Toolman Special Steels is proud to produce and offer H12 steel. H12 hot work tool steel is a 5% chromium, general-purpose hot work steel that is characterized by excellent impact toughness. It contains less vanadium than the widely-used H13 hot work tool steel. Steel is a deep-hardening, air-hardening steel that exhibits minimal size change during heat treatment. It has good resistance to thermal fatigue cracking (heat cracking) and excellent resistance to gross cracking and thermal shock when water cooled in service. The addition of tungsten enhances its wear resistance while maintaining strength and toughness.
Steel Properties
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High wear resistance
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Good high temperature strength
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Extra- fine- structure without grain-boundary carbide
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Uniform spheroidizing microstructure
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Great cleanliness
Chemical Composition
| Element | C (%) | Si (%) | Mn (%) | P (≤ %) | S (≤ %) | Cr (%) | Mo (%) | V (%) | W (%) | Ni + Cu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASTM A681 | 0.30-0.40 | 0.80-1.25 | 0.20-0.60 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 4.75-5.50 | 1.25-1.75 | 0.20-0.50 | 1-1.70 | 0.75 |
Mechanical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Hardness (HBW) | 235 max |
| Hardness After Quenching (HRC) | 53 min. |
Physical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density (g/cm³) | 7.8 g/cm³ |
Modulus of Elasticity
| Temperature (℃) | Modulus of Elasticity (GPa) |
|---|---|
| 500 | 176 |
| 600 | 166 |
Thermal Properties
| Temperature (℃) | Thermal Expansion Coefficient (10^-6/℃) |
|---|---|
| 500 | 12.9 |
| 600 | 13 |
Thermal Conductivity
| Temperature (℃) | W/m•K |
|---|---|
| 500 | 28.3 |
| 600 | 29.3 |
HEAT TREATMENT AND PROCESSES
Heat treatment
| Soft annealing °C | Cooling | Hardness HB |
|---|---|---|
| 820 | Furnace | max. 235 |
| Hardening °C | Quenching | Hardness after quenching HRC |
|---|---|---|
| 1030 – 1130 | Oil or hot bath, 500 – 550 °C | 53 min |
| Tempering °C | HRC |
|---|---|
| 100 | 55 |
| 200 | 54 |
| 300 | 54.3 |
| 400 | 54.8 |
| 500 | 53 |
| 600 | 51 |
| 700 | 48 |
| 800 | 41 |
| 900 | 34 |
Applications
H12, / DIN 1.2606 /, AISI H12 / hot work steel is recommended for hot tooling applications where maximum resistance to cracking is required. Such applications include hot punches, die casting dies, forgings dies, Injection Moulding, hot shear blades, and extrusion tooling
Quality Assurance
Our H12,/ DIN 1.2606 /, AISI H12 / steel undergoes rigorous testing and quality control to meet international standards, ensuring consistent performance and reliability. Certificates and test reports are available upon request. Feel free to reach out to us for more information on our H12 steel products or to discuss your specific requirements. We're dedicated to providing top-quality steel solutions that meet your needs and exceed your expectations.
Manufacturing Range
| Products | Diameter (mm) |
|---|---|
| Hot Rolled bar | 8 - 65 |
| Forged and Turned bars | 65.2 - 500 |
| Forged Square Bars | 50 - 500 |
Flats
| THICKNESS | WIDTH |
|---|---|
| 6.00 mm - 410.00 mm | 20.00 mm - 700.00 mm |
Frequently Asked Questions
We manufacture H12 / DIN 1.2606 / AISI H12 as a 5% chromium general-purpose hot work steel with excellent impact toughness. It is a deep-hardening, air-hardening grade with good resistance to thermal fatigue cracking and strong resistance to gross cracking and thermal shock.
We recommend H12 for hot tooling applications where maximum resistance to cracking is important. Typical uses include hot punches, die-casting dies, forging dies, injection-moulding tooling, hot shear blades and extrusion tooling.
Our H12 steel has a maximum annealed hardness of 235 HBW and a minimum hardness after quenching of 53 HRC.
Our published guidance specifies soft annealing at 820°C and hardening at 1030–1130°C, followed by oil quenching or a hot bath at 500–550°C. The resulting hardness after quenching is specified at a minimum of 53 HRC.
Our H12 chemistry contains 0.30–0.40% carbon, 0.80–1.25% silicon, 0.20–0.60% manganese, 4.75–5.50% chromium, 1.25–1.75% molybdenum, 0.20–0.50% vanadium and 1.00–1.70% tungsten, with phosphorus and sulphur limited to 0.03%.
We manufacture hot-rolled bars from 8–65 mm diameter, forged and turned bars from 65.2–500 mm, and forged square bars from 50–500 mm. Our flats range from 6–410 mm thickness and 20–700 mm width.
Yes. We subject our H12 steel to rigorous testing and quality control, and certificates and test reports are available on request. Manufacturers can also discuss their specific application and dimensional requirements with our team before sourcing.
