Steel 1.2344 - USD

1.2344 - USD:
High-temperature strength and thermal shock resistance.

What?

1.2344 – USD steel is a Cr-Mo-V alloyed hot-work tool steel with high-temperature strength and higher thermal shock resistance than USN. USD is thermal shock resistant, water coolable, and is characterised by high hardenability.

Material properties

Properties of steel type 1.2344 – USD

High-temperature strength .
Higher thermal shock resistance .
Thermal shock resistant .
Watercooling possible.
Characterised by high hardenability.

Application

The most common applications for steel type 1.2344 – USD are:

Extrusion press tools for light metal processing, such as dies, chamber tools, die holders, press mandrels, valves and stems, shear blades.
Press mandrels and stems for steel and heavy metal processing in extrusion presses.
Die casting tools such as moulding plates, valves, cores, ejectors, sprue bushings and filling fittings in the processing of light metals and zinc alloys.
Tools in forging machines, compression moulding dies, die inserts, punches and mandrels for steel, heavy and light metals.

Physical properties of 1.2344 - USD steel

Temperature in °C	20-100	20-200	20-400	20-600
Thermal expansion in 10-6m/m x K	10.3	11.3	12.2	12.8
Temperature in °C	20	200	400
Thermal conductivity in W/m x K	25.5	27.1	27.7
Temperature in °C	20
Density in g/cm3	7.8

Heat treatment

Soft annealing	Temperature: 820 – 840 °C
	Cooling: slow furnace cooling
	Hardness: max. 220 HB
Hardening	Temperature: 1020 – 1040 °C
	Cooling Air cooling, warm bath of approx. 540 °C, Oil/polymer; Interrupt oil or polymer cooling at 230 – 280 °C or vacuum hardening
Tempering	Temperature: 520 – 700 °C
	Hardness: see tempering curve
Nitriding	Possible
Preheat before use	Temperature: 150 – 350 °C

Graphs and datasheet for 1.2344 - USD

Continue time-temperature-transformation

Tempering

High-temperature strength