Abrasive wear caused to injecting filled and unfilled plastics as high pressures can severely affect the mould life and increase repair and cost. Surface hardness is the most important criterion used by mould makers in selecting a material for a high wear and long run applications. However, hardness is not the only factor that contributes to wear resistance, and using it as an exclusive parameter can lead to problem.

Beryllium Copper provides excellent resistance to adhesive as well as abrasive wear when compared with other common mould materials such as M.S., OHNS, etc. However, it is not recommended for highly abrasive filled plastics, where only high hardness, high speed tool steels such as D 2 are suitable. In applications where corrosion complicates erosion problems, barylium copper's excellent corrosion resistance when compared to tool steels provides an additional advantage. Where greater levels of abrasion resistance are required, hard chrome plating is recommended.

High Finish Mould Steel 835 M 30 (EN 30 B)

Typical Analysis in %

C	Mn	Ni	Cr.	Mo
0.32	0.50	4.25	1.25	0.30

	Specially recommended when high polish is required.
	Easily machinable in annealed state.
	For Hardening, equalise at 620248oC, then quickly to 830248oC soaking to one hour per 25mm of minimum dimension,cool in air or oil quench.
	Tempering should follow immediately after hardening for one hour per 25 mm of thickness.

AISI: P-20/40 Cr mn Mo7

Typical Analysis in %

C	Mn	Cr	Mo
0.40	1.5	1.9	0.2

	Recommended for Injection and Compression Moulding Moulds.
	Readily machinable and can be polished to a mirror finish.
	Suitable for photo itching or texturing.
	Can be nitrided for increased wear resistance.

AISI: P-20 S / 40 Cr Mn Mo S 86

Typical analysis in %

C	Mn	Cr	Mo	S
0.40	1.5	1.9	0.2	0.05

	Recommended for non-critical moulds such as structural foam.
	Not suitable for photo itching or texturing.
	Can be nitrided for increased wear resistance.

Cr-Mo-V Hot Work Die Steel (H-13)

Typical analysis in %

C	Si	Mn	Cr	Mo	Vanadium
0.37	1.00	0.50	5.00	1.50	1.00

	Recommended for Die inserts.
	Recommended preheating temperatures 150-300°C.
	Annealed to maximum 241 BHN.
	Stress relieving at 650°C.
	Hardening by preheating to 825-850°C then quickly heating to 1020 to 1050°C and then cool in Vacuum. Salt to Air,
	Temper for one hour per 25 mm of thickness immediately after hardening.
	Nitriding also possible.

AISI-Hd-13 / BS.BH-13 / W-NR-1-2344

Recommended for Tools for Extrusion, Dies and High Quality Injection Moulds with hardness BHN 40/50 RC, 43/50 RC and 51/52 RC respectively.