We are proud to supply a wide variety of metal products to the UK for all kinds of applications. Our team can even help you get a hold of tool steels, including those in grade H13. This is a steel that several of our automotive customers use for manufacturing in-house tooling, particularly when they create aluminium castings.
The AISI classification scheme groups chromium hot-work tool steels as group H metals. This collection goes from H1 to H19. These metals can endure the conditions of high abrasion, heat, and pressure. The three can occur in all kinds of production units. Such operations are performed at extreme temperatures, including shaping metals, punching, and shearing.
Due to the air-hardness attribute and balanced alloy contents, H group steels can experience minor distortion during hardening. The majority of them are low alloy and carbon composition. This is so that the tools you create can experience easy cooling.
The most popular tool steel
With grade H13 in particular, this hot-chromium steel is great for cold and hot work tooling projects. It is actually more popular than any other tool steel when it comes to applications. The reason why is that it has a wonderful mixture of high fatigue resistance and toughness.
The steel is most prominently employed in die casting and plastic moulds. Due to its ability to withstand quick cooling from very high operating temperatures, it is also brilliant for thermoplastic dies.
H13 properties
In terms of its physical properties, they comprise of its melting point and density. The former is 1427ºC. For the latter, it is 7.80 g/cm3 for 20ºC.
As for the thermal properties, the expansion here is recorded as being 10.4 x 10-6ºC. This is while temperatures range from 20 to 100ºC.
As for thermal conductivity, this tool steel possesses a conductivity of 28.6 W/mK at 215ºC.
Advantages
Now that we know a little about grade H13 steel, let’s have a look at its advantages. Of the tool steels, it is actually able to outclass several alloys in multiple areas. For example, it surpasses 4140 in relation to its mechanical properties and superior hardenability.
As for more common benefits, they include strong toughness and incredible stability on scale. Moreover, there is its great thermal to shock resistance, and a high heat resistance.
Common applications
Next, we will have a look at some common uses. H13 is able to find its applications in plastic and extrusion moulding. The part consists of stems, liners, die-holders, backers, and dies. This is because these are copper alloys with rich magnesium and aluminium content.
As a plastic modelling utensil, the steel is great for use in transfer moulds possessing an HRC of 50 to 52. It is used in compression of injection moulds too.
H13 is also a fantastic steel for die casting. Users have seen successful employment for cores and slides in tool assemblies too. Other applications here include shot sleeves for die casting, perishability, shrunk rings.
A reliable provider of grade H13 tool steels
At Brindley Metals, we have a reputation in the UK as a reliable provider of metal products. This includes all sorts of tool steels, like H13. Not to mention, our team can provide you with a series of specialist services. Examples include anodising, grinding, and polishing to name a few.
Our approach to business is one that is efficient and quick, but also friendly. As such, people really enjoy working with us. So, if we can be of assistance to you, please let the team know.