- Description
- P20 Steel
Description
What is P20 Steel?
P20 steel, also known by its AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute) designation.
P20 or DIN 1.2311, is a genuine versatile, low-alloy tool steel predominantly used in the manufacturing of molds for plastic injection molding and die-casting dies.
Its unique balanced composition and pre-hardened state make it a preferred choice in various industries requiring durable and easily machinable materials.
What is the Chemical Composition of P20 Steel?
The chemical composition or you say makeup of P20 steel is meticulously formulated to achieve a harmonious blend of hardness, toughness, and its machinability.
The typical composition p20 tool steel includes:
- Carbon (C): 0.28% to 0.40% – Enhances hardness and strength.
- Chromium (Cr): 1.40% to 2.00% – Improves hardness, wear resistance, and offers moderate corrosion resistance.
- Manganese (Mn): 0.60% to 1.00% – Contributes to toughness and hardenability.
- Molybdenum (Mo): 0.30% to 0.55% – Increases strength and hardenability.
- Silicon (Si): 0.20% to 0.80% – Enhances strength and aids in deoxidizing the steel.
- Phosphorus (P): ≤0.03% – Kept low to maintain toughness.
- Sulfur (S): ≤0.03% – Controlled to enhance machinability without compromising toughness.
This unique composition ensures that P20 tool steel maintains a balance between machinability and the mechanical properties required for its mold manufacturing.
P20 Steel Chemical Compositions as per international standard.
| Chemical Name | Available Quantity in % |
|---|---|
| Carbon | 0.28 ~ 0.40 % |
| Chromium | 1.40 ~ 2.0 % |
| Iron | Balance |
| Manganese | 0.60 ~ 1.0 % |
| Molybdenum | 0.30 ~ 0.55 % |
| Silicon | 0.20 ~ 0.8 % |
| Phosphorus | 0.030 max |
| Sulphur | 0.030 max |
P20 Steel Physical and Mechanical Properties
P20 steel’s properties are tailored to meet the rigorous demands of tooling and molding applications:
- Density: Approximately 7.85 g/cm³, providing a substantial mass for stability in molds.
- Hardness: Typically supplied in a pre-hardened state with a hardness of 300 HB (Brinell Hardness), facilitating immediate use in mold applications without additional heat treatment.
- Tensile Strength: Ultimate tensile strength ranges between 965 to 1030 MPa, indicating the maximum stress the steel can withstand while being stretched or pulled.
- Yield Strength: Between 827 to 862 MPa, denoting the stress at which the steel begins to deform plastically.
- Elongation at Break: Approximately 20%, reflecting the material’s ductility and ability to undergo significant deformation before rupture.
- Compressive Strength: Around 862 MPa, showcasing the steel’s capacity to withstand compressive forces.
- Impact Resistance: Exhibits good resilience against sudden impacts, essential for molds subjected to repetitive stress.
These properties make P20 mould steel robust and reliable for high-performance applications.
What is Heat Treatment of P20 Steel or P20 Mould Steel?
While P20 steel or P20 mould steel is supplied in a pre-hardened condition, certain applications may require additional heat treatment to achieve specific mechanical properties:
- Stress Relieving: To minimize internal stresses from machining, heat the steel uniformly to 500-800°C, hold until the temperature is uniform throughout the section, and cool in still air.
- Hardening: If further hardening is necessary, heat uniformly to 840-870°C until thoroughly soaked, then quench in oil or polymer.
- Tempering: After hardening, tempering is performed at 540-640°C, depending on the desired hardness and mechanical properties.
- Annealing: For softening the steel, heat to 760-788°C, hold for a suitable time, and then cool slowly in the furnace at a rate of less than 4°C per hour.
Proper heat treatment ensures that P20 tool or mould steel attains the desired balance of hardness and toughness for specific applications.
What is Machinability and Weldability of P20 Tool Steel?
P20 tool steel is renowned for its excellent machinability and weldability:
- Machinability: Rated at approximately 80% of water-hardening tool steels, P20 allows for efficient and precise machining operations, reducing production time and costs.
- Weldability: The steel can be welded using conventional methods. Preheating to 200-300°C before welding and post-weld stress relieving at 550-650°C are recommended to prevent cracking and ensure structural integrity.
These attributes make P20 steel a practical choice for complex mold designs and repairs.
What are the various applications of P20 alloy steel?
The versatility and geniuses of P20 steel lends itself to a wide array of applications:
- Plastic Injection Molds: Ideal for manufacturing molds that produce plastic components, owing to its durability and excellent polishability, which ensures high-quality surface finishes on molded products.
- Die Casting Dies: Utilized in creating dies for casting materials like zinc, where the steel’s toughness and wear resistance are crucial.
- Extrusion Dies: Employed in the extrusion of plastics and metals, benefiting from P20’s strength and machinability.
- Blow Molds: Suitable for molds used in blow molding processes to produce hollow plastic parts, such as bottles and containers.
- Automotive Parts: Used in the production of various automotive components that require precision and durability.
- Tooling Components: Manufacture of jigs, fixtures, and other tooling parts that demand high strength and wear resistance.
P20 steel’s adaptability makes it indispensable in industries ranging from automotive to consumer goods manufacturing.
P20 Steel Supplier
44/32, village Narsinghpur, NH 8, near MG service Center, Gurugram
