Mold Steel Material
Metal materials commonly used in machinery and mold processing and their characteristics
1. 45#(S50C) Mold Steel
45# steel is also called S50C steel,it is high-quality carbon structural steel, which is the most commonly used medium carbon quenched and tempered steel.
Main features: The most commonly used medium carbon quenched and tempered steel has good comprehensive mechanical properties, low hardenability, and is prone to cracks during water quenching. Small pieces should be quenched and tempered, and large pieces should be normalized. Application example: Mainly used to manufacture high-strength moving parts, such as turbine impellers, compressor pistons. Shafts, gears, racks, worms, etc. Welded parts should be preheated before welding and annealed to relieve stress after welding.
2. Q235A (A3 steel) Mold Steel
This is the most commonly used carbon structural steel.
Main features: It has high plasticity, toughness and welding performance, cold stamping performance, as well as certain strength and good cold bending performance. Application examples: Widely used for general requirements of parts and welded structures. Such as tie rods, connecting rods, pins, shafts, screws, nuts, ferrules, brackets, machine bases, building structures, bridges, etc.
3. 40Cr Mold Steel
40Cr steel is one of the most widely used steel grades, is an alloy structural steel.
Main features: After quenching and tempering treatment, it has good comprehensive mechanical properties, low temperature impact toughness and low notch sensitivity, good hardenability, high fatigue strength can be obtained when oil cooling, and parts with complex shapes are easy to be obtained when water cooling. Cracks are generated, the cold bending plasticity is medium, the machinability after tempering or quenching and tempering is good, but the weldability is not good, and cracks are easy to occur. It should be preheated to 100 ~ 150 ℃ before welding. Carbonitriding and high frequency surface hardening are carried out. Application example: After quenching and tempering, it is used to manufacture medium-high-speed and medium-load parts, such as machine tool gears, shafts, worms, spline shafts, thimble sleeves, etc. Grinding parts, such as gears, shafts, main shafts, crankshafts, mandrels, sleeves, pins, connecting rods, screws and nuts, intake valves, etc., are used to manufacture heavy-duty, medium-speed impact after quenching and medium-temperature tempering. Parts, such as oil pump rotors, sliders, gears, spindles, collars, etc., are used to manufacture heavy-duty, low-impact, wear-resistant parts after quenching and low-temperature tempering, such as worms, spindles, shafts, collars, etc., carbon The nitriding part is used to manufacture transmission parts with larger size and higher low temperature impact toughness, such as shafts and gears.
4. HT150 Mold Steel
Application examples of gray cast iron: gear box, machine bed, box, hydraulic cylinder, pump body, valve body, flywheel, cylinder head, pulley, bearing cover, etc.
5. 35 Mold Steel
35 mold steel material is commonly used materials for various standard parts and fasteners.
Main features: Appropriate strength, good plasticity, high cold plasticity and acceptable weldability. Local upsetting and wire drawing can be performed in the cold state. Low hardenability, use after normalizing or quenching and tempering Application example: Suitable for manufacturing small-section parts, parts that can withstand large loads: such as crankshafts, levers, connecting rods, shackles, etc., various standard parts, fasteners
6. 65Mn Mold Steel
65Mn mould steel is examples of common spring steel applications: various flat and round springs of small size, seat springs, spring springs, and can also be made into spring rings, valve springs, clutch reeds, brake springs, and cold-coiled coil springs , circlip, etc.
7. 0Cr18Ni9 Mold Steel
It is the most commonly used stainless steel (US steel number 304, Japanese steel number SUS304) .
Features and applications: As the most widely used stainless heat-resistant steel, such as food equipment, general chemical equipment, and industrial equipment.
8. Cr12 Mold Steel
Cr12 mold steel is commonly used cold work die steel (American steel grade D3, Japanese steel grade SKD1).
Characteristics and application: Cr12 steel is a widely used cold work die steel, which is a high carbon and high chromium type ledeburite steel. The steel has good hardenability and good wear resistance; because the carbon content of Cr12 steel is as high as 2.3%, the impact toughness is poor, it is easy to be brittle, and it is easy to form uneven eutectic carbides; Cr12 steel is due to With good wear resistance, it is mostly used to manufacture cold punches, punches, blanking dies, cold heading dies, cold extrusion dies, punches and dies, drill sleeves, gauges that require high wear resistance with less impact load. , wire drawing dies, stamping dies, rolling plates, deep drawing dies and cold pressing dies for powder metallurgy, etc.
9. DC53 Mold Steel
Characteristics and applications of commonly used cold work die steel imported from Japan: high strength and toughness cold work die steel, the steel number of Japan’s Datong Special Steel Co., Ltd. After high temperature tempering, it has high hardness, high toughness and good wire cutting performance. Used for precision cold stamping dies, drawing dies, thread rolling dies, cold blanking dies, punches, etc. 10. SM45 – ordinary carbon plastic die steel (Japanese steel grade S45C).
10. DCCr12MoV Mold Steel
This mold steel is wear-resistant chromium steel made in China. Compared with Cr12 steel, the carbon content is lower, and Mo and V are added to improve the unevenness of carbides. MO can reduce carbide segregation and improve hardenability, and V can refine Grain increases toughness. This steel has high hardenability, the cross section can be completely hardenable below 400mm, and it can still maintain good hardness and wear resistance at 300~400℃. It has higher toughness than Cr12, and the volume change during quenching is small. , and has high wear resistance and good comprehensive mechanical properties. Therefore, it can manufacture various molds with large cross-section, complex shapes, and withstand greater impact, such as ordinary drawing dies, continuous dies, punching dies, punching dies, drop dies Material die, trimming die, piping die, wire drawing die, cold extrusion die, cold cutting scissors, circular saw, standard tools, measuring tools, etc.
11. SKD11 Mold Steel
SKD11 is toughness chromium steel. It is produced by Hitachi Co., Ltd. in Japan. It improves the casting structure in the steel technically, and refines the grains. Compared with Cr12mov, the toughness and wear resistance are improved, and the service life of the mold is prolonged.
12. D2 Mold Steel
D2 is high carbon and high chromium cold work steel, produced in the United States. It has high hardenability, hardenability, wear resistance, good high temperature oxidation resistance, good corrosion resistance after quenching and polishing, and small heat treatment deformation. Manufacture of various cold work dies, cutting tools and measuring tools that require high precision and long life, such as drawing dies, cold extrusion dies, cold shearing knives, etc.
13. SKD11(SLD) Mold Steel
It is non-deformable ductile high-chromium steel. Produced by Hitachi, Ltd. Japan. Due to the increase in the content of MO and V in the steel, the casting structure in the steel is improved, the grains are refined, and the carbide morphology is improved, so The strength and toughness of this steel (bending strength, deflection, impact toughness, etc.) are higher than SKD1, D2, the wear resistance is also increased, and it has higher tempering resistance. Practice has proved that the life of this steel is better than that of Cr12mov Improve. Often manufacturing molds with high requirements, such as tensile molds, molds for impact grinding wheels, etc.
14. DC53 Mold Steel
DC53 mould steel is high toughness and high chromium steel, produced by Datong Co., Ltd. in Japan. Heat treatment hardness is higher than SKD11. After high temperature (520-530) tempering, it can reach 62-63HRC high hardness, and DC53 exceeds SKD11 in strength and wear resistance. The toughness is twice that of SKD11. The toughness of DC53 rarely occurs cracks and cracks in cold work die manufacturing. The service life is greatly improved. The residual stress is small. The residual stress is reduced after high temperature. Because cracks and deformation after wire cutting processing are suppressed. The machinability and abrasiveness exceed SKD11. Used for precision stamping dies, cold forging, deep drawing dies, etc.
15. SKH-9 Mold Steel
General high-speed steel with high wear resistance and high toughness. It is produced by Hitachi Co., Ltd. in Japan. It is used for cold forging dies, slitters, drills, reamers, punches, etc.
16. ASP-23 Mold Steel
ASP-23 is Powder metallurgy high-speed steel, made in Sweden. Carbide distribution is extremely uniform, wear resistance, high toughness, easy processing, heat treatment dimensional stability. Used for punches, deep drawing dies, drilling dies, milling cutters and shear blades and other long-life cutting tools.
17. P20H Mold Steel
The size of plastic molds generally required, produced in the United States. It can be operated by electrical corrosion. The factory state is pre-hardened HB270-300. Quenching hardness is HRC52.
18. 718H Mold Steel
High-demand plastic molds, made in Sweden. Especially for electro-erosion operations. Pre-hardened HB290-330 in the factory state. Quenching hardness HRC52.
19.Nak80 Mold Steel
Nak80 mold steel is high mirror surface, high precision plastic mold, produced by Datong Co., Ltd. in Japan. Pre-hardened HB370-400 in the factory state. Quenching hardness HRC52.
20. S136 Mold Steel
Anti-corrosion and mirror-polished plastic mold, made in Sweden. Pre-hardened HB<215. Quenching hardness HRC52.
21. H13 Mold Steel
Commonly used die-casting die for aluminum, zinc, magnesium and alloy die-casting. Hot stamping die, aluminum extrusion die.
22. SKD61 Mold Steel
SKD61 mold steel is advanced die-casting die, produced by Hitachi, Japan. After ballast redissolving technology, the service life has been significantly improved compared with H13. Hot stamping die, aluminum extrusion die.
23. 8407 Mold Steel
8407 mold steel is advanced die-casting mold, made in Sweden. Hot stamping die, aluminum extrusion die.
24. FDAC Mold Steel
FDAC is added sulfur to enhance its machinability, the factory pre-hardened hardness is 338-42HRC, and it can be directly engraved without quenching and tempering. It is used for small batch molds, simple molds, and various resin products. Sliding parts, mold parts with short delivery time. Zipper mold, eyeglass frame mold.
Mold steel is an essential material utilized in the manufacturing of injection molds for plastic products. It must endure high pressure, high temperatures, and the corrosive nature of certain plastics.
Selection Criteria
The choice of mold steel depends on several factors including the type of plastic being used, the complexity of the part being molded, the production volume, and the required surface finish of the final product. For instance, steels like S136 are chosen for their excellent polishability and corrosion resistance, making them suitable for clear plastic parts or parts that require a high-quality surface finish
Types of Mold Steel
Plastic Mold Steel
Designed for plastic injection molds, it requires properties like high hardness, wear resistance, and polishability. Common types include P20, 718, and S136H
Cold Work Mold Steel
Used for cold-state forming processes like stamping and pressing. It needs high hardness and toughness.
Hot Work Mold Steel
Employed in high-temperature applications such as die casting and forging. It must have excellent heat resistance and toughness.
Applications
Injection Molds
The most common application where the steel must be able to handle high pressures and temperatures.
Blow Molds
Used for creating hollow plastic parts where surface finish and dimensional stability are critical.
Compression Molds
Employed in the manufacturing of solid plastic parts where the material is compressed into a mold cavity.
Heat Treatment
Mold steel often requires heat treatment to achieve the desired hardness and wear resistance. However, this process must be carefully controlled to prevent deformation and to ensure uniform properties throughout the steel
Maintenance
Proper maintenance of mold steel is vital to prolong its service life. This includes regular cleaning, inspection for cracks or wear, and appropriate storage conditions to prevent rust and corrosion.
Key Properties
Hardness and Wear Resistance
Essential for withstanding friction and wear from molten plastic.
Polishing Performance
Important for achieving a smooth surface finish on the mold.
Weldability
Crucial for repairing and modifying molds.
Corrosion Resistance
Necessary for preventing damage when processing certain types of plastics, especially those that release corrosive gases during processing.
Minimal Deformation in Heat Treatment:
Required to maintain dimensional accuracy and prolong mold life.
In conclusion, the selection and treatment of mold steel are critical factors in the successful production of plastic components through injection molding. Understanding the properties and requirements of mold steel can significantly impact the quality and longevity of the molds and the plastic parts they produce.
Wide Range Of Material Applications
Scheduling An Appointment
Mold steel refers to steel containing a variety of metal elements,it is used to produce various types of molds such as: plastic molds, plastic molds, stretching molds, stamping dies, die-casting dies, extrusion dies, hot forging dies, etc.