Custom Forged Die Block Manufacturer | 5CrNiMo, H13, D2, 718 Mold Steel Supplier | HHF
- HHF
- HENAN
- 45DAYS
- 200pcs per month
HHF is the supplier of forged custom die blocks and molds made in grade 5CrNiMo, H13, D2, 718, and NAK80 material at press capacity 10,000 tons with GB/T6402-1991 ultrasonic testing, full in-house lab verification, and the end usage as die casting and hot forging molds.
Custom Forged Die Block Manufacturer | 5CrNiMo, H13, D2, 718 Mold Steel Supplier | HHF
HHF produces custom-forged die blocks and mold steels in grades such as 5CrNiMo, H13, D2, 718, 4Cr13, 4Cr16Mo, and NAK80.
Manufactured on 10,000-ton hydraulic press with GB/T6402-1991 specification for ultrasonic testing, the die blocks of HHF can be used for die casting, hot forging, as well as the plastic mold applications where material soundness internally and hardness consistency have prime importance.
Reasons For Early Failure Of Die Blocks And The Way HHF Cures It
In most instances problems with die blocks do not become visible until the die block has reached a certain level of production. A 5CrNMo block can go through several 100 casting cycles before heat checking is spotted. It may take an H13 block running at a temperature that only brings in heat stress to get exposed a core porosity when finishing machining is the phase when it becomes revealed.
Failure analysis conducted on a hot work tooling points out three kinds of damage mechanism which happen to lead the failure: wear, mechanical fatigue and cracking as well as thermal fatigue and heat checking. Wear happens to be responsible about 70% of the cases where the failure results, mechanical fatigue cracks the main cause of about 25%, and heat checking and plastic deformation the remaining 3-5%. In a lot of the failures the material is the culprit of course; not properly harden the core so that the core is softer than it should be, not forging correctly which leaves carbides segregation and porosity behind.
Material flow at this stage is mainly influenced by source steels. We apply either electric furnace plus vacuum refining or vacuum refining plus electroslag remelting in order to achieve the desired grade of steel for the application. Die blocks are forged by our 10,000-ton hydraulic press. Adequate forging ratio leads to breakup of carbide networks and to consolidate internally.
Cube-like parts are subjected to ultrasonic examination according to GB/T6402-1991. Defects of a large-sized type are not tolerated since they should not be bigger than the size of defects φ2mm. As for the individual, scattered defects a strict number and size limits are imposed on them.
Benefits Of HHF Die Block Steel
Some items are just too good to omit. Firstly forging control by ratio. If the block, of a very great cross-section, is forged without a sufficient level of deformation, it will still preserve most of the microstructure found in cast metals in the core part, whereas subsequent heat treatment can only partially do. In this case, forging with multi-directional deformation, especially on the 10,000-ton press, will help achieve a more equal distribution of the material's microstructure. Secondly, different types of steels are offered. Starting with the basic 5CrNiMo and going on to tough, hard-wearing H13, abrasion-resistant D2, pre-hard 718, and NAK80, the range includes steels for various service conditions. Thirdly, the testing is done in house. Composition, strength, hardness, ultrasonic testing—all are our in-process operations, so we aren't held up waiting for outside reports.
Forging, heat treating, and rough machining are done at the same site; dimensional control remains with one party only.
Custom die blocks
Mold service conditions vary greatly. Dies used for die-casting undergo thermal stress during cycling and metal erosion from pouring molten metal, therefore thermal fatigue resistance is essential. Dies subjected to hot-forging get struck repeatedly by the hammer and have surface wear due to friction at high temperatures resulting in the requirement for a combination of strength, toughness, ability not to crack after prolonged heating, and temper, which refers to the change in hardness after the final heat treatment. In the case of plastic-molds, they may not be exposed to as harsh of conditions as their metal counterparts, transparent parts in particular are very sensitive to imperfections; hence, excellent polishing characteristics are a must.
In our engineering department, we will evaluate, together with you, the type of the mold, the material of the workpiece, and the amount of parts you are going to produce, and from that, we will decide which steel grade and heat treatment we recommend for you.
Die block in a state of pre-harden means that a quenching step is skipped by customers who desire to get the product directly to the machine shop.
Annealed blocks, which is suitable for customers who themselves undertake heat treatment.
Chemical Composition
| No. | Grade | C | Si | Mn | Cr | Mo | P | S | Ni | V |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5CrNiMo | 0.50-0.60 | ≤0.40 | 0.50-0.80 | 0.50-0.80 | 0.15-0.30 | ≤0.025 | ≤0.025 | 1.40-1.80 | / |
| 2 | H13 | 0.32-0.45 | 0.80-1.20 | 0.20-0.50 | 4.75-5.50 | 1.10-1.75 | ≤0.025 | ≤0.025 | / | 0.80-1.20 |
| 3 | D2 | 1.40-1.60 | 0.10-0.60 | 0.20-0.60 | 11.0-13.0 | 0.70-1.20 | ≤0.025 | ≤0.025 | / | 0.50-1.10 |
| 4 | 718 | 0.32-0.40 | 0.20-0.80 | 1.00-1.50 | 1.70-2.00 | 0.25-0.40 | ≤0.025 | ≤0.025 | 0.85-1.15 | / |
| 5 | 4Cr13 | 0.36-0.45 | ≤0.60 | ≤0.80 | 12.0-14.0 | / | ≤0.025 | ≤0.025 | / | / |
| 6 | 4Cr16Mo | 0.33-0.43 | ≤1.00 | ≤1.00 | 15.0-17.0 | 1.00-1.30 | ≤0.025 | ≤0.025 | / | / |
| 7 | NAK 80 | 0.05-0.18 | 0.15-1.00 | 1.0-2.0 | 0.20-0.40 | 0.20-0.40 | ≤0.025 | ≤0.025 | 2.30-3.50 | / |
Mechanical Properties
| No. | Grade | Annealed Hardness HB | Tempered Hardness HRC | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5CrNiMo | 197-241 | 53-58 | General-purpose hot forging die steel |
| 2 | H13 | ≤235 | ≥60 | High toughness hot work die steel |
| 3 | D2 | ≤255 | ≥59 | High wear cold work die steel |
| 4 | 718 | Pre-hardened 30-35 HRC | Hardened 35-40 HRC | Pre-hardened plastic mold steel |
| 5 | 4Cr13 | ≤201 | ≥50 | Corrosion-resistant mold steel |
| 6 | 4Cr16Mo | ≤250 | ≥49 | Corrosion-resistant mirror mold steel |
| 7 | NAK 80 | 37-43 HRC | Aging hardened, no quenching needed | High mirror plastic mold steel |
Technical Requirements
Allowable deviation of chemical composition follows GB222-84. Melting method is electric furnace plus vacuum refining, or vacuum refining plus electroslag remelting, specified in the contract. Ultrasonic inspection follows GB/T6402-1991. Dense defects larger than φ2mm equivalent diameter are not permitted. A limited number of scattered defects are allowed, with no more than 3 of φ2-3mm equivalent diameter and only one of φ3-4mm.



Quality Control You Can Verify
Die block quality is not a promise, it is a set of measured results. We hold API Q1, API 7-1, CSSC, ISO 9001:2008, and ISO/TS29001 certifications. Our National Class II physical and chemical laboratory performs tensile testing, low-temperature impact testing down to -80°C, chemical composition analysis, metallographic structure analysis, non-metallic inclusion analysis, grain size analysis, and other checks. Ultrasonic inspection records and physical-chemical reports ship with every batch. If you want to verify before ordering, request sample inspection reports or come see the lab.
Warranty and After-Sales Service
Every HHF die block carries a 12-month warranty from delivery, covering manufacturing defects in material, forging, and heat treatment. Confirmed issues during the warranty period are resolved by repair, replacement, or credit per contract terms. Technical questions are answered within one working day. For overseas customers who want SGS or BV involved, we can coordinate a joint inspection.
Logistics and Delivery
Die blocks are heavy and oversized, so transport needs advance planning. We use seaworthy packing with anti-rust treatment on machined surfaces. Lifting points and securing arrangements for large blocks are confirmed with the forwarder. We ship from Qingdao, Shanghai, or Tianjin under FOB, CIF, or DAP terms. Packing photos, measurement records, and inspection reports go out with the goods.
Payment Terms
Standard terms are 30% down payment to start production, 70% before delivery. Long-term customers and repeat orders can discuss sight L/C or partial payment against shipping documents. T/T and L/C are both accepted.
About HHF
Henan Zhongyuan Heavy Forging Co., Ltd. (HHF) was founded in November 2004 in Jiyuan City, Henan Province. The company is a national high-tech enterprise. The factory covers about 150 mu, with three large open-die forging lines built around a 10,000-ton hydraulic press, plus two die forging lines, large CNC machining centers, heat treatment lines, and a National Class II physical and chemical laboratory. Annual capacity reaches 50,000 tons of large forgings, with single pieces exceeding 30 tons. Products are exported to Germany, the United States, Australia, India, Russia, Brazil, South Africa, South Korea, Japan, and more than 20 other countries and regions.

Frequently Asked Questions
How fast can a quotation be provided?
Sometimes, 3 working days are enough. However, we do require you to provide mold type, dimensions, and material grade.
How do you handle quality?
We have a specialized quality team that works closely with production. They check everything - from raw materials coming in to products being shipped out. Ultrasonic inspection is done according to GB/T6402-1991, physical-chemical tests are also done here.
Can I see how your factory is working?
Yes, you will be able to come and look around the premises. Our technical staff will be available to you for discussion.
What is the production time estimate?
We have several manufacturing phases: forging, rough machining, heat treatment and finish machining. A typical production cycle takes 45 days.Pre-hardened blocks may be shipped earlier.
What payment methods do your accept?
A down payment of 30 percent is the start of the transaction and the remaining 70 percent should be paid before the actual delivery of the goods.
What is the distinction between 5CrNiMo and H13?
5CrNiMo is a hot forging die steel used for a variety of purposes with a lower price, which is suitable for small and medium lot sizes. H13 is a steel that has better toughness and thermal fatigue resistance, which makes it suitable for high-load die casting and hot forging dies.
Are 718 available in pre-hard state?
Yes. 718 is mostly supplied in a pre-hard state with hardness ranging from 30HRC to 35HRC, which is machinable straight away without further heat treatment.
Are test reports included with the delivery of the die blocks?
Sure thing. Along with chemical composition and mechanical properties we also send hardness and ultrasound inspection reports.
From which ports do you dispatch your shipments?Qingdao, Shanghai or, in exceptional cases, Tianjin. We can work with FOB, CIF, and DAP terms.
Ready to Start Your Die Block Project?
Send your mold type, dimensions, material grade, and quantity through the inquiry form below. Our engineering team will review it and come back with a quotation within three working days. If the project is still early and you do not have everything ready, send what you have and we will help move it forward. Material selection, heat treatment condition, and inspection standards are all open for discussion before you lock the spec. Fill in the form at the bottom of this page, and we will tell you exactly what we can do and how we will verify it.







