Schmolz + Bickenbach,Thermodur® 2344 EFS Extra Fine Structure - Hot Work Die Steel Rod/Bar

Schmolz + Bickenbach Thermodur® 2344 EFS Extra Fine Structure - Hot Work Die Steel Rod Product Information -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Schmolz + Bickenbach Thermodur® 2344 EFS Extra Fine Structure - Hot Work Die Steel Rod Synonyms -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -:

Schmolz + Bickenbach Thermodur® 2344 EFS Extra Fine Structure - Hot Work Die Steel Product Information -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: # **SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH Thermodur® 2344 EFS (Extra Fine Structure) | Premium Hot Work Die Steel (H-13 Type)** ## **Overview** SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH **Thermodur® 2344 EFS (Extra Fine Structure)** is a premium-grade, chromium-molybdenum-vanadium hot work die steel representing the highest quality standard within the globally recognized AISI H13 (DIN 1.2344) alloy class. The **"EFS"** designation signifies production via **Electroslag Remelting (ESR)**, delivering an exceptionally homogeneous, isotropic microstructure characterized by ultra-fine grain size, superior cleanliness, and minimal micro-segregation. This advanced metallurgical structure directly translates to **enhanced thermal fatigue resistance, superior toughness, consistent high-temperature performance, and extended die life** in the most demanding hot work applications, particularly aluminum die casting and hot forging. ## **Key Features:** * **Extra Fine Structure (EFS):** ESR refining creates an isotropic, inclusion-controlled microstructure that maximizes toughness, thermal fatigue life, and polishability. * **Superior Thermal Fatigue (Heat Check) Resistance:** The homogeneous, fine-grained structure significantly delays the initiation and retards the propagation of thermal stress cracks under cyclic heating and cooling. * **Excellent Combination of Toughness & Hot Hardness:** Maintains a robust balance between impact resistance and high-temperature strength, critical for withstanding mechanical shock at operational temperatures. * **Good Wear & Erosion Resistance:** The vanadium content provides solid resistance to soldering, washout, and abrasive wear at elevated temperatures. * **High Thermal Conductivity (~25 W/m·K):** Promotes efficient heat transfer away from the die surface, reducing thermal gradients and associated stresses. * **Excellent Polishability & Surface Integrity:** The clean, homogeneous structure allows for superior surface finishes, reducing sticking tendencies and improving part release. * **Minimal Distortion & Predictable Heat Treatment:** The isotropic nature ensures uniform dimensional change during hardening, enabling the production of complex, precision dies. * **Consistent Performance:** Exceptional lot-to-lat uniformity ensures predictable die life and reliable performance in production. --- ## **Material Specifications: Thermodur® 2344 EFS** ### **1. Chemical Composition (wt%)** | Element | Content Range (wt%) | Function & Benefit in Hot Work | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Carbon (C)** | 0.37 - 0.42 | Provides foundational matrix hardness and strength. Optimally balanced for toughness. | | **Silicon (Si)** | 0.90 - 1.20 | Enhances tempering resistance, high-temperature strength, and oxidation resistance. | | **Manganese (Mn)** | 0.30 - 0.50 | Aids hardenability and solid solution strengthening. | | **Chromium (Cr)** | 4.80 - 5.50 | Imparts deep hardenability, high-temperature strength, and oxidation resistance. | | **Molybdenum (Mo)** | 1.20 - 1.50 | Improves hardenability, hot strength, tempering resistance, and reduces temper embrittlement risk. | | **Vanadium (V)** | 0.90 - 1.10 | **Critical Element.** Forms fine, stable MC-type carbides that provide **secondary hardening**, enhance wear/erosion resistance, and refine grain size. | | **Sulfur (S)** | **≤ 0.005** (EFS) | **Ultra-Low.** Maximizes transverse toughness, polishability, and isotropy. | | **Phosphorus (P)** | **≤ 0.015** (EFS) | **Ultra-Low.** Minimized to prevent grain boundary embrittlement. | **Key Distinction from H11 (1.2343):** The significantly higher **Vanadium (V)** content (~1.0% vs. ~0.4%) is the primary differentiator, providing H13/1.2344 with better wear resistance and secondary hardening response, albeit with a slight trade-off in ultimate toughness. **"EFS" Metallurgical Advantages (ESR Process):** * **Extreme Inclusion Control:** Drastic reduction of sulfides and oxides, eliminating potential sites for crack initiation. * **Chemical & Structural Homogeneity:** Elimination of dendritic segregation ensures uniform properties throughout any cross-section. * **Fine, Equiaxed Austenite Grains:** Results in superior isotropic mechanical properties, especially toughness. * **Enhanced Density:** Reduced micro-porosity improves thermal fatigue performance and surface finish capability. ### **2. Physical & Mechanical Properties** #### **Properties in Annealed Condition:** * **Hardness:** ≤ 210 HB * **Microstructure:** Uniformly spheroidized carbides in ferritic matrix. * **Machinability:** Good (for its alloy class). #### **Properties in Hardened & Tempered Condition (Typical Service Range):** | Tempering Temperature | Hardness (HRC) | 0.2% Yield Strength (MPa) | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Impact Toughness (Charpy V, J) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **540-560°C** | 48 - 50 | ~1500 - 1650 | ~1700 - 1850 | 25 - 35 | | **580-600°C** | 44 - 46 | ~1300 - 1450 | ~1500 - 1650 | 30 - 45 | | **620-640°C** | 40 - 42 | ~1150 - 1300 | ~1350 - 1500 | 40 - 60 | #### **High-Temperature Performance (Aged at ~48 HRC):** | Temperature | Hot Hardness (HV) | 0.2% Hot Yield Strength (MPa) | Retained Room-Temp Hardness | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **400°C** | ~440 - 470 | ~1050 - 1200 | ~82% | | **500°C** | ~370 - 410 | ~750 - 900 | ~68% | | **600°C** | ~290 - 330 | ~480 - 580 | ~53% | #### **Thermal & Physical Properties:** * **Density:** 7.80 g/cm³ * **Thermal Conductivity:** **~25 W/m·K** (at 20°C) * **Coefficient of Thermal Expansion:** 11.8 x 10⁻⁶ /K (20-400°C) * **Modulus of Elasticity:** 210 GPa * **Specific Heat Capacity:** 460 J/kg·K ### **3. Special Performance Characteristics** * **Thermal Fatigue Life:** The **EFS structure** is the critical upgrade, often providing **30-50% longer life** before heat checking compared to conventional air-melted H13 under identical cyclic thermal conditions. * **Isotropic Toughness:** Transverse impact values closely match longitudinal values, a vital attribute for complex dies experiencing multi-directional stresses. * **Polishability:** Capable of achieving fine surface finishes (Ra < 0.2 µm), crucial for aluminum die casting to minimize soldering and improve casting surface quality. ### **4. Machining & Finishing** * **Machining (Annealed):** Good. Use sharp, positive geometry carbide tools with adequate cooling. * **EDM:** Excellent. The homogeneous structure ensures stable machining and a high-quality surface with a minimal affected layer. * **Grinding:** Very Good. Use appropriate wheels (e.g., aluminum oxide) with sufficient coolant to prevent thermal damage. * **Polishing:** Excellent for a hot work steel. The cleanliness allows for efficient progression to high-gloss finishes. --- ## **International Standards & Cross-References** | Standard | Designation | Note | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH** | **Thermodur® 2344 EFS** | Proprietary premium grade. | | **DIN / EN / W-Nr.** | **1.2344** (ESR Quality) | Base standard. "EFS" denotes the premium ESR-refined quality. | | **AISI / ASTM** | **H13** | Standard equivalent. | | **ISO 4957** | **X40CrMoV5-1** | | | **Uddeholm** | **ORVAR® Supreme** (Microdized) | Direct competitor, similar ESR-refined H13. | | **Böhler / voestalpine** | **W300** (ESR) | | | **ThyssenKrupp** | **GS-344 ESU** | | | **Japanese (JIS)** | **SKD61** | | | **Chinese (GB)** | **4Cr5MoSiV1** | | --- ## **Heat Treatment Guidelines** 1. **Soft Annealing:** 840-860°C, slow furnace cool. Target hardness: ≤ 210 HB. 2. **Stress Relieving (after rough machining):** 650-700°C for 2 hours. 3. **Preheating:** **Critical.** Two-stage preheat at 500-550°C and 800-850°C. 4. **Austenitizing (Hardening):** * **Temperature:** **1020-1050°C.** Vacuum or controlled atmosphere is mandatory. * **Soak Time:** 20-30 minutes per 25mm of effective thickness. 5. **Quenching:** In **forced air** (for simple shapes) or **high-pressure gas (4-10 bar N₂/Ar)** in a vacuum furnace (preferred for complex geometries and minimal distortion). 6. **Tempering:** * **Must begin immediately** after quenching (at ~40-80°C). * **Temperature:** Typically **560-620°C** for hot work applications (targeting 44-48 HRC). * **Double or Triple Tempering is absolutely essential.** Hold for at least 2 hours per temper, air cool to room temperature between tempers. * **Note:** A secondary hardness peak occurs around 520-560°C. --- ## **Product Applications** Thermodur® 2344 EFS is the **industry-preferred material for high-stress, high-temperature tooling**, especially where a balance of thermal fatigue resistance, wear resistance, and toughness is required. **Primary Application Areas:** * **Aluminum Die Casting:** The **dominant application.** Used for cavity inserts, cores, slides, shot sleeves, plunger tips, goosenecks, and hot runner nozzles. Its EFS quality is particularly valuable for thin-wall, high-quality surface castings and high-pressure die casting (HPDC). * **Zinc & Magnesium Die Casting:** Core pins, ejector pins, and inserts. * **Hot Forging Dies:** Inserts for forging hammers and presses (steel, titanium, brass), punches, die blocks, and wear rings. * **Hot & Warm Extrusion Dies:** For aluminum, copper, and steel. * **Hot Stamping (Press Hardening) Dies:** Tools for forming boron-alloyed ultra-high-strength steels (22MnB5). * **Plastic Molds for High-Temperature Polymers:** Inserts and hot runner systems for PEEK, PEI, PPS. * **Glass Molding Tools.** **Ideal for Dies Experiencing:** * Severe thermal cycling combined with abrasive/erosive wear. * High mechanical loads at elevated temperatures. * Where both heat checking and soldering/washout are failure concerns. **Less Suitable for:** Applications requiring the absolute maximum toughness (choose H11/1.2343 EFS) or extreme high-temperature (>600°C) performance where cobalt-based or nickel-based alloys are superior. --- ## **Why Choose 2344 EFS over Standard H13?** * **Extended Die Life:** The primary benefit is significantly **improved thermal fatigue life and consistent toughness**, leading to fewer unscheduled stops for die repair or replacement. * **Reliability & Predictability:** Reduced risk of catastrophic failure due to material inconsistencies (inclusions, segregation). * **Improved Casting Quality:** Better polishability and surface integrity can translate to superior casting surface finish and easier release. * **Cost-Effectiveness:** Although premium-priced, the extended service life and reduced downtime typically deliver a **lower total cost per casting/forging produced**. **Selection Guidance:** For the vast majority of demanding aluminum die casting and hot forging applications, **Thermodur® 2344 EFS represents the optimal balance of performance and reliability**, making it the benchmark material for premium die construction. --- **Disclaimer:** The information provided is based on typical data for SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH Thermodur® 2344 EFS. Properties are influenced by exact heat treatment parameters and section size. This document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a specification or warranty. For critical applications, always consult the official manufacturer's technical documentation. The "EFS" quality level is essential for achieving the stated performance advantages over conventional H13. -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Schmolz + Bickenbach Thermodur® 2344 EFS Extra Fine Structure - Hot Work Die Steel Specification Dimensions Size： Diameter 20-1000 mm Length <7130 mm Size:We can customized as required Standard： Per your request or drawing We can customized as required Properties（Theoretical） Chemical Composition -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Schmolz + Bickenbach Thermodur® 2344 EFS Extra Fine Structure - Hot Work Die Steel Properties -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -:

Applications of Schmolz + Bickenbach Thermodur® 2344 EFS Extra Fine Structure - Hot Work Die Steel Rod -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Chemical Identifiers Schmolz + Bickenbach Thermodur® 2344 EFS Extra Fine Structure - Hot Work Die Steel Rod -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -:

Packing of Schmolz + Bickenbach Thermodur® 2344 EFS Extra Fine Structure - Hot Work Die Steel Rod -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Standard Packing: -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Typical bulk packaging includes palletized plastic 5 gallon/25 kg. pails, fiber and Steel Rod drums to 1 ton super sacks in full container (FCL) or truck load (T/L) quantities. Research and sample quantities and hygroscopic, oxidizing or other air sensitive materials may be packaged under argon or vacuum. Solutions are packaged in polypropylene, plastic or glass jars up to palletized 3601 gallon liquid totes Special package is available on request. E FORUs’ is carefully handled to minimize damage during storage and transportation and to preserve the quality of our products in their original condition