Steel H41
AISI/SAE H41 · UNS T20841
H41 is a molybdenum-based hot-work tool steel (UNS T20841) that delivers high hot hardness with less heat-treat distortion than the tungsten grades, so it suits hot-working tools that must hold dimension.
Reference datasheet — H41 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
H41 tempers and conditions
H41 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 | Standard mill-supplied condition: bar and block are machined and rough-formed here before hardening. | 540 | 800 | 20 | 217 HB | 26 W/m·K |
Hot rolled | Rough mill stock with scale and variable hardness — anneal before machining. | 760 | 1,010 | 11 | 31 HRC | 2.7 % IACS |
Hardened and tempered | Choose when shock loading dominates — hot heading dies, hot punches and hammer-forging inserts prone to gross cracking. | 1,450 | 1,750 | 7 | 52 HRC | — |
As-quenched | Intermediate condition only — brittle with retained austenite; must be double or triple tempered before use. | 1,650 | 1,900 | 1 | 65 HRC | 2.4 % IACS |
Hardened and tempered | Balanced hot hardness and toughness for hot forging dies, mandrels and hot-extrusion dummy blocks working near 550–600 °C. | 1,750 | 2,100 | 4 | 57 HRC | 25 W/m·K |
Hardened and tempered | Maximum wear resistance and hot hardness for hot-shear blades, punches and extrusion tooling with low impact loading. | 2,050 | 2,400 | 2 | 61 HRC | 24 W/m·K |
What is H41?
H41 is a molybdenum-based hot-work tool steel (UNS T20841) that delivers high hot hardness with less heat-treat distortion than the tungsten grades, so it suits hot-working tools that must hold dimension. It is stocked annealed, as-quenched or hot-rolled and hardened to HT52, HT57 or HT60. Annealed values are 540 MPa yield, 800 MPa tensile, 20 % elongation and 217 HB, with 210 GPa modulus, 26 W/m·K conductivity and a 450 °C maximum service temperature in that state. Machinability is the best in this group at 40 (about 45 % of AISI 1212), but corrosion resistance is low (14); H13 is the tougher, cheaper alternative. H41 has a density of 7.88 g/cm³ (0.285 lb/in³), heavier than 93% of steel grades. It melts at 1,370°C (2,498 °F). H41 has a yield strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 800 MPa (116 ksi) — stronger than 70% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is H41 used for?
- hot forging dies
- extrusion tooling
- die-casting components
- hot trim dies
Advantages
- High service temperature — 450°C (842 °F), better than 86% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low electrical conductivity — 2.7 % IACS, worse than 96% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 3.1 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 92% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 26 W/m·K (15 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 87% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 40/100, worse than 77% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 77% of steel grades
H41 properties
Typical room-temperature values for H41-ANN; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
H41 has a density of 7.88 g/cm³ (0.285 lb/in³), heavier than 93% of steel grades. It melts at 1,370°C (2,498 °F).
Mechanical14
H41 has a yield strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 800 MPa (116 ksi) — stronger than 70% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
H41 is rated for continuous service to 450°C (842 °F). It conducts heat at 26 W/m·K (15 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 87% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
H41 conducts electricity at 2.7 % IACS, worse than 96% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (14/100), better than 70% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of H41 takes about 42 MJ of energy and emits 3.1 kg of CO₂ — more than 92% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 45%.
Manufacturability7
H41's machinability is fair (40/100, worse than 77% of steel grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability poor (25/100).
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. H41 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with H41
Is H41 easy to machine?
Machine only in the annealed condition (≈45% of AISI 1212) with rigid setups, cobalt HSS or coated carbide, generous coolant; leave 0.3–0.6 mm grinding stock for post-hardening finishing.
Can H41 be welded?
Repair-weld only with matching Mo-hot-work filler at 400–480 °C preheat, low heat input, and immediate re-temper 15–25 °C below the last tempering temperature.
Can H41 be formed, bent or molded?
Forge 1065–1150 °C, stop above 900 °C, slow-cool in furnace or vermiculite, then fully anneal at 845–870 °C to below 235 HB; cold forming is impractical.
H41 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 | 0.55 – 0.7 | 0.65 |
| Mn | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Si | 0.2 – 0.5 | 0.35 |
| Cr | 3.5 – 4 | 3.75 |
| Moprincipal hot-hardness element | 8 – 9 | 8.5 |
| W | 1.25 – 1.75 | 1.5 |
| V | 1 – 1.3 | 1.15 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on H41?
Vacuum or salt-bath hardening with careful decarburization control; nitriding, oxidation-treatment or PVD (TiAlN/CrN) coatings markedly extend die life, and all surfaces need oil or phosphate protection against rust.
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 H41 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- T20841
How much does H41 cost?
H41 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.
H41 — frequently asked
What is H41 used for?
H41 is typically used for hot forging dies, extrusion tooling, die-casting components and hot trim dies. In short: low heat-treat distortion; best machinability of the H-group; molybdenum substitute for tungsten grades.
What is the yield strength of H41?
H41 has a typical yield strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 800 MPa (116 ksi) — stronger than 70% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is H41 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (40/100, worse than 77% of steel grades). Machine only in the annealed condition (≈45% of AISI 1212) with rigid setups, cobalt HSS or coated carbide, generous coolant; leave 0.3–0.6 mm grinding stock for post-hardening finishing.
Can H41 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Repair-weld only with matching Mo-hot-work filler at 400–480 °C preheat, low heat input, and immediate re-temper 15–25 °C below the last tempering temperature.
What surface finishes work on H41?
Vacuum or salt-bath hardening with careful decarburization control; nitriding, oxidation-treatment or PVD (TiAlN/CrN) coatings markedly extend die life, and all surfaces need oil or phosphate protection against rust.
Can H41 be formed, bent or molded?
Forge 1065–1150 °C, stop above 900 °C, slow-cool in furnace or vermiculite, then fully anneal at 845–870 °C to below 235 HB; cold forming is impractical.
What is the maximum service temperature of H41?
H41 is rated for continuous use to about 450°C (842 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between H41-ANN and H41-HT60?
ANN is the default condition — standard mill-supplied condition: bar and block are machined and rough-formed here before hardening. HT60: maximum wear resistance and hot hardness for hot-shear blades, punches and extrusion tooling with low impact loading. Yield strength is 540 MPa in ANN versus 2,050 MPa in HT60.
How much does H41 cost?
H41 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)
- Tool Steels, 5th Edition (Roberts, Krauss, Kennedy) — ASM International (1998)
- UNS T20841 alloy record — SAE/ASTM Unified Numbering System (2017)
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.