Common materials for injection molds of consumer electronics products

1, P-20 pre hardened steel and 45 carbon steel: soft mold materials
In injection molds, soft mold materials are mainly used for producing products with relatively small quantities and not particularly high requirements for mold life. P-20 pre hardened steel and 45 carbon steel are two of the more common types.
P-20 pre hardened steel
P-20 pre hardened steel is a medium carbon alloy steel that has undergone pre hardening treatment, resulting in moderate hardness and easy processing and polishing. It has good toughness and wear resistance, and can withstand certain pressure and friction. P-20 pre hardened steel is widely used in injection molds, especially in the production of small, precision electronic products such as phone cases and headphones. Its disadvantage is that its thermal stability is slightly poor and it is prone to deformation at high temperatures.
45 carbon steel
45 carbon steel is a medium carbon steel with high strength and hardness, but relatively low toughness. It is mainly used in injection molds to produce products with low requirements for mold life. 45 carbon steel has a lower cost and better processing performance, but it is prone to thermal fatigue at high temperatures, which affects the life of the mold. Therefore, in some electronic products that require high mold life, the application of 45 carbon steel is relatively rare.
2, H-13 chromium steel and 420 stainless steel: hard mold materials
Hard mold materials are mainly used for producing products with large quantities and high requirements for mold life. H-13 chromium steel and 420 stainless steel are two of the more common types.
H-13 chromium steel
H-13 chromium steel is a type of hot work die steel with excellent thermal stability and wear resistance. It can maintain high hardness and toughness at high temperatures, and is not prone to deformation and cracking. H-13 chromium steel is widely used in injection molds for the production of large and complex electronic products, such as TV casings, computer cases, etc. Its disadvantages are high processing difficulty and high cost.
420 stainless steel
420 stainless steel is a martensitic stainless steel with high hardness and wear resistance, but relatively low toughness. It is mainly used in injection molds to produce products with high requirements for mold life and wear resistance. 420 stainless steel has good corrosion resistance and can maintain stable performance in some corrosive environments. However, its processing performance is poor and requires special processing methods and tools.
3, Special alloy material: high-performance mold material
In addition to the common steel mentioned above, there are also some special alloy materials that have been widely used in injection molds. These materials usually have higher hardness, wear resistance, and thermal stability, which can meet the production needs of some special products.
High speed steel (HSS)
High speed steel is an alloy material with high hardness, wear resistance, and high thermal stability. It is mainly used in injection molds to produce products with extremely high requirements for mold life and wear resistance. High speed steel has good cutting and processing performance, but its cost is relatively high, making it suitable for the production of some high-end electronic products.
Powder metallurgy materials
Powder metallurgy materials are high-performance alloy materials prepared through powder metallurgy processes. It has excellent hardness, wear resistance, and thermal stability, which can meet the production needs of some special products. Powder metallurgy materials are mainly used in injection molds to produce precision parts with extremely high requirements for mold life and wear resistance, such as precision structural parts inside mobile phones.
4, Principles and precautions for material selection
When choosing injection mold materials, multiple factors need to be considered, such as the production quantity of the product, mold life requirements, material cost, processing performance, and usage environment. Here are some principles and precautions for material selection:
Select materials based on product characteristics: For small and precision electronic products, soft mold materials such as P-20 pre hardened steel can be chosen; For large and complex electronic products, hard mold materials such as H-13 chromium steel can be chosen.
Consider mold lifespan and wear resistance: For molds that require long-term use, materials with high wear resistance and thermal stability should be selected, such as H-13 chromium steel, high-speed steel, etc.
Pay attention to material cost and processing performance: On the premise of meeting product requirements, materials with lower cost and better processing performance should be selected as much as possible to reduce production costs and improve production efficiency.
Considering the usage environment: For molds that need to be used in corrosive environments, materials with good corrosion resistance, such as 420 stainless steel, should be selected.
Pay attention to the thermal stability and toughness of materials: molds that work at high temperatures should choose materials with high thermal stability; For molds that require significant impact force, materials with good toughness should be selected.