International Mold Steel Wire,DH21 Die Cast & Forging Steel Wire

International Mold Steel Wire DH21 Die Cast & Forging Steel Wire Product Information -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: International Mold Steel Wire DH21 Die Cast & Forging Steel Wire Synonyms -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -:

International Mold Steel DH21 Die Cast & Forging Steel Product Information -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: # **Product Introduction: DH21 Hot Work Die Steel for Die Casting and Forging** ## **1. Overview** **DH21** is a **premium-grade, hot work die steel** specifically engineered for demanding applications in aluminum and magnesium die casting, as well as hot forging operations. It is a specialized member of the hot work tool steel family, offering an advanced balance of **thermal fatigue resistance, high-temperature strength, toughness, and thermal shock resistance**. DH21 is designed to withstand the extreme thermal cycling, molten metal erosion, and high mechanical stresses encountered in modern die casting and forging processes, providing longer die life, reduced cracking, and improved productivity compared to standard H13-type steels. This material is particularly valued for its enhanced performance in large, complex dies where resistance to heat checking and catastrophic failure is critical. ## **2. International Standards & Specifications** DH21 is a proprietary grade developed to exceed the performance of standard hot work steel classifications, often featuring advanced manufacturing for superior quality. * **Primary Manufacturer Standard:** * **International Mold Steel (IMS) DH21:** Proprietary specification for this enhanced hot work die steel. * **Material Classification & Comparative Grades:** * **Type:** **Chromium-Molybdenum-Vanadium Hot Work Tool Steel (Enhanced H13/SKD61 Type).** * **Performance Equivalent:** An advanced version of **AISI H13 / DIN 1.2344 / JIS SKD61**, with modifications aimed at improving thermal fatigue life and toughness. It is often compared to premium European grades like **DIN 1.2367 (X38CrMoV5-3)** or other "Super H13" variants. * **International Equivalents (Performance Tier):** * **Uddeholm ORVAR 2M / SUPREME** (Sweden) * **Böhler W303 ISODISC / ISOTROPY 2344** (Austria) * **ThyssenKrupp GS 344 ESU** (Germany) * **ISO 4957:** Would be classified under **X40CrMoV5-1** or similar groups, but represents a proprietary, enhanced composition and quality level. ## **3. Chemical Composition (Weight %, Typical)** The chemistry is optimized to refine the carbide structure and improve the toughness-to-wear resistance ratio compared to standard H13. | Element | Typical Range (%) | Role & Benefit | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Carbon (C)** | 0.35 – 0.42 | Provides base hardness and wear resistance. Balanced to optimize toughness and hardenability. | | **Chromium (Cr)** | 4.80 – 5.50 | **Primary alloy.** Confers high tempering resistance ("red hardness"), provides oxidation resistance to molten aluminum, and ensures deep hardenability. | | **Molybdenum (Mo)** | 1.20 – 1.60 | Enhances hardenability, high-temperature strength, toughness, and resistance to temper embrittlement. | | **Vanadium (V)** | 0.85 – 1.15 | **Key wear resistance element.** Forms fine, hard vanadium carbides (VC) that provide excellent wear resistance, grain refinement, and secondary hardening during tempering. | | **Silicon (Si)** | 0.80 – 1.20 | Improves oxidation resistance and strengthens the ferrite matrix, contributing to thermal fatigue resistance. | | **Manganese (Mn)** | 0.30 – 0.60 | Aids in hardenability and deoxidation. | | **Additional Elements:** Premium versions may include micro-alloying additions like **Nickel (Ni)** or refined via **ESR (Electro-Slag Remelting)** to enhance toughness and homogeneity. | | **Sulfur (S)** | ≤ 0.005 (Very Low) | Kept extremely low to maximize **toughness, polishability, and weldability**—critical for die performance and repairability. | ## **4. Typical Physical & Mechanical Properties (Heat Treated)** * **Recommended Heat Treatment:** * **Preheating:** 750-800°C (1382-1472°F) * **Austenitizing (Hardening):** 1020-1050°C (1868-1922°F) * **Quenching:** Air or pressurized gas quenching (vacuum furnace). Oil quenching possible for complex shapes. * **Tempering:** **Double tempering is standard.** Typical tempering range: 540-620°C (1004-1148°F) to achieve desired hardness and toughness balance. * **Mechanical Properties (Hardened & Double Tempered to ~46-48 HRC for Die Casting):** * **Hardness:** 44 – 50 HRC (typical operating range for die casting dies). * **Tensile Strength:** 1450 – 1650 MPa (210,000 – 239,000 psi) * **Yield Strength (0.2% Offset):** 1250 – 1450 MPa (181,000 – 210,000 psi) * **Elongation:** 8 – 12% * **Impact Toughness (Charpy V-Notch):** **30 – 45 J (22 – 33 ft-lb)** – **Excellent for this hardness level,** a key factor in resisting heat check propagation. * **Hot Hardness at 600°C (1112°F):** ~42-45 HRC * **Key Performance Metrics:** * **Thermal Fatigue Resistance:** **Excellent.** Superior resistance to the initiation and growth of heat-check cracks, the primary failure mode in die casting. * **Thermal Shock Resistance:** Good, able to withstand rapid temperature changes during die casting cycles. * **Erosion Resistance:** Good resistance to wash-out and erosion from high-velocity molten aluminum. * **Physical Properties:** * **Density:** 7.80 g/cm³ * **Thermal Conductivity:** ~ 24 W/m·K (at 20°C) * **Coefficient of Thermal Expansion:** 11.5 x 10⁻⁶/K (20-100°C) * **Modulus of Elasticity:** 210 GPa ## **5. Product Application** DH21 is the material of choice for critical components in high-pressure casting and forging operations. * **Aluminum & Magnesium Die Casting:** * **Cavities and Cores** for structural automotive parts (transmission cases, engine blocks, intake manifolds), electronics housings, and powertrain components. * **Shot Sleeves, Nozzles, and Goosenecks.** * **Ejector Pins and Cores** for high-wear areas. * **Hot Forging (Brass, Aluminum, Steel):** * **Forging Dies and Inserts** for connecting rods, gears, and valves. * **Punch and Die Sets** for hot precision forging. * **Extrusion Dies** for non-ferrous metals. * **Other Hot Work Applications:** * **Glass Mold Tooling** * **Hot Runner Components** in injection molding for high-temperature engineering plastics. ## **6. Key Features & Advantages** * **Superior Thermal Fatigue Resistance:** Engineered microstructure and composition significantly extend die life by delaying the onset and slowing the propagation of heat-checking networks. * **Excellent Combination of Toughness and Wear Resistance:** Provides the necessary resilience to withstand mechanical shock and clamping forces while resisting erosion from molten metal. * **High Temperature Strength & Stability:** Maintains hardness and mechanical properties at elevated operating temperatures (up to ~600°C). * **Good Machinability & Polishability:** In the annealed and pre-hardened states, it offers good machinability. Can be polished to a high finish for castings requiring good surface quality. * **Enhanced Homogeneity & Consistency:** Premium versions are often ESR-refined, ensuring uniform properties throughout the die block, which is crucial for predictable performance and longevity. * **Good Weld Repairability:** Can be repaired using specialized hot work steel welding procedures and filler metals, allowing for die maintenance and salvage. ## **7. Processing Guidelines** * **Machining:** Perform rough machining in the annealed state (~220 HB). Semi-finishing and finishing can be done after hardening or in a pre-hardened condition if supplied. * **Heat Treatment:** **Critical for performance.** Use vacuum or atmosphere-controlled furnaces to prevent decarburization. Slow, uniform heating and cooling are essential to minimize stress. * **Stress Relieving:** Recommended after rough machining and before final hardening. * **Surface Treatment:** Often **nitrided** (gas or plasma) to increase surface hardness (>1000 HV) and further improve erosion and soldering resistance. PVD coatings (e.g., CrN) are also used. * **Maintenance:** Regular thermal cycling (Tempering) of dies in service can help relieve accumulated stresses and extend life. **Summary:** International Mold Steel DH21 represents a high-performance, engineered solution for the severe service conditions of die casting and hot forging. By offering enhanced thermal fatigue resistance and toughness over standard H13-type steels, it directly addresses the primary failure mechanisms in these industries, leading to longer production runs, reduced downtime for die repairs, and lower total cost per part. For manufacturers of critical aluminum or magnesium components, DH21 provides the die durability and reliability necessary for competitive, high-volume production. -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: International Mold Steel DH21 Die Cast & Forging Steel Specification Dimensions Size： Diameter 20-1000 mm Length <7037 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. -: International Mold Steel DH21 Die Cast & Forging Steel Properties -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -:

Applications of International Mold Steel Wire DH21 Die Cast & Forging Steel Wire -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Chemical Identifiers International Mold Steel Wire DH21 Die Cast & Forging Steel Wire -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -:

Packing of International Mold Steel Wire DH21 Die Cast & Forging Steel Wire -:- 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 Wire 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 3508 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