Can AISI H13 Hot Work Tool Steel: Die Casting & Forging Dies be substituted for AISI P20 Pre-Hardened Mold Steel: Plastic Injection Molding Standard?

In many applications these materials can be cross-referenced, but always verify against project specifications.

AISI H13 Hot Work Tool Steel: Die Casting & Forging Dies vs AISI P20 Pre-Hardened Mold Steel: Plastic Injection Molding Standard

Q: What is the main difference between AISI H13 Hot Work Tool Steel: Die Casting & Forging Dies and AISI P20 Pre-Hardened Mold Steel: Plastic Injection Molding Standard?

AISI H13 Hot Work Tool Steel: Die Casting & Forging Dies provides 1,380 MPa (200 ksi) at 48-50 HRC yield strength at 7.80 g/cm³, while AISI P20 Pre-Hardened Mold Steel: Plastic Injection Molding Standard delivers 850 MPa (123 ksi) at 28-32 HRC at 7.85 g/cm³. Choose based on whether strength, weight, or corrosion resistance is your primary requirement.

Side-by-side engineering comparison of AISI H13 Hot Work Tool Steel: Die Casting & Forging Dies (ASTM A681) and AISI P20 Pre-Hardened Mold Steel: Plastic Injection Molding Standard (ASTM A681 (modified)). Compare mechanical properties, chemical composition, density, yield strength, international equivalents, and typical applications to select the right material for your project.

Quick Comparison

Property	AISI H13 Hot Work Tool St	AISI P20 Pre-Hardened Mol
Standard	`ASTM A681`	`ASTM A681 (modified)`
Category	Tool Steel	Tool Steel
Density	7.80 g/cm³	7.85 g/cm³
Yield Strength	1,380 MPa (200 ksi) at 48-50 HRC	850 MPa (123 ksi) at 28-32 HRC
Tensile Strength	1,580 MPa (229 ksi) at 48-50 HRC	1,000 MPa (145 ksi) at 28-32 HRC
Key Applications	AISI H13 is the most widely used hot work tool steel with 0.32-0.45% C, 4.75-5.50% Cr, 1.10-1.75% Mo, and 0.80-1.20% V. ...	AISI P20 is a chromium-molybdenum pre-hardened mold steel supplied at 28-32 HRC—ready for machining directly into plasti...

International Equivalents

AISI H13 Hot Work To Equivalents	AISI P20 Pre-Hardene Equivalents
EN X40CrMoV5-1	EN 40CrMnNiMo8-6-4
DIN 1.2344	DIN 1.2738
SKD61	NAK80
4Cr5MoSiV1	3Cr2Mo
JIS SKD61	P20+Ni

How to Choose

Choose AISI H13 Hot Work Tool St when...	H13 is a through-hardening hot work steel for aluminum die casting and forging dies operating at 540°C.
Choose AISI P20 Pre-Hardened Mol when...	P20 is pre-hardened (28-32 HRC) mold steel for plastic injection molding—machined directly, no post-machining heat treatment needed..

AISI H13 Hot Work Tool Steel: Full Specs → AISI P20 Pre-Hardened Mold Ste Full Specs →

Frequently Compared Questions

What is the main difference between AISI H13 Hot Work Tool Steel: and AISI P20 Pre-Hardened Mold Ste?

AISI H13 Hot Work Tool Steel: Die Casting & Forging Dies (ASTM A681) provides 1,380 MPa (200 ksi) at 48-50 HRC yield strength at 7.80 g/cm³ density, while AISI P20 Pre-Hardened Mold Steel: Plastic Injection Molding Standard (ASTM A681 (modified)) delivers 850 MPa (123 ksi) at 28-32 HRC at 7.85 g/cm³. The choice depends on whether your application prioritizes hot work tooling (die casting, forging, extrusion) or plastic injection molds running below 200°C.

Can AISI H13 Hot Work Tool Steel: be substituted for AISI P20 Pre-Hardened Mold Ste?

In many applications, these materials can be cross-referenced, but direct substitution should always be verified against specific project specifications, especially for hot work tooling (die casting, forging, extrusion), plastic injection molds running below 200°C, and operating environment. Consult your engineer of record.