Steel 2316
AISI/SAE 2316 · EN 1.2316, X36CrMo17 · also S136, Uddeholm 2316
2316 (1.2316, X36CrMo17, also sold as 420 Mod or S136) is a corrosion-resistant martensitic chromium-molybdenum plastic mould steel available annealed, prehardened, quenched and tempered, nitrided or in ESR quality.
Values for the Annealed condition
2316 tempers and conditions
2316 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 (~230–250 HB) | Choose for blocks that will be rough-machined, deep-cavity cut or EDM'd and then hardened by the toolmaker. | 520 | 780 | 18 | 21 HRC | — |
Pre-hardened | Standard stock condition: machine the cavity directly, no distortion-prone heat treatment, good polish and corrosion resistance for PVC/POM moulds. | 850 | 1,020 | 12 | 31 HRC | — |
pre-hardened core with plasma/gas nitrided case | Use where sliding wear or abrasive filler wear dominates; note nitriding lowers the stainless surface's corrosion resistance. | 850 | 1,020 | 10 | 31 HRC | 2.7 % IACS |
Electroslag-remelted, pre-hardened mirror-polish quality | Specify for optical/mirror cavities and large plates where cleanliness, homogeneity and pinhole-free polishing are critical. | 870 | 1,030 | 14 | 31 HRC | 2.7 % IACS |
Quenched and tempered | Pick when higher wear resistance and maximum corrosion resistance are needed (glass-filled or highly abrasive corrosive plastics); accept distortion and lower toughness. | 1,350 | 1,600 | 5 | 48 HRC | — |
What is 2316?
2316 (1.2316, X36CrMo17, also sold as 420 Mod or S136) is a corrosion-resistant martensitic chromium-molybdenum plastic mould steel available annealed, prehardened, quenched and tempered, nitrided or in ESR quality. Lower carbon with higher chromium and molybdenum give better weldability and toughness than 2083, at about 520 MPa yield, 780 MPa tensile, 18 % elongation and 235 HB (21 HRC), so it is used for cavity plates and mould bases running corrosive resins or working in humid air. Hardness and wear resistance are below 2083, machining behaves like a martensitic stainless and is slower than P20, and nitriding adds wear life but reduces surface corrosion resistance. 2316 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F). 2316 has a yield strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 67% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 215 GPa (31.2 Msi).
What is 2316 used for?
- Medical device mould cavities
- Optical mould plates
- Cavity and core plates for corrosive resins
- Mould bases in humid production environments
- Food-contact and packaging mould inserts
- Photo-etched cosmetic housing cavities
- Cooling-channel-intensive mould blocks
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 45/100, better than 98% of steel grades
Limitations
- Poor heat conductor — 20 W/m·K (11.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 96% of steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 2.7 % IACS, worse than 96% of steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 3.4 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 93% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 15/100, worse than 87% of steel grades
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
2316 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 2316-Annealed; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
2316 has a density of 7.7 g/cm³ (0.278 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Mechanical16
2316 has a yield strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 67% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 215 GPa (31.2 Msi).
Thermal6
2316 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 20 W/m·K (11.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 96% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 10.5 µm/m·K (5.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
2316 conducts electricity at 2.7 % IACS, worse than 96% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (45/100), better than 98% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 2316 takes about 42 MJ of energy and emits 3.4 kg of CO₂ — more than 92% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 45%.
Manufacturability7
2316's machinability is fair (50/100, worse than 53% of steel grades); weldability poor (30/100); formability poor (15/100).
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. 2316 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 2316
Is 2316 easy to machine?
Machine like a martensitic stainless: rigid setups, sharp coated carbide, positive rake, high feed/low speed and generous coolant to avoid work hardening and built-up edge; EDM and then stone/polish the recast layer away.
Can 2316 be welded?
TIG/laser repair with matching 1.2316 filler at 250–350 °C preheat, low heat input, slow cool and a stress-relief/temper at ~30 °C below the last temper to avoid cracking and soft zones.
Can 2316 be formed, bent or molded?
Not a cold-forming grade; hot work 1050–850 °C followed by slow furnace cooling, then soft anneal ~750–800 °C before machining.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit applies to 2316. Every 2316 part is priced by an engineer; design inside these and the quote comes back without a redesign loop.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Better50 / 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 |
2316 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CX38CrMo16 per DIN/EN tool steel practice | 0.33 – 0.45 | 0.38 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.4 |
| Mn | ≤ 1.5 | 1 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Smax; low-S for polishing grades | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Cr | 15 – 17 | 16 |
| Mo | 1 – 1.3 | 1.1 |
| Nisome producers add ~0.4–0.9 Ni for hardenability | ≤ 1 | 0.5 |
| Voptional, producer dependent | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 2316?
Excellent diamond-paste polish and photo-etch response (best in ESR quality); nitriding, PVD or hard chrome are optional wear layers but nitriding reduces the stainless surface corrosion resistance.
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 2316 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.2316X36CrMo17
- Trade names
- S136Uddeholm 2316
- Similar grades
- 420 Mod
How much does 2316 cost?
2316 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.
2316 — frequently asked
What is 2316 used for?
2316 is typically used for medical device mould cavities, optical mould plates, cavity and core plates for corrosive resins, mould bases in humid production environments, food-contact and packaging mould inserts and photo-etched cosmetic housing cavities. In short: workhorse mold-cavity plate.
What is the yield strength of 2316?
2316 has a typical yield strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 780 MPa (113 ksi) — stronger than 67% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is 2316 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (50/100, worse than 53% of steel grades). Machine like a martensitic stainless: rigid setups, sharp coated carbide, positive rake, high feed/low speed and generous coolant to avoid work hardening and built-up edge; EDM and then stone/polish the recast layer away.
Can 2316 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (30/100). TIG/laser repair with matching 1.2316 filler at 250–350 °C preheat, low heat input, slow cool and a stress-relief/temper at ~30 °C below the last temper to avoid cracking and soft zones.
What surface finishes work on 2316?
Excellent diamond-paste polish and photo-etch response (best in ESR quality); nitriding, PVD or hard chrome are optional wear layers but nitriding reduces the stainless surface corrosion resistance.
Can 2316 be formed, bent or molded?
Not a cold-forming grade; hot work 1050–850 °C followed by slow furnace cooling, then soft anneal ~750–800 °C before machining.
What is the maximum service temperature of 2316?
2316 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 2316 Annealed and 2316-ESR?
Annealed is the default condition — choose for blocks that will be rough-machined, deep-cavity cut or EDM'd and then hardened by the toolmaker. ESR: specify for optical/mirror cavities and large plates where cleanliness, homogeneity and pinhole-free polishing are critical. Yield strength is 520 MPa in Annealed versus 870 MPa in ESR.
How much does 2316 cost?
2316 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 2316?
Yes — 2316 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
- DIN EN ISO 4957 / Werkstoffnummer 1.2316 (X38CrMo16) — DIN/ISO (2018)
- Corrosion-resistant plastic mould steel 1.2316 / M310 datasheet — voestalpine Böhler Edelstahl (2022)
- Mould steel 2316 / 420 modified data sheet — Buderus Edelstahl / Schmolz+Bickenbach (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Tool Materials — ASM International (1995)
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.