How do I get a quotation for die casting steel?

Call +91 98140 21775, email info@viratsteels.com, message us on WhatsApp or use the enquiry form. Give us the grade, size, quantity, delivery location, delivery condition and the testing documents you need. We reply with stock status and a quotation.

Die Casting Die Steel India: H13, H11, H21

Q: H13 or H11: which is better for die casting dies?

Neither is better in every situation. H13 has more vanadium, so it offers better hot strength and wear resistance and is the general-purpose choice. H11 is slightly tougher and is sometimes preferred where thermal cycling is severe. Choose by cast alloy, die size and shot count.

Since 1957 Supplying the forging industry
35+ Grades
1800+ Customers
3,500+ tons Stock capacity across our yards

Contact Virat Special Steels

info@viratsteels.com
+91 98140 21775
C-545, Sector 37, Pace City II, Gurgaon 122001, Haryana
C-146, Focal Point, Phase V, Ludhiana 141010, Punjab

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Virat Special Steels supplies hot work tool steel and die blocks to pressure die casting companies, die makers and tool rooms, in H13 (DIN 1.2344), H11 (DIN 1.2343) and H21 (DIN 1.2581) flat, square and round bars, cut to size and backed by technical guidance. We are the authorised NLMK Verona distributor in India, with 3,500+ tons of stock across 35+ grades, band saw cutting up to 2500 × 1100 mm, a machining shop, and in-house spectro, UT and hardness testing. ESR-grade H13 is available for aluminium die casting dies

What Is Pressure Die Casting?

Pressure die casting injects molten metal into a mould cavity under high pressure. The mould usually consists of two hardened tool steel dies that produce accurate, repeatable components. Zinc and magnesium are often cast in hot chamber machines, while aluminium, brass and copper alloys are cast in cold chamber machines. Whatever the alloy, the die steel takes the thermal shock of every shot.

Choosing a Steel for Pressure Die Casting Dies

For aluminium and magnesium dies, H13 (DIN 1.2344) is the usual starting point. H11 (DIN 1.2343) is chosen where thermal cycling is severe, and H21 (DIN 1.2581) where the cast alloy runs very hot. These are the three die casting grades we list, and we stock all three.

Type	H13 / DIN 1.2344	H11 / DIN 1.2343	H21 / DIN 1.2581
Standard names	X40CrMoV5-1, AISI H13, SKD61, AFNOR Z40CDV5	X38CrMoV5-1, AISI H11	X30WCrV9-3, AISI H21
Steel type	About 5% chromium, with molybdenum and vanadium	About 5% chromium, with molybdenum and a lower vanadium content than H13	Tungsten hot work steel, about 9% tungsten and 3% chromium
Why die casters choose it	Good hot strength, tempering resistance and resistance to heat checking; the most widely used die casting grade	Close to H13, with slightly better toughness; chosen where thermal cycling is severe	High hot hardness and resistance to erosion at high metal temperatures
Typical die casting use	Cavity inserts, cores, die blocks and holders for aluminium, zinc and magnesium	Cavity inserts and cores	Inserts and cores for brass and copper alloys
Other uses	Hot forging dies, extrusion dies	Forging press dies, extrusion tooling	Extrusion tooling, hot forging

No grade is right for every die. Cast alloy, part shape, die size, cooling design, machine tonnage and expected shot count all change the answer. If you are unsure, send us the die drawing or the failure history of your current die and we will go through the options with you.

Why Die Casting Dies Crack or Wear Out Early

Look at the failed die first. The pattern of damage points to the cause.

Heat checking: a fine network of surface cracks from repeated heating and cooling. Causes include the wrong grade, no preheating, uneven or excessive die cooling and poor heat treatment.
Erosion and soldering: molten metal washes away the die surface near the gate, or sticks to it. Hardness, steel cleanliness and surface treatments such as nitriding all play a part.
Gross cracking: a large crack through the cavity or block. Inclusions, uneven properties through the block, stress left after machining or EDM, and thermal shock in a cold die are the usual suspects.
Softening and deformation: the die loses hardness or sinks in service because it ran hotter than its tempering allowed.

Behind many of these failures are the wrong grade, poor heat treatment, no preheating, weak maintenance, or steel with inclusions or uneven properties. Clean, uniform steel such as ESR-grade H13 gives your heat treater a better starting point.

Buying Die Casting Steel from Virat

Pressure die casters, die makers and toolrooms, and automotive component manufacturers are our core buyers. We also supply forging, aluminium extrusion, railway, heavy engineering, mining, power generation, oil and gas, agricultural and hand tool manufacturers.

Product	Forms	Typical forging use
H13 / DIN 1.2344	Flat, square, round	Inserts, cores and die blocks for aluminium, zinc and magnesium
H13 ESR	Flat, square, round	High-duty aluminium dies where toughness and cleanliness matter most
H11 / DIN 1.2343	Flat, square, round	Inserts and cores with severe thermal cycling
H21 / DIN 1.2581	Flat, square, round	Brass and copper alloy die casting inserts

Services around the steel

Ready stock Material is held in Ludhiana and Gurugram for off-the-shelf supply.
Cut to size Band saw cutting to your block or bar length, so you pay for steel you will use.
Machining Squaring and other value-adding work in our machining shop.
Testing Chemical analysis, UT and hardness checks in-house.
Technical advice Help with grade choice, heat treatment and machining questions.

How to order

Send us the grade, size, quantity and delivery location.
Tell us the delivery condition and the test certificates you need.
We reply with stock status, delivery time and a quotation
We cut, machine and dispatch to your plant.

Questions Forging Buyers Ask

What steel is used for pressure die casting dies?

Die casting dies are made from hot work tool steel. The grades most often asked for are DIN 1.2344 (H13), DIN 1.2343 (H11) and DIN 1.2581 (H21). H13 is the most common for aluminium, zinc and magnesium dies. Cold work and plastic mould steels are not suited to die casting cavities.

H13 or H11: which is better for die casting dies?

Neither is better in every situation. DB6 is tougher, which makes it the usual choice for hammer dies and large blocks where impact is the main risk. H13 holds its strength at high temperature, which makes it the usual choice for press dies and hotter die surfaces. Choose by machine, die size, work material and forging temperature.

Is DIN 1.2344 the same as H13 and SKD61?

DIN 1.2344 (X40CrMoV5-1) is the European designation for AISI H13, and AFNOR calls it Z40CDV5. The Japanese SKD61 is commonly treated as equivalent. Limits differ slightly between standards, so confirm on the mill certificate.

Which steel should I use for aluminium, zinc, magnesium or brass dies?

Aluminium, zinc and magnesium dies mostly use H13. Brass and copper alloys cast much hotter, so those dies often use H21 or other grades with high hot strength. Your die designer should confirm the choice for your part and machine.

Why choose ESR H13 for aluminium die casting?

Electro-slag remelting refines the steel, improving cleanliness and toughness and giving more uniform properties through the block. This helps the die resist cracking and heat checking in demanding aluminium dies. ESR costs more than standard H13, so it suits high-duty dies and long production runs. Tell us your die type and expected volume and we will advise.

What hardness should a die casting die be?

It depends on the cast alloy, die size and cooling design. Aluminium dies are commonly run at around 44 to 48 HRC, and H13 can be tempered across roughly 44 to 52 HRC. Your die designer or heat treater sets the final figure.

Why do die casting dies crack or wear out early?

The usual causes are heat checking, erosion, soldering, gross cracking and softening. Behind them are often the wrong grade, poor heat treatment, no preheating, uneven or too much die cooling, weak maintenance, or steel with inclusions or uneven properties through the block. Look at the failed die first, because the crack pattern points to the cause.

Should die casting dies be preheated?

Yes. Casting into a cold die risks thermal shock and cracking. The right preheat temperature depends on the die, its size and the cast alloy. Always follow the guidance of your die designer or heat treater.

Which sizes and forms do you supply, and can you cut to size?

We supply flat, square and round bar. Our band saws cut up to 2500 × 1100 mm, and our machining shop can square and finish blocks. Send us the size you need and we will confirm what is in stock and what can be cut.

What testing and certificates do you provide?

We have an in-house chemical and spectro lab, a UT testing machine and a hardness tester, and we provide mill test certificates with orders. Tell us at the enquiry stage which reports you need, such as UT or a specific premium-grade specification.

Which mills do you source from?

We import from mills including NLMK Verona and Lucchini RS (Italy), Swiss Steel Group (Germany), Vítkovice (Czech Republic), Somers Forge (UK), Villares Metals (Brazil), Nippon Koshuha (Japan), and Hyundai Steel and SeAH Besteel (South Korea). If your die specification names a mill, mention it in your enquiry.

Where do you stock, and where do you deliver?

We hold stock in Ludhiana and Gurugram, and we supply die casting and automotive clusters across India, including Gurugram, Manesar, Faridabad, Bhiwadi, Ludhiana, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hosur, Coimbatore and Bengaluru. Delivery time depends on grade, size and stock. We confirm stock and delivery time with the quotation.