NU-DIE® V
(AISI H13)
H13 is the most popular, and perhaps most versatile, hot work tool steel, providing a good balance of toughness, heat check resistance, and high temperature strength, in addition to moderate wear resistance. It may be used for tool temperatures up to about 1000 F, with brief exposures up to 1100 F. Because of its high attainable hardness and through-hardening characteristics, it is ideal for molds requiring high strength.
Typical Chemistry
Carbon 0.40%
Manganese 0.35%
Silicon 1.00%
Chromium 5.20%
Molybdenum 1.30%
Vanadium 0.95%
Typical Applications
Plastic Molds Extrusion tooling
Core Pins Mandrels
Ejector Pins Dummy Blocks
Screw/Tip Components Bolsters
Die casting dies Forging Dies
Die inserts Hot Upset Dies
Shot sleeves/Plungers

Hardening

Critical Temperature: 1560F

Preheat: 1100/1250F, equalize, 1450/1550F, equalize.

High Heat: 1825/1875F, hold 30/45 minutes at temperature.

Quench: Air, positive pressure vacuum, salt, or interrupted oil to 125/150F. NOTE: A minimum quench rate of about 25F per minute from 1800F down to about 1200F is recommended to achieve maximum impact toughness.

Temper: 1000/1200F, hold one hour per inch of thickness (2 hours minimum). Air cool to room temperature. Temper twice.
Typical Properties
Air cooled from 1850°F, double tempered as shown.

Tempering
Temp.°F
Hardness
HRC
CVN
ft-lbs

1000 51-53 10
1050 49-51 10
1100 46-48 18
1125 40-42 18
1150 35-37
1200 28-32

Effect of Temperature on Impact Properties
Air cooled from 1850F, double tempered to original hardness indicated, tested at elevated temperature as shown.

Original RT
HRC
Charpy V-Notch at (°F)
RT 500 1000 1050 1100

52 10 22 25 25
47 18 30 33 32
43 18 38 44 42

Surface Treatments
Because of its high tempering temperatures (>1000 F), NuDie V may be treated by most surface treating processes, including conventional and ion nitriding, titanium nitriding, and other coatings or treatments. Nitrided surface hardness will be about 60/65 HRC.

Annealing
Either process A or B is acceptable.
A. Heat to 1600F. Hold 2 hours at temperature. Cool slowly (25F per hour maximum) to 1200F, then air cool to room temperature.
or
B. Heat to 1600F. Hold 2 hours at temperature. Cool to 1400F. Hold 6 hours at temperature, then air cool to room temperature.
Typical annealed hardness - 192/235 BHN.

Stress Relieving
Annealed material: Heat uniformly to 1200/1250F, hold two hours at temperature, cool in still air to room temperature.
Hardened material: Heat uniformly to 25/50F below tempering temperature, hold two hours, cool in still air to room temperature.

Welding
Use H11 or other hot work tool steel filler material.
Annealed material: Preheat to 800/1000F. Maintain above 700F during welding. Reanneal, or temper 1400°F 6 hours.
Hardened material: Preheat to 800/1000F. Maintain above 700F during welding. Allow to cool to hand warm (150F) after welding. Retemper at 25/50F below original tempering temperature (1000F minimum).

Physical Properties
Modulus of Elasticity ..................................................................30 psi x 106
Density ...........................................................................................0.280 lb/in3
Thermal Conductivity ................................... 200F..............15 BTU/hr/ft/°F
                                        .....................................600F..............16 BTU/hr/ft/°F
Thermal Expansion
                           RT-200F......................................................6.1 x 10-6 in/in/°F
                           RT-400F......................................................6.4 x 10-6 in/in/°F
                           RT-800F......................................................6.8 x 10-6 in/in/°F
                           RT-1000F....................................................7.0 x 10-6 in/in/°F
                           RT-1200F....................................................7.3 x 10-6 in/in/°F
Return to top of page