Why are there material numbers for steel?
In an international context it is important that steel designations can be understood clearly and independently of the trade name. While for example ‘1.2312’ has the same meaning globally, the trade name may differ depending on the manufacturer.
The material number:
creates clarity,
facilitates comparability,
enables international classification,
prevents incorrect orders.
The first digit: The main material group
In mould and die making, the most commonly used material is steel, which is classified as material group ‘1’. This is why our list of materials is made up almost entirely of material numbers that start with a 1; only two aluminium materials start with a 3:
0 = crude iron
1 = steel
2 = non-ferrous heavy metals
3 = non-ferrous light metals
4–8 = non-metallic materials
The steel group number
The steel group number distinguishes between unalloyed and alloyed steels. Both steel groups are divided within their respective groups into high grade steel and stainless steel.
The sequential number
Within a steel group each steel is given a specific sequential number, which ultimately allows the material to be clearly identified. The complete steel material number is assigned by the Steel Institute VDEh in Düsseldorf.
Material selection made easy
We have the right material for almost every application in our range – from hot-work steel and steel for case hardening through to powder metallurgical grades and carbide. And if you would prefer a personal recommendation, our experts are always there and happy to advise you.
Optimum choice of materials for every application
Are you unsure which Meusburger material is the right one for your application? Our material selection wizard helps you to find the right material for your application quickly and easily. Thanks to intuitive operation and practical search filters you can find your way directly to the material that is optimally matched to your requirements.
Meusburger steel grades at a glance
As a standard parts manufacturer it is of central importance to us to make the right steel grade for almost every application available. Because selecting the right material is dependent on many factors such as load, environment and function.
Cold-work steels
Cold-work steels are used for moulds which generally don’t reach temperatures higher than 200 °C while in operation.
Cold-work steel from Meusburger
| 1.2210 | Cold-work steel | Small turned parts, core pins, punches, engraving tools |
Hot-work steel
The continuous operating temperature of hot-work steel is over 200 °C, which is why hot-work steel offers the best properties for die casting moulds as well as moulds with which high performance plastics are worked.
Hot-work steel from Meusburger
| 1.2343 | Hot-work steel | Cavity plates and mould inserts for plastic injection moulds |
| 1.2343 ESU | Hot-work steel | Cavity plates and mould inserts for die casting (Al, Mg, Zn, etc.) and plastic injection moulds |
| 1.2344 | Hot-work steel | Standard material for hot-work tools, extrusion dies, dies, moulds for plastic processing |
| 1.2344 ESU | Hot-work steel | Standard material for hot-work tools, extrusion dies, dies, moulds for plastic processing |
Steel for quenching and tempering
Thanks to their carbon content between 0.20% and 0.65%, these steels are especially suited for quenching and tempering through heat treatment, which results in an optimum combination of strength and toughness.
Steel for quenching and tempering from Meusburger
| 1.7225 | Steel for quenching and tempering | Jigs and fixtures, base plates, axes, gear shafts, gear wheels |
High-speed steel
High-speed steel, or HSS for short, is a high-alloy tool steel with large amounts of alloying elements such as tungsten, molybdenum, chromium, and vanadium. They offer high resistance to adhesive and abrasive wear with high toughness as well as high resistance to pressure and high temperatures.
High-speed steel from Meusburger
| 1.3343 (HSS) | High speed steel (HSS) | Blocks for eroding, cold-forming tools such as cutting or fine blanking punches, impact extrusion punches, and die plates Mould inserts with very high wear resistance |
Steel for case hardening
Due to the low carbon content of steels for case-hardening, they are ‘inserted’ into an atmosphere with high carbon content and heated. The result is a piece with high core toughness and surface hardness.
Steel for case hardening from Meusburger
| 1.2162 | Steel for case hardening | Machine parts and moulding plates with a high surface hardness, synthetic resin press moulds for the processing of thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics |
| 1.7131 | Steel for case hardening | Machine parts and moulding plates with a high surface hardness, synthetic resin press moulds for the processing of thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics |
Steel for through hardening
Steels for through hardening are delivered in a soft condition. They are good for further hardening processes, in order to change the mechanical properties of the steel.
Steel for through hardening from Meusburger
| 1.2083 | Steel for through hardening | Cavity plates and mould inserts for the processing of plastics, mainly for corrosive plastics |
| 1.2083 ESU | Steel for through hardening | Cavity plates and mould inserts for the processing of plastics, mainly for corrosive plastics |
| 1.2363 | Steel for through hardening | Cavity plates and mould inserts as well as cutting punches, punch backing plates and die plates with high requirements on toughness |
| 1.2379 | Steel for through hardening | Cavity plates and mould inserts as well as cutting punches, punch backing plates and die plates with high requirements on wear resistance |
| 1.2714 | Steel for through hardening | Extrusion dies, hot-forging tools, die plates for processing tin, lead and zinc alloys |
| 1.2714 HH | Steel for through hardening | Mould inserts, cores and slides for plastic injection moulds |
| 1.2767 | Steel for through hardening | Demanding cavity plates and mould inserts with high surface requirements (mirror polishing) Stamping, forming and bending inserts for particularly high compressive and bending strength |
| 1.2842 | Steel for through hardening | Cavity plates and inserts exposed to abrasive stress, cutting punches, wear plates, die plates, guiding plates, guiding rails |
