Zevon Technology
Mold Tooling Materials

Tooling

Mold Tooling Materials

Tool steels, mold base materials, inserts, and thermal materials for injection molds, die casting dies, stamping dies, and prototype molds.

Material list

Common options for quote review and production planning.

Final selection depends on geometry, tolerances, cosmetic requirements, operating environment, volume, and lead-time targets.

P20

1.2311, 1.2312

Pre-hardened plastic mold steel with strong cost-performance for medium-volume tooling.

Strengths

Cost-effectiveGood machinabilityReady for direct machining

Typical parts

  • Mold cores
  • Cavities
  • General plastic molds
  • Medium-volume tooling

718H

1.2738

Stable pre-hardened mold steel for larger molds and cosmetic components.

Strengths

Good polishingDimensional stabilitySuitable for large molds

Typical parts

  • Automotive molds
  • Appliance housings
  • Large mold cores
  • Cavities

NAK80

High-polish pre-hardened steel for transparent parts and cosmetic mold surfaces.

Strengths

Mirror polishingStable EDM textureGood cosmetic performance

Typical parts

  • Transparent parts
  • Appearance parts
  • Lens-adjacent components
  • High-gloss molds

S136

1.2083, 420 stainless

Stainless mold steel for corrosion resistance, transparent materials, and high-polish tooling.

Strengths

Corrosion resistanceHigh polishabilityGood for PVC and flame-retardant materials

Typical parts

  • Medical molds
  • Transparent parts
  • Corrosive resin molds
  • Optical housings

H13

1.2344, SKD61

Hot-work tool steel for die casting dies, hot runner parts, sliders, and high-temperature inserts.

Strengths

Thermal fatigue resistanceImpact resistanceHigh-temperature strength

Typical parts

  • Die casting dies
  • Hot runner parts
  • Slides
  • Wear inserts

Beryllium Copper

BeCu

High-conductivity alloy used for cooling inserts and hot-spot control in mold tooling.

Strengths

High thermal conductivityShorter molding cyclesGood for deep ribs

Typical parts

  • Cooling inserts
  • Deep rib areas
  • Thermal hot spots
  • Cycle-time improvement

Tooling route

Recommended materials by mold type.

Mold typeCommon materialsSelection guidance

Injection mold

P20, 718H, NAK80, S136, H13, BeCu, aluminum

Use P20 or 718H for general parts, S136 for corrosive or transparent resins, and NAK80 for high-polish cosmetic parts.

Die casting die

H13, 1.2344, SKD61, 8407, copper alloys

Prioritize hot-work steels for thermal fatigue resistance, heat checking resistance, and high-temperature strength.

Stamping die

D2, SKD11, DC53, Cr12MoV, carbide, H13

Use high-hardness and wear-resistant materials for cutting edges and forming surfaces.

Prototype mold

6061, 7075 aluminum, P20, S50C

Choose aluminum or simplified steel tooling when the goal is fast validation, pilot production, or low-volume molding.

Need help choosing a material?

Upload drawings and share quantity, tolerance, cosmetic, and operating requirements. Engineering can recommend material, process, and finishing options.