Bohler-Uddeholm UDDEHOLM Caldie Plastic Mold Tool Steel

Bohler-Uddeholm UDDEHOLM Caldie Plastic Mold Tool Steel Product Information -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Bohler-Uddeholm UDDEHOLM Caldie Plastic Mold Tool Steel Synonyms -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -:

Bohler-Uddeholm UDDEHOLM Caldie Plastic Mold Tool Steel Product Information -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: # **Böhler-Uddeholm UDDEHOLM Caldie Plastic Mold Tool Steel** ## **Product Overview** **UDDEHOLM Caldie** is a premium **chromium-molybdenum-vanadium alloyed cold work tool steel** specifically engineered for **high-wear plastic injection molds and die-casting applications**. Developed to bridge the gap between standard pre-hardened mold steels (like P20) and high-alloy cold work steels (like D2), Caldie offers an exceptional combination of **high hardness (in hardened state), excellent toughness, and superior polishability**. Its optimized chemistry provides deep hardenability with minimal distortion, making it particularly suitable for intricate core and cavity inserts that require both durability and fine surface finishes in demanding molding environments. --- ## **1. Key Characteristics & Advantages** * **Excellent Toughness:** Provides outstanding resistance to chipping and cracking, especially important for thin ribs, sharp corners, and high-stress areas in molds. * **High Wear Resistance:** Superior to many standard mold steels, offering extended service life when molding abrasive plastics (glass-filled, mineral-filled polymers). * **Good Dimensional Stability:** Air-hardening characteristic with minimal and predictable size change during heat treatment, crucial for precision tooling. * **Superb Polishability:** Capable of achieving very high surface finishes (SPI A-1 / #1 Diamond finish), making it ideal for optical components and high-gloss parts. * **Deep Hardenability:** Can be uniformly through-hardened in substantial sections, ensuring consistent properties in large or thick inserts. * **Good Machinability (in annealed state):** Offers favorable machining characteristics prior to heat treatment. * **Good Nitriding Response:** Responds excellently to nitriding processes, allowing surface hardness to exceed 1000 HV for extreme wear resistance without compromising core toughness. --- ## **2. Typical Chemical Composition (Weight %)** | Element | Carbon (C) | Chromium (Cr) | Molybdenum (Mo) | Vanadium (V) | Silicon (Si) | Manganese (Mn) | | :--- | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | | **Content** | **0.70** | **5.00** | **2.30** | **0.50** | **1.00** | **0.75** | **Alloying Rationale:** * **Carbon (0.70%) & Chromium (5.0%):** Form a fine distribution of chromium carbides for good wear resistance without excessive brittleness. * **Molybdenum (2.30%):** Provides deep hardenability, strong secondary hardening response, and enhances toughness. * **Vanadium (0.50%):** Refines grain structure, improves toughness, and contributes to wear resistance. * **Silicon (1.00%):** Increases strength and improves resistance to thermal softening. * **Manganese (0.75%):** Enhances hardenability and strength. --- ## **3. Physical & Mechanical Properties** ### **Physical Properties:** * **Density:** ~7.8 g/cm³ * **Thermal Conductivity:** ~28 W/(m·K) at 20°C * **Modulus of Elasticity:** ~210 GPa * **Coefficient of Thermal Expansion:** ~11.0 x 10⁻⁶/K (20-100°C) ### **Heat Treatment & Mechanical Data:** * **Annealed Hardness:** ~210 HBW * **Austenitizing Temperature:** 1020 - 1050°C (1870 - 1920°F) * **Quenching Medium:** Air (forced air for sections >50mm) * **Tempering Range:** 250 - 550°C (480 - 1020°F). **Double tempering is recommended.** * **Typical Working Hardness:** **54 - 58 HRC** * **56-58 HRC (tempered at 250-350°C):** For maximum wear resistance and polishability in plastic molds. * **54-56 HRC (tempered at 450-500°C):** For die-casting applications requiring higher toughness and thermal fatigue resistance. * **Impact Toughness (Charpy V):** Exceptionally high for its hardness level, typically >40 J at 56 HRC. * **Compressive Strength:** ~2600 MPa (at 56 HRC) --- ## **4. Primary Applications** Caldie is the material of choice for demanding mold components where toughness is as critical as wear resistance. * **Plastic Injection Molds:** * **Core and cavity inserts** for engineering plastics and abrasive composites (glass-filled, carbon fiber-reinforced). * **Molds for electronic components** with delicate, high-aspect-ratio features. * **High-gloss and optical components** requiring superior polishability (lens molds, light guides, reflectors). * **Hot runner system components** (nozzle tips, gates). * **Die-Casting:** * **Cores, pins, and inserts** for aluminum and magnesium die-casting dies, where thermal fatigue and soldering resistance are required. * **Ejector pins** and other high-wear components. * **General Precision Tooling:** Punches, forming dies, and shear blades requiring a tough, wear-resistant material. --- ## **5. Relevant International Standards & Comparable Grades** Caldie is a proprietary Uddeholm grade with a unique chemistry. Its performance profile places it between several standardized grades. | Standard | Grade / Designation | Similarity / Key Difference | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Proprietary (Uddeholm)** | **Caldie** | The reference material with optimized toughness/wear balance. | | **AISI / ASTM** | **H13 Modified** | Similar in some die-casting applications, but Caldie has higher carbon and is optimized as a cold work steel for higher hardness/wear in plastic molds. | | **AISI / ASTM** | **A8 / S7** | Similar high-toughness cold work steels, but Caldie typically offers better wear resistance and polishability. | | **DIN / Werkstoff** | **~1.2367** | Not a direct equivalent, but in a similar application space for tough, deep-hardening tools. | | **JIS** | **SKD61 Modified** | Sometimes compared for die applications, but Caldie's chemistry is distinct. | | **Other Proprietary** | **Orvar 2 Modified / Dievar** | These are hot-work steels; Caldie is a cold work steel hardened to higher hardness for different primary applications. | **Important:** **UDDEHOLM Caldie** should be specified by its proprietary name to guarantee its specific performance characteristics. --- ## **6. Processing & Fabrication Guidelines** * **Machining:** Perform all heavy machining in the **soft-annealed condition**. It machines well with sharp carbide tools. Stable setups and good cooling are recommended. * **Heat Treatment:** **Must be performed in a controlled atmosphere or vacuum furnace** to prevent decarburization. Preheating at 600°C and 850°C is recommended. Air quenching is standard. **Double tempering** is essential for optimal toughness and dimensional stability. * **Stress Relieving:** After rough machining and before finishing, a stress relief at 600-650°C is advisable for complex molds. * **Grinding & Polishing:** Offers excellent grindability and polishability. Use systematic abrasive and diamond polishing steps to achieve mirror finishes. * **Nitriding:** Caldie is particularly well-suited for nitriding (gas or plasma). This process can create a surface hardness of **1000-1200 HV** while maintaining its tough core, making it extremely resistant to wear, corrosion, and soldering in die-casting. * **Welding:** Can be welded with proper precautions. Use matching or similar analysis filler wire (e.g., UDDEHOLM Caldie welding wire). Pre-heat to 300-400°C and post-heat treat (re-harden and temper) for critical applications. --- ## **7. Conclusion** **UDDEHOLM Caldie** is a strategically engineered "bridge" steel that successfully combines the **high toughness of shock-resistant steels with the wear resistance and polishability of higher-alloy cold work steels**. For mold makers facing the dual challenges of molding abrasive materials while maintaining intricate, fragile mold features, Caldie provides an optimal solution that reduces the risk of costly tool failure. Its exceptional performance in both plastic molding (especially for engineering plastics) and die-casting applications makes it a versatile and highly reliable choice. When the application demands more wear resistance than a pre-hardened steel can offer but more toughness than a high-carbon, high-chromium steel provides, Caldie stands out as the balanced, high-performance choice that maximizes tool life and process reliability. -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Bohler-Uddeholm UDDEHOLM Caldie Plastic Mold Tool Steel Specification Dimensions Size： Diameter 20-1000 mm Length <6888 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. -: Bohler-Uddeholm UDDEHOLM Caldie Plastic Mold Tool Steel Properties -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -:

Applications of Bohler-Uddeholm UDDEHOLM Caldie Plastic Mold Tool Steel -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Chemical Identifiers Bohler-Uddeholm UDDEHOLM Caldie Plastic Mold Tool Steel -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -:

Packing of Bohler-Uddeholm UDDEHOLM Caldie Plastic Mold Tool Steel -:- 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 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 3359 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