40CrMnMo7
1.2311Pre-hardened plastic mold steel — delivered at 28-32 HRC, ready for machining without further heat treatment. The European equivalent of AISI P20. Cr-Mn-Mo composition for good through-hardenability in large sections. THE workhorse mold base material for injection molds, compression molds, and die casting dies. Good machinability, polishability, and photo-etchability. Used for mold frames, large injection molds, blow molds, and structural die components.
International equivalents
| Flag | Standard | Country | Grade | Number | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 | AISI | USA | AISI P20 (close) | — | REF |
| 🇪🇺 | EN | Europe | 40CrMnMo7 / 1.2311 | 1.2311 | 100% |
Sources: ASTM A681, EN ISO 4957
Chemical composition comparison (wt%)
Side-by-side: 40CrMnMo7 (EN) (EN ISO 4957) vs 40CrMnMo7 / 1.2311 (EN) (EN ISO 4957)
| Element | 40CrMnMo7 (EN) | 40CrMnMo7 / 1.2311 (EN) | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 0.35–0.45% | 0.35–0.45% | OK |
| Si | 0.2–0.4% | 0.2–0.4% | OK |
| Mn | 1.3–1.6% | 1.3–1.6% | OK |
| P | 0–0.03% | 0–0.03% | OK |
| S | 0–0.03% | 0–0.03% | OK |
| Cr | 1.8–2.1% | 1.8–2.1% | OK |
| Mo | 0.15–0.25% | 0.15–0.25% | OK |
Mechanical properties
Pre-hardened (delivered)
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 900–1050 | MPa |
| Yield Strength | 700–800 | MPa |
| Hardness HRC | 28–32 | HRC |
| Elastic Modulus | ≥ 210 | GPa |
| Density | ≥ 7.85 | g/cm3 |
Compatibility verdict
40CrMnMo7 and 40CrMnMo7 / 1.2311: 100% composition match
Close equivalents but NOT identical.
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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