Hot work tooling is repeatedly exposed to heating, cooling, mechanical pressure and surface wear. Material selection should therefore consider thermal-fatigue resistance, toughness, high-temperature strength, cleanliness and the required heat-treatment route.
H13 is widely used for die-casting dies, extrusion tooling and other hot work applications. *8407 and *8418 can be considered where customers specify these commercial-grade designations. Final selection should be based on drawing requirements, working temperature, tool size, expected production volume and the customer's approved specification.
For critical tools, electroslag remelted material and appropriate forging reduction can improve cleanliness and structural uniformity. Each order should be confirmed against the required chemical analysis, ultrasonic-testing level and heat-treatment condition.