| Abstract Scope |
H13 tool steel is used in die-casting and hot-work applications but exhibits corrosion and oxidation resistance. Traditional post-processing methods can improve these properties, although they increase complexity. This study evaluates chromium enrichment, up to 11 wt.%, in laser powder directed energy deposition (DED)-fabricated H13 as an alloy-design strategy. Four conditions were investigated: annealed H13 substrate and DED-processed H13 containing 5, 8, and 11 wt.% Cr. Potentiodynamic polarization, cyclic corrosion exposure, high-temperature oxidation, and Vickers hardness testing were conducted. Results show that 8 wt.% Cr achieves the best balance of properties, providing corrosion resistance comparable to conventionally processed H13 while maintaining hardness at 621 HV. The 11 wt.% Cr condition produced corrosion and oxidation resistance through enhanced Cr2O3 passive layer formation, while retaining hardness above the annealed baseline. These findings demonstrate that targeted chromium enrichment through DED can extend H13 tooling life in chemically aggressive environments. |