy) — ASM International (1998)
- GB/T 1299 (tungsten hot-work grades) (2014)
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.