Grade 1.2311

1.2311 (P20 Tool Steel) is a widely used pre-hardened plastic mould steel, known for its excellent balance of machinability, toughness, and polishability. Supplied in a pre-hardened condition of approximately 280–325 HB (28–34 HRC), it eliminates the need for additional heat treatment, making it highly efficient for tooling applications. This grade is commonly used in injection moulds, blow moulds, and low-pressure die-casting dies.

One of the key advantages of 1.2311 is its uniform hardness across large sections, which ensures consistent performance and dimensional stability in large mould blocks. It also offers good machinability, allowing faster manufacturing and reduced tooling costs. Its excellent polishability makes it suitable for applications requiring smooth or mirror-finish surfaces.

Tool Steel

Although supplied pre-hardened, 1.2311 can be nitrided to significantly improve surface hardness up to 60–65 HRC, while maintaining a tough and ductile core. This enhances wear resistance, surface durability, and corrosion resistance, especially in humid environments or when processing corrosive plastics. Additionally, the material offers good weldability, making it easy to repair or modify moulds.

Overall, 1.2311 (P20) is a cost-effective and reliable tool steel widely preferred in the mould manufacturing industry. Its combination of strength, toughness, machinability, and surface finish capability makes it ideal for general-purpose tooling and large mould applications.

Key Properties

  • Pre-hardened (280–325 HB / 28–34 HRC)
  • Excellent machinability
  • Good toughness and durability
  • High polishability (mirror finish capability)
  • Uniform hardness across large sections
  • Suitable for nitriding (up to 60–65 HRC surface hardness)
  • Good weldability for repair and modification
  • Moderate wear resistance with enhanced surface treatment

Common Applications

  • Injection moulds (medium to large size)
  • Blow moulds
  • Low-pressure die-casting dies
  • Automotive moulds
  • Tooling plates
  • Extrusion dies
  • Machine parts and shafts
  • General tooling components

PUROHIT STEEL is a trusted name in the tool steel industry, with humble beginnings dating back to 1965 and over three decades of expertise in delivering high-quality materials and solutions. Today, the group operates multiple well-established units, maintaining a vast inventory ranging from hot work and cold work tool steels to specialized materials. Known for reliability and strong technical support, PUROHIT STEEL caters to the diverse requirements of small, medium, and large-scale industries. The company specializes in manufacturing moulds and tooling components using premium grades such as Grade 1.2311, which is ideal for applications including injection moulds (medium to large size), blow moulds, low-pressure die-casting dies, automotive moulds, tooling plates, extrusion dies, machine parts, shafts, and general tooling components. With a focus on quality, performance, and precision, PUROHIT STEEL continues to deliver durable and efficient tooling solutions.