Choosing the right steel for die casting molds is critical to mold lifespan, calidad parcial, and production efficiency. Die casting molds face harsh conditions—high temperatures (up to 600°C for aluminum alloy casting), repeated thermal cycles, and mechanical wear—so the steel must balance alta fuerza, resistencia al desgaste, heat fatigue resistance, y Procesabilidad. This article breaks down the best steel options for different scenarios, compares their key properties, and provides actionable selection tips to solve your mold material challenges.
1. Core Performance Requirements for Die Casting Mold Steel
Before exploring specific steel types, it’s essential to understand the non-negotiable performance metrics—these form the basis of your selection. Use the table below to clarify priorities based on casting material and production volume:
| Métrico de rendimiento | Definición | Criticality for Different Scenarios |
| Heat Fatigue Resistance | Ability to withstand repeated heating/cooling without cracking | ★★★★★ (Aluminum/ magnesium alloy casting: 300–600°C thermal cycles) |
| Resistencia al desgaste | Resistance to surface abrasion from molten metal flow | ★★★★☆ (Producción de alto volumen: >100,000 ciclos) |
| Tenacidad | Ability to resist impact and deformation under high pressure | ★★★★☆ (Large molds or thick-walled parts: high clamping pressure) |
| Procesabilidad | Ease of machining (molienda, perforación) y pulido | ★★★☆☆ (Complex mold cavities: requires fine surface finish) |
| Resistencia a la corrosión | Resistance to chemical attack from molten metal or coolants | ★★★☆☆ (Zinc alloy casting: molten zinc may corrode steel) |
2. Top Steel Types for Die Casting Molds: Comparación & Casos de uso
Not all steels are equal—each type excels in specific scenarios. Below is a detailed breakdown of the most widely used options, organized by “general-purpose” and “specialized” categories for clarity.
2.1 General-Purpose High-Performance Steels (Most Common Choices)
These steels balance all key properties and work for 80% of die casting applications (P.EJ., aluminum alloy molds, medium-volume production).
| Tipo de acero | Características clave | Ventajas | Casos de uso ideales |
| Acero H13 | – Excellent high-temperature hardness (HRC 48–52 after heat treatment)- Stable chemical composition- Good impact resistance and processability | – Balances toughness and wear resistance- Suitable for complex-shaped molds- Low maintenance cost | Large molds (P.EJ., Bloques de motor automotriz), componentes centrales (núcleos de moho, columnas guía), fundición a presión de aleación de aluminio (100,000–500.000 ciclos) |
| Acero H11 | – Alta resistencia térmica (Mantiene la dureza a 600°C.)- Fuerte capacidad de ajuste de dureza (CDH 45–50)- Fácil de mecanizar y reparar | – Fácil de mantener con frecuencia (baja dificultad de retrabajo)- Funciona bien en ciclos de temperatura media. | Moldes grandes que requieren mantenimiento regular. (P.EJ., carcasas de electrodomésticos), fundición a presión de aleación de zinc |
| 8407 Acero | – Excelente estabilidad térmica (Distorsión mínima después del tratamiento térmico.)- Buen rendimiento de corte- Alta resistencia al desgaste (mejor que H13 para funciones pequeñas) | – Delivers consistent part quality over long runs- Suitable for precision molds | Small and medium-sized molds (P.EJ., electronic component housings), high-hardness requirements (HRC 50–54), aluminum/magnesium alloy casting |
Ejemplo: H13 vs. 8407 for Aluminum Alloy Molds
For a 500,000-cycle aluminum wheel mold:
- Acero H13: Costo por adelantado más bajo, easier to machine complex spoke details, but may show minor wear after 400,000 ciclos.
- 8407 Acero: 15–20% longer lifespan (arriba a 600,000 ciclos), better surface finish retention, but 10–15% higher material cost.
2.2 Specialized Steels for Unique Requirements
These steels address extreme needs—such as high precision, long lifespan, or corrosion resistance—where general-purpose steels fall short.
| Tipo de acero | Características clave | Ventajas | Casos de uso ideales |
| S136 Steel | – Excelente resistencia a la corrosión (contenido de cromo >13%)- Good high-temperature stability- Polishes to mirror-like surface finish (Real academia de bellas artes <0.02 μm) | – Prevents zinc alloy corrosion- No surface rust from coolants | Small/medium molds with high surface finish requirements (P.EJ., cosmetic parts), fundición a presión de aleación de zinc |
| NAK80 Steel | – Nickel-alloy tool steel- High resistance to high-temperature deformation- Superior cutting performance (no heat treatment needed for machining) | – Maintains dimensional stability in 400–500°C cycles- Reduces machining time by 20–30% | Moldes de alta precisión (P.EJ., carcasa del sensor), parts requiring tight tolerances (<± 0.01 mm) |
| 718 Acero | – Optimized microstructure via special annealing- Alta dureza (HRC 48–52) y resistencia a la fatiga- Good weldability for mold repairs | – Long lifespan for medium-volume production (200,000–300,000 cycles)- Bajo riesgo de agrietamiento durante la reparación. | Piezas de precisión pequeñas/medianas (P.EJ., marcos de teléfonos inteligentes), fundición a presión de aleación de aluminio |
| 8418 Acero | – Alta pureza (bajo contenido de azufre)- Bajo silicio, alta proporción de molibdeno- Excelente resistencia a la erosión y al agrietamiento. | – Resiste ciclos rápidos de frío y calor. (P.EJ., moldes de galvanoplastia para manijas de muebles)- Sin grietas en la superficie después 300,000+ ciclos | Moldes que requieren durabilidad a largo plazo, Piezas con frecuentes fluctuaciones de temperatura. |
2.3 Premium Steels for Extreme Demands
Para moldes con una vida útil ultraalta o requisitos de calidad del producto (P.EJ., piezas aeroespaciales, 1,000,000+ ciclos), Estos aceros avanzados valen la inversión.:
- Acero DIEVAR: Refinado mediante horno de electroescoria (ESR) proceso, it has enhanced toughness and ductility. Inhibits crack propagation, making it ideal for large, high-pressure molds (P.EJ., heavy-duty automotive components).
- DAC55 Steel: Similar to H13 but with higher chromium content, it offers 25% better heat fatigue resistance. Perfect for aluminum alloy casting with frequent thermal shocks.
- 1.8433 Acero: A European-grade hot-work tool steel with excellent wear resistance and processability. Used in precision molds for medical device parts.
3. Other Optional Materials: Ventajas & Contras
If budget or production scale limits your choice, consider these alternatives—but be aware of their trade-offs:
| Tipo de material | Características clave | Ventajas | Contras | Casos de uso ideales |
| Acero aleado | Alta fuerza, good hardness (CDH 45–50) | – Suitable for high-demand parts (auto components)- Better mechanical properties than carbon steel | – Difficult to machine (requiere herramientas especializadas)- Alto costo (2–3x more than H13) | Alta calidad, high-output production (100,000+ ciclos) |
| Acero de alta velocidad (HSS) | Buen rendimiento de corte, low material cost | – Asequible (1/3 the cost of H13)- Easy to machine for simple molds | – Short lifespan (≤50,000 cycles)- Easy wear and deformation at high temperatures | Small/medium batches (≤10,000 parts), ordinary precision requirements |
| Acero fundido | Excelentes propiedades mecánicas, bajo costo | – Barato (1/4 the cost of H13)- Suitable for large molds (P.EJ., industrial machine housings) | – Long processing cycle (3–4x longer than H13)- Baja precisión (tolerancias >± 0.1 mm) | Grande, low-precision die castings (P.EJ., heavy equipment frames) |
4. Step-by-Step Guide to Select Die Casting Mold Steel
Sigue este lineal, actionable process to choose the right steel for your project—no more guesswork:
Paso 1: Definir los requisitos básicos
Empiece por respuesta 3 critical questions:
- What metal are you casting? (Aluminum = prioritize heat fatigue; zinc = prioritize corrosion resistance)
- What’s the production volume? (High volume >500,000 cycles = choose 8418/DIEVAR; volumen bajo <10,000 = HSS/cast steel)
- What’s the mold complexity? (Complex cavities = prioritize processability; P.EJ., H13/NAK80)
Paso 2: Balance Performance and Cost
Use the “cost-performance ratio” rule:
- Para 80% of standard applications (aluminio, 100,000–300,000 cycles), Acero H13 is the best value—it meets all requirements without premium costs.
- For precision or corrosion needs, upgrade to S136 (zinc) o NAK80 (high-precision aluminum)—the extra cost is offset by reduced rework and longer lifespan.
Paso 3: Verify Processability
Ensure the steel can be machined to your mold’s design:
- Complex cavities with fine details: Avoid hard-to-machine alloys (P.EJ., DAC55) unless necessary—opt for NAK80 or H13.
- Large molds requiring welding repairs: Elegir 718 Acero (Excelente soldadura) to avoid cracking during maintenance.
La perspectiva de la tecnología de Yigu
En la tecnología yigu, Creemos que la selección de acero para moldes de fundición a presión consiste en alinear las propiedades del material con las necesidades de producción del mundo real.. Para la mayoría de los clientes (automotor, Electrónica de consumo), Recomendamos Acero H13 como punto de partida: equilibra los costos, actuación, y procesabilidad para moldes de aleación de aluminio.. Para piezas de alta precisión (P.EJ., 5Carcasas para dispositivos G), actualizamos a NAK80 para garantizar la estabilidad dimensional en ciclos de 400 a 500 °C. Para clientes de aleaciones de zinc, S136 Steel No es negociable para evitar la corrosión.. También tenemos en cuenta el volumen de producción.: para carreras >500,000 ciclos, sugerimos 8418 Acero—su resistencia al agrietamiento reduce los costos de reemplazo del molde en 30%. Al final, the goal isn’t just choosing “good steel”—it’s choosing steel that maximizes mold lifespan and minimizes total production cost.
Preguntas frecuentes
- Can I use H13 Steel for zinc alloy die casting?
H13 Steel works for low-volume zinc casting (<50,000 ciclos) but is not ideal for long runs. Molten zinc can corrode H13 over time, leading to surface defects. For zinc alloy molds, S136 Steel (with high chromium content) is better—it resists corrosion and maintains surface finish.
- How much longer does DIEVAR Steel last compared to H13?
Acero DIEVAR, refined via ESR, has 30–40% longer lifespan than H13 in high-temperature aluminum casting. Por ejemplo, an H13 mold may last 300,000 ciclos, while DIEVAR can reach 400,000–450,000 cycles—ideal for high-volume production where mold replacement is costly.
- Is high-speed steel (HSS) a viable option for small-batch die casting?
Sí, HSS is suitable for small batches (<10,000 regiones) with ordinary precision. It’s cheap and easy to machine, making it cost-effective for prototypes or low-volume runs. Sin embargo, avoid HSS for high-temperature casting (aluminum/magnesium)—it wears quickly, lo que lleva a una calidad inconsistente de las piezas después de 5000 a 10 000 ciclos.