X45NiCrMo4
1.2767High-toughness nickel-alloyed tool steel for plastic molds and cold work applications. 4% Ni provides exceptional impact toughness at hardness levels of 48–54 HRC. Through-hardening up to very large cross sections. Used for injection mold frames, blow mold inserts, cold stamping tools requiring high toughness, tire molds and machine knives. Polishable to mirror finish. Can be nitrided for improved surface hardness.
Chemical composition comparison (wt%)
Side-by-side: X45NiCrMo4 (EN) (EN ISO 4957) vs ASTM
| Element | X45NiCrMo4 (EN) | ASTM | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 0.4–0.5% | — | — |
| Si | ≤ 0.4% | — | — |
| Mn | ≤ 0.4% | — | — |
| Cr | 1.2–1.5% | — | — |
| Mo | 0.15–0.35% | — | — |
| Ni | 3.8–4.3% | — | — |
Mechanical properties
Annealed
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness HB | ≤ 250 | HB |
Hardened + Tempered
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness HRC | 48–54 | HRC |
General
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 7.83 | g/cm³ |
Heat treatment
| Process | Temperature | Medium | Holding Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soft annealing | 630–660 °C | Furnace cooling | — | Cool slowly, max 250 HB |
| Hardening | 830–870 °C | Oil | — | Oil quench, preheat 400°C |
| Tempering | 180–500 °C | Air | — | Double temper: 200°C→54 HRC, 450°C→48 HRC |
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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