P20 vs H13 — Best Choice for Long-Run Plastic Moulds Plastic Mould Steel · Grade Comparison · Virat Special Steels
A practical, application-first guide for mould makers, tool
rooms, and procurement teams choosing between
two most popular plastic mould steel grades.
Choosing the
wrong mould steel doesn't just cost money — it costs production runs, surface
finish quality, and mould life. Here's how to pick the right one.
At a
Glance: P20 vs H13
The table below gives a side-by-side view of both grades across
the most critical properties mould buyers evaluate:
|
P20 Steel Pre-hardened
Mould Steel |
H13
Steel Hot Work
Tool Steel |
|
Hardness 28–34 HRC
(pre-hardened) |
Hardness 44–52 HRC |
|
Toughness High |
Toughness Very High |
|
Polishability Good |
Polishability Excellent |
|
Machinability Excellent |
Machinability Moderate |
|
Mould
Life Up to
5,00,000 shots |
Mould
Life 10,00,000+
shots |
|
Heat
Treatment Not
required |
Heat
Treatment Required
(vacuum) |
|
Tool
Cost Lower |
Tool
Cost Higher |
|
Lead
Time Short |
Lead
Time Longer |
|
Property |
P20 Steel |
H13 Steel |
|
Hardness after HT |
28–34 HRC (pre-hardened) |
44–52 HRC |
|
Wear Resistance |
Moderate |
High |
|
Toughness |
High |
Very High |
|
Machinability |
Excellent (no HT needed) |
Moderate (HT required) |
|
Thermal Fatigue Resistance |
Low |
Very High |
|
Tool Cost |
Lower |
Higher |
|
Lead Time |
Short (ready to machine) |
Longer (HT required) |
|
Mould Life |
Up to 5,00,000 shots |
10,00,000+ shots |
|
Corrosion Resistance |
Low |
Moderate |
✅ Choose P20 if:
·
Production volume is moderate
·
Budget is limited
·
Faster delivery is required
·
Plastic material is
non-abrasive
✅ Choose H13 if:
·
Production volume is very high
·
You need long mould life
·
Material is abrasive or high
temperature
·
Dimensional stability is
critical
|
Which
Grade Should You Pick? P20
for speed & cost · H13 for volume & finish |
If you need
a mould quickly, at a lower cost, for regular plastics and medium production,
go with P20.But if you’re producing in high volumes, using abrasive or
glass-filled materials, or need a long-lasting, mirror-finish mould (over 10
lakh shots), choose H13.
Both P20 and H13 are widely used across India's plastics and
automotive tooling industry. Here's where each grade dominates:
|
Industry |
Recommended Grade |
Reason |
|
Automotive |
H13 |
High volume, tight tolerances, long mould life |
|
Consumer Appliances |
P20 |
Medium run, cost-sensitive, faster delivery |
|
Packaging (Caps & Closures) |
H13 |
Very high shot count, abrasion resistance |
|
Electronics Housing |
P20 / H13 |
Depends on run volume and finish requirements |
|
Medical Device Components |
H13 (ESR Grade) |
Mirror finish, cleanliness, long run |
|
Soft Tooling |
P20 |
Quick machining, lower cost, short lead time |
Both P20 and H13 have their place in mould
manufacturing—but the choice depends on your production goals:
·
P20 = Cost-effective + faster
production
·
H13 = Long life + high
performance
Sourcing P20 and H13 in India
Virat Special Steels stocks both P20 and H13 in ready inventory
— supplied with full mill test certificates, hardness test reports, and
chemical analysis. Available in round bars, flat bars, and pre-machined blocks
across a wide size range.
|
Need
P20 or H13 for Your Next Mould? Get a fast
quote — certified stock, ready to dispatch across India |
Contact
our team to get more details about available sizes and technical specifications
suitable for your applications.
https://www.viratsteels.com/products.html 
info@viratsteels.com 
+91 98140-21775
Frequently Asked
Questions
1.
Which is better for long-run plastic moulds, P20 or H13?
H13 — higher hardness, wear resistance, and
heat tolerance make it ideal for long runs.
2.
What is the difference between P20 and H13?
P20:
Pre-hardened, easier to machine, lower cost — best for short/medium runs. H13:
Heat-treated, stronger, better for high-temp and high-volume applications.
3.
Is H13 worth the higher cost?
Yes
— for high-volume production, H13 delivers better ROI over time.
4.
When should you choose P20 over H13?
When
volume is low/medium, budget is tight, or faster machining/delivery is needed.
5.
Which is better for high-temperature injection molding?
H13
— superior thermal fatigue resistance handles higher temps without deformation.
6.
Can P20 be used for long-run moulds?
Yes,
but it wears faster with abrasive materials and isn't ideal for very long runs.
7.
Which industries prefer H13?
Automotive,
electronics, and high-volume packaging — anywhere durability matters.
8.
What's the cost difference?
P20:
Lower upfront. H13: Higher initial cost, but better long-term value.
9.
Best steel for 1 million cycle production?
H13 — built to withstand extended wear, heat,
and stress over massive run counts.
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