Assab Steel Rod/Bars,CALMAX Plastic Mold Material

Assab Steel Rods CALMAX Plastic Mold Material Product Information -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Assab Steel Rods CALMAX Plastic Mold Material Synonyms -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -:

Assab Steels CALMAX Plastic Mold Material Product Information -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: ### **Assab Steels CALMAX: Versatile Oil-Hardening Cold Work Steel for Plastic Molds & Tooling** --- #### **1. Introduction** **Assab Steels CALMAX** is a versatile, **chromium-molybdenum-vanadium (Cr-Mo-V) alloyed cold work steel** belonging to the oil-hardening, non-shrink (OHNS) category. While primarily classified as a cold work steel, its unique combination of properties—**excellent machinability in the annealed state, good wear resistance, high toughness, and minimal distortion during hardening**—makes it a highly valued material for **plastic molds, prototype tooling, and intricate mechanical components**. Its ease of heat treatment in simple workshop conditions sets it apart from more complex air-hardening grades. **Key Value Propositions:** * **Superior Machinability:** In its soft-annealed state, CALMAX offers machining characteristics approaching that of free-cutting steels, allowing for fast and easy fabrication of complex shapes. * **Minimal Distortion on Hardening:** As a low-alloy oil-hardening steel, it exhibits very low dimensional change (typically < 0.1%) during heat treatment, crucial for precision tools and molds. * **Good Toughness & Wear Resistance Balance:** Provides a reliable compromise between resistance to chipping and abrasive wear after hardening. * **Simple & Cost-Effective Heat Treatment:** Can be hardened using basic workshop equipment (furnace and oil quench tank), without the need for controlled atmosphere or high-pressure gas quenching. * **Good Polishability:** Capable of achieving good surface finishes for mold applications. --- #### **2. International Standard Designations** * **Assab / Uddeholm:** CALMAX * **AISI / ASTM A681:** O2 (A close equivalent, though CALMAX may have slight compositional optimizations) * **European Norm (EN):** 1.2842 (90MnCrV8) * **DIN:** 90MnCrV8 * **JIS:** SKS3 * **Common Names:** Oil-Hardening Non-Shrink Steel, OHNS --- #### **3. Chemical Composition (Typical Weight %)** | Element | Carbon (C) | Manganese (Mn) | Chromium (Cr) | Vanadium (V) | Silicon (Si) | | :--- | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | | **%** | 0.9 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.25 | *Note: The balanced, low-alloy composition centered on high carbon and manganese provides good hardenability in oil with minimal distortion.* --- #### **4. Physical & Mechanical Properties** * **Annealed Hardness:** ~ 200 HB (Excellent for machining) * **Hardened & Tempered Hardness Range:** **54 - 60 HRC** (Typical application range: 56-58 HRC) * **Tensile Strength (at 58 HRC):** ~ 2000 MPa * **Density:** 7.85 g/cm³ * **Good Toughness:** For its hardness level, it offers better impact resistance than many high-carbon, high-chromium steels. --- #### **5. Heat Treatment** * **Stress Relieving (after rough machining):** 600-650°C, slow cool. * **Preheating:** Recommended at 650°C to reduce thermal shock. * **Austenitizing/Hardening Temperature:** 780 - 820°C. Soak time: 20-30 minutes per 25 mm of thickness. * **Quenching:** Quench in **warm oil (50-80°C)**. This is a critical step to achieve minimal distortion and avoid cracking. * **Tempering:** Temper **immediately** after quenching. Temperature range: **150 - 400°C**. For plastic mold applications, tempering at 180-250°C to achieve 56-58 HRC is common. Hold for 1-2 hours per temper (double tempering is recommended). --- #### **6. Product Applications in Mold & Tooling** CALMAX is prized for applications where ease of manufacture and dimensional stability are paramount. 1. **Plastic Injection & Compression Molds:** * Prototype molds and low-to-medium volume production molds. * Inserts for complex geometry where minimal post-hardening machining is desired. * Ejector pins, slider cores, and other wear-prone components. 2. **Intricate Cutting, Forming & Stamping Tools:** * Precision punches, dies, and blanking tools. * Lamination dies, coining dies. * Thread rolling dies and form tools. 3. **Gauges & Precision Mechanical Components:** * Master gauges, jigs, and fixtures requiring high dimensional stability. * Shafts, cams, and wear plates. 4. **Cold Work Tools for Non-Ferrous Materials:** * Tools for bending, forming, and shearing copper, brass, and aluminum. --- #### **7. Machining & Fabrication Guide** * **Annealed State (Machining):** **Excellent.** Use standard high-speed steel (HSS) tools. High cutting speeds and feeds are possible. Good chip breakage. * **Hardened State (Finishing):** Grinding and EDM are standard. Polishability is good. * **Welding:** Can be welded with care using suitable pre-heat (300°C) and post-heat (immediate tempering) procedures. --- #### **8. Quality & Supply Forms** * **Quality:** Supplied spheroidize-annealed to optimal machinability. * **Available Forms:** * Round and flat bars (black or peeled) * Precision ground flat stock * Blocks and blanks --- #### **9. Comparison: CALMAX vs. Pre-Hardened Mold Steels (e.g., 618/718)** | **Aspect** | **CALMAX (O2 / OHNS)** | **Pre-Hardened 618/718 (P20-Type)** | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Supply Condition** | Soft Annealed (~200 HB) | **Pre-Hardened** (290-380 HB) | | **Key User Step** | **Requires User Heat Treatment** | Ready-to-Machine (No HT needed) | | **Primary Advantage** | **Minimal Distortion after HT; Superior Annealed Machinability** | **Time Savings; No HT Facilities Needed** | | **Final Hardness** | **Higher (54-60 HRC)** | Lower (30-40 HRC) | | **Best For** | Precision tools, prototype molds, intricate components | Production molds where HT is a bottleneck | --- #### **10. Conclusion** **Assab Steels CALMAX** is the quintessential **"workshop-friendly" engineering steel**. It bridges the gap between simple carbon steels and high-alloy specialty steels, offering a practical solution for toolmakers who require a material that is easy to machine into complex forms and then harden with predictable, minimal distortion. For prototype mold builds, precision gauges, and a vast array of custom cutting and forming tools, CALMAX provides a reliable, cost-effective, and high-performance foundation. Its enduring popularity is a testament to its unmatched blend of processability and final utility. -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Assab Steels CALMAX Plastic Mold Material Specification Dimensions Size： Diameter 20-1000 mm Length <7246 mm Size:We can customized as required Standard： Per your request or drawing We can customized as required Properties（Theoretical） Chemical Composition -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Assab Steels CALMAX Plastic Mold Material Properties -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -:

Applications of Assab Steel Rods CALMAX Plastic Mold Material -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Chemical Identifiers Assab Steel Rods CALMAX Plastic Mold Material -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -:

Packing of Assab Steel Rods CALMAX Plastic Mold Material -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Standard Packing: -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Typical bulk packaging includes palletized plastic 5 gallon/25 kg. pails, fiber and Steel Rod drums to 1 ton super sacks in full container (FCL) or truck load (T/L) quantities. Research and sample quantities and hygroscopic, oxidizing or other air sensitive materials may be packaged under argon or vacuum. Solutions are packaged in polypropylene, plastic or glass jars up to palletized 3717 gallon liquid totes Special package is available on request. E FORUs’ is carefully handled to minimize damage during storage and transportation and to preserve the quality of our products in their original condition