What Are Mold and Die Steels?

Mold and die steels are specialized types of steels designed for use in the manufacturing and shaping of other materials. These materials are primarily used in the production of molds, dies, and tooling that are essential for various industries, including automotive, aerospace, consumer goods, and more.

Mold and die steels are chosen for their specific properties that make them well-suited for the challenging and demanding environments of forming, shaping, and cutting processes.

Titus Steel is proud to be the Canadian distributor of mold and die steels produced by:

  • Daido Japan
  • SSAB Sweden

Different Lines of Steels Offered by Titus Steel:

Cold Work Die Steels:

These steels are designed to withstand high-pressure, low temperature working conditions. They offer good wear resistance, toughness, and durability. Titus Steel offers the following cold work die steels:

  • Matrix-type cold work tool steel
  • High wear resistance
  • Good dimensional stability
  • 56 – 62 HRC

Learn More

  • Cold work die and mold steel
  • Heat Treat to 62-63 HRC
  • Twice as tough as D-2

Learn More

Rubber Mold Steels:

Designed for creating molds used in rubber and elastomer molding processes, these steels offer excellent heat resistance, dimensional stability, and surface finish quality. They are essential for producing precise and durable molds that can withstand the unique challenges posed by rubber molding applications. Titus Steel offers the following rubber mold steels:

  • Modified H-13
  • Pre-Hardened to 37-41 HRC
  • Superiour wear resistance
  • Extremely stable

Learn More

  • Pre-hardened mold steel
  • 40 HRC
  • No stress relieving required
  • Machines 30% – 40% faster than P-20

Learn More

  • Quenched and tempered tool steel
  • High impact resistance
  • Easy to machine
  • Good dimensional stability
  • 44 HRC

Learn More

  • Quenched and tempered tool steel
  • Especially suited for plastic molds and rubber molds, having excellent
  • Polishing and photoetching ability.
  • Supplied in plate thickness 3/4” – 5 1/8”
  • 33 HRC

Learn More

Die Cast and Forging Steels:

Tailored for the manufacturing of dies used in die casting and forging processes, die cast and forging steels have exceptional strength, toughness, and resistance to thermal and mechanical stresses.

They can withstand the intense pressures and temperatures involved in shaping and forming metal components through die casting and forging techniques. Titus Steel offers the following die cast and forging steel:

  • Hot working die steel
  • Twice hardenability of SKD61
  • 36 – 50 HRC

Learn More

Plastic Mold Steels:

These steels are specifically formulated to meet the requirements of plastic injection molding processes. They provide good polishability, wear resistance, and excellent dimensional stability. Titus Steel offers the following plastic mold steel:

  • Modified P-20
  • Pre-Hardened to 29-33 HRC
  • Machines 30% – 50% faster than P-20
  • No stress relieving required

Learn More

High Performance Mold and Die Steel Products

In cooperation with International Mold Steel Inc. of Florence Kentucky, Titus Steel offers a full range of sizes of all premium mold and die steel products. We also offer blanchard grinding and six-side milling.

Blanchard grinding is a precision machining process used to achieve flatness and parallelism on large, flat metal surfaces by removing material through the use of rotary surface grinders.

Six-side milling is a machining process that involves the removal of material from all six sides of a workpiece to achieve precise dimensions and surface finishes.

If you’d like to learn more about the technical information of our mold and die steel products, click here.

What Are Mold and Die Steels Used For?

Mold and die steels are used in a variety of industrial applications:

  • Injection Molding: Plastic mold steels are used to manufacture molds for plastic injection molding processes, where precise shapes and dimensions are crucial.
  • Die Casting: Both hot work and cold work steels are employed to create dies for metal die casting, ensuring durability and resistance to thermal stress.
  • Stamping and Forming: Cold work steels are essential for forming and stamping operations, where tools must withstand mechanical stress and wear.
  • Forging and Extrusion: Hot work steels are utilized in applications involving high temperatures, like forging and extrusion processes, due to their resistance to heat and deformation.
  • Cutting Tools: High-speed tool steels are used to create cutting tools like drills, milling cutters, and lathe tools, enabling efficient machining of various materials.

FAQ

Mold and die steels are specialized materials designed for crafting molds, dies, and tooling in various manufacturing processes. They possess unique properties such as wear resistance, toughness, and thermal stability, making them suitable for shaping and forming other materials.

Mold and die steels encompass various categories including cold work, hot work, plastic mold, high-speed tool, and powder metallurgy steels. Cold work steels excel in low-temperature applications, while hot work steels are ideal for high-temperature processes. Plastic mold steels are tailored for plastic injection molding, high-speed tool steels are used for cutting tools, and powder metallurgy steels offer advanced properties.

These steels find application in diverse industries. Injection molding relies on plastic mold steels for precision mold creation, while die casting utilizes hot and cold work steels for durable dies. Cold work steels are also essential for stamping and forming, high-speed tool steels enhance machining efficiency, and powder metallurgy steels provide exceptional wear resistance.

Mold and die steels ensure longer tool life, improved dimensional accuracy, reduced downtime, and enhanced surface finish quality in manufacturing processes. Their tailored properties allow for optimal performance under the specific conditions of each application, leading to increased productivity and cost-effectiveness.

Compared to general-purpose steels, mold and die steels offer superior wear resistance, thermal stability, and toughness. They are engineered to withstand the extreme conditions of shaping, forming, and cutting processes, making them essential for industries where precision and durability are paramount.

Yes, Titus Steel offers customization options to meet specific requirements. Their expertise allows them to work closely with customers to develop tailored solutions that optimize the properties of mold and die steels for unique applications.

Titus Steel employs rigorous quality control processes, including careful material selection and thorough testing, to guarantee the reliability and performance of their mold and die steels. This commitment to quality ensures that customers receive materials tailored to their specific manufacturing needs.

Titus Steel’s mold and die steels stand out for their exceptional properties, such as resistance to wear, thermal stress, and deformation. These advantages ensure prolonged tool life, reduced downtime, and improved production efficiency compared to using generic steels.

Contact Us Today

Titus Steel products and solutions enable our customers to reduce downtime, increase payload and protect their employees. Let us help you overcome your steel challenges.

Fill in the form below, and our Sales Representative will be in touch.