Grade 1.2738
1.2738 (P20+Ni) is a high-quality, pre-hardened mould steel widely used in the plastic mould industry. It is an upgraded version of 1.2311 steel, enhanced with nickel to provide improved hardness uniformity, toughness, and polishability. Supplied in a pre-hardened condition of approximately 32–36 HRC, it eliminates the need for further heat treatment, reducing production time and preventing distortion.
The addition of nickel ensures consistent hardness across large sections, making it ideal for large moulds where dimensional stability is critical. Compared to standard P20, this grade offers better performance under high-pressure injection moulding conditions.
It also provides good machinability, allowing efficient milling, drilling, turning, and grinding. Its fine microstructure enables excellent mirror polishing and texturing, making it suitable for high-end surface finish applications such as automotive and consumer products.
Furthermore, 1.2738 can be nitrided (55–60 HRC surface hardness) to improve wear resistance and extend mould life. Its good weldability allows easy repair and modification, making it a reliable and versatile material for demanding tooling applications.
Key Properties
- Pre-hardened (32–36 HRC)
- Excellent hardness uniformity (enhanced by Nickel)
- High toughness and strength
- Good machinability
- Excellent polishability (mirror finish capability)
- Suitable for texturing (chemical & laser)
- Nitriding capability (55–60 HRC surface hardness)
- Good weldability for repair and modification
Common Applications
- Large plastic injection moulds
- Blow moulds
- Automotive interior & exterior moulds
- Die-casting moulds (low-melting alloys)
- Mould bases and plate materials
- Moulds requiring high-quality polishing and texturing
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 **1.2311 (P20)**, 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.