40CrMnNiMo8-6-4
1.2738Pre-hardened mould steel with nickel addition for uniform hardness through large cross-sections. Delivered at 280-325 HB. The Ni addition (0.90-1.20%) provides better through-hardening than 1.2311/1.2312, making it suitable for large moulds with sections >400mm. Used for large injection moulds for automotive, household appliance, and furniture industry. The standard choice for large, complex mould frames. Similar to AISI P20+Ni.
Chemical composition comparison (wt%)
Side-by-side: 40CrMnNiMo8-6-4 (EN) (EN ISO 4957) vs ASTM
| Element | 40CrMnNiMo8-6-4 (EN) | ASTM | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 0.35–0.45% | — | — |
| Si | 0.2–0.4% | — | — |
| Mn | 1.3–1.6% | — | — |
| P | ≤ 0.03% | — | — |
| S | ≤ 0.03% | — | — |
| Cr | 1.8–2.1% | — | — |
| Mo | 0.15–0.25% | — | — |
| Ni | 0.9–1.2% | — | — |
Mechanical properties
Pre-Hardened
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness HB | 280–325 | HB |
| Tensile Strength | 900–1100 | MPa |
| Density | ≥ 7.83 | g/cm3 |
Related materials
P20 / 40CrMnMo7
1.2311Pre-hardened plastic mold steel (usually delivered at 28-34 HRC). The most widely used mold base steel globally. Good machinability in pre-hardened condition, good polishability. Used for injection molds, die-casting dies, extrusion tooling, and structural mold components.
M2 / HS6-5-2
1.3343The most widely used high-speed steel worldwide. W-Mo-Cr-V composition gives excellent red hardness (cuts at temperatures up to 600°C). Used for twist drills, end mills, taps, reamers, bandsaw blades, and general-purpose cutting tools. The benchmark HSS grade.
X45NiCrMo4
1.2767Nickel cold-work tool steel with exceptional toughness from ~4% Ni content. Excellent through-hardenability, polishability, and impact resistance. Used for plastic injection molds (high-gloss), embossing dies, scrap shear blades, punches, cutlery dies, and bending tools.
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