Premium & Industrial Tool Steel Solutions
Plastic moulding requires unique properties from the tool material. With the outstanding knowledge provided by our tool steel experts at BÖHLER and Uddeholm we are able to support you facing the challenges accross the entirety of the plastic moulding value chain. Every tool has its own specific requirements – especially when it comes to the highly differentiated processing of plastics. Depending on requirements, various classic tool steels and remelted or powder metallurgically produced high-performance materials are used. Our brands offer the plastics industry a range of tool steels, proven and tested in practice and customised for the respective application. These guarantee high tool life, maximum precision during processing and perfect quality of the plastic surfaces.
BÖHLER and Uddeholm plastic mould steels are used for tools and tool parts in numerous plastics processing methods, e.g. injection moulding and extrusion. Above all, we are the market leader in the most versatile, stainless material programme for the plastics processing industry.
Our materials meet the special requirements for mould materials in plastics processing, including, but not limited to:
- Supreme wear resistance, hardness when processing certain plastics (GRP) and at temperatures up to approx. 400°C
- High corrosion resistance when processing certain plastics (e.g. PVC) and under critical cooling conditions
- High mechanical strength and toughness (fracture resistance and resistance to plastic deformation)
- Tools almost always need to be cooled
- Partly very large dimensions
- High Polishability
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This group of steels is specially designed for use as corrosion-resistant tool steels in plastics processing when corrosion and wear resistance are of primary importance, as is the case, for example, when processing fibre-reinforced and heavily filled, aggressive plastics. Experience shows that corrosion-resistant tool steels with hardnesses of over 50 HRC are then required. Under particularly critical operating conditions, however, steels with a higher carbide content and hardnesses above 60 HRC are often essential.
Steels in this product group are usually selected hardenable, martensitic stainless steels with approx. 13 to 20 % Cr , alloyed with Mo , W and V and a C content of approx. 0.40 to over 2%.
In general, the production of these steels with regard to purity, homogeneity and analytical balance takes special account of the needs of plastics processing with regard to polishability and corrosion resistance, and high-purity steels are frequently produced by remelting processes, e.g. electroslag (ESR), or extremely homogeneous, high-alloy steels are produced by powder metallurgy.
A special category of hardenable corrosion resistant steels are High Nitrogen Steels (HNS). In such steels the high Carbon (C)- content present usually in steels of this group is reduced and part of the Carbon is replaced by Nitrogen(N). This results in a hardness of approx. 58 HRC together with the best corrosion resistance and optimum homogeneity and prevents the excessive bonding of Chromium in the form of carbides. Usually remelting of this steel takes place in the special Pressure Electroslag Remelting Process (PESR).
Related Products
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- Plastic Mould
- AISI ~420
- EN X40Cr14
- JIS ~SUS420J2
- SEL ~1.2083
- EN ISO 4957
- Others AFNOR Z40C14
BÖHLER M310 ISOPLAST is a corrosion-resistant, martensitic chromium steel which, through electroslag remelting and optimization of the chemical composition, has a good homogeneity and a balanced hardness-toughness-corrosion resistance ratio.
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- Plastic Mould
BÖHLER M390 MICROCLEAN is a corrosion-resistant, martensitic chromium steel produced by powder metallurgy. Due to its alloy design, this steel has very high wear resistance and good corrosion resistance. In addition, BÖHLER M390 MICROCLEAN is approved for food and beverage contact.
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- Plastic Mould
- AISI 440C
- EN X105CrMo17
- SEL 1.4125
BÖHLER N695 is a corrosion-resistant, martensitic chromium steel with a high carbon content and added molybdenum.
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- Plastic Mould
Uddeholm Corrax is a precipitation hardening steel with a unique set of properties that makes it perfect for many demanding applications. The superior resistance against corrosion combined with a hardness up to 50 HRC and a simple heat treatment makes Uddeholm Corrax the obvious choice for long run series of aggressive plastics such as PVC. The chemical composition makes Uddeholm Corrax easy to process by Additive Manufacturing. Hence, it is also available as powder for Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) and Laser Metal Deposition (LMD). Benefits Very good corrosion resistance Flexible hardness of 34-50 HRC achieved by ageing No hard “white layer” after EDM
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- Plastic Mould
Uddeholm Tyrax ESR combines best in class toughness, corrosion and wear resistance. This grade was developed for molding of high performance plastics often filled with glass fiber reinforcements and additives like flame retardants. This matrix- based microstructure is designed to achieve a high-gloss surface by only a few polishing steps, dramatically reducing the tool lead time and enabling production of top quality plastic parts. Uddeholm Tyrax ESR can achieve a high hardness (up to 58 HRC) and is a suitable upgrade from AISI 420 ESR, AISI S7 and AISI 440C. Benefits good dimensional stability at heat treatment and in service even microstructure and small grain size good hardenability Uddeholm Tyrax is also available for Additive Manufacturing, powder for processing Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) and Laser Metal Deposition (LMD).
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This group of steels is specifically intended for use as corrosion-resistant tool steel in plastics processing.
Pre-tempered steels are steels that are already quenched and tempered by the steel supplier, usually with hardnesses of 30 to 40 HRC, and are then delivered to tool production in this condition. By omitting the heat treatment in the course of tool production, the economic efficiency can be significantly improved. With the delivery hardness in the range of approx. 30 to approx. 40 HRC, there is a good compromise between machinability and wear resistance or compressive strength (edge stability), which is sufficient for many applications in plastics processing.
Steels in this product group are usually selected martensitic stainless steels with approx. 13 to 17 % Cr , alloyed with Mo and Ni and a C content of approx. 0.30 to 0.40%.
In the production of these steels, special consideration is given to the needs of plastics processing with regard to polishability and corrosion resistance in terms of purity, homogeneity and analytical balance.
In special cases, the microstructure is specifically optimised by a special analytical balance, and sulphur is added in small proportions (0.10 to approx. 0.20%) to improve machinability. However, due to the addition of sulphur, losses in corrosion resistance and polishability have to be taken into account.
Related Products
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- Plastic Mould
RoyAlloy is a high-performance stainless mould base tool steel designed to deliver exceptional durability and efficiency in demanding tooling environments. It is developed to meet the requirements of mould bases and moulds where demands on surface finish, service life, and corrosion resistance are more moderate. The material offers an attractive balance between performance, machinability, and cost, making it a competitive option for standard applications in the plastics industry. Benefits Unlike conventional stainless steels, RoyAlloy is supplied in a pre-hardened condition of approximately 30 HRC, eliminating the need for additional heat treatment. This significantly reduces lead times and production costs while ensuring dimensional stability throughout machining and finishing processes. RoyAlloy’s superior corrosion resistance sets it apart in applications where moisture or humid environments can compromise tool life. By minimizing rust and surface degradation, it ensures longer service intervals and reduced maintenance costs. The material’s homogeneous structure and stable mechanical properties provide good dimensional stability and sufficient strength for applications involving short to medium production runs or less demanding plastics. The steel’s weldability and repairability further enhance its value, allowing easy maintenance and extending tool lifespan.
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- Plastic Mould
Uddeholm Mirrax 40 is a prehardened remelted stainless tool steel, supplied at 40 HRC. Uddeholm Mirrax 40 is produced using the electroslag remelting (ESR) process – an additional step in the steelmaking process that ensures very clean steel. Consequently, Uddeholm Mirrax 40 is capable of being polished to a very high surface finish. In addition, the combination of high hardness with high toughness results in a mould with good resistance to indentations and minimize the risk of unexpected failures, leading to a safer mould and a prolonged tool life. Benefits Lower production costs Fast tool making Excellent surface finish possible Less maintenance work Safe production
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