NAK80 is a premium pre-hardened plastic mold steel developed for molds requiring excellent surface finish, fine texture reproduction, and short manufacturing lead times. Unlike conventional mold steels that require hardening after machining, NAK80 is supplied pre-hardened at 38–42 HRC, allowing molds to be machined and put into service without additional heat treatment.
Its precipitation-hardening structure provides an excellent combination of hardness, machinability, polishability, and dimensional stability. As a result, NAK80 has become a popular choice for high-gloss consumer products, cosmetic packaging, automotive interior components, and precision plastic molds.
For manufacturers seeking consistent surface quality while reducing production time, NAK80 offers an efficient and reliable solution.
Why Choose NAK80 Mold Steel?
NAK80 is designed for plastic injection molds that require excellent appearance and fast production.
Key advantages include:
- Pre-hardened for direct machining
- Excellent mirror polishing performance
- Superior texture etching quality
- High dimensional stability
- Good machinability despite high hardness
- Low distortion during machining
- Reliable weld repair performance
- Reduced mold manufacturing time
Because no additional hardening is required, manufacturers can shorten production cycles while avoiding heat treatment distortion.
Chemical Composition
| Element | Typical Content |
|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 0.10–0.20% |
| Nickel (Ni) | 3.0–4.0% |
| Aluminum (Al) | 1.0–1.5% |
| Copper (Cu) | 1.0–1.3% |
| Manganese (Mn) | 1.0–1.5% |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.20–0.40% |
Unlike conventional carbon-hardened mold steels, NAK80 achieves its hardness through precipitation hardening, providing excellent toughness and dimensional stability while maintaining good machinability.
Typical Applications
High-Gloss Plastic Products
NAK80 is widely used for molds that require excellent cosmetic surface quality.
Typical applications include:
- Cosmetic packaging
- Consumer electronics
- Household appliance housings
- Automotive interior trim
- Transparent plastic covers
Its excellent polishing performance helps produce smooth, high-quality molded surfaces with minimal finishing.
Fine Texture Etching Molds
The steel’s uniform microstructure provides excellent consistency during chemical texturing.
Typical applications include:
- Leather grain finishes
- Matte textures
- Decorative patterns
- Consumer product housings
- Interior automotive components
Uniform hardness helps achieve consistent texture depth across the entire mold surface.
Precision Injection Molds
NAK80 performs well in precision molds that require dimensional accuracy throughout long production runs.
Common products include:
- Precision engineering plastics
- Multi-cavity molds
- Electronic components
- Consumer products
Mold Inserts and Core Components
NAK80 is frequently used for replaceable mold inserts where excellent surface finish and wear resistance are required.
Typical components include:
- Core inserts
- Sliders
- Lifters
- Core blocks
Machining Performance
Despite its relatively high pre-hardened hardness, NAK80 offers excellent machinability.
Recommended practices include:
- Use coated carbide cutting tools.
- Apply moderate cutting speeds.
- Use stable EDM parameters.
- Remove the EDM recast layer before polishing.
- Minimize heavy interrupted cuts during finishing.
These practices help maintain the steel’s polishing quality while extending cutting tool life.
Polishing and Surface Finishing
One of NAK80’s greatest strengths is its outstanding polishing performance.
It is capable of producing high-quality mirror finishes suitable for many cosmetic and consumer plastic products.
NAK80 also performs exceptionally well in chemical texture etching, allowing manufacturers to create:
- Fine leather grain
- Matte finishes
- Decorative textures
- Custom surface patterns
The steel’s uniform hardness helps ensure consistent results throughout the mold cavity.
NAK80 vs. 718H vs. S136
| Property | NAK80 | 718H | S136 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delivery Condition | Pre-Hardened | Pre-Hardened | Annealed |
| Hardness | 38–42 HRC | 30–34 HRC | Heat Treated |
| Mirror Polish | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
| Texture Etching | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
| Corrosion Resistance | Moderate | Moderate | Excellent |
| Heat Treatment Required | No | No | Yes |
| Best Application | High-Gloss Molds | General Plastic Molds | Corrosion-Resistant Molds |
NAK80 is an excellent choice when fast mold production, high surface quality, and reduced manufacturing time are priorities. For molds exposed to corrosive plastics or humid environments, S136 is generally the better option.
How to Choose NAK80
NAK80 is recommended for molds where appearance quality is more important than corrosion resistance.
Choose NAK80 for:
- Cosmetic packaging molds
- Consumer electronics
- Automotive interior components
- High-gloss plastic products
- Fine texture molds
- Precision injection molds
If the molding material contains corrosive additives or the mold operates in a humid environment, stainless mold steels such as S136 or STAVAX may be more suitable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NAK80 mold steel used for?
NAK80 is widely used for high-gloss plastic molds, cosmetic packaging, consumer electronics, and molds requiring excellent texture etching.
Does NAK80 require heat treatment?
No. NAK80 is supplied pre-hardened at approximately 38–42 HRC, allowing it to be machined without additional hardening.
Can NAK80 achieve a mirror finish?
Yes. NAK80 offers excellent polishing performance and is widely used for molds requiring high-quality cosmetic surfaces.
Is NAK80 stainless steel?
No. NAK80 is not a stainless mold steel. For applications requiring superior corrosion resistance, S136 or STAVAX is generally recommended.
Is NAK80 better than 718H?
For molds requiring higher hardness, improved polishing, and finer texture etching, NAK80 offers clear advantages. For general-purpose plastic molds where cost is the primary consideration, 718H remains a practical choice.
Why Choose KUTU NAK80 Mold Steel?
KUTU supplies premium NAK80 mold steel for manufacturers producing high-quality plastic injection molds.
Our services include:
- Custom cutting
- Rough machining
- Material certification
- Technical support
- Fast global delivery
Whether you are manufacturing cosmetic packaging, consumer electronics, or high-gloss automotive components, KUTU provides reliable NAK80 mold steel to help improve surface quality, shorten production cycles, and extend mold performance.
718H (Premium P20+Ni Grade) High Polishing Plastic Mold Steel Plate Pre-Hardened – KUTU
NAK80 (Pre-Hardened 40 HRC) Mirror Polishing Plastic Mold Steel Plate for Precision Molds – KUTU
S136 / S136H (Premium ESR Grade) Corrosion Resistant Stainless Plastic Mold Steel Plate – KUTU