How About H13 steel vs 4140 Steel
4140 steel and SAE-AISI H13 steel are iron alloys. They have a moderately high 93% of their average alloy composition in common. There are 23 material properties with values for both materials.
What is H13 Tool Steel?
H13 Tool Steel is a versatile chromium-molybdenum hot work steel that is widely used in hot work and cold work tooling applications. The hot hardness (hot strength) of H13 resists thermal fatigue cracking which occurs as a result of cyclic heating and cooling cycles in hot work tooling applications. Because of its excellent combination of high toughness and resistance to thermal fatigue cracking (also known as heat checking) H13 is used for more hot work tooling applications than any other tool steel.
What Is H13 Tool Steel Used For?
H13 is widely used for aluminum and zinc casting dies, as well as for aluminum extrusion, aluminum die casting and press tooling. This grade is ideal for a range of hot work and cold work applications—particularly hot work applications where drastic cooling is required throughout its operation. In addition, H13 is abundantly used in hot work applications where high red hardness and resistance to cracking is vital.
How Do You Temper H13 Tool Steel?
For hot work applications, it is suggested to temper H13 at a minimum of 50 degrees above the expected maximum operating temperature. In instances where heat checking can be an issue, a double temper can be applied—in which the second temper should be 25-50 degrees less than the first.
What is the Hardness of H13 Tool Steel?
Hardness tests determine the various properties of a specific metal, which includes its resistance to wear, toughness, and formability. Two widely used tests are Rockwell C and Brinell. Rockwell C is measured in the unit HRC, which is the measurement used below.
What is 4140 Steel?
AISI 4140 steel is a low alloy steel containing chromium, molybdenum, and manganese. It is widely used across numerous industries and is an excellent material choice due to its toughness, high fatigue strength, and abrasion and impact resistance. Not many grades can match the versatility and usefulness of 4140.
How is 4140 Steel Made?
AISI 4140 is made by placing iron, carbon, and other alloying elements into an electric furnace or oxygen furnace. The major alloying elements added to AISI 4140 are:
Chromium
Manganese
Molybdenum
Once the iron, carbon, and other alloying elements have been mixed together in liquid form, it is allowed to cool. The steel may then be annealed; possibly several times.
After the annealing is complete, the steel is heated to a molten phase again so that it can be poured into the desired form and can either be hot worked or cold worked through rollers or other tools to reach the desired thickness. Of course, there are other special operations that can be added to this to reduce mill scale or improve mechanical properties.
Mechanical Properties of 4140 Steel
AISI 4140 is a low alloy steel. Low alloy steels rely on elements other than just iron and carbon to enhance their mechanical properties. In AISI 4140, additions of chromium, molybdenum, and manganese are used to increase the strength and hardenability of the steel. The additions of chromium and molybdenum are why AISI 4140 is considered a “chromoly” steel.
There are several important mechanical properties of AISI 4140, including:
Tensile Strength: AISI 4140 steel typically has a target ultimate tensile strength of around 95,000 psi.
Toughness
Ductility
Hardenability
