S136 Mold Steel
Eliminating microscopic surface pitting and protecting mold cavity walls from acidic outgassing in high-purity medical and optical molding requires an electroslag-remelted stainless alloy, which S136 mold steel delivers. Vacuum hardened to 48–52 HRC, ESR S136 stainless tool steel contains 13.6% chromium, offering exceptional resistance to cooling line rust and corrosive polymer degradation. At Jucheng Precision, a certified ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 contract manufacturer, we specialized in 5-axis CNC machining and diamond mirror polishing of S136 steel mold inserts. Achieving an SPI A-1 optical surface finish, our S136 production molds guarantee over 1,000,000 shots verified by Zeiss CMM inspection.
High-purity S136 Mold Steel cavity manufacturing for high-transparency medical, optical, and high-gloss plastic components. Featuring 13.6% chromium content and Electroslag Remelting (ESR) refinement, hardened S136 stainless steel takes an SPI A-1 diamond mirror polish while providing exceptional resistance to corrosive resin outgassing and cooling line rust.
S136 Mold Steel Metallurgical & Mirror Polish Profile
ESR-refined S136 stainless steel is vacuum heat-treated to 48–52 HRC, certified to deliver outstanding corrosion protection and optical polishability:
| Metallurgical Attribute | S136 Steel Spec Metric | Optical & Medical Tooling Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Chromium Corrosion Protection | 13.6% Chromium (Cr) Alloy Content | Prevents cavity pitting caused by corrosive acidic outgassing from flame retardants and water line condensation rust. |
| ESR Inclusion-Free Purity | Electroslag Remelted (ESR) Steel | Removes non-metallic slag inclusions, enabling diamond paste hand polishers to reach a flawless SPI A-1 mirror finish. |
| Core Hardness & Wear | 48 – 52 HRC (Vacuum Hardened) | Resists parting line wear and flash formation across 1,000,000+ continuous high-speed injection production cycles. |
S136 Steel Compatibility with Optical & Corrosive Resins
S136 stainless steel is the preferred tool steel for high-transparency optics, medical disposables, and corrosive resins during Plastic Injection Molding:
| Specialty Resin Class | Compatible Polymer Chemistry | S136 Tool Steel Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Optical Clear & Lenses | Polycarbonate (PC), PMMA(Acrylic), COC, COP | Takes an SPI A-1 diamond mirror polish without surface pitting, yielding 92% light transmittance without haze. |
| Medical & Cleanroom Disposables | Biocompatible & Medical Grade Resin, Medical PEEK | Prevents mold rust inside humid Cleanroom Injection Molding bays, ensuring zero particulate contamination. |
| Acidic Outgassing Resins | Flame Retardant (FR) Alloys, PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) | High-chromium matrix prevents chemical pitting caused by hydrochloric acid or brominated outgassing during high-temp runs. |
S136 Mold Steel Vacuum Hardening & SPI A-1 Mirror Polish Blueprint
Executing precision S136 stainless steel Custom Mold Making requires strict vacuum heat-treatment and 5-axis CNC machining:
ESR Inclusion-Free Purity
Electroslag Remelting (ESR) eliminates non-metallic slag inclusions. This ultra-pure steel structure allows master polishers to achieve SPI A-1 diamond mirror clarity without micro-scratches.
Vacuum Heat-Treat (52 HRC)
Computer-controlled vacuum hardening followed by triple tempering achieves uniform 48–52 HRC core hardness, eliminating internal residual stress and preventing tool warpage.
Rust-Proof Cooling Channels
Because S136 contains 13.6% chromium, 3D conformal cooling lines drilled through cavity blocks resist rust and mineral scaling, maintaining high thermal transfer across 1M+ cycles.
Key Application Fields for S136 Stainless Steel Molds
- Medical & Healthcare (ISO 13485 Certified): S136 stainless steel Multi-Cavity Injection Mold tools for hemodialyzers, syringes, diagnostic cartridges, and surgical tools.
- Optical & Automotive Lighting (IATF 16949 Certified): High-gloss Production Injection Mold tools for LED ambient light guides, camera lenses, and automotive headlamps.
- High-End Packaging & Electronics: High-cavitation Hot Runner Mold closures, luxury cosmetic containers, and high-voltage circuit breaker housings.
Properties
| Density (ESR S136 Steel) | 7.8 g/cm³ |
| Chromium Content (Cr) | 13.6 % |
| Hardness Range (Vacuum Hardened) | 48 - 52 HRC |
| Tensile Yield Strength (52 HRC) | 1,480 MPa |
| Ultimate Tensile Strength | 1,820 MPa |
| Elongation at Break | 12 % |
| Flexural Modulus | 215 GPa |
| Thermal Conductivity (20°C) | 24.5 W/(m·K) |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (20-100°C) | 11 10⁻⁶/K |
| Compressive Strength (52 HRC) | 1,950 MPa |
| Charpy V-Notch Impact Energy (52 HRC) | 28 J |
| SPI Polishing Surface Capability | SPI A-1 (Diamond Mirror Polish) - |
| Guaranteed Tool Shot Life (Class 101) | 1,000,000+ Cycles |
| Maximum Mold Cavity Block Size | 1800 x 1200 mm |
| Minimum Machining Tolerance | +/- 0.005 mm |