8407 Material Detailed Information
8407 is a premium hot work tool steel produced by Uddeholm, equivalent to AISI H13 (SKD61, 1.2344) but with improved isotropic properties and toughness. It is widely used in die casting, extrusion, hot forging, and plastic molding applications, where high thermal fatigue resistance, wear resistance, and toughness are required.
Compared to standard H13, Uddeholm 8407 features superior purity, better toughness, and increased resistance to thermal cracking, making it one of the best choices for demanding hot work tooling applications.
Key Features
- Superior Heat Resistance: Designed to perform under high temperatures, minimizing deformation.
- Excellent Thermal Fatigue Resistance: Reduces heat checking and cracking in die casting and forging applications.
- High Toughness & Impact Resistance: Ensures longer tool life under mechanical and thermal stress.
- Improved Isotropic Properties: Provides uniform strength and toughness in all directions, reducing the risk of unexpected failures.
- Good Machinability & Polishability: Suitable for precision molding applications.
Chemical Composition
| Element | Composition (%) |
| Carbon (C) | 0.38 |
| Silicon (Si) | 1.00 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.40 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 5.30 |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 1.30 |
| Vanadium (V) | 0.90 |
| Phosphorus (P) | ≤ 0.030 |
| Sulfur (S) | ≤ 0.020 |
Key Features in Composition:
- Moderate Carbon (C) Content: Ensures a good balance between hardness and toughness.
- Chromium (Cr) Addition: Provides wear resistance and high-temperature strength.
- Molybdenum (Mo) & Vanadium (V) Content: Improves heat resistance, hardness retention, and thermal fatigue resistance.
- Low Sulfur (S) & Phosphorus (P) Content: Enhances toughness and polishability, reducing inclusions.
Mechanical Properties
| Property | Value |
| Hardness (Annealed) | ≤ 229 HB |
| Hardness (After Heat Treatment) | 48 – 52 HRC |
| Tensile Strength | ~1,800 MPa |
| Yield Strength | ~1,500 MPa |
| Impact Toughness | Very High |
| Thermal Fatigue Resistance | Superior |
| Wear Resistance | High |
- Excellent heat resistance → Withstands high operating temperatures up to 600°C
- High toughness and impact strength → Reduces risk of cracking and chipping in tooling applications
- Good wear resistance → Extends tool life in demanding applications
- Outstanding thermal fatigue resistance → Ideal for die casting and hot forging dies
8407 vs. Other Hot Work Tool Steels
| Property | 8407 | SKD61 (H13) | 1.2344 | DH31-EX |
| Hardness (HRC) | 48-52 | 45-50 | 45-50 | 46-52 |
| Thermal Fatigue Resistance | Superior | Moderate | Moderate | High |
| Wear Resistance | High | Moderate | Moderate | High |
| Toughness | Very High | High | Moderate | High |
| Heat Resistance | Superior | Moderate | Moderate | High |
| Applications | Die casting, forging, extrusion, plastic molds | General hot work applications | General hot work applications | High-temperature tooling |
Why Choose 8407?
- Better toughness and fatigue resistance than SKD61 (H13).
- Longer tool life in extreme hot work conditions.
- Improved machinability and polishability compared to standard H13.
Applications
8407 is widely used in hot work tooling applications, particularly in die casting, hot forging, and extrusion.
Die Casting Molds
- Aluminum, magnesium, and zinc die casting dies
- Shot sleeves and plungers
- Core pins and inserts
Hot Forging Dies
- Steel and non-ferrous forging dies
- Press forging and hammer forging tools
- Punches and trimming tools
Extrusion Dies & Hot Shear Blades
- Aluminum and copper extrusion tooling
- Hot cutting tools for metal processing
Plastic Molding Applications
- Injection mold cavities for high-temperature plastics
- Blow molding dies for engineering plastics
Other High-Temperature Tooling
- Hot stamping and pressing dies
- Steel tube and pipe extrusion tooling
Heat Treatment Process
Soft Annealing (For Machining, if Required)
- Heat to 850–900°C, then slowly cool at 10–20°C per hour to 600°C, followed by air cooling.
Hardening
- Preheat at 600–850°C, then heat to 1,020–1,080°C for hardening, followed by oil, vacuum, or air quenching.
Tempering
- Temper at 550–650°C for 2-3 cycles to achieve a final hardness of 48-52 HRC, balancing strength and toughness.
Surface Treatments (Optional, for Enhanced Performance)
- Nitriding: Increases surface hardness and wear resistance.
- PVD or CVD Coating: Reduces friction and oxidation, extending mold life.
Alternative Materials
- SKD61 (JIS) / H13 (AISI) / 1.2344 (DIN): Standard hot work tool steel with good overall performance, but lower toughness and thermal fatigue resistance than 8407.
- 1.2367 (DIN): Offers higher heat resistance than H13/8407, but is harder to machine.
- DH31-EX (Daido Steel): Another high-performance hot work steel, but 8407 has better polishability and isotropic properties.
- QRO 90 Supreme (Uddeholm): Provides even higher heat resistance, but with lower toughness than 8407.
Conclusion
Uddeholm 8407 is a high-performance hot work tool steel offering superior toughness, excellent wear resistance, and outstanding thermal fatigue resistance, making it the best choice for die casting, hot forging, and extrusion applications.
Best Choice for: High-temperature die casting, forging, and hot extrusion applications
Why Choose 8407? Better thermal fatigue resistance, higher toughness, and longer tool life than conventional H13 (SKD61)
