Next Article in Journal
Study of Localized Corrosion Susceptibility of Ni-Based Superalloys Employing Electrochemical Noise Technique
Previous Article in Journal
Comparative Study on the Engineering Performance of Lime- and Cement-Improved Argillaceous Siltstone
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Materials
Volume 19
Issue 11
10.3390/ma19112423
materials-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Process Optimization and Microstructure-Property Regulation of P20 Plastic Mold Steels

by
Luliang Zhao
1,
Zhenguo Hou
1,
Chunqiao Xing
1,
Min Yang
2,3,
Jie Yan
1,
Ziwen Li
1 and
Zan Yao
1,3,*
1
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
2
Composite Research Center, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
3
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Refractories, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Materials 2026, 19(11), 2423; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19112423 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 6 May 2026 / Revised: 2 June 2026 / Accepted: 4 June 2026 / Published: 5 June 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Metals and Alloys)
Browse Figure
Versions Notes

Abstract

This study systematically investigated the effects of air-cooled pre-hardening and oil-quenched quenching-and-tempering processes on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and polishing performance of P20 plastic mold steel. Increasing the austenitizing temperature from 820 °C to 940 °C resulted in a more uniform carbide distribution, a slight improvement in hardness, and enhanced polishing performance for both processes. However, grain coarsening at 940 °C reduced the impact toughness from 157.6 J to 111.7 J. After tempering at 650 °C, both processes yielded a tempered sorbite microstructure. However, in the air-cooled samples, the carbides were aligned along the bainite lath direction, whereas in the oil-quenched samples, they exhibited an equiaxed, non-directional distribution owing to the complete recovery of the matrix. Austenitizing at 940 °C followed by air cooling and tempering at 550 °C provides the optimal balance of hardness, toughness, and polishing performance. Mitigating elemental segregation and narrowing the segregation bands represent key strategies for further enhancing polishing performance.
Keywords: plastic mold steel; quenching and tempering treatment; mechanical property; polishing performance plastic mold steel; quenching and tempering treatment; mechanical property; polishing performance
Graphical Abstract

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Zhao, L.; Hou, Z.; Xing, C.; Yang, M.; Yan, J.; Li, Z.; Yao, Z. Process Optimization and Microstructure-Property Regulation of P20 Plastic Mold Steels. Materials 2026, 19, 2423. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19112423

AMA Style

Zhao L, Hou Z, Xing C, Yang M, Yan J, Li Z, Yao Z. Process Optimization and Microstructure-Property Regulation of P20 Plastic Mold Steels. Materials. 2026; 19(11):2423. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19112423

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhao, Luliang, Zhenguo Hou, Chunqiao Xing, Min Yang, Jie Yan, Ziwen Li, and Zan Yao. 2026. "Process Optimization and Microstructure-Property Regulation of P20 Plastic Mold Steels" Materials 19, no. 11: 2423. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19112423

APA Style

Zhao, L., Hou, Z., Xing, C., Yang, M., Yan, J., Li, Z., & Yao, Z. (2026). Process Optimization and Microstructure-Property Regulation of P20 Plastic Mold Steels. Materials, 19(11), 2423. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19112423

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop