A Buyer's Guide to 1.2343 (DIN 1.2343)

Buying 1.2343 (DIN 1.2343) is straightforward once the delivery condition, the section size and the inspection level are agreed in writing. Most problems with this grade family come from vague enquiries rather than from the steel itself.

What the grade is

DIN 1.2343 belongs to the hot work tool steel with higher toughness family. Its defining characteristic is that a lower vanadium version of the H11 family that trades some wear resistance for noticeably better toughness and resistance to heat checking. That single property is the reason engineers select it, and it should drive everything else in the purchase specification.

Typical properties

In the condition in which it is normally supplied or used, the grade is quoted as hardened and tempered to 44 to 48 HRC. These figures are only meaningful when they are tied to a section size, a test position and a heat treatment condition, so ask for all three.

Where it is used

The usual applications are hot forging dies, mandrels and piercing tools and aluminium extrusion tooling. Outside these applications the grade may still work, but the reason for choosing it usually disappears and a cheaper steel will do the same job.

Heat treatment and processing

Austenitise around 1000 to 1030 C, quench in air or gas, temper twice at 520 to 600 C to reach the required hardness without falling into the toughness trough.

What to specify when ordering

Request impact test results for large dies. For forging work the toughness value matters more than the last two points of hardness, and it should be stated in the purchase specification.

Hubei Keyspark Special Steel Co., Ltd. runs two 20-ton EAF furnaces, two 20-ton LF ladle furnaces, a 20-ton VD unit and a 5-ton ESR furnace, with open-die forging, 12 precision heat treatment furnaces, four vacuum annealing furnaces and over twenty machining centres. Annual capacity is about 15,000 tonnes.

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