How to Select Tool Steel for Injection Mold Toolings
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How to Select Tool Steel for Injection Mold Toolings
The first two questions a toolmaker will ask:
1) What is the annual volume and life expectancy of the injection mold tooling?
A mold tooling that only requires 1000 pcs part per year,will have super different steel
requirements than a mold tooling that runs millions of parts per year.
2) What plastic material will you choose for your injection mold tooling? If the plastic material is a filled resin (glass/carbon etc.), those materials are abrasive and will require mold tool steel that has good wear properties. High-temperature plastic materials will also require steels that tolerate the required higher processing temperatures.
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Common Mold Tool Steel Types
There are hundreds of types of mold tool steel, but the ones listed below are among the most commonly used.Different mold factories may prefer certain types over others, depending on their familiarity with these materials and the availability of reliable suppliers.The following table lists the frequently encountered mold steel types.
P20 Pre-hardened HRC28-32/AISI USA
Medium carbon Cr-Mo series plastic mold steel, excellent processing and polishing performance, affordable, suitable for products with low requirements and small production.
01
1.2343 Post heat-treated HRC 50-54/DIN Germany
Cr-Ni-Mo series mold steel, corresponding to American grade P20+Ni and 718, with better hardenability, capable of making larger molds.
02
H13 Post heat-treated HRC48-52/AISI USA
Contains Cr-Mo-V hot work alloy mold steel, the corresponding grade to 8407.
03
420 SS Post heat-treated HRC50-52/AISI US
With a chromium content of 13.5%, corresponds to grade S136. It has good corrosion resistance, wear resistance, hardenability, and machinability for plastic mold steel
04
Details
Steel P20 Pre-hardened HRC28-32/AISI USA
P20 is a pre-hardened mold steel and is one of the first steels listed in any plastics engineering textbook because of its versatility and relatively easy processing ability. It's part of the P-series mold steels, which are chromium-molybdenum-based low-carbon tool steels.
Versatility: can be used for a base, cavity, core, slides, etc.
Relatively low cost compared to other tool steels
No heat treating required
Wear resistance lower than other tool steels
Hardness lower than other common tool steels
Short tool lifetime when molding highly abrasive, high-temperature plastics.
Best Used For: Low to medium-volume production with plastics that don't require high wear resistance. The most common plastic materials molded in P20 would be polypropylene, polyethylene, and materials in those families.active Lmembers
hardness
mold lifetime
standard
H13 Post heat-treated HRC48-52/AISI USA
H13 tool steel is a chromium-molybdenum-vanadium steel. It is the workhorse of the tooling industry. Known for its excellent toughness, wear resistance, and thermal fatigue resistance, H13 is commonly used for high-volume tooling and the molding of any abrasive plastics. H13 is a member of the H (Hot working) family of tool steels.
Excellent wear resistance & Ability to be polished
H13 stays stable during constant temperature fluctuations, such as the heating and cooling during a mold cycle
Higher cost & Difficulty of machining
H13 rusts, requiring surface treatment and mold maintenance to maintain quality
Best Used For: High-volume molding of engineering, abrasive, or high-temperature plastics and tools. It is the logical step up from a P20 or aluminum tool. If the tool is going to run 500K+ of cycles or the part is made from a high-temperature or filled plastic, this is the correct steel to choose.
Hardness
Mold lifetime
Standard
1.2344 Post heat-treated HRC 50-54/DIN Germany
DIN 1.2343 steel, equivalent to AISI H11, belongs to the category of hot work tool steels. It's known for its exceptional toughness, resistance to thermal fatigue, and its ability to maintain its properties even at elevated temperatures.
1.2344/1.2343 stays stable during constant temperature fluctuations, such as the heating and cooling during a mold cycle.
Thermal Robustness: This material's standout feature is its unparalleled stability under high heat, making it a favorite for tasks involving elevated temperatures.
Endurance: The inherent robustness of 1.2343 material ensures longevity, especially in demanding environments.
Wear Resilience: Wear and tear are inevitable, but with steel 1.2343, the resistance is commendable, ensuring a longer lifespan for tools and components.
Best Used For: High-volume molding of engineering, abrasive, or high-temperature plastics and tools. It is the high step for mass production. If the tool will run millions of cycles or it is made from a high-temperature or filled plastic,it's the correct steel to choose.
Hardness
Mold Lifetime
Standard
If you need more technique supports Or Steel Certificates,welcome to Contact Us:
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