H11 steel and H13 steel are two commonly used chromium based hot work mold steels, which contain 5% Cr and contain a small amount of other elements (Mo, W, Si, V). They both have high strength and toughness, good thermal fatigue resistance, and good high-temperature performance. Let's take a look at the difference between these two types of steel?
Overview of H11 Steel and H13
H11 steel and H13 are widely used chromium based hot work mold steels in mold manufacturing, with similar chemical composition and microstructure. Both types of steel have very high hardness. After quenching, the hardness of H13 is 56-58HRC, while the hardness of H11 is 53-55HRC. In addition, their strength, toughness, and thermal fatigue resistance are also excellent, and they can withstand harsh working environments such as high temperatures and pressures.
Characteristics of H11 steel
Compared to H13, H11 steel has slightly higher plastic toughness. This type of steel often requires heat treatment during mold manufacturing to improve its hardness and strength through quenching and tempering. However, it can also have a certain impact on its plasticity during this process. Therefore, H11 steel is more suitable for manufacturing molds that require high precision and complexity, as it can provide higher deformation ability and machinability.
Characteristics of H13 steel
The strength and hardness of H13 steel after heat treatment are slightly higher than H11. This type of steel is usually used for manufacturing large molds that need to withstand high pressure and temperature. It has good heat resistance and can maintain high hardness and strength at high temperatures. H13 is the most widely used hot work mold steel because it can meet the needs of more application scenarios.
Comparison between H11 and H13
Although there are some differences in composition and performance between H11 and H13, their application ranges overlap greatly. When selecting steel, it needs to be determined based on the specific application of the mold. If it is necessary to manufacture molds with more complex and refined shapes, or if higher machinability and deformation ability are required, then H11 will be more suitable. If it is necessary to manufacture large molds, withstand high pressure and temperature, and require molds with better thermal fatigue resistance, then H13 is more suitable.
summary
H11 steel and H13 are both chromium based hot work mold steels, which have high strength and toughness, good thermal fatigue resistance, and good high-temperature performance. H11 has slightly higher plastic toughness, while H13 steel has slightly higher strength and hardness, and is also more widely used. When selecting steel, it needs to be determined based on the specific application of the mold.
