Steel 2083
AISI/SAE 2083 · EN X40Cr14, 1.2083 · GB 3Cr13Mo · also Uddeholm 2083
2083 (1.2083 / X40Cr14, X42Cr13, SUS420J2, S42000, close to AISI 420) is a high-carbon 13 % chromium martensitic stainless steel supplied as blocks and plate, commonly ESR-remelted and available annealed or prehardened.
Values for the Annealed condition
2083 tempers and conditions
2083 is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault soft annealed (as-supplied block/plate, ≤ 250 HB) | Standard mill-supplied condition for blocks and plate that will be rough-machined and then hardened by the toolmaker. | 480 | 760 | 16 | 230 HB | — |
Electro-slag remelted stock | Choose for optical/high-gloss cavities and large blocks where cleanliness, isotropy and pin-hole-free polish matter. | 490 | 770 | 18 | 20 HRC | 3.1 % IACS |
Pre-hardened | Pick when the cavity is machined to final size and no in-house heat treatment (and no distortion) is acceptable; corrosion resistance without hardening cost. | 850 | 1,000 | 12 | 31 HRC | — |
Quenched and tempered | Standard working hardness for corrosion-resistant cavities, cores and cutting/shear edges after finish machining. | 1,450 | 1,700 | 4 | 50 HRC | — |
Q&T high hardness | Maximum wear resistance and edge retention for abrasive/glass-filled plastics; lowest toughness, use only on well-supported sections. | 1,550 | 1,850 | 2 | 53 HRC | — |
What is 2083?
2083 (1.2083 / X40Cr14, X42Cr13, SUS420J2, S42000, close to AISI 420) is a high-carbon 13 % chromium martensitic stainless steel supplied as blocks and plate, commonly ESR-remelted and available annealed or prehardened. It is chosen for plastic mould cavities and inserts that must resist cooling-water and polymer corrosion while taking a mirror polish, and is normally run hardened to 52–54 HRC. Annealed properties are 480 MPa yield, 760 MPa tensile, 16 % elongation and 230 HB, with service to 400 °C. Machinability (40) and weldability are limited; 1.2738 is the usual alternative when corrosion resistance is not required. 2083 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F). 2083 has a yield strength of 480 MPa (69.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 59% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 16% and the elastic modulus is 215 GPa (31.2 Msi).
What is 2083 used for?
- Plastic mould cavity plates
- Optical and lens moulds
- Medical plastic moulds
- Mould cores and slides
- Tooling for PVC and other corrosive polymers
- Textured cosmetic-part moulds
- Blade and cutlery blanks
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 85/100, better than 99% of steel grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 42/100, better than 98% of steel grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 2.9 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 25 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 88% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 20/100, worse than 80% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 40/100, worse than 77% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 77% of steel grades
2083 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 2083-Annealed; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
2083 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F).
Mechanical14
2083 has a yield strength of 480 MPa (69.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 59% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 16% and the elastic modulus is 215 GPa (31.2 Msi).
Thermal5
2083 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 25 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 88% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.6 µm/m·K (5.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
2083 has an electrical resistivity of 5.5×10⁻⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (42/100), better than 98% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 2083 takes about 36 MJ of energy and emits 2.9 kg of CO₂ — more than 89% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability5
2083's machinability is fair (40/100, worse than 77% of steel grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability poor (20/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the steel family
Yield strength against density for every steel grade FabDigit runs. 2083 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 2083
Is 2083 easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed state with sharp, positive-rake carbide and generous coolant — 13Cr steel work-hardens and smears; above ~48 HRC switch to grinding, EDM or ceramic/CBN hard-milling.
Can 2083 be welded?
Poor weldability: preheat 250–350 °C, use matching 13Cr or 410NiMo filler, weld hot and immediately re-temper; laser/TIG mould repair with post-weld temper below the tempering temperature.
Can 2083 be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as blocks/plate for hot work only; forge 1050–850 °C with slow cooling, then soft anneal 750–800 °C, and expect ~0.1 % dimensional change plus distortion on hardening from 1020–1050 °C (vacuum quench preferred).
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit applies to 2083. Every 2083 part is priced by an engineer; design inside these and the quote comes back without a redesign loop.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Fair40 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | P.2 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 180 / 210 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.8 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 5× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 1.6 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
2083 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| CEN ISO 4957 X40Cr14 | 0.36 – 0.42 | 0.4 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.35 |
| Mn | ≤ 1 | 0.4 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Cr | 12.5 – 14.5 | 13.5 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 2083?
Excellent for mirror polishing and photo-etch texturing when hardened; can be nitrided or hard-chrome/PVD coated, but avoid electroless processes that trap hydrogen and always temper after grinding.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on steel parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Plating
CVD Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel 2083 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- AISI / SAE
- 420
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- X40Cr141.2083X42Cr13
- GB (China)
- 3Cr13Mo
- Trade names
- Uddeholm 2083
- Similar grades
- SUS420J2S42000
How much does 2083 cost?
2083 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 59% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
2083 — frequently asked
What is 2083 used for?
2083 is typically used for plastic mould cavity plates, optical and lens moulds, medical plastic moulds, mould cores and slides, tooling for PVC and other corrosive polymers and textured cosmetic-part moulds. In short: workhorse mold-cavity plate.
What is the yield strength of 2083?
2083 has a typical yield strength of 480 MPa (69.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 59% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is 2083 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (40/100, worse than 77% of steel grades). Machine in the annealed state with sharp, positive-rake carbide and generous coolant — 13Cr steel work-hardens and smears; above ~48 HRC switch to grinding, EDM or ceramic/CBN hard-milling.
Can 2083 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Poor weldability: preheat 250–350 °C, use matching 13Cr or 410NiMo filler, weld hot and immediately re-temper; laser/TIG mould repair with post-weld temper below the tempering temperature.
What surface finishes work on 2083?
Excellent for mirror polishing and photo-etch texturing when hardened; can be nitrided or hard-chrome/PVD coated, but avoid electroless processes that trap hydrogen and always temper after grinding.
Can 2083 be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as blocks/plate for hot work only; forge 1050–850 °C with slow cooling, then soft anneal 750–800 °C, and expect ~0.1 % dimensional change plus distortion on hardening from 1020–1050 °C (vacuum quench preferred).
What is the maximum service temperature of 2083?
2083 is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 2083 Annealed and 2083 Prehard?
Annealed is the default condition — standard mill-supplied condition for blocks and plate that will be rough-machined and then hardened by the toolmaker. Prehard: pick when the cavity is machined to final size and no in-house heat treatment (and no distortion) is acceptable; corrosion resistance without hardening cost. Yield strength is 480 MPa in Annealed versus 850 MPa in Prehard.
How much does 2083 cost?
2083 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 59% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Can FabDigit make parts in 2083?
Yes — 2083 is available for CNC machining; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- EN ISO 4957 Tool steels — X40Cr14 (1.2083) — ISO/CEN (2018)
- GB/T 1220 / GB/T 1299 (4Cr13 ) — SAC (2014)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels (AISI 420) — ASM International (1990)
- Stainless plastic mould steel 1.2083 / 420 datasheets — Voestalpine/Böhler, Assab, Daido (typical values) (2022)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.