Grade H13/ 1.2344 also known as Durah 61, is one of the world’s most widely usedhot-work tool steels. It is engineered for extreme heat, pressure, and mechanical shock, making it a cornerstone material in the forging, die-casting, extrusion, and plastic moulding industries. Durah 61 is a premium, modified, high-performance version of H13 / 1.2344, produced using advanced remelting and refining processes. It offers significantly improved cleanliness, toughness, high-temperature strength, and longer die life compared to standard H13. This grade maintains exceptional performance under repeated thermal cycling, high pressure, and abrasive working environments, making it the preferred choice for demanding tooling applications.

Key Properties of H13/ 1.2344/ DURAH 61

1. Exceptional High-Temperature Strength

Maintains hardness and strength even at 600–650°C, resisting deformation under intense heat.

2. Superior Thermal Fatigue & Shock Resistance

Durah 61 is engineered to withstand rapid heating and cooling cycles, reducing the risk of heat-checking cracks.

3. Excellent Toughness

Improved ductility and core toughness reduce tool breakage and increase reliability, especially in die-casting.

4. High Wear & Abrasion Resistance

Chromium and vanadium carbides provide excellent wear resistance under high-pressure, high-velocity metal flow.

5. Deep & Uniform Hardenability

Achieves consistent hardness in large or complex dies. Typical working hardness for Durah 61: 48–52 HRC.

6. Enhanced Purity (Refined Process Grade)

Durah 61 offers:
a. longer die life
b. better resistance to thermal fatigue
c. improved polishability
d. reduced microcracks
e. more stable performance in heavy-duty operations

Common Applications

H13 / 1.2344 / Durah 61 is widely used in high-performance hot-work tooling across industries such as automotive, aerospace, and aluminum production.

Common applications include:
1. High-pressure aluminum die-casting dies
2. Hot forging dies & die inserts
3. Aluminium & brass extrusion dies
4. Core pins, ejector sleeves & hot-runner components
5. Shear blades for hot cutting
6. Plastic moulds requiring high strength and polishability
7. Die holders and bolsters
8. Hot punches, mandrels, and pressure pads

Summary

H13 / 1.2344 / DURAH 61 is a premium-grade hot-work tool steel designed for extreme industrial environments. With its superior thermal resistance, toughness, wear performance, and refined purity, it delivers exceptional reliability and extended die life. For industries requiring long-lasting, high-performance tooling, Durah 61 stands out as a market-leading solution.