Pre-hardened plastic mould steel for optimum product quality

Related Vendors

With a hardness range of 365 to 410 HB through to its core, Formadur 400 is one of the most consolidated pre-hardened mould steels on the market. The material can be brought precisely into shape thanks to its homogeneous hardness. Polishing allows moulders to achieve an extremely high-end surface finish on moulds. This is effective in preventing any uneven surfaces on the plastic product. Formadur 400 also exhibits heightened wear resistance, which, in turn, increases productivity for plastic injection moulding. The material's mechanical-technological properties are optimised to such an extent that a whole variety of machining operations is possible: milling, welding, texturing and polishing. For even higher standards for polishing, Deutsche Edelstahlwerke offers Formadur 400 in its Superclean version, produced through remelting in an electro-slag remelting process (ESR).

Gallery

Steel production based on secret formula

The material's optimal chemical composition is essential for the required hardness increase and homogeneity. Deutsche Edelstahlwerke smelts single-type steel scrap and selected alloy components in a 130-ton electric arc furnace at its steelworks in Witten in Germany's Ruhr region. During the secondary metallurgy process, disruptive gas and oxygen content is removed from the steel and the final chemical analysis is adjusted by microalloying. Even the tiniest impurities in the steel can have an effect on the plastic mould and, consequently, on the component's surface quality.

The Hermle C 400 vertical-spindle, 5-axis machining centre in use at aerospace subcontractor, FGP Systems, Weymouth. (Geo Kingsbury)

The steel producer uses an ESR process to improve the purity of the steel to meet stringent requirements for highest polishing results. This is the most important step in further treatment of Formadur 400 to produce its Superclean version. The difference in the achievable surface quality can be verified as clients who manufacture complicated high-end products require such superior quality. Forged or rolled steel products undergo heat treatment at the Hattingen, Krefeld or Witten works in Germany. The plant technology at Deutsche Edelstahlwerke is able to heat-treat steel products weighing up to 50 tons in all. This is a true competitive advantage and a prerequisite for achieving optimum homogeneous hardness.

(ID:44766843)