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ExELL™ H13 PREMIUM

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ExELL™ H13 PREMIUM is the premium quality H13 hot work die steel manufactured for high demanding tooling requirements. This chromium-molybdenum-vanadium alloyed tool steel is characterized by these general properties.

  • High temperature strength
  • Very good toughness and ductility
  • Resistance to thermal shock and fatigue
  • Easy heat treatment
  • Good machinability

APPLICATIONS

ExELL™ H13 PREMIUM is used in die casting die applications where a higher level of heat resistance along with good toughness and ductility are required.

ExELL™ H13 PREMIUM is manufactured to meet the demanding criteria of NADCA #207, Chrysler NP2080, GM DC9999-1, Ford AMTD-DC2010 and other specifications for premium H-13 quality.

ExELL™ H13 PREMIUM is also used in most other hot work applications such as forging dies and extrusion tooling components as well as plastic molds and in critical cold or hot knife, punch or holder applications where a combination of strength and toughness are required. Typical applications and required hardness levels are:

DIE CAST TOOLING
Part Typical Hardness HRC
Sprue Parts  46 – 48
Cores  46 – 50
Fixed Inserts  46 – 50
Dies  42 – 48

 

FORGING DIES
Work Material Typical Hardness HRC
 Aluminum  44 – 52
 Copper Alloys  44 – 52
 Steel  40 – 50

 

EXTRUSION TOOLING
Component Aluminum HRC Copper HRC Steel HRC
Dies 46 – 50 44 – 48 44 – 48
Liners, stems 42 – 50 42 – 48 42 – 48

Note: For applications generally involving aluminum, ExELL™ H-13 PREMIUM is normally hardened from 1870F whereas for copper alloy and steel tooling, hardening from 1900F is more common.

TYPICAL ANALYSIS

C    0.41 Mn   0.34
Si   0.90 Cr    5.07
Mo 1.22 V     0.81

CHARACTERISTICS

Physical Properties:
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion, in/in/F
70 – 450 F __________ 0.0000070
70 – 1450 F __________ 0.0000077

Thermal Conductivity, BTU in/ft2 hr F
70 F __________ 180
750 F __________ 185
1450 F __________ 195

Density, lbs/cu.in.
70 F __________ 180
750 F __________ 185
1450 F __________ 195

Modulus of Elasticity, psi
70 F __________ 29,400,000
750 F __________ 29,500,000

HEAT TREATMENT (General Recommendations)

Critical Temperatures
Ac1 – 1560F
Ac3 – 1740F
Ms – 570F

SURFACE TREATMENTS
Surfaces of ExELL™ H-13 PREMIUM can readily be chrome plated, nitrocarburized or nitrided by all commercial processes. Care must be taken to avoid hydrogen embrittlement in chrome plating. Temper at 400F for 4 hours after plating.

Avoid excessive concentrations of nitrogen during various nitriding processes to avoid white layer and excessive network. Generally, case depths greater than 0.010” are not recommended for hot work applications.

STRESS RELIEVING

After rough machining of an annealed component, heat the part to 1200F, equalize and hold 1 – 2 hours. Furnace cool to 900F and then air cool to room temperature.

For heat treated parts, the stress relieving temperature should be at least 100-150F less than the tempering temperature used in heat treatment, so as not to lower the hardness of the part.

ANNEALING

With a protective atmosphere or vacuum furnace, heat slowly to 1560F. Equalize and hold one hour per inch of thickness. Furnace cool 20F/hr to 1100F and equalize. Air cool to room temperature. Hardness – 229 HB maximum.

HARDENING AND QUENCHING

Protect against decarburization and oxidation during austenitizing.

Preheating: Heat to 1200F and equalize. Continue heating to 1550F and equalize. Complete heating to hardening temperature.

Hardening: Typical austenitizing range is 1850 – 1920F. Hardening temperature can be adjusted to develop added heat resistance. A hardening temperature of 1870F is normally used for most applications while 1900F can be used for increased
heat resistance.

Hardening Temperature Hold Time* As-Quenched Hardness, HRC
1870F 30 min 53± 2
1900F 15 min 54± 2

*Hold time = time at temperature after tool is fully heated through.

Quenching: Quenching should be performed as rapidly as possible without promoting excessive movement or cracking. Typical quenching media include:

  • High speed gas with sufficient positive pressure in vacuum furnace
  • Circulating air/atmosphere
  • Martempering bath or fluidized bed at 575–1020F, then cool in air 
  • Warm oil


Temper as soon as quenching temperature reaches 120 – 150F.

TEMPERING

Temper immediately after quenching to about 150F. Temper a minimum of two times with intermediate cooling to room temperature.

Choose the tempering temperature to develop required hardness. ExELL™ H-13 PREMIUM should be heated to the desired tempering temperature, equalized and held a minimum of two hours. Air cool to room temperature. Check hardness and adjust temperature for additional tempering operation(s). Repeat for added tempers.

Typical tempering temperature responses follow. (Use for approximate guideline only)

Tempering Temperature Hardness HRC
Oil Quench
Hardness HRC
Air Quench
800F 49 47
900F 47 44
1000F 43 40
1100F 40 36
1200F 36 32

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES


Typical tensile data vs. hardness at RT

52 HRC 46 HRC
Tensile Strength, psi 260,000 205,000
0.2% Yield Strength, psi 220,000 185,000
% RA 46 56
% Elongation 10 12

Typical elevated temperature tensile properties of material hardened and tempered to 46 HRC include:

Test Temp F Yield Strength psi Tensile Strength psi RA %
1000 110,000 140,000 60
1100 85,000 115,000 70
1200 45,000 70,000 80
1300 20,000 30,000 90

TOOLMAKING

For any additional information including machining, welding, grinding, or EDM processing, please contact Ellwood Specialty Steel direct at 800-932-2188.

CAPABILITIES

Ellwood Specialty Steel is a fully integrated producer of a wide range of specialty tool steels. Our ExELL™ grades are made with advanced ASEA-SKF steel making capabilities which include an ultra high powered electric arc furnace with subsequent state of the art ladle refining and vacuum degassing equipment for the most complete and modern ladle metallurgy technology.

Our steel making expertise and capability is further enhanced from a long forging history with optimum forging and heat treating practices to develop very special material characteristics of product uniformity, cleanliness, machinability polishability, strength, toughness, hardenability  and other steel properties. All this from production facilities certified to ISO 9002.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

Ellwood Specialty Steel is committed to providing products and services which will consistently meet or exceed all quality and performance expectations. We will provide customer and technical service that will ensure complete satisfaction.

Being a very flexible integrated producer, Ellwood Specialty Steel will establish product programs to fully support industry or customer requirements. Our extensive stock programs are supported by very short mill lead times of custom forged products. Customized stock programs are and can be available for specific customer needs.

This information is intended to provide general data on our products and their uses and is based on our knowledge at the time of publication. No information should be construed as a guarantee of specific properties of the products described or suitability for a particular application. Ellwood Specialty Steel reserves the right to make changes in practices which may render some information outdated or obsolete. Ellwood Specialty Steel should be consulted for current information and/or capabilities.

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