P20 HH (1.2738) is a premium grade of mold steel known for its exceptional combination of high hardness, toughness, and polishability, making it well-suited for demanding plastic injection molding applications. Here's a description of P20 HH (1.2738) mold steel:
Composition: P20 HH (1.2738) typically contains approximately 0.30-0.40% carbon, 1.8-2.1% chromium, 0.3-0.6% manganese, 0.9-1.3% molybdenum, and small amounts of silicon and sulfur. This composition provides P20 HH (1.2738) with its desirable properties for mold-making applications.
High Hardness: P20 HH (1.2738) is characterized by its high hardness, which is achieved through specific heat treatment processes. The high hardness ensures excellent wear resistance and dimensional stability, leading to prolonged tool life and consistent part quality.
Toughness: Despite its high hardness, P20 HH (1.2738) maintains good toughness, allowing it to withstand the mechanical stresses and impact loads encountered during the molding process. This toughness helps prevent cracking and deformation of the molds, ensuring reliable performance over time.
Polishability: P20 HH (1.2738) retains good polishability, enabling the production of high-quality surface finishes on molded parts. This makes it suitable for applications where aesthetics and surface texture are critical, such as in the production of consumer products and components with visible surfaces.
Wear Resistance: P20 HH (1.2738) offers excellent wear resistance, particularly in applications involving abrasive wear from filled or reinforced plastics. Its high hardness and resistance to wear contribute to longer tool life and reduced maintenance requirements.
Corrosion Resistance: P20 HH (1.2738) exhibits good corrosion resistance, making it suitable for use in environments where molds may be exposed to corrosive plastics or humid conditions. Proper maintenance and surface treatments can further enhance its resistance to corrosion and oxidation.
Machinability: P20 HH (1.2738) has good machinability, allowing for easy machining into complex shapes and forms using conventional machining techniques such as milling, drilling, turning, and grinding. Its machinability facilitates the production of intricate mold components with tight tolerances.
Dimensional Stability: P20 HH (1.2738) exhibits good dimensional stability during heat treatment and prolonged use, minimizing distortion and warping of the molds. This property is essential for producing precision molded parts with consistent dimensions and tight tolerances.
In summary, P20 HH (1.2738) mold steel is valued for its exceptional combination of high hardness, toughness, polishability, and dimensional stability, making it a preferred choice for demanding mold-making applications in the plastics industry.