Injection mold materials are a crucial component in injection mold manufacturing, directly affecting mold performance, lifespan, and the quality of the molded products. Currently, there are many types of injection mold materials on the market, with the following being the most commonly used:
Carbon Tool Steel: Carbon tool steel is a basic and commonly used material in injection molds, such as T7A and T8A. This type of steel has high hardness and wear resistance, but relatively poor heat resistance and toughness. Therefore, it is suitable for manufacturing injection molds with low precision requirements and small production batches. Its price is relatively affordable, typically ranging from tens to hundreds of yuan per kilogram, depending on the steel's specifications and quality.
Low Alloy Tool Steel: Low alloy tool steel adds small amounts of alloying elements, such as chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium, to carbon tool steel to improve its hardenability, wear resistance, and heat resistance. Common low alloy tool steels include CrWMn and 9Mn2V. This type of steel is suitable for manufacturing injection molds for medium precision and mass production. Its market price is slightly higher than carbon tool steel, ranging from several hundred to several hundred yuan per kilogram.
Plastic Mold Steel:Plastic mold steel is a type of steel specifically designed for injection molds, possessing excellent polishing properties, corrosion resistance, and heat treatment performance. Pre-hardened plastic mold steels, such as P20 and 718, are pre-hardened at the factory and do not require further quenching, allowing for direct use in mold manufacturing and significantly shortening the mold manufacturing cycle. Age-hardening plastic mold steels, such as NAK80 and S136, further enhance hardness and wear resistance through aging treatment, making them suitable for manufacturing high-precision, long-life injection molds. Plastic mold steel is relatively expensive, ranging from several hundred to several thousand yuan per kilogram, depending on the steel type and quality.
Stainless Steel:Stainless steel is also widely used in injection molds due to its excellent corrosion resistance and polishing properties. It is particularly ideal for molds requiring transparent, high-gloss injection products. Common stainless steel materials include 304 and 316, which are relatively expensive, costing over a thousand yuan per kilogram. However, due to their superior performance, they occupy an important position in the high-end injection mold market.
Other Special Materials: In addition to the commonly used materials mentioned above, some special materials such as beryllium copper and aluminum alloys are also used in the manufacture of injection molds. Beryllium copper has excellent thermal conductivity and wear resistance, making it suitable for manufacturing mold parts that require rapid cooling; aluminum alloys, due to their lightweight and easy-to-process characteristics, are used in large injection molds. The prices of these special materials vary depending on the type and specifications, and are generally higher.
