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1.2316 Steel Heat Treatment Parameters and Properties

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In the field of mold manufacturing, choosing the right material is only the first step to success. For 1.2316 steel (DIN standard martensitic stainless steel), heat treatment is the “key” to unlocking its full potential. Incorrect heat treatment can not only lead to insufficient hardness and dimensional deformation, but may also cause premature failure of the mold during service—orange peel after polishing, increased pitting in corrosive environments, or even cracking.

vacuum heat treatment furnace
vacuum heat treatment furnace
vacuum furnace for 1.2316 steel
vacuum furnace for 1.2316 steel
heating furnace for 1.2316
heating furnace for 1.2316
heat treatment time temperature curve
heat treatment time temperature curve
quenching furnace for 1.2316
quenching furnace for 1.2316
furnace temperature time chart
furnace temperature time chart
tempering furnace
tempering furnace

1. Annealed - Softening for 1.2316 mold steel

Annealed parameters:

  • Heating temperature: 760 – 800 °C. Note: The temperature should not exceed Ac1 by too much to prevent complete dissolution of the carbides.
  • Holding time: Typically 4 – 5 hours, depending on the workpiece thickness.
  • Cooling method: Very slow furnace cooling. Cool to 650 °C at a rate of 10 – 20 °C/h, followed by air cooling.
  • Final hardness: The hardness after annealing should be controlled to ≤ 230 HB.

Value to procurement and production:

  • Annealing is the first step in the heat treatment of 1.2316 mold steel. Its main purpose is to eliminate internal stress, reduce hardness, and improve the uniformity of the microstructure, thereby improving the plasticity and toughness of the steel and facilitating subsequent machining.
  • Through precise annealing, the hardness of 1.2316 mold steel can be reduced to below approximately 230 HB, significantly improving machinability, reducing tool wear, and thus effectively controlling machining costs. For molds requiring complex cavity machining, this step can significantly improve machining efficiency and surface quality.

2. Quenched - Imparting core hardness for 1.2316 mold steel

Quenched parameters:

  • Preheating: Two-stage preheating (600 °C and 850 °C) to reduce the internal and external temperature difference of large-sized molds.
  • Austenitizing temperature: 1020 – 1050 °C
  • Cooling medium: Oil cooling or vacuum high-pressure gas quenching. For complex shapes, staged quenching (isothermal in a 500 °C salt bath) is recommended to minimize deformation.
  • Quenching hardness: Hardness after quenching can reach 48 – 52 HRC.

Value to procurement and production:

  • Quenching is one of the most critical steps in the heat treatment of 1.2316 mold steel. It aims to rapidly cool the steel to transform its austenitic microstructure into martensite, thereby achieving high hardness.
  • With proper quenching, 1.2316 mold steel can typically achieve a hardness of 48-52 HRC. This hardness level provides molds with excellent wear resistance and load-bearing capacity, forming the basis of its high-performance mold steel status.

3. Tempered - Fine-tuning the balance between toughness and hardness for 1.2316 mold steel

The quenched 1.2316 steel has high internal stress and cannot be used directly. It must be tempered.

Tempering serves three purposes: stress relief, hardness adjustment, and toughness improvement. The tempering temperature also affects corrosion resistance.

Times of tempered:

  • First Tempering: Performed immediately after quenching. The objective is to relieve quenching stresses and reduce brittleness.
  • Second Tempering: Carried out after the first tempering has cooled down to room temperature. The purpose is to eliminate new stresses generated during the transformation of retained austenite.

4. Performance Comparison of Complete Heat Treatment Process

After the complete 1.2316 steel heat treatment process, the material properties are significantly improved:

  • Hardness: Increased from the pre-hardened state of 290–330 HB to 52–54 HRC, representing an improvement of approximately 60–70%.
  • Wear Resistance: Improved by approximately 3–4 times.
  • Compressive Strength: Increased from approximately 1000 MPa to approximately 1600–1800 MPa.
  • Surface Polishing Limit: The ESR (Electro Slag Remelting) grade can achieve Ra < 0.01 μm, while the non-ESR grade reaches approximately Ra 0.02–0.05 μm.
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Choosing 1.2316 is more than just selecting a grade of steel. It means choosing a low-risk, high-yield production method.

Heat treatment determines the final properties of mold steel. If you want to verify whether the heat treatment meets the required standards, consider the 4-step testing method. We not only supply high-quality steel, but also provide professional guidance on heat treatment processes.

So if you need technical support from Keyspark Steel, please contact our team and submit an inquiry. We provide full-process services from material selection to heat treatment.

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