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P20 Tool Steel

P20 tool steel suppliers and stockholders. P20 is an alloy tool steel available as rounds and flats with delivery to the whole of the UK. P20 is a tool steel which offers good machineability even in the hardened and tempered (Brinell 300) condition. This steel gives an excellent polished finish and is one of the most widely accepted specifications for machine cut plastic moulds and casting dies. P20 is supplied in the hardened and tempered condition ready for machining. In this condition it gives excellent wear resistance but if maximum surface hardness is required for compression moulding plastic dies or similar tools, the steel can be case hardened or nitrided. For better machinability a higher sulphur version P20S is available. For improved through hardenability in larger sections we also offer 1.2738 P20N

We welcome export enquiries for tool steel. Please contact our sales office and consult our shipping policy for further details.

Related Specifications

AISI ASTM A681 DIN 17350 BS EN ISO 4957

Alternative tool steel grades we supply

O1 | D2 | D3 | O2 | D6 | A2 | S1 | H13 | P20S | 420 | 1.2083 | 2767 | M2 | M42 | 1.1730

Form of Supply

West Yorkshire Steel are stockholders and suppliers of P20 tool steel round bar, flat bar and plate. Diameters in P20 can be sawn to your required lengths as one offs or multiple cut pieces. Rectangular pieces can be sawn from flat bar or plate to your specific sizes. P20 ground tool steel bar can be supplied, providing a quality precision ground bar to tight tolerances.

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  • Plate
  • Flat
  • Diameter

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Applications

P20 tool steel is ideally suited for the production of plastic moulds. Typical applications include die holders, zinc die casting dies, backers, bolsters and injection moulds. The versatility of P20 tool steel with its high tensile characteristics enables uses for a variety of other applications such as shafts, rails and wear strips.

Carbon 0.40% Silicon 0.40%
Manganese 1.00% Chromium 1.20%
Molybdenum 0.35%

Heat slowly, allowing sufficient time for the steel to become heated through. Begin forging at 1050°C. Do not forge below 930°C reheating if necessary. After forging, cool very slowly.

Heat uniformly to 770-790°C.  Soak well, cool slowly in the furnace.

When dies are heavily machined, we recommend stabilising just before finish machining in order to relieve machining strains. Heat to 460-500°C. Soak well and allow to cool in the air.

Heat the steel uniformly to 820-840°C until heated through. Quench in oil.

Heat uniformly and soak at the tempering temperature for at least one hour per 25mm of section. Allow to cool in still air.

Temperature [°C] 100 200 300 400 500 600
Hardness [HRc] 51 50 48 46 42 36
Tensile [N/mm²] 1730 1670 1570 1480 1330 1140

The steel may be nitrided to give a wear resistant case of approximately Rockwell C60 surface hardness with a case depth of 0.35mm to 0.5mm. Nitriding P20 tool steel also increases the corrosion resistance. After nitriding at 525°C in ammonia gas the surface hardness of the P20 will be approximately 650HV.

Temperature Time Approx. Depth of Case
525ºC 20 hours 0.30mm
525ºC 40 hours 0.35mm
525ºC 60 hours 0.50mm

Tools produced from may be case hardened, which can achieve a surface hardness of 55 to 59 HRc.

At 570ºC tufftriding of P20 tool steel will give a surface hardness of approximately 700HV. Allowing two hours treatment the surface hard layer will be approximately 0.1mm.

To avoid hydrogen embrittlement P20 should be tempered for 4 hours at 180°C for 4 hours after hard chromium plating.

Flame or induction hardening of P20 will achieve a hardness of 50 to 55HRc. Air cooling is preferable, though smaller components may require forced cooling. Temper immediately after hardening.

Heat treatment temperatures, including rate of heating, cooling and soaking times will vary due to factors such as the shape and size of each P20 steel component. Other considerations during the heat treatment process include the type of furnace, quenching medium and work piece transfer facilities. Please consult your heat treatment provider for full guidance on heat treatment of P20 tool steel.

P20 tool steel is supplied in accordance with our ISO 9001:2015 registration.

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ISO 9001:2015 Registration