Gateway Metals, located in St Louis, MO, offers a wide selection of plastic mold steels to meet the specific needs of your projects. Below, we introduce and describe some of the popular grades in this category, along with their common uses and applications:
P20 MQ/FM is a versatile plastic mold steel with enhanced machinability and exceptional cleanliness compared to standard P20 grades. It is often used for medium to large-size holder material, plastic molds, such as injection molds and blow molds, where excellent dimensional stability and good polishability are essential.
S7 MQ is a high-impact plastic mold steel known for its exceptional toughness, ease of heat treatment, and minimum distortion. It is well-suited for applications requiring high impact strength.
H13 is a hot work tool steel featuring a combination of shock resistance, red hardness, and abrasion resistance. It offers excellent heat resistance, wear resistance, and good machinability, making it suitable for such as injection molds and blow molds, where excellent dimensional stability and good polishability are essential.
420 MQ is a Mold Quality stainless steel with excellent polishability, good corrosion resistance, and good wear resistance. It is commonly used for plastic injection, compression, and transfer molding where rusting or pitting may be a problem, and for other components requiring exceptional surface finish.
HC16S is a prehardened Stainless Martinsitic grade with a good balance of hardness and machinability. It offers excellent wear resistance and dimensional stability, making it suitable for applications like holder material, mold bases, plastic extrusion dies, backing plates, and ejector plates. HC16S's prehardened state ensures consistent hardness throughout the material, simplifying the manufacturing process.
R65 is a prehardened Stainless Martinsitic grade known for its corrosion resistance due to high amounts of Chromium and Molybdenum. It is often used for applications such as plastic injection molds and cavities as well as plastic extrusion dies. R65's prehardened condition reduces the risk of distortion during machining or heat treatment, saving time and resources in production.
Q: What are the essential factors to consider when selecting a plastic mold steel?
A: When choosing a plastic mold steel, factors such as hardness, toughness, wear resistance, machinability, corrosion resistance, and polishability should be considered. The specific requirements of your molding application will dictate the best-suited grade.
Q: What is the difference between P20 MQ/FM and standard P20 grades?
A: P20 MQ/FM is a versatile plastic mold steel with enhanced machinability and exceptional cleanliness compared to standard P20 grades. It is a more user-friendly option, especially for large plastic molds, as it simplifies the machining process and reduces the risk of tool breakage.
Q: Which plastic mold steel is best for high-temperature molding applications?
A: H13 plastic mold steel is an excellent choice for high-temperature molding operations, such as those involving hot-runner systems. Its exceptional heat resistance and wear resistance ensure reliable performance under demanding conditions.
Q: Can prehardened plastic mold steels be further heat-treated?
A: Prehardened plastic mold steels are already heat-treated to achieve the desired hardness. Additional heat treatment is generally unnecessary and may adversely affect the material's properties. It is crucial to consult with our experts before attempting any further heat treatment.
We hope this information provides valuable insights into our range of plastic mold steels. If you have any further questions or need assistance in selecting the right grade for your plastic molding needs, please feel free to contact our knowledgeable team. We are dedicated to providing you with the best solutions for your projects.
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