Injection mold material: 4140 steel

author: Universe plastic

2024-08-16

4140 steel is a commonly used mold alloy steel with good mechanical properties, high strength, processability and heat treatment properties. It is the material of choice for many engineering and manufacturing applications, especially in machinery manufacturing, mold manufacturing and other fields.

By precisely controlling the chemical composition and heat treatment conditions, 4140 steel can be customized and is very popular in the manufacture of injection molds. Universe Plastics Engineers will take you to learn more about the use of 4140 steel in injection molds.

4140 steel performance parameters

Element	C: 0.38 - 0.43 Mn: 0.75 - 1.00 Si: 0.15 - 0.35 Cr: 0.80 - 1.10 Mo: 0.15 - 0.25 S: ≤0.04 P: ≤0.035	Elongation	14 - 30%
hardness	28 - 32 HRC	Quenching temperature	≈845°C
tensile strength	655 - 1,090 MPa	density	7.85 g/cm³
Yield strength	415 - 1,035 MPa	thermal expansion coefficient	12.3 µm/m°C

Characteristics of 4140 steel injection mold

1. High strength and hardness

4140 steel can achieve high strength and hardness after proper heat treatment, ensuring that the mold will not deform or break during high-pressure injection molding.

2. Good wear resistance

Due to the content of chromium and molybdenum, 4140 steel has excellent wear resistance, which can extend the service life of the mold and reduce the frequency of maintenance.

3. Processability

4140 steel maintains good machinability after quenching and tempering, making it suitable for precision machining of complex molds.

4. Hardenability

4140 steel has good hardenability and can be heat treated to obtain uniform hardness and mechanical properties to meet the requirements of different injection molds.

5. Economy

Compared with some more expensive alloy tool steels, 4140 steel has a higher cost performance and is especially suitable for large-scale and mass-produced injection molds.

What are the injection mold structures made of 4140 steel?

1. Mold base

4140 steel is often used to make the base part of molds. Due to its high strength and hardness, it can support the entire mold structure and withstand the huge pressure during high-pressure injection molding.

2. Cavity and core

The cavity and core are the parts of the injection mold that are in direct contact with the molten plastic. The wear resistance and workability of 4140 steel make it an ideal choice for manufacturing these critical components, able to accurately maintain the shape and dimensions of the mold.

3. Slider and guide column

These parts need to have good wear resistance and hardness to ensure accuracy and stability during the opening and closing process of the mold. The hardness and mechanical properties of 4140 steel are ideal for use in these components.

4. Mold components

In addition to the main mold parts, 4140 steel is also used to make other components in the mold, such as inserts, wedges, ejector and ejector pins, etc. These components also need to have good wear resistance and strength.

Application of 4140 steel injection mold

1. Auto parts: transparent plastic dashboards, control panels, bumpers, grilles and guards, light housings, hoods, hub caps

2. Home appliances: washing machine and refrigerator parts, plastic panels, plastic handles and linings, TV and stereo casings, microwave ovens and coffee machine parts

3. Electronic products: mobile phone case accessories, computer notebook cases, power adapters and sockets

4. Medical devices: syringes and catheters, surgical tools and diagnostic equipment housings

5. Consumer products: toys and game equipment, tableware and kitchen utensils, gardening and outdoor supplies, watering cans and tool handles

6. Industrial products: pipes and connections, storage containers and pallets, machinery equipment housings and components

Summarize

4140 steel is one of the commonly used materials in injection mold manufacturing due to its excellent mechanical properties, wear resistance and processability. Through reasonable processing, heat treatment and maintenance, the advantages of 4140 steel can be fully utilized to improve the service life and production efficiency of the mold.

Dongguan Universe Plastic Factory has more than 15 years of injection mold manufacturing experience, a professional team, advanced processing equipment and high-quality 4140 steel supply channels.

If you are looking for 4140 injection mold manufacturer, welcome to contact us to get the latest quotation.

CNC machining method: Precision machining

Injection mold material: P20 steel