In order to determine the effect of pre-coating graphite in closed-die forging, the oxidation protection effect of graphite on the surface of blank and the lubrication effect on the surface of die at high temperature were studied by thermal gravimetric analyzer STA449F3, high-temperature box resistance heating furnace DWRX-54-12, UMT-3 high-temperature friction and wear testing machine and scanning electron microscope SEM. The results show that the burning loss rate of graphite after heating at 1000 ℃ for 80 s is 55%, and the burning loss rate increases significantly when the temperature is higher than 1000 ℃. When the temperature is 1000, 1050, 1100 and 1200 ℃, the surface of sample without pre-coating graphite is seriously burned, and the burning mass increases from 36.7 mg to 72.6 mg with the increasing of temperature. However, when the pre-coating graphite layer is at 1000 ℃ and 1100 ℃, the surface protection effect of sample is good. At 1200 ℃, the graphite layer is seriously burned, and the oxidizing weight gain occurs on the surface of sample. After pre-coating graphite, the oxide particles in the wear area of H13 steel surface gradually increase with the increasing of temperature, and the friction coefficient is stablely between 0.05-0.07, 0.33-0.37 and 0.36-0.38 at 400, 500 and 600 ℃, respectively. Therefore, pre-coating graphite on the surface of sample and die at high temperature can have good oxidation protection and lubrication effect.