ALTA 1.2343 Tool Steel Properties (X38CrMoV5-1, H11)

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Hot work tool steel

ALTA 1.2343 Tool Steel Specification

Steel properties

ALTA 1.2343 steel is a kind of ~ 5% chromium hot work tool steel, get a widely using in Europe steel markets, and it can achieve super high-cleanliness by electroslag remeltng (ESR). This tool steel grade have very high hot toughness, good hot hardness (red hardness and good resistance against heat cracking.

The common working hardness of this ALTA 1.2343 tool steel is 44-50HRC. When subjected to large impact force, the hardness can be reduced to 40-44HRC. When used as an aluminum alloy die-casting mold, the hardness can be increased to 52HRC.

The room temperature properties of 1.2343 steel (tensile properties, impact toughness, fracture toughness), impact toughness at 300 - 700°C, oxidation resistance at 600 - 1000°C, friction coefficient at 1000°C, thermal wear at 800 - 850°C, forging performance at 800 - 1200°C , cutting performance and so on are better than 1.2581/AISI H21 steel.

Applications

² Die-casting mold (mold core, insert, mold core, diverter cone, nitrided ejector pin)

² Extrusion die (mold core, die pad, flow block)

² Hot pressing molds for aluminum, copper, magnesium

² Cold stamping, hot shearing, compression rings and wear-resistant parts

² Hammer forging die, press forging die

Chemical composition

Chemical Composition per %

	C	Si	Mn	P	S	Cr	Mo	V	Ni	Cu
Min.	0.33	0.80	0.25			4.80	1.10	0.30
Max.	0.41	1.20	0.50	0.025	0.010	5.50	1.50	0.50	0.25	0.30

Basic melting process :

IM/EAF + LF + VD + (ESR)

Hardness :	Max 229 HB (annealed)
Reduction ratio :	5 : 1 minimum or required
Grain size :	≥ 6.0 per ASTM E112
Non-metallic inclusion :	≤ 1.0 (thick), ≤ 1.5 (thin) per ASTM E45 method A (more pure by ESR route)
Microstructure	SEP1614 or NADCA # 207
Ultrasonic Test	SEP1921, EN 10308, ASTM A388 or agreed methods
Macro-structure	As per ASTM E381
Straightness / flatness	≤ 1.5 mm / m (machined), ≤ 2.5 mm / m (black)
Tolerance	Per discussed
Size range (round bars)	Ø 12 - 800 mm
Size range (flats, plates)	8 - 600 mm in thickness max. 1100 mm in width

Heat treatment

Annealing	Temperature(°C)	Hardness
Annealing	760 - 780	max. 229 HB

Hot-forming	Temperature(°C)
	900 - 1100

Hardening and tempering	Quenching temperature(°C)	Quenching medium	Frequently-used tempering temperature(°C)
Hardening and tempering	1010 - 1030	Oil or air-cooled	540 - 560

Ac1	Ac3	Ar1	Ar3	Ms	Mf
853	912	735	810	310	130

Elastic modulus : E ( N/mm2 )

Temperature °C	Room 20	100	200	300	400	500
E	21200	20900	20200	19600	18600	17800

Modulus of rigidity / Shear modulus of elasticity : G ( N/mm2 )

Temperature °C	Room 20	100	200	300	400	500
G	8100	8000	7700	7500	7200	6800

Ratio of elastic modulus to shear modulus :

Temperature °C	Room 20	100	200	300	400	500	Average ratio
E : G	2.617	2.613	2.623	2.613	2.583	2.618	2.611

Coefficient of thermal conductivity : λ W/(m·K)

Temperature °C	100	200	300	400	500	600	700
λ	26.0	27.6	28.5	28.1	27.6	26.8	26.0

Coefficient of linear expansion : α(mm/(mm·°C))

Temperature °C	20~100	20~200	20~300	20~400	20~500	20~600	20~700
Αx 10-6	10.00	10.90	11.40	12.20	12.80	13.30	13.60

Oxidation resistance : (test sample hardness 49.0 HRC), + g/m2

h	2	7	15	25	35	45	60	80	125	150
600 °C	0	0.1	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.6	1.1	1.1	2.0

** The oxidation resistance of ALTA 1.2343 steel is better than ALTA 1.2581/AISI H21 steel at 600°C x 150h, and its oxidation weight gain is Reduced by 32.6g/m2

h	750 °C	h	750 °C
2	0.9	25	30.9
5	3.9	30	34.0
8	8.4	35	36.6
11	13.0	40	39.2
15	18.7	45	42.5
20	26.1	50	45.9

** The oxidation resistance of ALTA 1.2343 steel is better than ALTA 1.2581/AISI H21 steel at 750°C x 50h, and its oxidation weight gain is reduced by 75.2g/m2

H	1	2	3	4
1000 °C	95.0	217.6	368.3	460.0

** The oxidation resistance of ALTA 1.2343 steel is better than ALTA 1.2581/AISI H21 steel at 1000°C x 4h, and its oxidation weight gain is reduced by 103.5g/m2

Thermal stability (-HRC) (A=49.2-50.0 HRC)

(1) 620°C

Soaking time (h)	A	Soaking time (h)	A
0	49.7	11.5	34.4
2	39.4	14.5	33.2
4	38.4	17.5	32.6
6	36.9	21	32.3
8	35.1

** Under the same A hardness conditions, the thermal stability of ALTA 1.2343 tool steel at 620°C for 2-21 hours is lower than ALTA 1.2581/H21 tool steel, and its hardness difference is 7.2 - 9.6 HRC.

(2) 660°C

Soaking time (h)	A	Soaking time (h)	A
0	49.3	5	29.8
1	34.5	7	28.0
2	31.5	9	27.9
3	30.9	12	26.7

** Under the same a hardness conditions, the thermal stability of ALTA 1.2343 tool steel at 660°C for 1-12 hours is lower than ALTA 1.2581/H21 tool steel, and its Hardness difference is 5.1 - 9.6 HRC.

(3) 700°C

Soaking time (h)	0	0.5	1	1.5	2	3
A	49.9	31.8	29.8	28.5	28.4	27.4

** Under the same A hardness conditions, the thermal stability of ALTA 1.2343 tool steel at 700°C for 0.5-3 hours is lower than ALTA 1.2581/H21 tool steel, and its hardness difference is 2.5 – 5.7 HRC.