H21 tool steel | 1.2581 | X30WCrV9-3
Understanding the challenges of high-temperature metal forming operations, FCS Factory’s premium H21/1.2581/X30WCrV9-3 hot work tool steel provides manufacturers with the solutions they need. This tungsten-alloyed mould steel excels where standard materials fail, with excellent red-hardness and thermal fatigue resistance at operating temperatures up to 650°C. The grade has been optimised for use in compression moulding operations. Optimised for heat treatment, this grade provides the perfect balance of hardness, toughness and thermal stability required for die casting dies, extrusion tooling and high stress forging applications.FCS TOOL STEEL’s customers have reported that switching to properly treated H21 steel has increased tool life by up to 40%, significantly reducing maintenance costs and production downtime.
H21 tool steel | 1.2581 | X30WCrV9-3 Product Introduction
H21 Tool Steel (American Standard ASTM)
Composition and Core Properties: H21 tool steel is a tungsten hot work tool steel with a typical composition of carbon (0.26%-0.36%), tungsten (8.5%-10.0%), chromium (3.00%-3.75%) and vanadium (0.30%-0.60%). -0.60%). Its core advantage lies in its high temperature stability, with a hardness of about HB 300 at 650°C and a thermal conductivity of 22.2-23.3 W/(m-K), which effectively disperses thermal stresses; it also possesses excellent thermal fatigue resistance, and is adaptable to repeated hot and cold cycling environments.
Heat treatment and performance limitations: quenched (1050-1100 ℃ oil cooling) and tempered (660-680 ℃) after the hardness of 49-52 HRC, but the toughness of the lower, need to avoid high-impact scenarios; medium hardenability limits the oversized parts (>150mm thickness) of the hardness uniformity. Medium hardenability limits hardness uniformity in oversized parts (>150mm thickness).
1.2581 Tool Steel (German Standard DIN/W-Nr)
Composition and Physical Properties: 1.2581 tool steel is a Lyotite hot work tool steel with a composition of carbon (0.25%-0.35%), tungsten (8.00%-9.00%), chromium (2.50%-2.80%) and vanadium (0.30%-0.40%). 0.30%-0.40%). The hardness in the annealed state is ≤240 HBW, which is raised to 50-60 HRC after quenching; the room temperature mechanical properties include tensile strength ≥812 MPa, yield strength ≥651 MPa, and a low coefficient of thermal expansion (11.7×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ at 20-100°C).
High-temperature properties and process requirements: outstanding thermal fatigue resistance, thermal conductivity to support rapid heat dissipation, but toughness is insufficient and hardenability is moderate. Performance needs to be optimised by double tempering (550-650°C) and optional nitriding, and surface hardness can exceed HV 1000.
X30WCrV9-3 Tool Steel (German Standard DIN,equivalent to 1.2581)
Consistency of composition and properties: X30WCrV9-3 tool steel is the DIN designation for the same material as 1.2581, with identical composition (0.25%-0.35% carbon, 8.00%-9.00% tungsten, 2.50%-2.80% chromium, 2.50%-2.80% vanadium). -2.80%, vanadium 0.30%-0.40%). Its high-temperature strength is dependent on the tungsten-chromium-vanadium carbide system, and its hardness at 650°C maintains HBW 300, with a thermal conductivity of 23 W/(m·K), but with lower toughness.
Heat treatment and micro-control: need to strictly control the quenching (1000-1050 ℃ oil cooling) and double tempering process to eliminate stress. Deep cold treatment (-80 ~ -196 ℃) can reduce residual austenite, improve dimensional stability; impurity control (phosphorus, sulfur ≤ 0.030%) to ensure material purity and resistance to brittleness.
H21 tool steel | 1.2581 | X30WCrV9-3 Types and Options
The table below shows the size range, surface condition and tolerance details forH21/1.2581/X30WCrV9-3 Tool Steel:
H21 tool steel | 1.2581 | X30WCrV9-3 Customized Options
- Customized chemical composition: GB, DIN, ASTM, JIS and other standard grades can be produced. Chemical composition can be customized individually.
- Customized specifications: round steel (diameter), plate (thickness, width) can be customized production.
- Specialized packaging for long term storage or extreme transportation conditions: includes spraying black paint all around, wrapping plastic film, spraying anti-rust oil, and shipping in wooden crates.
- Customized production based on samples or technical agreements.
- H21/1.2581/X30WCrV9-3 Tool Steel Electroslag Remelting (ESR): premium option with higher purity and isotropic properties for critical applications.
H21 tool steel | 1.2581 | X30WCrV9-3 Chemical Composition
H21 tool steel | 1.2581 | X30WCrV9-3 Heat Treatment Process
1.Annealing
2.Quenching
3.Tempering
4.Precautions
Heating process should control the rate of heating to avoid too rapid a rise in temperature leading to workpiece surface oxidation and decarburization. Protective atmosphere heating can be used or placed in the furnace charcoal and other anti-decarburization agent.
When quenching and cooling, choose the appropriate cooling medium and cooling method according to the shape and size of the workpiece to ensure the quenching effect while reducing the risk of deformation and cracking.
H21 tool steel | 1.2581 | X30WCrV9-3 Quality Inspection
1.Surface Condition Inspection
2.Chemical Composition Testing
3.Dimension and Tolerance Inspection
4.Hardness test
5.Ultrasonic Testing
6.Microstructure Inspection
(1) Metallographic Analysis
FCS factory will use metallographic analysis instrument to detect the microstructure state after heat treatment, including carbide distribution, martensite morphology, residual austenite content, etc.
(2) Grain size rating
H21 tool steel | 1.2581 | X30WCrV9-3 Technical Specifications
H21 tool steel | 1.2581 | X30WCrV9-3 Product Applications
Non-Ferrous Die Casting Moulds
H21/1.2581/X30WCrV9-3 die steel excels in die casting applications for aluminium, zinc and magnesium parts. The high tungsten content provides excellent resistance to thermal fatigue (hot cracking) and erosion from molten metal flow. In a recent application at a major automotive parts supplier, moulds made with our H21 steel had a 35% longer service life between maintenance intervals, reduced production downtime and improved part consistency.
Hot forging dies and tools
When used in hot forging applications, this grade has excellent hardness retention at high working temperatures. The balanced alloy composition ensures good toughness while resisting the plastic deformation common in forging operations. Customer feedback indicates a significant reduction in wear on hammer forging and press tooling, especially in high volume operations with frequent thermal cycling.
Extrusion Dies and Tooling
For aluminium and brass extrusion tooling, H21/1.2581/X30WCrV9-3 offers excellent wear resistance and dimensional stability. The high red hardness prevents premature wear in the high temperature environment of continuous extrusion operations. A customer producing aluminium profiles for construction has seen a 40% increase in production batches between die repair cycles after switching to our properly heat-treated H21 steel.
Hot shear blades and dressing tools
The combination of abrasion resistance and toughness makes this grade suitable for hot dressing operations, where tools are required to cut material at high temperatures. Dressing dies and shear blades hold their edges longer, resulting in cleaner cuts and reduced maintenance intervals.
H21 tool steel | 1.2581 | X30WCrV9-3 Competitive Advantage Comparison
H21 tool steel | 1.2581 | X30WCrV9-3 Customer Success Stories
H21 tool steel | 1.2581 | X30WCrV9-3 Pricing Structure Information
H21 tool steel | 1.2581 | X30WCrV9-3 Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between H21/1.2581/X30WCrV9-3 and H13 hot work steel?
A: The main difference is in the alloying elements. H21 contains 8.5-10% tungsten, which provides superior red-hardness and heat resistance compared to the 5% chromium in H13 tool steel. H21 has better retention at temperatures above 550°C, but is slightly less tough than H13.Q: What is the relationship between the three different designations (H21, 1.2581, X30WCrV9-3)?
A. These are equivalent designations for the same alloy in different standard systems: H21 is the AISI (USA) designation, 1.2581 is the DIN (Germany) number, and X30WCrV9-3 is the chemical designation for EN/ISO.Q: What is the difference between ESR (Electroslag Remelting) grade and standard grade?
A: ESR material undergoes an additional remelting process that significantly reduces non-metallic inclusions and improves microstructural homogeneity. This results in better toughness, better polishability and more consistent performance in critical applications.Q: How does the machinability of this steel compare to other mould steels?
A. Machinability in the annealed condition is about 40-50% of that of W1 tool steels. The use of carbide tools is highly recommended and cutting speeds should be reduced to 60-70% of those used for H13 steel.Q: Is this material suitable for plastic moulds working at moderate temperatures?
A. Although it can be used for plastic moulding, H21/1.2581/X30WCrV9-3 is usually over-specified for temperatures below 400°C and is not cost-effective. For standard plastic moulding, other grades such as P20 or H13 are more economical.Q: How much dimensional change is expected during heat treatment?
A. Typical dimensional change during hardening is an increase of 0.15-0.20%. This should be considered in tool design, especially for precision applications.
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