Purohit Steel is a leading Grade H21 Stockist and Exporter in India, supplying premium tungsten-alloyed hot work tool steel with verified chemical composition, mechanical properties and full traceability for forging shops, extrusion tooling makers and furnace equipment manufacturers.
As an ISO-certified company established in 1965, we maintain ready stock of Grade H21 in round bar, flat bar and block form, with in-house bandsaw cutting, machining, grinding and EDM support for fast turnaround across India and export markets.
Table of Contents
- 1. What is Grade H21 Steel
- 2. Why Purohit Steel for H21
- 3. Comparison: H21 vs H11 vs H13
- 4. Chemical Composition
- 5. Mechanical Properties
- 6. Physical & Thermal Properties
- 7. Equivalent International Grades
- 8. Heat Treatment Guidelines
- 9. Available Forms & Sizes
- 10. Machining & Selection Notes
- 11. Applications & Uses
- 12. Industries We Serve
- 13. Related Products
- 14. Authorized Stockist Brands
- 15. Cities We Supply in India
- 16. Our Services
- 17. Frequently Asked Questions
- 18. About Purohit Steel
- Our Certifications
- Countries We Export Worldwide
- Export Packaging & Shipping
- Quality Inspection & Testing
- Latest Price List
- MOQ & Payment Terms
- People Also Search For
What is Grade H21 Steel?
Grade H21 (DIN Werkstoffnummer 1.2581, chemical designation X30WCrV9-3) is a tungsten-alloyed hot work tool steel belonging to the H20-H26 tungsten sub-family of the AISI H-series. Where chromium-molybdenum grades such as H11 and H13 are optimised for toughness and ease of heat treatment, H21 is engineered specifically for sustained service at very high temperature.
The high tungsten content (8.5-10%) gives H21 outstanding red-hardness — the ability to retain hardness and structural integrity even under direct flame or hot metal contact — along with good resistance to softening and thermal fatigue. Chromium adds hardenability and some corrosion resistance, while vanadium refines the grain structure for improved toughness.
Because of its tungsten content, H21 is more sensitive to rapid or uneven cooling than the Cr-Mo-V hot work grades, and is generally air-cooled or carefully oil-quenched rather than water-cooled — see the comparison table below.
Why Purohit Steel for Grade H21
- Ready Stock: Round bar, flat bar and block sizes held in inventory for immediate dispatch
- ISO-Certified Quality: Documented quality management since 1965
- Authorized Stockist: Sourced through globally reputed manufacturers, including NLMK Verona and SeAH CSS
- Value-Added Machining: In-house bandsaw cutting, precision machining, grinding, drilling, gun drilling, EDM and wire-cut
- Technical Support: Assistance with grade selection, heat treatment guidance and equivalence mapping
- Pan-India & Export Supply: Warehousing in Vasai with a sales outlet in Mumbai, serving customers across India and international markets
- Export-Ready Packaging: Palletised, moisture-protected packing suitable for both domestic transport and export shipment
Comparison: H21 vs H11 vs H13
Buyers often need to choose between related hot work tool steel grades. The table below compares H21 against two other hot work grades Purohit Steel stocks, to help select the right material for the application.
| Factor | H21 | H11 / 1.2343 ESR | H13 / 1.2344 ESR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alloy family | Tungsten-Cr-V (9-10% W) | Cr-Mo-V (5% Cr) | Cr-Mo-V (5% Cr, higher V) |
| Red hardness / hot strength | Excellent, best at sustained >650°C | Good up to ~600-650°C | Good up to ~600-650°C |
| Working hardness | 40-55 HRC | 44-54 HRC | 44-54 HRC (typ. 48-52 HRC) |
| Toughness | Good, lower than Cr-Mo-V grades at equal hardness | Very good | Very good (industry standard) |
| Cooling / quench sensitivity | Sensitive — air cool or careful oil quench only | Good, deep hardening | Excellent, most forgiving grade |
| Best suited for | Hot shear blades, furnace tooling, extreme-heat dies | Die-casting & forging dies needing thermal-shock resistance | General-purpose die-casting, extrusion & mould inserts |
Grade H21 Chemical Composition
Composition as per ASTM A681 / DIN X30WCrV9-3 (typical mill range, weight %):
| Element | Symbol | Composition (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon | C | 0.26 - 0.36 |
| Silicon | Si | 0.15 - 0.50 |
| Manganese | Mn | 0.15 - 0.40 |
| Chromium | Cr | 3.00 - 3.75 |
| Tungsten | W | 8.50 - 10.00 |
| Vanadium | V | 0.30 - 0.60 |
| Phosphorus | P | 0.030 max |
| Sulphur | S | 0.030 max |
| Iron | Fe | Balance |
Mechanical Properties of Grade H21
Typical values; supplied soft-annealed and hardened by the customer or on request:
| Property | Typical Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Supply hardness (annealed) | ≤235 HB | |
| Hardness (hardened & tempered) | 40 - 55 HRC | |
| Red Hardness / Hot Strength | Excellent, retained under direct flame / hot metal contact | |
| Wear Resistance at High Temperature | Excellent, from tungsten and chromium carbides | |
| Thermal Fatigue Resistance | Good, though more sensitive to shock than Cr-Mo-V grades | |
| Toughness | Moderate to good; better than most tungsten grades | |
| Machinability | Approx. 55% relative to water-hardening low-alloy steel | |
| Modulus of Elasticity (E) | ~190-210 GPa |
Values are typical and vary with section size, tempering temperature and mill batch. Mill test certificates (EN 10204 2.2 / 3.1) are available on request.
Physical & Thermal Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | ~7.80 g/cm³ |
| Thermal Conductivity (room temp.) | ~27 W/(m·K) |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (20-200°C) | ~11 × 10-6 /K (typical for tungsten hot-work grades) |
| Specific Heat Capacity | ~460 J/(kg·K) |
| Modulus of Elasticity | 190-210 GPa |
Equivalent International Grades
| Country / Standard | Designation |
|---|---|
| USA (AISI / SAE, ASTM A681) | H21 |
| Germany (Werkstoffnummer, DIN) | 1.2581 / X30WCrV9-3 |
| Japan (JIS) | SKD5 |
| China (GB/T 1299) | 3Cr2W8V (closest equivalent) |
H21 belongs to the tungsten hot work family, distinct from the more common Cr-Mo-V grades H11 / 1.2343 and H13 / 1.2344 — refer to the comparison table above before substituting grades.
Heat Treatment Guidelines
| Process | Guideline |
|---|---|
| Supply condition | Soft-annealed, ≤235 HB — ready to rough-machine before hardening |
| Preheating | 760-815°C, hold to equalise before raising to austenitizing temperature |
| Hardening (austenitizing) | 1095-1205°C (some references cite 1050-1100°C for a lower-temperature cycle), short soak |
| Quenching | Air cool or oil quench — avoid rapid, uneven cooling such as water quenching |
| Tempering | 593-677°C, double temper, approx. 1 hr per cycle, for target 40-55 HRC |
| Stress relieving | Recommended after heavy machining, prior to final hardening, to reduce distortion risk |
Actual cycles depend on section size and target hardness; consult Purohit Steel’s technical team or the mill datasheet before finalising a heat treatment schedule. H21 is more sensitive to thermal shock during heat treatment than the Cr-Mo-V hot work grades.
Available Forms & Sizes
- Round Bars
- Flat Bars / Plates
- Blocks
- Custom sizes cut to drawing via in-house bandsaw cutting
Material is machined, ground, drilled and finished in-house through our precision machining, grinding, drilling, gun drilling, EDM and wire-cut facilities, so blocks and tooling components can be supplied close to finished dimensions.
Machining & Selection Notes
- Machinability: H21 machines at roughly 55% of the rate of water-hardening low-alloy steel; rough machine in the annealed condition before final hardening.
- Cooling control: Avoid rapid or uneven cooling during heat treatment and in service — H21 is prone to cracking under thermal shock compared to Cr-Mo-V hot work grades.
- Grinding: Use light cuts and adequate coolant when grinding hardened H21 to avoid surface checking.
- Welding / repair: Limited weldability; preheat and post-weld stress-relieve if repair welding is unavoidable.
- Grade selection: Choose H21 for sustained-heat tooling such as hot shear blades and furnace fixtures where red-hardness matters most; choose H11 or H13 where toughness, ease of heat treatment and cyclic thermal-shock resistance are the priority — see the comparison table above.
Applications of Grade H21 Steel
H21 is used across steel processing, forging, extrusion and foundry industries where tools must retain hardness under sustained, extreme heat exposure.
- Hot shear blades
- Hot extrusion tooling
- Drop forging dies and inserts
- Punches for hot punching applications
- Furnace tooling (fixtures, bars, rollers)
- Mandrels and hot forming tools
- Tools exposed directly to flame or molten metal
- High-temperature wear plates and guide rails
Forging & Extrusion Dies
H21 is widely used in forging dies and extrusion tooling because of its excellent high-temperature strength and wear resistance under sustained heat.
Furnace & Hot-Metal Handling Tooling
The grade's superior red-hardness makes it suitable for tools operating in direct contact with flame or molten metal, such as furnace fixtures, hot shear blades and mandrels.
Industries We Serve
- Steel processing and rolling mills
- Forging industry
- Extrusion industry
- Foundries
- Furnace equipment manufacturing
- Engineering & tooling workshops
Authorized Stockist
Grade H21 Supply Locations Across India
We supply Grade H21 steel across major industrial cities including Mumbai, Pune, Khopoli, Nashik, Aurangabad, Navi Mumbai, Palghar, Umbergaon, Vapi, Valsad, Daman, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Cochin, Delhi, Gurgaon, Manesar and Sonipat — as well as to export markets.
Our Steel Products
Our Services
Frequently Asked Questions
About Purohit Steel
Purohit Steel was established in 1965 by Shree Bherumalji Rajpurohit, a visionary in metallurgy. Over the decades, we have built a strong reputation as a trusted stockist and exporter of tool steel, plastic mould steel and engineering steel products across India.
As an ISO-certified company, we source premium materials from globally reputed manufacturers and operate a modern warehousing facility in Vasai along with a sales outlet in Mumbai, enabling efficient storage, fast processing and timely delivery across India and export markets.
With decades of relationships with tool & die manufacturers and a customer-focused approach, Purohit Steel continues to deliver reliable, technically supported steel solutions for the hot work tooling industry.
Read more about Purohit Steel, view our certifications, or get in touch with our technical sales team.
Our Certifications
Purohit Steel operates as an ISO-certified company, backed by documented quality management, safety and compliance certifications that support reliable supply to domestic and export customers.
View all certificates in detail on our Certifications page.
Countries We Export Worldwide
Beyond India, Purohit Steel exports tool & mould steel grades to customers across the following countries and regions:
| Export Destinations | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | Saudi Arabia | Oman | Bangladesh | Sri Lanka | Nepal |
| Vietnam | Thailand | Indonesia | Kenya | Nigeria | South Africa |
For export enquiries and destination-specific documentation, please contact our sales team.
Export Packaging & Shipping
Bars, flats and blocks are packed to withstand handling, transit and marine shipment, whether for domestic dispatch or export orders.
- Palletised and strapped packing for round bars, flat bars and blocks
- Moisture-protected wrapping to prevent surface corrosion in transit
- Seaworthy export packing with clear shipping marks and material identification
- Documentation support including packing lists, invoices and mill test certificates for customs clearance
- Shipment by road, rail or sea freight as per order requirement and destination
Quality Inspection & Testing
Every batch held in our stock is checked through documented inspection procedures before dispatch, so mould makers and OEMs receive material with verified, traceable quality.
- Chemical composition verification against mill certificates
- Hardness testing (Brinell / Rockwell) on received stock
- Dimensional inspection as per standard bar and block tolerances
- Visual and surface defect inspection
- EN 10204 2.2 / 3.1 mill test certificates provided on request
- Third-party inspection coordination available for export orders
Full material traceability is maintained from incoming stock through to dispatch for every order.
Latest Price List
Pricing depends on section size, quantity, form (round bar / flat bar / block) and current raw material rates. Indicative guidance is below — contact us for a firm, up-to-date quotation.
| Form | Typical Price Basis |
|---|---|
| Round Bar | Per Kg, based on diameter & length — contact for latest rate |
| Flat Bar / Plate | Per Kg, based on thickness & size — contact for latest rate |
| Block (cut to size) | Per Kg / Per Piece, based on drawing — contact for latest rate |
Prices are subject to change with raw material and freight costs. Share your required size and quantity via the quotation form or WhatsApp for the latest price.
MOQ & Payment Terms
Minimum Order Quantity: Flexible MOQ depending on size and form — from small trial quantities for tooling houses up to bulk orders for OEMs, subject to confirmation at enquiry stage.
Payment Terms: Advance payment / part-advance with balance before dispatch for domestic orders; T/T (bank transfer) or Letter of Credit (LC) for export orders, depending on order value and destination.