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DIN 1.2316 Tool Steel for Plastic Mould Steel

Grade: DIN 1.2316
Equivalent Steel: ISO X36CrMo17, JIS SUS420J2

 

The chemical composition of 1.2316 mold steel is precisely engineered to achieve an optimal balance between exceptional corrosion resistance and robust mechanical properties. Its high chromium content of 15.00-17.00% provides the fundamental basis for superior corrosion resistance, effectively protecting the steel against aggressive gases released during the processing of corrosive plastics like PVC. Furthermore, the addition of 1.00-1.30% molybdenum refines the grain structure, enhances hardenability and wear resistance, and contributes to its resistance against high-temperature corrosion.

Availability:
Quantity:
  • 1.2316

  • Qilu


Product Overview


DIN 1.2316 tool steel is a chromium-molybdenum alloy plastic mold steel standardized under Germany's DIN 17350, with the international ISO 4957 X36CrMo17 and Japanese JIS G4303 SUS420J2 as its equivalent grades. Adopting vacuum degassing refining technology, the steel has extremely low impurity content, uniform internal structure and excellent performance stability, which fundamentally solves the problems of surface defects and performance inconsistency of traditional mold steel.


Supplied in a pre-hardened state (280-325HB / 29-33HRC), 1.2316 can be directly machined into complex mold geometries without additional pre-heat treatment, which shortens the mold manufacturing cycle by 30% or more and significantly reduces production costs. The core alloy composition of 15-17% chromium and 1.00-1.30% molybdenum forms a dense passivation film on the steel surface, which endows it with excellent corrosion resistance and wear resistance, and is far superior to ordinary carbon steel and low-chromium mold steel in harsh working environments.



Product Features


1. Superior Corrosion Resistance

Driven by the high chromium content (15-17%), 1.2316 forms a stable chromium oxide passivation film on the surface, which can effectively resist the corrosion of acidic and alkaline gases released during the processing of corrosive plastics such as PVC, fluorine-based materials and flame-retardant ABS+PC blends. It has strong resistance to pitting, rust and chemical erosion, and can maintain the precision of the mold for a long time even in high-humidity or chemical-rich production environments. The corrosion resistance is about 2 times that of the JIS equivalent SUS420J2 and 3 times that of ordinary P20 mold steel.


2. Excellent Machinability

The pre-hardened supply state eliminates the need for intermediate heat treatment steps, and manufacturers can use standard cutting tools for turning, milling, drilling and other processing operations. With the balanced composition of max 1.00% silicon and max 1.00% manganese, the steel has stable cutting performance, low tool wear rate and small machining deformation, which is suitable for manufacturing molds with complex structures and high dimensional accuracy. Even for deep cavity and fine structure processing, it can maintain consistent processing accuracy.


3. Mirror-Grade Polishability

With ultra-low impurity control (max 0.030% phosphorus and max 0.030% sulfur), 1.2316 avoids surface defects such as pinholes and sand holes during polishing, and can achieve a mirror finish with Ra ≤ 0.05μm. It is the first choice for manufacturing high-aesthetic plastic parts such as cosmetic packaging, optical lenses, car lights and display light guide plates. Its polishing performance is close to that of high-end S136 mold steel, and it has higher cost performance in medium and high-end mirror mold applications.


4. Reliable Hardness and Wear Resistance

After professional hardening and tempering treatment, 1.2316 can reach a minimum hardness of HRC46, and the addition of 1.00-1.30% molybdenum further improves the wear resistance and tempering stability of the steel. It can withstand the friction and impact of repeated molding cycles (100,000+ times), and is suitable for high-volume continuous production of plastic parts. At the same time, it has good toughness matching, avoiding brittle fracture of the mold during use.


5. Good Heat and Sterilization Resistance

The steel has stable performance at high temperatures (≤300℃), small thermal expansion coefficient and no obvious deformation, which is suitable for high-temperature injection molding processes. It can withstand repeated high-temperature sterilization processes such as autoclaving (121℃, 0.1MPa), and does not produce material degradation or performance reduction, meeting the strict hygiene and performance requirements of the medical device industry.


International Grade Equivalents

The following is the official equivalent grade comparison of 1.2316 in major international standards, which is convenient for global procurement and production matching:


Country

ISO

Germany

Japan

Standard

ISO 4957

DIN17350

JIS G4303

Grade

X36CrMo17

1.2316

SUS420J2


Chemical Composition

The scientific ratio of chemical elements is the foundation of 1.2316's excellent performance, and the strict composition control ensures the stability of the steel's performance:


GradeCSiMnPSCrMoV
X36CrMo17/1.23160.33-0.431.00Max1.00Max0.030Max0.030Max15.00-17.001.00-1.301.00Max
SUS420J20.26-0.401.00Max1.00Max0.040Max0.030Max12.00-14.00//


Hardness Performance After Heat Treatment

1.2316 has flexible heat treatment process options, and the hardness can be adjusted according to actual application requirements, with stable hardenability and small deformation after heat treatment:


Heat Treatment ProcessHardness IndexApplication Scenario
Annealed (+A)HB ≤285Pre-machining state, easy for rough machining of large molds
Hardening + Tempering (+HT)HRC ≥46Finished mold state, high wear resistance and corrosion resistance for high-volume production
Pre-hardened (as supplied)29-33HRC / 280-325HBDirect machining state, no additional heat treatment required
Low-temperature tempering (180-250℃)HRC 58-60High wear resistance demand parts, small mold cores
Nitriding treatment (525℃×20h)Surface HV ≥650Further improve surface wear resistance and corrosion resistance


Supply Sizes & Tolerance

We provide a full range of 1.2316 steel products with strict size tolerance control, which can be customized according to customer's drawing requirements, and the stock is updated in real time to meet the urgent production needs of customers:



Product TypeSize RangeLengthSize Tolerance
Hot rolled barΦ10-Φ190mm2000-5800mm±0.3mm
Hot forged barΦ200-Φ600mm2000-5800mm±0.5mm
Hot rolled plate/sheetThickness:10-60mm; Width:310-810mm2000-5800mmThickness ±0.2mm; Width ±1mm
Hot forged plateThickness:70-250mm; Width:310-810mm2000-5800mmThickness ±0.3mm; Width ±1mm
Hot forged blockThickness:260-500mm; Width:300-1000mm2000-5800mm±1.0mm


Wide Application Scenarios

1.2316 is a multi-functional mold steel with a wide range of applications, and its performance advantages are fully exerted in various high-demand mold manufacturing fields:


1. Plastic Injection Molds

The core application field of 1.2316, suitable for manufacturing injection molds for corrosive plastics (PVC, flame-retardant plastics, reinforced PA/PC), high-gloss plastics (PMMA, PC transparent parts) and daily plastic parts. It can effectively prevent mold surface corrosion and discoloration caused by plastic decomposition gas, and maintain the surface finish of plastic parts. Typical products: car light shells, electronic product casings, high-gloss household appliances parts.


2. Medical Equipment Molds

Ideal for producing molds for disposable medical devices such as syringes, infusion bottles, catheters and surgical instruments. It meets the FDA food and medical grade material requirements, resists the corrosion of medical disinfectants (ethanol, hydrogen peroxide), and can withstand repeated high-temperature sterilization without polluting the medical parts.


3. Food-Grade Blow Molds

Specially used for PET bottle embryo molds, food packaging container molds and beverage bottle molds in the food and beverage industry. Its mirror surface meets the food safety and hygiene requirements, and its corrosion resistance can adapt to the cleaning of high-concentration cleaning agents in the food production line, ensuring the integrity and sanitation of the mold for a long time.


4. Die-Casting Auxiliary Parts

For aluminum and magnesium alloy die-casting processes, it is used to manufacture non-high-pressure bearing parts such as inserts, sprue sets, die nuts and positioning pins. It leverages the heat resistance and corrosion resistance of the steel to resist the erosion of molten aluminum/magnesium alloy and extend the service life of auxiliary parts.


5. Other Industrial Components

In addition to mold manufacturing, 1.2316 is also suitable for manufacturing small chemical industry components (valves, pump cores), precision measuring tools and low-load wear-resistant parts due to its corrosion resistance and wear resistance.


Comparative Analysis with Common Mold Steel Grades

Customers often compare 1.2316 with P20 and SUS420J2 when selecting materials. The following is a detailed performance and application comparison to help you make the most suitable material selection:


1.2316 vs P20 (Ordinary Plastic Mold Steel)


Performance Index1.2316P20
Corrosion ResistanceExcellent (15-17% Cr)Poor (low alloy content), easy to rust
PolishabilityMirror grade (Ra≤0.05μm)General (Ra≥0.2μm), no mirror effect
Supply StatePre-hardened, direct machiningPre-hardened, direct machining
Wear ResistanceHigh (Mo added)General
ApplicationCorrosive plastics, high-gloss partsOrdinary non-corrosive plastics, low-aesthetic parts
CostSlightly higherLower


1.2316 vs SUS420J2 (JIS Equivalent Grade)


Performance Index1.2316SUS420J2
Chromium Content15-17%12-14%
Molybdenum Content1.00-1.30% (added)0
Corrosion ResistanceExcellent (resist strong corrosive gases)General (only resist mild corrosion)
Wear ResistanceHighGeneral
Hardness After TemperingHRC≥46HRC≤42
ApplicationHigh-demand corrosive plastic moldsLow-demand non-corrosive plastic molds, ordinary hardware


Professional Heat Treatment Recommendations

1.2316 has a mature heat treatment process, and the correct process operation can maximize its performance. The following are the standard and optimized heat treatment processes for different application requirements:


Standard Hardening & Tempering Process (for general molds)


  • Preheating: 500-600℃, heat preservation for 1 hour (to eliminate internal stress and avoid thermal shock)

  • Austenitizing: 900-1010℃ (salt bath furnace), heat preservation for 1-2 hours (adjust according to the cross-section size of the mold)

  • Quenching: Oil cooling (uniform cooling, avoid air cooling which leads to insufficient hardness)

  • Tempering: 170-190℃, heat preservation for 2 hours, air cooling (to eliminate quenching stress and ensure hardness stability)


High Wear Resistance Process (for small mold cores/inserts)


  • Quenching: 1020-1050℃ (vacuum furnace), heat preservation for 1-2 hours, oil cooling

  • Low-temperature tempering: 180-250℃, heat preservation for 2 hours, air cooling (hardness up to HRC58-60)


Nitriding Strengthening Process (for mold surface wear resistance enhancement)


  • Pre-treatment: Clean the mold surface (remove oil, rust and oxide skin)

  • Nitriding: 525℃, heat preservation for 20 hours (gas nitriding)

  • Post-treatment: Air cooling, no need for tempering (surface hardness HV≥650, internal toughness remains unchanged)


Annealing Process (for rough machining of large molds)


  • Annealing temperature: 780-820℃, heat preservation for 2-3 hours

  • Cooling: Slow furnace cooling (cooling rate ≤50℃/h) to 600℃, then air cooling (hardness HB≤285, easy for rough machining)


Key Notes: Avoid rapid cooling of large-size molds to prevent cracking; use vacuum furnace or salt bath furnace for heat treatment to ensure uniform heating; the mold after heat treatment needs to be subjected to stress relief treatment before precision machining.


FAQ


Q1: What makes 1.2316 different from other common plastic mold steels?

A1: 1.2316's core competitive advantage is the perfect combination of high corrosion resistance (15-17% chromium), pre-hardened direct machining state and mirror-grade polishability. Unlike P20 (poor corrosion resistance) and S136 (annealed supply, need additional heat treatment), it can adapt to harsh corrosive plastic processing environments while reducing mold manufacturing time and cost, with higher comprehensive cost performance.


Q2: Can 1.2316 be directly welded for mold repair?

A2: Yes, 1.2316 has good weldability. It is recommended to use matching chromium-molybdenum welding rods for welding, and preheat the welding area to 200-300℃ before welding to avoid welding cracks; after welding, perform low-temperature tempering (180-200℃) to eliminate welding stress and ensure the performance consistency of the welding area.


Q3: Is SUS420J2 completely interchangeable with 1.2316?

A3: No, SUS420J2 is only a low-demand equivalent grade of 1.2316. SUS420J2 has lower chromium content (12-14%) and no molybdenum added, so its corrosion resistance and wear resistance are significantly lower than 1.2316. It can only be used as a substitute in low-demand non-corrosive plastic mold applications, and cannot replace 1.2316 in processing PVC, flame-retardant plastics and other corrosive materials.


Q4: What is the difference between 1.2316 and 1.2316 MOD (modified version)?

A4: 1.2316 MOD is the electroslag remelting (ESR) modified version of 1.2316, with lower impurity content (P≤0.015%, S≤0.005%), more uniform internal structure and better polishability and corrosion resistance. It is suitable for ultra-high-end mirror molds and medical precision molds, while the standard 1.2316 is sufficient for medium and high-end applications with higher cost performance.


Contact Us: For real-time stock inquiry, customized processing and technical consultation, please contact our sales team, and we will provide you with high-quality products and services with the most favorable price and the fastest speed!


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