Common Materials for Automotive Mold Steel
Automotive molds, as one of the most crucial tools in automotive manufacturing, directly affect the forming quality and production efficiency of automotive parts. Mold steel is the fundamental material used in the production of automotive molds, and selecting the appropriate mold steel is essential for the mold's service life, production cost, and the final product's quality.
Classification and Characteristics of Mold Steel
Mold steel can be classified into several categories based on its composition, properties, and applications. Common types of mold steel include cold work mold steel, hot work mold steel, and plastic mold steel. Each type of mold steel has different characteristics and is suitable for different mold manufacturing needs.
1. Cold Work Mold Steel
Cold work mold steel is mainly used for molds that operate at room temperature, suitable for cold working processes. This type of steel typically has high hardness, wear resistance, and strength but poor resistance to softening at high temperatures.
2. Hot Work Mold Steel
Hot work mold steel is designed for high-temperature working environments and is commonly used to manufacture molds that endure high temperatures, high pressure, and thermal fatigue. This type of steel needs to have good resistance to thermal cracking, oxidation, and high-temperature strength.
3. lastic Mold Steel
Plastic mold steel is mainly used in the production of injection molds and die-casting molds. This type of steel requires good machinability, excellent surface finish, as well as certain wear and corrosion resistance.
Common Automotive Mold Steel Materials
In automotive mold manufacturing, several types of steel materials are commonly used. Each material has its unique advantages and applications:
1. 1.2344 (H13) – Hot Work Mold Steel
Characteristics: 1.2344 steel has excellent heat resistance, thermal cracking resistance, and fatigue resistance. It shows outstanding strength and hardness in high-temperature environments. Its toughness allows it to withstand impact loads at high temperatures.
Applications: Commonly used for molds that work under high temperature and pressure, such as automotive aluminum alloy die-casting molds, hot forging molds, etc. Due to its wear resistance and high-temperature performance, H13 steel is one of the most commonly used hot work mold steels in the automotive industry.
2. 1.2738 (P20) – Plastic Mold Steel
Characteristics: P20 steel belongs to plastic mold steel, with good machinability and corrosion resistance, and high surface finish, making it suitable for producing plastic molds that require high surface quality. P20 steel has moderate strength and toughness, capable of handling medium-pressure forming processes.
Applications: Widely used in the production of plastic molds for automotive interior parts, exterior parts, and others. P20 steel has good machinability and lower cost, making it one of the more frequently used materials in the automotive plastic mold field.
3. 1.2316 – High Corrosion-Resistant Plastic Mold Steel
Characteristics: 1.2316 steel is a high corrosion-resistant plastic mold steel that has excellent corrosion resistance and wear resistance, especially suitable for environments with chemical corrosive substances. Its toughness and hardness are balanced, making it suitable for producing high-quality plastic parts.
Applications: Commonly used for producing molds for automotive plastic parts that require high corrosion resistance, such as exterior parts, lamp housings, and other components.
4. 1.2343 – Hot Work Mold Steel
Characteristics: 1.2343 steel has high thermal strength, excellent thermal cracking resistance, and oxidation resistance. Its heat resistance, wear resistance, and toughness are outstanding, and its mechanical performance at high temperatures is excellent.
Applications: Commonly used in the production of die-casting molds for automotive aluminum and magnesium alloys, as well as hot forging molds. It is suitable for long-term operation under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions.
Selection Criteria for Mold Steel
When selecting automotive mold steel, several factors need to be comprehensively considered:
Machinability: The machinability of the material determines the difficulty of mold production. Steel that is easy to machine can improve production efficiency and reduce costs.
Strength and Hardness: Mold steel needs to have sufficient strength and hardness to withstand mechanical loads during processing and the impact at high temperatures.
Wear Resistance and Corrosion Resistance: Especially for plastic molds and die-casting molds, the wear and corrosion resistance of the mold steel directly impact the mold's service life.
Heat Treatment Performance: High-quality mold steel should have good heat treatment performance, allowing it to be hardened and annealed according to process requirements.
