2311, 2738, 2738HH and 2083 all start from a similar pre-hardened mould-steel base, but differ in hardenability, polish, wear resistance and corrosion resistance. Use this table to narrow down which grade fits your tooling job — or use the Steel Grade Finder for a guided recommendation.
| Grade | Category | Typical Hardness | Through-Hardness | Polishability | Corrosion Resistance | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2311 | Plastic mould steel | 30–34 HRC | Good in small/medium sections | Good | Standard | General-purpose plastic injection moulds |
| 2738 | Plastic mould steel (Ni-alloyed) | 30–34 HRC | Excellent — even in large blocks | Excellent | Standard | Large, high-polish mould cavities |
| 2738HH | Plastic mould steel (Ni-alloyed, high hardness) | 38–42 HRC | Excellent — even in large blocks | Very good | Standard | Tougher, longer-run mould tooling |
| 2083 | Stainless mould steel | 280–320 HB (annealed) / 50–54 HRC (hardened) | Good | Excellent (mirror-grade) | High (~13% Cr) | Medical, optical & food-contact tooling |
You need a reliable, cost-effective mould steel for a standard-size cavity and don't have an unusual polish, wear or corrosion requirement. This is our most-ordered grade for a reason.
Your mould block is large and you need even hardness right through the cross-section, with a consistently high polish across the whole cavity surface.
You're running high production volumes or moulding abrasive/glass-filled plastics, where the standard 2738 hardness wouldn't hold up as long.
Your cavity needs to resist corrosion or humidity — medical devices, optical lenses, or plastics like PVC that attack standard mould steel.
Call or WhatsApp us directly and we'll help you match the grade to your job.
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