1.2311 | Plastic mold steel | P20 | 3Cr2Mo

1.2311 | Plastic mold steel | P20 | 3Cr2Mo

1.2311 a versatile steel commonly used in the production of large mould frames & bolsters.

Characteristics

Characterised by good toughness at moderate strength levels, 1.2311 tool steel is a highly versatile engineering material. The alloy is a pre-hardened plastic mould steel and provides unified hardness across wide sections. Typical applications for the alloy include tooling, die casting dies for zinc and machine cut plastic moulds. The inclusion of nickel and chromium during the alloying process enhances the hardness and toughness of the product.

Designation by Standards

Chemical Composition (%)

Heat Treatment

already pre-toughened; usually, no heat treatment is required.

Nitriding:

Before nitriding, stress-relief annealing is recommended at 580 °C. (Meusburger standard).

Hard chroming:

After the hard chroming, the mold must be annealed for about 3 to 4 hours at 180 °C to avoid brittle fractures from hydrogen.

Hardening: 840 to 860 °C.

Cooling:

to 180 °C/220 °C in an oil/hot bath, then in the air to about 100 °C obtainable hardness: 52 HRC.

Tempering:

Slow heating to tempering temperature immediately after hardening. Minimum time in a furnace: 1 hour per 25 mm part thickness.

Application 

The application area is for plastic molds, chassis, utilities, base plates, extrusion, die supports, and die loaders. Material 1.2311 is also frequently used for parts in general mechanical engineering.

Hardening

To avoid hydrogen fragility, the tool should be left to temper for approximately 3-4 hours until it reaches a temperature of 180°C after hardening.

Tempering

The temperature is between 830°C and 870°C with final cooling in an oil bath or polymer.