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Resources/Materials & grades/H11 / 1.2343

Materials & grades

H11 / 1.2343 / SKD6 hot-work tool steel: equivalents X37CrMoV5-1 and BH11

H11 is a 5 % chromium hot-work tool steel with molybdenum and a low vanadium content, used for die-casting dies, forging dies and extrusion tooling where toughness matters more than hot wear resistance. Its European name is X37CrMoV5-1 (1.2343), its British name BH11 and its former Japanese name SKD6, which was dropped from JIS G 4404 after the 2015 edition.

Names by standard

What it is called in each region

RegionSystemDesignationNormeMatch
USAAISI/SAEH11ASTM A681Same material
UNST20811—Same material
UKBS 4659BH11Superseded British tool-steel standard, withdrawn in favour of EN ISO 4957. Oberste-Beulmann and Total Materia list BH11 against 1.2343.BS 4659:1971Equivalent
EUEN 10027-1 nameX37CrMoV5-1Carbon 0.33–0.41 %, vanadium 0.30–0.50 %.EN ISO 4957Equivalent
EN 10027-2 number1.2343EN ISO 4957Equivalent
DIN (legacy)X38CrMoV5-1Superseded German name, still used on older drawings and by some steelmakers.DIN 17350Equivalent
IndeIS 3748:2022 (ISO 4957 name)X37CrMoV5-1IS 3748:2022 is an identical adoption of ISO 4957, so the Indian name now follows the EN ISO name. An older IS 3748:1990 designation for H11 was not found.IS 3748:2022Equivalent
JapanJIS G 4404 (grade since withdrawn)SKD6Carbon 0.32–0.42 %, chromium 4.50–5.50 %. SKD6 is in the 2015 edition of JIS G 4404 but was deleted from the standard in the later revision; Japanese mills still use the name. Listed against 1.2343 and H11 by ArcelorMittal Industeel and Total Materia.JIS G 4404:2015Equivalent

On equivalence

  • The AISI H11, EN X37CrMoV5-1 and JIS SKD6 limits are close but not identical: ASTM A681 allows 0.30–0.60 % vanadium and 4.75–5.50 % chromium, while EN ISO 4957 narrows vanadium to 0.30–0.50 % and chromium to 4.80–5.50 %.
  • H11 is not H13. H13 (1.2344, SKD61) has about 1 % vanadium against about 0.4 % in H11, so it resists hot wear better but is a little less tough.
  • IS 3748:2022 replaced the older IS 3748:1990 and IS 7291:1980 and is an identical adoption of ISO 4957. For current orders in India the EN ISO name is therefore the Indian name. The legacy IS 3748:1990 designation for H11 was not found.
  • The composition rows show the limits as published in each standard; individual mill analyses are single values inside them (for example about 0.37 % C, 1.0 % Si, 5.1–5.3 % Cr, 1.3 % Mo and 0.4 % V in Dörrenberg and SIJ Ravne data sheets).
  • Total Materia lists SKD6, H11, BH11 and X37CrMoV5-1 as official equivalents; no Indian standard was visible in the part of its list open without registration.
  • SKD6 was deleted from JIS G 4404 in the revision after the 2015 edition (the JISF committee document lists SKD6 among the grades removed). The SKD6 limits shown are the 2015 edition values; for a new Japanese order the nearest current JIS grade is not a direct H11 match.

Chemical composition

Composition limits, mass %

ElementH11 (T20811)USA · ASTM A681X37CrMoV5-1 (1.2343)EU · EN ISO 4957X37CrMoV5-1Inde · IS 3748:2022 (identical to ISO 4957)SKD6Japan · JIS G 4404:2015 (SKD6 withdrawn in later editions)
C0.33–0.430.33–0.410.33–0.410.32–0.42
Si0.80–1.200.80–1.200.80–1.200.80–1.20
Mn0.20–0.500.25–0.500.25–0.50≤0.50
P≤0.030———
S≤0.030———
Cr4.75–5.504.80–5.504.80–5.504.50–5.50
Mo1.10–1.601.10–1.501.10–1.501.00–1.50
V0.30–0.600.30–0.500.30–0.500.30–0.50

Mechanical properties

Strength and hardness

ConditionTensile strengthYield strengthElongationHardness
Soft annealed (delivery)Maximum, typical mill delivery conditionDörrenberg 1.2343 and SIJ Ravne SITHERM 2343 data sheets; ArcelorMittal Industeel gives about 230 HB———≤229 HB
As quenchedTypical, air or oil quench from 1000–1040 °C (1830–1900 °F)SIJ Ravne SITHERM 2343 data sheet———50–56 HRC
Quenched and tempered at 100–400 °C (210–750 °F)Typical, tempering temperature versus hardnessSIJ Ravne SITHERM 2343 data sheet1790–1845 MPa260–268 ksi——52–53 HRC
Quenched and tempered at 500 °C (930 °F)Typical, secondary-hardening peakSIJ Ravne SITHERM 2343 data sheet1910 MPa277 ksi——54 HRC
Quenched and tempered at 550 °C (1020 °F)TypicalSIJ Ravne SITHERM 2343 data sheet1790 MPa260 ksi——52 HRC
Quenched and tempered at 600 °C (1110 °F)TypicalSIJ Ravne SITHERM 2343 data sheet1570 MPa228 ksi——48 HRC
Quenched and tempered at 650 °C (1200 °F)TypicalSIJ Ravne SITHERM 2343 data sheet1200 MPa174 ksi——38 HRC
Quenched and tempered at 700 °C (1290 °F)TypicalSIJ Ravne SITHERM 2343 data sheet970 MPa141 ksi——30 HRC

In practice

Behaviour, heat treatment and uses

Characteristics

  • Air-hardening 5 % chromium steel with about 1.3 % molybdenum and only 0.3–0.5 % vanadium, which gives better toughness than H13 at the cost of some hot wear resistance (Oberste-Beulmann compares 1.2343 with 1.2344).
  • Resists softening and thermal cracking in service; SIJ Ravne states it keeps its strength at temperatures up to about 537 °C (1000 °F).
  • Can be cooled with water to a limited extent in service (Dörrenberg, SIJ Ravne).
  • Also used for highly stressed structural parts such as aircraft landing gear, because of its toughness at high strength levels (SIJ Ravne).
  • Machinable when soft annealed (about 75 % of the rating of water-hardening low-alloy tool steels, SIJ Ravne) and weldable with preheating.
  • Suitable for nitriding, with a limited nitrided layer (ArcelorMittal Industeel gives 30 µm maximum), and for EDM; remove the white layer after EDM.
  • Preheating tools to 250–300 °C (480–570 °F) before use is recommended (Oberste-Beulmann).

Heat treatment

  • Soft annealing: 750–790 °C (1380–1455 °F) with furnace cooling (Dörrenberg); 800–840 °C (1470–1545 °F) (SIJ Ravne); or 850 °C (1560 °F) cooled at 10 °C/h (20 °F/h) to 650 °C (1200 °F), then air (ArcelorMittal Industeel).
  • Stress relieving: 600–650 °C (1110–1200 °F) after rough machining, furnace cooled.
  • Preheating before austenitizing: two steps, about 620 °C (1150 °F) then 830 °C (1530 °F), heating no faster than 220 °C/h (ArcelorMittal Industeel).
  • Austenitizing: 1000–1050 °C (1830–1920 °F) (Dörrenberg); 1000–1040 °C (SIJ Ravne); 1010 °C (1850 °F) held 30 minutes for plate (ArcelorMittal Industeel). Protect against decarburization.
  • Quenching: oil, pressurized gas, or a hot bath at 500–550 °C (930–1020 °F). Cool fast to 150 °C (300 °F), then temper at once when the tool is at 50–80 °C.
  • Tempering: at least twice, with a minimum 2 hours at temperature or 30 minutes per 25 mm of thickness. ArcelorMittal Industeel advises avoiding the 430–550 °C (800–1020 °F) range and tempering above 200 °C. Choose the temperature from the tempering curve for the hardness needed.

Usages types

  • Die-casting dies for tin, lead, zinc, aluminium and magnesium alloys
  • Hot forging dies and hot-forging tools for light metals
  • Extrusion tooling: liners, dies, punches and mandrels
  • Hot shear blades, ejector pins and tool holders
  • Plastic injection moulds and hydroforming tools
  • Highly stressed structural parts such as aircraft landing gear

Tool steels

Similar grades compared

GradeC %Mn %Cr %Ni %Tensile, first listed condition
H11 / 1.23430.33–0.430.20–0.504.75–5.50—1790–1845 MPa
H13 / 1.23440.32–0.450.20–0.604.75–5.50—1730–1845 MPa
A2 / 1.23630.95–1.050.40–1.004.75–5.50——
D2 / 1.23791.40–1.600.10–0.6011.00–13.00——
D3 / 1.20802.00–2.350.10–0.6011.00–13.50——
O1 / 1.25100.85–1.001.00–1.400.40–0.70——
S70.45–0.550.20–0.903.00–3.50——
M2 / HS6-5-2C0.78–0.880.15–0.403.75–4.50—≤950 MPa
M42 / HS2-9-1-81.05–1.150.15–0.403.50–4.25—≤1010 MPa
P20 / 1.23110.28–0.400.60–1.001.40–2.000.90–1.20950–1100 MPa

Composition from the US standard where one exists, otherwise the first standard listed on each grade's page. Strength conditions differ between grades; open a grade for its full table.

Questions et réponses

Common questions

What is the equivalent of H11 tool steel?

H11 corresponds to X37CrMoV5-1 (1.2343) in Europe and, since IS 3748:2022, in India, to BH11 in the old British standard BS 4659, and to SKD6 in Japan (a grade since dropped from JIS G 4404). Limits differ slightly between standards, so treat them as equivalents rather than identical grades.

What is the difference between H11 and H13?

H13 contains about 1 % vanadium, H11 about 0.4 %. H13 resists hot wear and heat checking better; H11 is a little tougher. Both are 5 % chromium steels with about 1.3 % molybdenum and are heat treated in the same way.

Is 1.2343 the same as H11?

Yes, 1.2343 (X37CrMoV5-1) is the European grade matched to AISI H11. Dörrenberg and ArcelorMittal Industeel both state it as similar to or in accordance with ASTM A681 H11.

What hardness does H11 reach after tempering?

Typically 52–54 HRC when tempered between 100 and 550 °C, falling to about 48 HRC at 600 °C, 38 HRC at 650 °C and 30 HRC at 700 °C (SIJ Ravne). Tools for die casting and extrusion are normally run at roughly 44–52 HRC.

What is the Indian standard for H11?

IS 3748:2022, an identical adoption of ISO 4957, covers hot-work tool steels, so the grade is now ordered as X37CrMoV5-1. The 1990 edition of IS 3748 used different XT designations.

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Keep reading

H13 / 1.2344H13 is the standard 5 % chromium hot-work tool steel, used for die-casting dies, forging dies and extrusion tooling that see repeated heating and cooling.D2 / 1.2379D2 is a high-carbon, 12 % chromium cold-work tool steel that is hardened to about 58–62 HRC for dies, punches, shear blades and thread-rolling tools.A2 / 1.2363A2 is an air-hardening 5 % chromium cold-work tool steel with about 1 % carbon, hardened to about 57–63 HRC for punches, dies and gauges that need good dimensional stability.S7S7 is an air-hardening shock-resisting tool steel with about 0.5 % carbon, 3.25 % chromium and 1.4 % molybdenum that keeps high toughness at about 55–60 HRC, used for chisels, punches, heading dies and shear blades.AnnealingAnnealing heats steel to a set temperature, holds it and cools it slowly to make it softer, more ductile and easier to machine or cold form.Quenching and temperingQuenching and tempering hardens steel by cooling it rapidly from the austenite range to form martensite, then reheats it below Ac1 to trade some hardness for toughness.EN 10027 names and numbersEuropean steels carry two identifiers under EN 10027: a steel name (Part 1) such as S235JR, C45 or 42CrMo4 that describes the steel's use or chemistry, and a material number (Part 2) such as 1.0503 or 1.7225.IS 1570 and Indian designationsIndian steel names follow the letter-symbol code in IS 1762 (Part 1), which the IS 1570 schedules use: 45C8 means about 0.45% carbon, C for carbon steel and about 0.8% manganese, while alloy names such as 40Cr4Mo3 list each element with a multiplied content figure.JIS steel designationsJapanese JIS steel symbols start with S for steel and add letters for the steel family or its use, but the number means different things in different standards.SAE / AISI numbersA four-digit SAE/AISI number such as 1045 or 4140 names a carbon or alloy steel by its chemistry: the first two digits identify the steel family and the last two give the nominal carbon content in hundredths of a percent.

References

Sources

  1. ArcelorMittal Industeel: W 1.2343 / AISI H11 data sheet — Designations (JIS SKD6, X37CrMoV5.1, ASTM A681 H11), composition, annealing, preheat, austenitizing, quench and tempering practice.
  2. Dörrenberg: 1.2343 X37CrMoV5-1 (WP5) data sheet — Soft annealing, stress relief, hardening range and delivery condition max 229 HB.
  3. SIJ Ravne: SITHERM 2343 (H11) data sheet — Tempering temperature versus hardness and tensile strength; applications; DIN X38CrMoV5-1 legacy name.
  4. Total Materia: JIS SKD 6 tool steel (JIS G 4404) — JIS G 4404:2015 listing: C 0.32–0.42, Mn ≤0.50 and Cr 4.50–5.50 visible; equivalents list (BH11, H11, ASTM A 681 Type H11, X37CrMoV5-1).
  5. ArcelorMittal Industeel: W 1.2343 / AISI H11 data sheet (composition limits table) — Min/max analysis for X37CrMoV5.1: C 0.33–0.41, Si 0.80–1.20, Cr 4.80–5.50, Mo 1.10–1.50, V 0.30–0.50; lists JIS SKD6, ASTM A681 H11.
  6. Abrams Industries: Premium 1.2343 — EN ISO 4957 X37CrMoV5-1 limits including P ≤0.03 and S ≤0.02.
  7. eFunda: AISI H11 tool steel — Composition limits matching ASTM A681 H11 as written here.
  8. steeljis: SKD6 datasheet — JIS G 4404 SKD6 limits for all elements (no edition stated).
  9. SciTePress paper: JIS Cr-Mo-V (SKD 6) standard composition table — Table 1, quoting ASM (2000): SKD6 limits for all elements.
  10. JISF: JIS G 4404 revision committee document (21 Dec 2021) — Lists SKD6 among the grades to be deleted from JIS G 4404 at the revision.
  11. Oberste-Beulmann: 1.2343 ESR data sheet — Lists EN ISO 4957 X37CrMoV5-1, BS BH 11, AISI H 11; compares with 1.2344.
  12. Bureau of Indian Standards: IS 3748:2022 Tool Steels (standard of the week) — States that IS 3748:2022 is an identical adoption of ISO 4957 and merges IS 3748:1990 and IS 7291:1980.
  13. EN ISO 4957:2018 Tool steels — Governing European and international standard; limits for X37CrMoV5-1 recorded in our own structure and verified against the ArcelorMittal Industeel data sheet (mill) and Abrams; the standard's own table was not read.
  14. ASTM A681 Standard Specification for Tool Steels Alloy — Governing US standard for H11 (UNS T20811); limits verified against eFunda and Saky Steel listings; the standard text itself was not read.
  15. JIS G 4404 Alloy tool steels — Governing Japanese standard. SKD6 is in the 2015 edition but was removed in the later revision (JISF committee document; current-edition grade tables show no SKD6). Limits are the 2015 values: C, Mn and Cr via Total Materia, Si, Mo and V via steeljis and a SciTePress paper quoting ASM.

Values summarize published limits and typical data. The governing standard and the current edition control; check them before specifying.