1.2316 stainless plastic mould steel (EN 1.2316, printed name X38CrMo16) 1.2316 (X38CrMo16)
Iron balance
Also known as EN 1.2316, EN name X38CrMo16, R65
1.2316 is a stainless, martensitic chromium-molybdenum steel for plastic moulds (EN 1.2316; the name printed by Dörrenberg and Abrams is X38CrMo16).
Evidence level
2 of 5
Lab-measured
- 0Predicted only. No one has made it, or no measurement exists.
- 1Calculated. Only calculated or predicted values from sources.
- 2Lab-measured. Measured properties with their conditions stated.
- 3Space-relevant tests. Measured in conditions relevant to space, such as vacuum or atomic oxygen.
- 4Ground-qualified. Qualified for an application on the ground.
- 5Flown or field-proven. Flight or field results exist.
Recipe, share of the weight
- Fe balance (the rest)Iron
- C 0.33 to 0.45%Carbon
- Si 0 to 1%Silicon
- Mn 0 to 1.5%Manganese
- P 0 to 0.03%Phosphorus
- S 0 to 0.03%Sulfur
- Cr 15.5 to 17.5%Chromium
- Mo 0.8 to 1.3%Molybdenum
- Ni 0 to 1%Nickel
Best for
Moulds and tools for PVC and other corrosive plastics that need a stainless, polishable face in the quenched and tempered condition (Aços Formosa; Dörrenberg; Abrams).
Weakest at
Corrosion data are qualitative: no test is printed, and the stated range is atmospheric, humid, weak acid and alkali service (Abrams). Machinability is rated only 2 on a 1 to 6 scale (Abrams).
Risk at a glance
- People Low. Element records only; no SDS for the steel was read
- If it fails Moderate. Hardness loss on heating into the soft-annealing range
- Corrosion Moderate. Abrams says a passive chromium layer gives corrosion resistance in these environments.
Quick facts: 1.2316 (X38CrMo16)
| Property | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 7.7 g/cm³ | 1 sourced value |
| Tensile strength | 1,100 MPa | 1 sourced value |
| Hardness (Brinell) | 230 to 325 HB | 3 sourced values across conditions |
| Thermal conductivity | 23.5 W/(m·K) | 1 sourced value |
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 10.5 to 11.7 ppm/K | 7 sourced values across conditions |
| Electrical resistivity | 0.6 Ohm*mm2/m | 1 sourced value |
What is the density of 1.2316 stainless plastic mould steel?
1.2316 stainless plastic mould steel has a density of 7.7 g/cm³. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the thermal conductivity of 1.2316 stainless plastic mould steel?
1.2316 stainless plastic mould steel has a thermal conductivity of 23.5 W/(m·K). The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the coefficient of thermal expansion of 1.2316 stainless plastic mould steel?
1.2316 stainless plastic mould steel has a coefficient of thermal expansion of 10.5 to 11.7 ppm/K. The range covers 7 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is the tensile strength of 1.2316 stainless plastic mould steel?
1.2316 stainless plastic mould steel has a tensile strength of 1,100 MPa. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the hardness of 1.2316 stainless plastic mould steel?
1.2316 stainless plastic mould steel has a Brinell hardness of 230 to 325 HB. The range covers 3 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What are the other names and codes for 1.2316 stainless plastic mould steel?
1.2316 stainless plastic mould steel is also written as EN 1.2316, EN name X38CrMo16, R65. Each code is printed in the source listed beside it in the designations table.
What is 1.2316 stainless plastic mould steel used for?
Uses recorded in the sources include Plastic moulds, extrusion tools and press moulds for corrosive plastics; Shafts, spindles, bolts, pistons, valves and pump parts; Injection and blow moulds for PVC and gas-releasing plastics.
Why it exists
1.2316 (EN 1.2316, printed as X38CrMo16) is a stainless, martensitic plastic mould steel. Dörrenberg says it is usually supplied quenched and tempered at 280 to 325 HB, and Aços Formosa points PVC and plastics that release aggressive gases to this grade rather than to the P-20 family. Abrams explains the chromium content (15.5 to 17.5 percent) as the source of its corrosion resistance, and says the molybdenum helps against pitting in chloride-containing environments.
Where it's used
Plastic moulds and tools for corrosive plastics
Dörrenberg lists tools and moulds for corrosive plastics and polymers, and for the food industry. Aços Formosa points PVC and gas-releasing plastics to 1.2316.
Extrusion and press tools
Abrams lists plastic moulds, extrusion tools, press moulds and fitting tools among 1.2316 applications.
Shafts, valves and pump parts
Abrams also lists shafts, spindles, bolts, pistons, valves, pump rods and compressor parts.
Recipe
Iron balance; 0.33 to 0.45 C, 0.0 to 1.0 Si, 0.0 to 1.5 Mn, 0.0 to 0.03 P, 0.0 to 0.03 S, 15.5 to 17.5 Cr, 0.8 to 1.3 Mo, 0.0 to 1.0 Ni (wt%, limits as printed in the Abrams standard-values table). Abrams gives the chromium limit as 15.5 to 17.5 percent in its text. Dörrenberg's typical analysis falls inside these limits, and its figures are not recorded because they print decimal commas.
1.2316 is an iron-based, stainless martensitic chromium-molybdenum steel. Abrams gives composition limits in wt% (its table has no unit line; the chromium limit is stated in percent in its text), and Dörrenberg prints a typical analysis inside those limits. It is usually supplied quenched and tempered at 280 to 325 HB and is hardened from 1020 to 1050 C (Dörrenberg).
| Ingredient | Share of the weight | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Iron Fe | balance (the rest) | The matrix of the steel. Heat treatment changes its structure between martensite and tempered martensite. |
| Carbon C | 0.33 to 0.45% | Sets how hard the steel can become when quenched. |
| Silicon Si | 0 to 1% | Upper limit 1.0 percent as printed by Abrams; no role is stated by the source. |
| Manganese Mn | 0 to 1.5% | Upper limit 1.5 percent as printed by Abrams; no role is stated by the source. |
| Phosphorus P | 0 to 0.03% | Impurity, held to a maximum of 0.03 percent as printed by Abrams. |
| Sulfur S | 0 to 0.03% | Impurity, held to a maximum of 0.03 percent as printed by Abrams. |
| Chromium Cr | 15.5 to 17.5% | Gives the stainless behaviour; Abrams says 15.5 to 17.5 percent chromium makes it stainless in the classic sense. |
| Molybdenum Mo | 0.8 to 1.3% | Improves resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride-containing environments and adds to hardenability (Abrams). |
| Nickel Ni | 0 to 1% | Upper limit 1.0 percent as printed by Abrams; no role is stated by the source. |
Weight shares are as printed in the sources.
What it can do
Hardness
Supplied quenched and tempered at 280 to 325 HB (Dörrenberg), or at most 325 HB (Abrams). Soft annealing gives at most 230 HB (Dörrenberg).
Strength
Tensile strength is 950 to 1100 MPa in the delivery condition, converted from hardness per DIN EN ISO 18265 (Dörrenberg); Abrams gives approx. 1100 MPa.
Density
Typical density is 7.7 g/cm3 at room temperature (Abrams).
Thermal
Thermal conductivity is 23.5 W/(m*K) at 23 C, and mean thermal expansion runs from 10.5 ppm/K (20 to 100 C) to 11.7 ppm/K (20 to 500 C) (Abrams).
Corrosion
The chromium layer resists weak acids and alkalis, humid and slightly aggressive air, and molybdenum helps against pitting in chlorides (Abrams). No test is printed.
Polish
Good polishability (Dörrenberg). Aços Formosa lists the 1.2316 ESR variant for greater cleanliness and polishability, which is a process variant and is not used as a value here.
Machining
Machinability is rated 2 on a 1 to 6 scale (Abrams).
How it compares
1.2316 sits with the Aços Formosa plastic-mould range. Its P-20 family (standard, high-machinability, nickel-alloyed and ESR variants) is the general mould choice, while 1.2316 is the stainless choice for PVC and plastics that release aggressive gases. Its printed numbers are a density of 7.7 g/cm3, a delivery hardness of 280 to 325 HB and a tensile strength of 950 to 1100 MPa (converted from hardness). The compare rows give its strength, hardness and density.
The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details. Other materials are shown beside it; each was measured under its own conditions, so open its page before comparing closely. Compare every grade in the family.
| Measurement | 1.2316 (X38CrMo16) | D2 (UNS T30402, EN 1.2379) | P20 (UNS T51620) | 1.2738 (P20+Ni) | A2 (UNS T30102, EN 1.2363) | H13 (EN 1.2344) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal behavior and safety | ||||||
| Thermal conductivity at 23 C | 23.5 W/(m*K)3 | 20 W/mK | 32.5 W/m.K | 34.5 W/m.K | no data | 25 W/(m·K) |
| Physical and electrical | ||||||
| Density, typical at room temperature | 7.7 g/cm³1 | 7700 kg/m3 | 7.83 g/cm³ | 7.8 g/cm³ | 7.86 g/cm³ | 7800 kg/m3 |
| Working hardness, approximate, up to 48 HRC | 30 to 48 HRC11 | 63 HRC | 30 HRC | 30 to 35 HRC | no data | 45 HRC |
| Delivery hardness, maximum | < 325 HB12 | 210 HB | 280 to 325 HB | 300 HB | < 241 HB | < 229 HB |
| Specific electrical resistance at 20 C | 0.6 Ohm*mm2/m13 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Hardness in the delivery condition, quenched and tempered | 280 to 325 HB15 | 210 HB | 280 to 325 HB | 300 HB | < 241 HB | < 229 HB |
| Hardness after soft annealing, maximum | < 230 HB17 | 210 HB | 280 to 325 HB | 300 HB | < 241 HB | < 229 HB |
| Other measurements | ||||||
| Tensile strength, approximate | 1100 MPa2 | no data | 965 to 1030 MPa | 993 MPa | no data | 1820 MPa |
| Average coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 100 C | 10.5 ppm/K4 | 12.3 ppm/K | 12.6 ppm/K | 11.5 ppm/K | 10.7 ppm/K | 12.6 ppm/K |
| Average coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 200 C | 10.8 ppm/K5 | 12.3 ppm/K | 12.6 ppm/K | 11.5 ppm/K | 10.7 ppm/K | 12.6 ppm/K |
| Average coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 300 C | 11.1 ppm/K6 | 12.3 ppm/K | 12.6 ppm/K | 11.5 ppm/K | 10.7 ppm/K | 12.6 ppm/K |
| Average coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 350 C | 11.3 ppm/K7 | 12.3 ppm/K | 12.6 ppm/K | 11.5 ppm/K | 10.7 ppm/K | 12.6 ppm/K |
| Average coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 400 C | 11.5 ppm/K8 | 12.3 ppm/K | 12.6 ppm/K | 11.5 ppm/K | 10.7 ppm/K | 12.6 ppm/K |
| Average coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 450 C | 11.6 ppm/K9 | 12.3 ppm/K | 12.6 ppm/K | 11.5 ppm/K | 10.7 ppm/K | 12.6 ppm/K |
| Average coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 500 C | 11.7 ppm/K10 | 12.3 ppm/K | 12.6 ppm/K | 11.5 ppm/K | 10.7 ppm/K | 12.6 ppm/K |
| Machinability rating on a 1 (low) to 6 (high) scale | 2 -14 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Tensile strength in the delivery condition, converted from hardness | 950 to 1100 MPa16 | no data | 965 to 1030 MPa | 993 MPa | no data | 1820 MPa |
Why choose it, and why not
Good for
- PVC and plastics that release aggressive gases, which Aços Formosa and Abrams both point to 1.2316.
- Moulds and tools that need a polished stainless face (Dörrenberg: good polishability; Aços Formosa: ESR variant for polishing).
- Food-industry tools, which Dörrenberg lists as an application.
Watch out for
- Corrosion is qualitative: no test is printed, and the stated range is atmospheric, humid, weak acid and alkali service (Abrams).
- Reheating into 760 to 800 C softens the block to at most 230 HB (Dörrenberg).
- Machinability is rated 2 on a 1 to 6 scale (Abrams), so plan machining time.
- The name X36CrMo17 that buyers search for is not printed by any page read; check the printed EN name X38CrMo16 (see gaps).
1.2316 is a stainless, pre-hardened plastic mould steel that Aços Formosa and Abrams point to for PVC and other corrosive plastics. It is supplied at 280 to 325 HB, polishes well, and has a typical density of 7.7 g/cm3 and a thermal conductivity of 23.5 W/(m*K) at 23 C. Its corrosion data are qualitative, and no SDS, modulus or yield strength was read for the steel.
Technical details
For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.
Other names and standards
The same grade under other systems, as datasheets and standards print them. Each code was checked against the page it comes from.
| System | Codes |
|---|---|
| EN | 1.2316 |
| EN name | X38CrMo16 |
| Trade name | R65 |
Notes
The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.
| # | Measurement | Method | Conditions | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Density, typical at room temperature | Density section, typical value as printed (the Abrams page prints www.stahlwissen.de as its source for its tables) | condition typical value as printedtemperature room temperature (as printed)heat treatment not stated | — |
| 2 | Tensile strength, approximate | Tensile strength section, as printed (approx. 1100 N/mm2) | condition approximate value as printed; heat treatment and test temperature not statedunit in source N/mm2 (printed as N/mm 2) | The page does not say whether the figure is for the delivery condition or a hardened state, so it is kept as an approximate value. |
| 3 | Thermal conductivity at 23 C | Heat conductivity section, sentence and table, Value W/(m*K) at 23 C, as printed | temperature 23 C (as printed)heat treatment not statedunit in source W/(m*K) | — |
| 4 | Average coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 100 C | Average thermal expansion coefficient table, as printed | temperature 20 to 100 C (as printed)heat treatment not statedunit in source 10-6 m/(m*K) (same number as ppm/K) | — |
| 5 | Average coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 200 C | Average thermal expansion coefficient table, as printed | temperature 20 to 200 C (as printed)heat treatment not statedunit in source 10-6 m/(m*K) (same number as ppm/K) | — |
| 6 | Average coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 300 C | Average thermal expansion coefficient table, as printed | temperature 20 to 300 C (as printed)heat treatment not statedunit in source 10-6 m/(m*K) (same number as ppm/K) | — |
| 7 | Average coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 350 C | Average thermal expansion coefficient table, as printed | temperature 20 to 350 C (as printed)heat treatment not statedunit in source 10-6 m/(m*K) (same number as ppm/K) | — |
| 8 | Average coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 400 C | Average thermal expansion coefficient table, as printed | temperature 20 to 400 C (as printed)heat treatment not statedunit in source 10-6 m/(m*K) (same number as ppm/K) | — |
| 9 | Average coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 450 C | Average thermal expansion coefficient table, as printed | temperature 20 to 450 C (as printed)heat treatment not statedunit in source 10-6 m/(m*K) (same number as ppm/K) | — |
| 10 | Average coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 500 C | Average thermal expansion coefficient table, as printed | temperature 20 to 500 C (as printed)heat treatment not statedunit in source 10-6 m/(m*K) (same number as ppm/K) | — |
| 11 | Working hardness, approximate, up to 48 HRC | Standard values, Working hardness line, as printed; the Working hardness section repeats approx. 30 HRC to 48 HRC on delivery | condition approx. 30 HRC in the delivery condition, up to 48 HRC as printed (the page does not tie 48 HRC to a heat treatment)scale HRC | The two Abrams statements do not agree on whether 48 HRC is a delivery or hardened value; both are kept as printed. |
| 12 | Delivery hardness, maximum | Standard values, Delivery condition line, as printed: max. 325 HB | condition delivery condition, as printed (max.)scale HB | — |
| 13 | Specific electrical resistance at 20 C | Specific electrical resistance table, Value row, as printed; the page notes that electrical conductivity is the reciprocal | temperature 20 C (as printed)heat treatment not statedunit in source (Ohm*mm2)/m as printed, not converted | — |
| 14 | Machinability rating on a 1 (low) to 6 (high) scale | Machinability section, as printed (a rating, not a test value) | scale 1 (low) to 6 (high), as printedheat treatment not stated | Rating scale from the datasheet; no machining test is printed. |
| 15 | Hardness in the delivery condition, quenched and tempered | Condition of delivery row, as printed: quenched and tempered, 280 - 325 HB | condition quenched and tempered, supplied condition (as printed)scale HB | — |
| 16 | Tensile strength in the delivery condition, converted from hardness | Converted from hardness by the datasheet using DIN EN ISO 18265 Table A.1, not a tensile test; kept as calculated | condition quenched and tempered, delivery conditionunit in source N/mm2 (printed as 950 - 1100 N/mm2) | — |
| 17 | Hardness after soft annealing, maximum | Heat treatment table, Soft annealing row, as printed: max. 230 HB | condition soft annealed at 760 to 800 C, cooled in the furnacescale HB | — |
Corrosion and compatibility
What happens when it meets other materials and environments.
| Environment | Concern | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Atmospheric, humid and slightly aggressive environments, weak acids and alkalis | moderate | Abrams says a passive chromium layer gives corrosion resistance in these environments.1 |
| Chloride-containing environments (pitting and crevice attack) | not rated | Abrams says molybdenum improves resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride-containing environments.2 |
| PVC and plastics that release aggressive gases during moulding | moderate | Aços Formosa points these plastics to the prehardened stainless grade 1.2316.3 |
| Corrosive plastics and polymers, and the food industry (application statement) | moderate | Dörrenberg describes the grade as stainless martensitic steel with increased chromium for improved corrosion resistance.4 |
| # | Environment | Details | Test conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atmospheric, humid and slightly aggressive environments, weak acids and alkalis | The 1.2316 page says a passive, self-healing chromium layer gives corrosion resistance in atmospheric and slightly aggressive environments, weak acids and alkalis, and humid environments. No exposure time, concentration or test is printed. The moderate rating is an assistant judgement from this wording, not a test result. | basis datasheet statementtest none printed |
| 2 | Chloride-containing environments (pitting and crevice attack) | No chloride level, temperature or test is printed. The rating is unknown because the page gives no number. | basis datasheet statementtest none printed |
| 3 | PVC and plastics that release aggressive gases during moulding | Aços Formosa describes 1.2316 as prehardened stainless steel with good corrosion resistance for PVC and plastics that release aggressive gases. It gives no corrosion test. The moderate rating is an assistant judgement. | basis supplier product guidancetest none printed |
| 4 | Corrosive plastics and polymers, and the food industry (application statement) | The datasheet lists tools and moulds for corrosive plastics and polymers and for the food industry. It prints no corrosion test. The moderate rating is an assistant judgement from this wording. | basis datasheet statementtest none printed |
Risks and side effects
Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.
For people
The only hazard records are PubChem entries for the pure elements chromium, molybdenum and manganese. No safety data sheet for the 1.2316 bar was read in this run.
- Chromium
- PubChem gives the signal word Danger for elemental chromium. About half of its reports say it does not meet GHS criteria, and H317 (allergic skin reaction) appears for 20.7 percent of reports.
- Molybdenum
- PubChem lists H315 (skin irritation), H319 (eye irritation) and H335 (respiratory irritation) for elemental molybdenum, and says 57.4 percent of its reports do not meet GHS criteria.
- Manganese
- PubChem lists H360 (may damage fertility or the unborn child) and H372 (organ damage on repeated exposure) for elemental manganese.
In service
Abrams and Dörrenberg describe corrosion resistance without test data. Their stated range is atmospheric, humid and weak acid or alkali service, and Abrams says molybdenum helps against pitting in chlorides.
- Plastics
- Aços Formosa points PVC and plastics that release aggressive gases to 1.2316, not to the P-20 family.
- Reheating
- Heating into 760 to 800 C and furnace cooling gives at most 230 HB, so an unplanned reheat softens the block (Dörrenberg).
- Chlorides
- Abrams gives no chloride level or temperature for its pitting statement.
Heat treatment
The temper sets the hardness, and the datasheet gives separate soft-anneal, stress-relief and hardening ranges.
- Hardening
- Harden from 1020 to 1050 C, with oil, pressure gas, air or a hot bath as the cooling medium (Dörrenberg).
- Stress relief
- 500 to 550 C for the quenched and tempered condition; 600 to 650 C is possible in the soft-annealed condition (Dörrenberg).
- Tempering
- The Dörrenberg tempering diagram has no values in its text layer and was not read, so no hardness-by-temperature values are recorded.
Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.
Failure risks
| Failure | Trigger and consequence |
|---|---|
| Hardness loss on heating into the soft-annealing rangemoderate severity | Reheating to 760 to 800 C followed by furnace cooling, which is the soft-anneal cycleSoft annealing gives at most 230 HB, against 280 to 325 HB in the delivery condition, so an unplanned reheat into that range softens the block (Dörrenberg). |
Handling and storage
- Buy in the quenched and tempered condition at 280 to 325 HB (Dörrenberg), or at most 325 HB (Abrams).
- Soft anneal at 760 to 800 C in the furnace with furnace cooling, which gives at most 230 HB (Dörrenberg).
- Stress relieve at 500 to 550 C in the quenched and tempered condition; in the soft-annealed condition 600 to 650 C is possible (Dörrenberg).
- Harden from 1020 to 1050 C, cooling in oil, pressure gas (N2), air or a hot bath, then temper following the tempering diagram (Dörrenberg; the diagram has no values in its PDF text layer and was not read).
Mitigations
- Chromium at 15.5 to 17.5 percent gives a passive, self-healing chromium layer (Abrams).
- Molybdenum improves resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride-containing environments (Abrams).
Supply and geography
How common the raw materials are and where they come from.
Chromium
World resources are greater than 12 billion tons of shipping-grade chromite, heavily concentrated (95%) in Kazakhstan and southern Africa (USGS 2026). US net import reliance was 79 percent of apparent consumption in 2025e.
- Top producers (2025)
- South Africa 45.1%, Turkey 17.6%, Kazakhstan 13.7%, India 5.9%, Brazil 3.9%, Zimbabwe 3.9%, Finland 3.7%
- Recycling
- Recycled chromium in reported stainless-steel scrap receipts accounted for 21 percent of US apparent consumption in 2025 (USGS 2026).
- Substitutes
- Chromium has no substitute in stainless steel, the leading end use, or in superalloys (USGS 2026).
Molybdenum
Identified resources are about 5.4 million tons in the United States and about 20 million tons in the rest of the world, and world reserves were 17,000 thousand metric tons in 2025e (USGS 2026). Molybdenum is used principally as an alloying agent in steel, cast iron and superalloys. The United States was a net exporter, not an importer, in each year from 2021 to 2025e.
- Top producers (2025)
- China 37.3%, Chile 16.2%, United States 15.4%, Peru 15%, Mexico 6.5%
- Recycling
- Molybdenum is recycled as a component of catalysts, ferrous scrap and superalloy scrap; recycled material may be as much as 30% of the apparent supply (USGS 2026).
- Substitutes
- There is little substitution for molybdenum in steels and cast irons; potential substitutes include boron, chromium, niobium and vanadium in alloy steels, and tungsten in tool steels (USGS 2026).
Documents
Datasheets, safety data sheets, papers and standards you can open.
Full record
The complete spore, as stored. Free to reuse under CC-BY-4.0. Images keep the licence shown with each one.
Show the full YAML
spore: profile
id: tool-steel-12316
spore_version: 0.2
family: tool-steels
name: 1.2316 stainless plastic mould steel (EN 1.2316, printed name X38CrMo16)
abbreviation: 1.2316 (X38CrMo16)
role: stainless plastic mould steel
category: metals
type: steels-and-stainless
summary: 1.2316 is a stainless, martensitic chromium-molybdenum steel for plastic moulds (EN 1.2316; the name printed by Dörrenberg and Abrams is X38CrMo16). Dörrenberg says it is usually supplied quenched and tempered at 280 to 325 HB, and Abrams gives 15.5 to 17.5 percent chromium for corrosion resistance. Aços Formosa points PVC and plastics that release aggressive gases to this grade rather than to the P-20 family.
best_for: Moulds and tools for PVC and other corrosive plastics that need a stainless, polishable face in the quenched and tempered condition (Aços Formosa; Dörrenberg; Abrams).
weakest_at: 'Corrosion data are qualitative: no test is printed, and the stated range is atmospheric, humid, weak acid and alkali service (Abrams). Machinability is rated only 2 on a 1 to 6 scale (Abrams).'
identity:
formula: Iron balance; 0.33 to 0.45 C, 0.0 to 1.0 Si, 0.0 to 1.5 Mn, 0.0 to 0.03 P, 0.0 to 0.03 S, 15.5 to 17.5 Cr, 0.8 to 1.3 Mo, 0.0 to 1.0 Ni (wt%, limits as printed in the Abrams standard-values table). Abrams gives the chromium limit as 15.5 to 17.5 percent in its text. Dörrenberg's typical analysis falls inside these limits, and its figures are not recorded because they print decimal commas.
source: abrams-12316
where: Standard values, Chemical composition table (C, Si, Mn, P, S, Cr, Mo, Ni)
designations:
- system: EN
code: '1.2316'
source: dorrenberg-1-2316
where: Header row, Material No. column (1.2316 X38CrMo16)
- system: EN name
code: X38CrMo16
source: abrams-12316
where: Standard values, Chemical designation row
- system: Trade name
code: R65
source: dorrenberg-1-2316
where: Header row, DE - Brand column beside the grade
tags:
environments: []
stresses: []
applications:
- mechanisms
properties:
- benchmark: density
label: Density, typical at room temperature
value: 7.7
unit: g/cm3
scope: material
conditions:
condition: typical value as printed
temperature: room temperature (as printed)
heat_treatment: not stated
method: Density section, typical value as printed (the Abrams page prints www.stahlwissen.de as its source for its tables)
status: ground
source: abrams-12316
where: 1.2316 Density section, first sentence (7.7 g/cm3)
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, approximate
value: 1100
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
condition: approximate value as printed; heat treatment and test temperature not stated
unit_in_source: N/mm2 (printed as N/mm 2)
method: Tensile strength section, as printed (approx. 1100 N/mm2)
status: ground
note: The page does not say whether the figure is for the delivery condition or a hardened state, so it is kept as an approximate value.
source: abrams-12316
where: 1.2316 Tensile strength section
- benchmark: thermal_conductivity
label: Thermal conductivity at 23 C
value: 23.5
unit: W/(m*K)
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 23 C (as printed)
heat_treatment: not stated
unit_in_source: W/(m*K)
method: Heat conductivity section, sentence and table, Value W/(m*K) at 23 C, as printed
status: ground
source: abrams-12316
where: 1.2316 Heat conductivity section, sentence and table row 23.5
- benchmark: cte
label: Average coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 100 C
value: 10.5
unit: ppm/K
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 20 to 100 C (as printed)
heat_treatment: not stated
unit_in_source: 10-6 m/(m*K) (same number as ppm/K)
method: Average thermal expansion coefficient table, as printed
status: ground
source: abrams-12316
where: 1.2316 Thermal expansion coefficient table, row 10.5 at 20 to 100 C
- benchmark: cte
label: Average coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 200 C
value: 10.8
unit: ppm/K
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 20 to 200 C (as printed)
heat_treatment: not stated
unit_in_source: 10-6 m/(m*K) (same number as ppm/K)
method: Average thermal expansion coefficient table, as printed
status: ground
source: abrams-12316
where: 1.2316 Thermal expansion coefficient table, row 10.8 at 20 to 200 C
- benchmark: cte
label: Average coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 300 C
value: 11.1
unit: ppm/K
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 20 to 300 C (as printed)
heat_treatment: not stated
unit_in_source: 10-6 m/(m*K) (same number as ppm/K)
method: Average thermal expansion coefficient table, as printed
status: ground
source: abrams-12316
where: 1.2316 Thermal expansion coefficient table, row 11.1 at 20 to 300 C
- benchmark: cte
label: Average coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 350 C
value: 11.3
unit: ppm/K
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 20 to 350 C (as printed)
heat_treatment: not stated
unit_in_source: 10-6 m/(m*K) (same number as ppm/K)
method: Average thermal expansion coefficient table, as printed
status: ground
source: abrams-12316
where: 1.2316 Thermal expansion coefficient table, row 11.3 at 20 to 350 C
- benchmark: cte
label: Average coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 400 C
value: 11.5
unit: ppm/K
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 20 to 400 C (as printed)
heat_treatment: not stated
unit_in_source: 10-6 m/(m*K) (same number as ppm/K)
method: Average thermal expansion coefficient table, as printed
status: ground
source: abrams-12316
where: 1.2316 Thermal expansion coefficient table, row 11.5 at 20 to 400 C
- benchmark: cte
label: Average coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 450 C
value: 11.6
unit: ppm/K
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 20 to 450 C (as printed)
heat_treatment: not stated
unit_in_source: 10-6 m/(m*K) (same number as ppm/K)
method: Average thermal expansion coefficient table, as printed
status: ground
source: abrams-12316
where: 1.2316 Thermal expansion coefficient table, row 11.6 at 20 to 450 C
- benchmark: cte
label: Average coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 500 C
value: 11.7
unit: ppm/K
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 20 to 500 C (as printed)
heat_treatment: not stated
unit_in_source: 10-6 m/(m*K) (same number as ppm/K)
method: Average thermal expansion coefficient table, as printed
status: ground
source: abrams-12316
where: 1.2316 Thermal expansion coefficient table, row 11.7 at 20 to 500 C
- benchmark: hardness_rockwell_c
label: Working hardness, approximate, up to 48 HRC
value: 30
value_high: 48
bound: range
unit: HRC
scope: material
conditions:
condition: approx. 30 HRC in the delivery condition, up to 48 HRC as printed (the page does not tie 48 HRC to a heat treatment)
scale: HRC
method: Standard values, Working hardness line, as printed; the Working hardness section repeats approx. 30 HRC to 48 HRC on delivery
status: ground
note: The two Abrams statements do not agree on whether 48 HRC is a delivery or hardened value; both are kept as printed.
source: abrams-12316
where: 1.2316 Standard values, Working hardness line; 1.2316 Working hardness section
- benchmark: hardness_brinell
label: Delivery hardness, maximum
value: 325
bound: upper
unit: HB
scope: material
conditions:
condition: delivery condition, as printed (max.)
scale: HB
method: 'Standard values, Delivery condition line, as printed: max. 325 HB'
status: ground
source: abrams-12316
where: 1.2316 Standard values, Delivery condition line
- benchmark: electrical_resistivity
label: Specific electrical resistance at 20 C
value: 0.6
unit: Ohm*mm2/m
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 20 C (as printed)
heat_treatment: not stated
unit_in_source: (Ohm*mm2)/m as printed, not converted
method: Specific electrical resistance table, Value row, as printed; the page notes that electrical conductivity is the reciprocal
status: ground
source: abrams-12316
where: 1.2316 Specific electrical resistance table, row 0.6 at 20 C
- benchmark: machinability_rating
label: Machinability rating on a 1 (low) to 6 (high) scale
value: 2
unit: '-'
scope: material
conditions:
scale: 1 (low) to 6 (high), as printed
heat_treatment: not stated
method: Machinability section, as printed (a rating, not a test value)
status: ground
note: Rating scale from the datasheet; no machining test is printed.
source: abrams-12316
where: 1.2316 Machinability section
- benchmark: hardness_brinell
label: Hardness in the delivery condition, quenched and tempered
value: 280
value_high: 325
bound: range
unit: HB
scope: material
conditions:
condition: quenched and tempered, supplied condition (as printed)
scale: HB
method: 'Condition of delivery row, as printed: quenched and tempered, 280 - 325 HB'
status: ground
source: dorrenberg-1-2316
where: Condition of delivery row
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength in the delivery condition, converted from hardness
value: 950
value_high: 1100
bound: range
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
condition: quenched and tempered, delivery condition
unit_in_source: N/mm2 (printed as 950 - 1100 N/mm2)
method: Converted from hardness by the datasheet using DIN EN ISO 18265 Table A.1, not a tensile test; kept as calculated
status: calculated
source: dorrenberg-1-2316
where: Condition of delivery row, second line
- benchmark: hardness_brinell
label: Hardness after soft annealing, maximum
value: 230
bound: upper
unit: HB
scope: material
conditions:
condition: soft annealed at 760 to 800 C, cooled in the furnace
scale: HB
method: 'Heat treatment table, Soft annealing row, as printed: max. 230 HB'
status: ground
source: dorrenberg-1-2316
where: Heat treatment table, Soft annealing row
corrosion:
- environment: Atmospheric, humid and slightly aggressive environments, weak acids and alkalis
headline: Abrams says a passive chromium layer gives corrosion resistance in these environments.
effect: The 1.2316 page says a passive, self-healing chromium layer gives corrosion resistance in atmospheric and slightly aggressive environments, weak acids and alkalis, and humid environments. No exposure time, concentration or test is printed. The moderate rating is an assistant judgement from this wording, not a test result.
rating: moderate
conditions:
basis: datasheet statement
test: none printed
source: abrams-12316
where: General corrosion resistance section
- environment: Chloride-containing environments (pitting and crevice attack)
headline: Abrams says molybdenum improves resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride-containing environments.
effect: No chloride level, temperature or test is printed. The rating is unknown because the page gives no number.
rating: unknown
conditions:
basis: datasheet statement
test: none printed
source: abrams-12316
where: General corrosion resistance section, last sentence
- environment: PVC and plastics that release aggressive gases during moulding
headline: Aços Formosa points these plastics to the prehardened stainless grade 1.2316.
effect: Aços Formosa describes 1.2316 as prehardened stainless steel with good corrosion resistance for PVC and plastics that release aggressive gases. It gives no corrosion test. The moderate rating is an assistant judgement.
rating: moderate
conditions:
basis: supplier product guidance
test: none printed
source: formosa-1-2316
where: Main materials list, DIN 1.2316 row, and Best Choice list
- environment: Corrosive plastics and polymers, and the food industry (application statement)
headline: Dörrenberg describes the grade as stainless martensitic steel with increased chromium for improved corrosion resistance.
effect: The datasheet lists tools and moulds for corrosive plastics and polymers and for the food industry. It prints no corrosion test. The moderate rating is an assistant judgement from this wording.
rating: moderate
conditions:
basis: datasheet statement
test: none printed
source: dorrenberg-1-2316
where: Steel properties and Applications rows
risks:
hazards:
- text: PubChem's aggregated GHS record for elemental chromium carries the signal word Danger. It says 50% (1202 of 2404 reports) do not meet GHS criteria. Notified codes include H317 (20.7% of reports, may cause an allergic skin reaction), H319 (19.1%, causes serious eye irritation) and H334 (20.3%, may cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled). Other notifications add H320, H335, H341, H371, H400 and H410. The record describes the element, not the steel.
ghs:
- H317
- H319
- H334
- H320
- H335
- H341
- H371
- H400
- H410
source: pubchem-cr
where: Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification (CID 23976)
- text: PubChem's aggregated GHS record for elemental molybdenum says 57.4% (874 of 1523 reports) do not meet GHS criteria. Notified codes include H225 (11.6% of reports), H228 (30%, flammable solid), H361 (29.5%, suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child), H315 (skin irritation), H319 (eye irritation) and H335 (respiratory irritation). The record describes the element, not the steel.
ghs:
- H225
- H228
- H361
- H315
- H319
- H335
source: pubchem-mo
where: Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification (CID 23932)
- text: PubChem's aggregated GHS record for elemental manganese says 46.1% (1429 of 3101 reports) do not meet GHS criteria. Notified codes include H228 (flammable solid, 11.6% of reports), H319 (eye irritation, 14.8%), H360 (may damage fertility or the unborn child), H372 (damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure), H411 (toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects) and H412 (harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects). The record describes the element, not the steel.
ghs:
- H228
- H319
- H360
- H372
- H411
- H412
source: pubchem-mn
where: Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification (CID 23930)
failure_risks:
- mode: Hardness loss on heating into the soft-annealing range
trigger: Reheating to 760 to 800 C followed by furnace cooling, which is the soft-anneal cycle
consequence: Soft annealing gives at most 230 HB, against 280 to 325 HB in the delivery condition, so an unplanned reheat into that range softens the block (Dörrenberg).
severity: moderate
source: dorrenberg-1-2316
where: Heat treatment table, Soft annealing row
side_effects: []
handling:
- text: Buy in the quenched and tempered condition at 280 to 325 HB (Dörrenberg), or at most 325 HB (Abrams).
source: dorrenberg-1-2316
where: Condition of delivery row
- text: Soft anneal at 760 to 800 C in the furnace with furnace cooling, which gives at most 230 HB (Dörrenberg).
source: dorrenberg-1-2316
where: Heat treatment table, Soft annealing row
- text: Stress relieve at 500 to 550 C in the quenched and tempered condition; in the soft-annealed condition 600 to 650 C is possible (Dörrenberg).
source: dorrenberg-1-2316
where: Heat treatment table, Stress relief annealing row
- text: Harden from 1020 to 1050 C, cooling in oil, pressure gas (N2), air or a hot bath, then temper following the tempering diagram (Dörrenberg; the diagram has no values in its PDF text layer and was not read).
source: dorrenberg-1-2316
where: Heat treatment table, Hardening row, and Tempering diagram (no text-layer values)
mitigations:
- text: Chromium at 15.5 to 17.5 percent gives a passive, self-healing chromium layer (Abrams).
source: abrams-12316
where: General corrosion resistance section
- text: Molybdenum improves resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride-containing environments (Abrams).
source: abrams-12316
where: General corrosion resistance section, last sentence
uses:
- application: mechanisms
device: Plastic moulds, extrusion tools and press moulds for corrosive plastics
example: Dörrenberg lists tools and moulds for corrosive plastics and polymers, and for the food industry; Abrams lists plastic moulds, extrusion tools and press moulds.
source: dorrenberg-1-2316
where: Applications row
- application: mechanisms
device: Shafts, spindles, bolts, pistons, valves and pump parts
example: Abrams lists shafts, spindles, bolts and pistons, and valves, pump rods and compressor parts, among 1.2316 applications.
source: abrams-12316
where: Applications list, 1.2316 page
- application: mechanisms
device: Injection and blow moulds for PVC and gas-releasing plastics
example: Aços Formosa points PVC and plastics that release aggressive gases to 1.2316, and lists the 1.2316 ESR variant for corrosive applications with demanding finish requirements.
source: formosa-1-2316
where: Main materials list, DIN 1.2316 row; Best Choice list
supply:
- subject: Chromium
abundance: World resources are greater than 12 billion tons of shipping-grade chromite, heavily concentrated (95%) in Kazakhstan and southern Africa (USGS 2026). US net import reliance was 79 percent of apparent consumption in 2025e.
producers:
- country: South Africa
share_percent: 45.1
year: 2025
- country: Turkey
share_percent: 17.6
year: 2025
- country: Kazakhstan
share_percent: 13.7
year: 2025
- country: India
share_percent: 5.9
year: 2025
- country: Brazil
share_percent: 3.9
year: 2025
- country: Zimbabwe
share_percent: 3.9
year: 2025
- country: Finland
share_percent: 3.7
year: 2025
recycling: Recycled chromium in reported stainless-steel scrap receipts accounted for 21 percent of US apparent consumption in 2025 (USGS 2026).
substitutes:
- Chromium has no substitute in stainless steel, the leading end use, or in superalloys (USGS 2026).
source: usgs-cr-2026
where: Salient Statistics; World Mine Production and Reserves (2025e; shares calculated by Space Mushroom from the printed tonnage over the 51,000 world total, gross weight); World Resources; Substitutes; Recycling
- subject: Molybdenum
abundance: Identified resources are about 5.4 million tons in the United States and about 20 million tons in the rest of the world, and world reserves were 17,000 thousand metric tons in 2025e (USGS 2026). Molybdenum is used principally as an alloying agent in steel, cast iron and superalloys. The United States was a net exporter, not an importer, in each year from 2021 to 2025e.
producers:
- country: China
share_percent: 37.3
year: 2025
- country: Chile
share_percent: 16.2
year: 2025
- country: United States
share_percent: 15.4
year: 2025
- country: Peru
share_percent: 15
year: 2025
- country: Mexico
share_percent: 6.5
year: 2025
recycling: Molybdenum is recycled as a component of catalysts, ferrous scrap and superalloy scrap; recycled material may be as much as 30% of the apparent supply (USGS 2026).
substitutes:
- There is little substitution for molybdenum in steels and cast irons; potential substitutes include boron, chromium, niobium and vanadium in alloy steels, and tungsten in tool steels (USGS 2026).
source: usgs-mo-2026
where: Salient Statistics (net exporter, footnote E); Events, Trends and Issues (China export controls on molybdenum powders, February 2025); World Mine Production and Reserves (2025e; shares calculated by Space Mushroom from the printed tonnage over the 260,000 world total, tons of molybdenum content); World Resources; Substitutes; Recycling
media: []
documents:
- title: 'Dörrenberg Edelstahl: 1.2316 (X38CrMo16) material datasheet, revision 02/24'
type: datasheet
url: https://doerrenberg.de/fileadmin/special_steel/files/pdf_en_products_neues_Design/1.2316_en.pdf
year: 2024
- title: 'Abrams Industries: PREMIUM 1.2316 steel, standard values and at-a-glance page'
type: datasheet
url: https://eu.abrams-industries.com/steel/premium-12316
- title: 'Aços Formosa: Plastic mold steels (P-20 family and stainless 1.2316)'
type: datasheet
url: https://acosformosa.com.br/en/products/plastic-mold-steels/
year: 2026
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, February 2026: Chromium'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-chromium.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, February 2026: Molybdenum'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-molybdenum.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'PubChem: Chromium (CID 23976), GHS classification'
type: database
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/23976/JSON/?heading=GHS+Classification
- title: 'PubChem: Molybdenum (CID 23932), GHS classification'
type: database
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/23932/JSON/?heading=GHS+Classification
- title: 'PubChem: Manganese (CID 23930), GHS classification'
type: database
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/23930/JSON/?heading=GHS+Classification
gaps:
- No safety data sheet for the 1.2316 steel was read in this run. The hazard entries are PubChem records for the pure elements chromium, molybdenum and manganese, which do not describe the steel.
- The request name X36CrMo17 is not printed by any page fetched in this run. The printed EN name is X38CrMo16 (Dörrenberg header row; Abrams standard values), so X36CrMo17 is not listed in identity.designations.
- No AISI, UNS, ASTM or JIS code is printed for this grade on the pages read. Abrams prints 'AISI / SAE 1.2316' in its product header; that is the EN number in an AISI field, so it is not used as an AISI code.
- Dörrenberg prints its typical analysis, its thermal conductivity table and its thermal expansion table with decimal commas. The source check cannot match decimal commas, so those figures are not recorded as values. Their conductivity and expansion figures do not agree with the Abrams figures, and the Abrams figures are the ones recorded.
- 'Specific heat: Abrams prints 0.46 J/kg*K. That unit cannot be right for steel, so the figure is left out rather than converted.'
- Elastic modulus, Poisson ratio, yield strength, elongation and impact values are not printed in the text of the pages read for 1.2316.
- 'Hardness: Abrams gives approx. 30 HRC in the delivery condition up to 48 HRC, and a second Abrams paragraph says 30 to 48 HRC on delivery. The 48 HRC end does not match between the two, so both are kept as printed.'
- 'Tempering: the Dörrenberg tempering diagram, CCT diagram and thermal cycle diagram have no values in the PDF text layer. No tempering-hardness values were read, so no tempering temperature for a target hardness is recorded.'
- 'Corrosion: no salt-spray, immersion, humidity or acid test for 1.2316 is printed in the pages read. Corrosion entries are datasheet and supplier statements; their ratings are assistant judgements from the wording.'
- 'Polishability is described (Dörrenberg: good polishability; Aços Formosa: the 1.2316 ESR variant for greater cleanliness and polishability) but not measured. No surface roughness value was read. The ESR variant is not used as a value for this grade.'
- Aços Formosa prints 30 to 34 HRC for the P-20 family, not for 1.2316. That figure is not used here.
- 'Composition: Abrams prints the limits without a unit line; its text gives the chromium limit in percent. Lower limits of 0.0 for Si, Mn, P, S and Ni are kept as printed.'
- Supply shares are calculated by Space Mushroom from the printed USGS 2025e tonnage over the printed world totals; they are not printed percentages. Chromium mine production is in gross weight per the USGS footnote. Molybdenum production is in tons of molybdenum content.
- 'Critical-mineral status: the USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals page returned HTTP 403 to curl and was not read. The European Commission page read in this run does not name chromium, molybdenum or manganese, so no EU list status is recorded.'
- 'Uses: no space, vacuum, radiation or flight use of 1.2316 was found in the pages read. The listed uses are terrestrial moulds, tools and machine parts.'
- 'Failure risks: only the soft-anneal softening is printed for this grade. No welding, thick-section, fatigue or creep data were read for 1.2316.'
- No licensed photograph or micrograph of 1.2316 was fetched, so media is empty.
- 'Web search was refused in this run because the turn''s search budget was already used, so the 1.2316 sources were found by direct URL. Tried and not found: Oberste-Beulmann 1.2316 PDF (HTTP 404), Industeel DS Mold 2316 (HTTP 404), SIJ SIMOLD 2316 PDF (HTTP 404).'
- Trade name R65 is the brand code printed in the Dörrenberg header row beside the grade; its meaning beyond that brand column is not stated.
sources:
dorrenberg-1-2316:
title: 'Dörrenberg Edelstahl: 1.2316 (X38CrMo16) material datasheet'
id: 1.2316 X38CrMo16
url: https://doerrenberg.de/fileadmin/special_steel/files/pdf_en_products_neues_Design/1.2316_en.pdf
year: 2024
kind: datasheet
license: supplier datasheet, cited not reproduced
abrams-12316:
title: 'Abrams Industries: PREMIUM 1.2316 steel, standard values (tables derived from stahlwissen.de)'
id: PREMIUM 1.2316
url: https://eu.abrams-industries.com/steel/premium-12316
kind: web
license: supplier web page, cited not reproduced
formosa-1-2316:
title: 'Aços Formosa: Plastic mold steels (P-20 family and stainless 1.2316)'
id: DIN 1.2316
url: https://acosformosa.com.br/en/products/plastic-mold-steels/
year: 2026
kind: web
license: supplier web page, cited not reproduced
usgs-cr-2026:
title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, February 2026: Chromium'
id: mcs2026-chromium
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-chromium.pdf
year: 2026
kind: report
license: public domain (USGS)
usgs-mo-2026:
title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, February 2026: Molybdenum'
id: mcs2026-molybdenum
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-molybdenum.pdf
year: 2026
kind: report
license: public domain (USGS)
pubchem-cr:
title: 'PubChem: Chromium (CID 23976), Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification'
id: CID 23976
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/23976/JSON/?heading=GHS+Classification
kind: database
license: PubChem terms (public)
pubchem-mo:
title: 'PubChem: Molybdenum (CID 23932), Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification'
id: CID 23932
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/23932/JSON/?heading=GHS+Classification
kind: database
license: PubChem terms (public)
pubchem-mn:
title: 'PubChem: Manganese (CID 23930), Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification'
id: CID 23930
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/23930/JSON/?heading=GHS+Classification
kind: database
license: PubChem terms (public)
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-10-24'
review:
status: draft
method: assistant
checked_values: 17
unreachable: 1
caveats: 4
note: 'Read by an AI assistant on 2026-10-24 from pages fetched in this run. Caveats: the approximate tensile value, the 30 to 48 HRC range and the machinability rating are printed without a test condition; the 950 to 1100 MPa tensile range is calculated from hardness; Dörrenberg''s decimal-comma figures and the Abrams specific heat were left out. No web search was available in this run. The USGS 2025 critical-list page returned HTTP 403.'
story:
recipe:
line: 1.2316 is an iron-based, stainless martensitic chromium-molybdenum steel. Abrams gives composition limits in wt% (its table has no unit line; the chromium limit is stated in percent in its text), and Dörrenberg prints a typical analysis inside those limits. It is usually supplied quenched and tempered at 280 to 325 HB and is hardened from 1020 to 1050 C (Dörrenberg).
parts:
- name: Iron
symbol: Fe
share_note: balance (the rest)
role: The matrix of the steel. Heat treatment changes its structure between martensite and tempered martensite.
- name: Carbon
symbol: C
share_percent: 0.33
share_high: 0.45
role: Sets how hard the steel can become when quenched.
- name: Silicon
symbol: Si
share_percent: 0
share_high: 1
role: Upper limit 1.0 percent as printed by Abrams; no role is stated by the source.
- name: Manganese
symbol: Mn
share_percent: 0
share_high: 1.5
role: Upper limit 1.5 percent as printed by Abrams; no role is stated by the source.
- name: Phosphorus
symbol: P
share_percent: 0
share_high: 0.03
role: Impurity, held to a maximum of 0.03 percent as printed by Abrams.
- name: Sulfur
symbol: S
share_percent: 0
share_high: 0.03
role: Impurity, held to a maximum of 0.03 percent as printed by Abrams.
- name: Chromium
symbol: Cr
share_percent: 15.5
share_high: 17.5
role: Gives the stainless behaviour; Abrams says 15.5 to 17.5 percent chromium makes it stainless in the classic sense.
- name: Molybdenum
symbol: Mo
share_percent: 0.8
share_high: 1.3
role: Improves resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride-containing environments and adds to hardenability (Abrams).
- name: Nickel
symbol: Ni
share_percent: 0
share_high: 1
role: Upper limit 1.0 percent as printed by Abrams; no role is stated by the source.
risk_groups:
- title: For people
level: 1
verdict: Element records only; no SDS for the steel was read
lead: The only hazard records are PubChem entries for the pure elements chromium, molybdenum and manganese. No safety data sheet for the 1.2316 bar was read in this run.
points:
- label: Chromium
line: PubChem gives the signal word Danger for elemental chromium. About half of its reports say it does not meet GHS criteria, and H317 (allergic skin reaction) appears for 20.7 percent of reports.
- label: Molybdenum
line: PubChem lists H315 (skin irritation), H319 (eye irritation) and H335 (respiratory irritation) for elemental molybdenum, and says 57.4 percent of its reports do not meet GHS criteria.
- label: Manganese
line: PubChem lists H360 (may damage fertility or the unborn child) and H372 (organ damage on repeated exposure) for elemental manganese.
- title: In service
level: 2
verdict: Corrosion is qualitative; chloride and reheat limits matter
lead: Abrams and Dörrenberg describe corrosion resistance without test data. Their stated range is atmospheric, humid and weak acid or alkali service, and Abrams says molybdenum helps against pitting in chlorides.
points:
- label: Plastics
line: Aços Formosa points PVC and plastics that release aggressive gases to 1.2316, not to the P-20 family.
- label: Reheating
line: Heating into 760 to 800 C and furnace cooling gives at most 230 HB, so an unplanned reheat softens the block (Dörrenberg).
- label: Chlorides
line: Abrams gives no chloride level or temperature for its pitting statement.
- title: Heat treatment
level: 1
verdict: Keep reheats inside the printed ranges
lead: The temper sets the hardness, and the datasheet gives separate soft-anneal, stress-relief and hardening ranges.
points:
- label: Hardening
line: Harden from 1020 to 1050 C, with oil, pressure gas, air or a hot bath as the cooling medium (Dörrenberg).
- label: Stress relief
line: 500 to 550 C for the quenched and tempered condition; 600 to 650 C is possible in the soft-annealed condition (Dörrenberg).
- label: Tempering
line: The Dörrenberg tempering diagram has no values in its text layer and was not read, so no hardness-by-temperature values are recorded.
why: 1.2316 (EN 1.2316, printed as X38CrMo16) is a stainless, martensitic plastic mould steel. Dörrenberg says it is usually supplied quenched and tempered at 280 to 325 HB, and Aços Formosa points PVC and plastics that release aggressive gases to this grade rather than to the P-20 family. Abrams explains the chromium content (15.5 to 17.5 percent) as the source of its corrosion resistance, and says the molybdenum helps against pitting in chloride-containing environments.
uses:
- where: Plastic moulds and tools for corrosive plastics
line: Dörrenberg lists tools and moulds for corrosive plastics and polymers, and for the food industry. Aços Formosa points PVC and gas-releasing plastics to 1.2316.
- where: Extrusion and press tools
line: Abrams lists plastic moulds, extrusion tools, press moulds and fitting tools among 1.2316 applications.
- where: Shafts, valves and pump parts
line: Abrams also lists shafts, spindles, bolts, pistons, valves, pump rods and compressor parts.
can_do:
- label: Hardness
line: Supplied quenched and tempered at 280 to 325 HB (Dörrenberg), or at most 325 HB (Abrams). Soft annealing gives at most 230 HB (Dörrenberg).
- label: Strength
line: Tensile strength is 950 to 1100 MPa in the delivery condition, converted from hardness per DIN EN ISO 18265 (Dörrenberg); Abrams gives approx. 1100 MPa.
- label: Density
line: Typical density is 7.7 g/cm3 at room temperature (Abrams).
- label: Thermal
line: Thermal conductivity is 23.5 W/(m*K) at 23 C, and mean thermal expansion runs from 10.5 ppm/K (20 to 100 C) to 11.7 ppm/K (20 to 500 C) (Abrams).
- label: Corrosion
line: The chromium layer resists weak acids and alkalis, humid and slightly aggressive air, and molybdenum helps against pitting in chlorides (Abrams). No test is printed.
- label: Polish
line: Good polishability (Dörrenberg). Aços Formosa lists the 1.2316 ESR variant for greater cleanliness and polishability, which is a process variant and is not used as a value here.
- label: Machining
line: Machinability is rated 2 on a 1 to 6 scale (Abrams).
compare: 1.2316 sits with the Aços Formosa plastic-mould range. Its P-20 family (standard, high-machinability, nickel-alloyed and ESR variants) is the general mould choice, while 1.2316 is the stainless choice for PVC and plastics that release aggressive gases. Its printed numbers are a density of 7.7 g/cm3, a delivery hardness of 280 to 325 HB and a tensile strength of 950 to 1100 MPa (converted from hardness). The compare rows give its strength, hardness and density.
compare_rows:
- label: Strength
benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
- label: Hardness
benchmark: hardness_brinell
- label: Density
benchmark: density
handling:
- Buy in the quenched and tempered condition at 280 to 325 HB (Dörrenberg), or at most 325 HB (Abrams).
- Soft anneal at 760 to 800 C with furnace cooling to reach at most 230 HB (Dörrenberg).
- Stress relieve at 500 to 550 C in the quenched and tempered condition, or at 600 to 650 C in the soft-annealed condition (Dörrenberg).
- Harden from 1020 to 1050 C, then temper following the Dörrenberg tempering diagram, which has no values in its text layer and was not read.
- Keep reheats out of the 760 to 800 C soft-anneal range unless a soft anneal is intended.
good_for:
- PVC and plastics that release aggressive gases, which Aços Formosa and Abrams both point to 1.2316.
- 'Moulds and tools that need a polished stainless face (Dörrenberg: good polishability; Aços Formosa: ESR variant for polishing).'
- Food-industry tools, which Dörrenberg lists as an application.
watch_out:
- 'Corrosion is qualitative: no test is printed, and the stated range is atmospheric, humid, weak acid and alkali service (Abrams).'
- Reheating into 760 to 800 C softens the block to at most 230 HB (Dörrenberg).
- Machinability is rated 2 on a 1 to 6 scale (Abrams), so plan machining time.
- The name X36CrMo17 that buyers search for is not printed by any page read; check the printed EN name X38CrMo16 (see gaps).
verdict: 1.2316 is a stainless, pre-hardened plastic mould steel that Aços Formosa and Abrams point to for PVC and other corrosive plastics. It is supplied at 280 to 325 HB, polishes well, and has a typical density of 7.7 g/cm3 and a thermal conductivity of 23.5 W/(m*K) at 23 C. Its corrosion data are qualitative, and no SDS, modulus or yield strength was read for the steel.
References
Every number above carries a reference number. Click one to see the source and where in it the value comes from.
| # | Source | Type | Year | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dörrenberg Edelstahl: 1.2316 (X38CrMo16) material datasheet | datasheet | 2024 | 10 values | |
| Abrams Industries: PREMIUM 1.2316 steel, standard values (tables derived from stahlwissen.de) | web | 20 values | ||
| Aços Formosa: Plastic mold steels (P-20 family and stainless 1.2316) | web | 2026 | 2 values | |
| USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, February 2026: Chromium | report | 2026 | 1 value | |
| USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, February 2026: Molybdenum | report | 2026 | 1 value | |
| PubChem: Chromium (CID 23976), Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification | database | 1 value | ||
| PubChem: Molybdenum (CID 23932), Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification | database | 1 value | ||
| PubChem: Manganese (CID 23930), Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification | database | 1 value |