DIN X36CrMo17 1.2316 / JIS SUS420J2 Plastic Mold Tool Steel

1.2316 is a widely used plastic mold steel that belongs to the Germany standard DIN 17350. It is known for its excellent corrosion resistance, high polishability, and good machinability, making it particularly suitable for manufacturing plastic injection molds, especially when processing corrosive plastics . Due to its common usage and superior performance, many countries have equivalent steel grades to DIN 1.2316, such as: X36CrMo17 from International standard ISO 4957, SUS420J2 from Japan standard JIS G4303.

1.2316 steel contains a high chromium content (around 16%), which enhances its corrosion resistance, while the addition of molybdenum improves its hardness and wear resistance. This steel is often supplied in a pre-hardened state, reducing the need for additional heat treatment and allowing for direct machining into molds.

1: Steel equivalent

2: Chemical composition

3: Surface hardness and hardenability.

4: Supply size & Tolerance & Stock size

Qilu steel stock hot rolled steel plate more than hundreds of tons every month, below our our stock size.

1): Stock thickness for hot rolled plate

Since the stocks change everyday, if you want to know our stock available information, please contact our salesman.

5: Ultrasonic Test    

EN10228-3 class III or Sep 1921-84 D/D

6：Steel making & Forging processing

1): Steel making process:

  EF+LF+VD

  EAF+LF+VD

  EF+LF+VD+ESR

  EAF+LF+VD+ESR

2): Forging processing:  

Put the 1.2316 ingot into the furnace and pre-heat to 600-800℃

Continue heating the ingot to initial temperature: 1050-1100℃

Forge the ingot, forging temperature should be not less than 850℃

Cooling in the sand or in the furnace slowly after forging

7: Heat treatment

1): Annealed:

Heat 1.2316 steel to 780-820℃ in the furnace

Soak at this temperature in the furnace

Cooling in the furnace slowly

2): Quenching and tempering:  

Heat 1.2316 steel to 900-1010℃ in the salt bath furnace

Soak at this temperature in the furnace

Quench in oil

Temper steel at 170-190℃ in the furnace

Take out from furnace and cool in the air.

Above curve in figure is just a rough guide to the tempering behaviour of steels. When applying the curves for an estimation of the hardness which can be expected in quenched and tempered tools, it should be taken into account that the optimum heat-treatment conditions for the tools are not necessarily identical with those specified for the test pieces.

The heating time of test pieces in a salt batch shall be as give in below table:

Total heating time of test pieces in a salt bath

If the test pieces are not heated in a salt batch, the heating time must be extended accordingly, and the times for heating give above are not valid for thicker tools.

8：Application

The main application uses of 1.2316 mold steel are as follows:

1. Plastic injection molds

1) Corrosion-resistant plastic molds: for processing PVC, fluorine-containing plastics, flame-retardant materials (e.g., ABS+PC), reinforced plastics, and other plastics prone to releasing corrosive gases.

2) High glossy molds: for optical lenses, transparent plastic parts (such as car lights, display light guide plate), cosmetic packaging and other molds that require mirror polishing.

(3) medical equipment molds: such as syringes, infusion bottles, medical catheters and other precision parts that need to be sterile and corrosion-resistant.

2. die-casting mold auxiliary parts

inserts, die nuts, sprue sets: in aluminum alloy / magnesium alloy die casting, used in contact with molten metal but do not directly withstand high pressure parts, the use of its heat and corrosion resistance to extend the life.

3. Blow Molds

PET bottle embryo molds: for food grade packaging molds, corrosion resistant and easily polished to food hygiene standards (Ra ≤ 0.05μm).

4. Special industrial parts

Corrosion-resistant parts for chemical industry: such as valves, pump bodies and other parts that need to resist weak acid/salt spray environment.