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.
| Item (Plate) | T:20 mm – 1000 mm | |
Designation by Standards
| ASTM | DIN | CN | ||
| P20 | 1.2311 | 3Cr2Mo |
| Chemical Composition (%) | ||||||||
| C | Si | Mn | S | P | Cr | Mo | ||
| 0.35~0.45 | 0.20~0.40 | 1.30~1.60 | ≤0.035 | ≤0.035 | 1.80~2.10 | 0.15~0.25 | ||
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.