Steel 2083 · heat-treated state
Steel 2083 Prehard
Properties of the Prehard condition, compared with the other 2083 tempers.
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.
What is 2083 Prehard?
2083 Prehard is 2083 heat treated to 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. 2083 Prehard has a yield strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,000 MPa (145 ksi) — stronger than 88% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 215 GPa (31.2 Msi). 2083 Prehard 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). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Prehard is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 48/100, better than 98% of steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 82/100, better than 98% of steel grades
- High strength — 850 MPa (123 ksi), better than 88% of steel grades
- High service temperature — 450°C (842 °F), better than 86% of steel grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 2.9 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 90% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 25 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 88% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 32/100, worse than 87% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 12%, worse than 84% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 20/100, worse than 80% of steel grades
2083 Prehard properties
Typical room-temperature values for 2083 Prehard — 13 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 2083 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
2083 Prehard 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 Prehard has a yield strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,000 MPa (145 ksi) — stronger than 88% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 215 GPa (31.2 Msi).
Thermal5
2083 Prehard is rated for continuous service to 450°C (842 °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 Prehard has an electrical resistivity of 5.5×10⁻⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (48/100), better than 98% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 2083 Prehard takes about 36 MJ of energy and emits 2.9 kg of CO₂ — more than 88% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability5
2083 Prehard's machinability is poor (32/100, worse than 87% of steel grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability poor (20/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 2083 tempers and conditions
2083 is also supplied in 4 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 2083 overview.
- AnnealedDefaultStandard mill-supplied condition for blocks and plate that will be rough-machined and then hardened by the toolmaker.480 MPa yield · 230 HB
- Q&T 52-54HRCMaximum wear resistance and edge retention for abrasive/glass-filled plastics; lowest toughness, use only on well-supported sections.1,550 MPa yield · 53 HRC
- Q&TStandard working hardness for corrosion-resistant cavities, cores and cutting/shear edges after finish machining.1,450 MPa yield · 50 HRC
- PrehardPick 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 MPa yield · 31 HRC
Working with 2083 Prehard
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).
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.
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 | — |
2083 Prehard — frequently asked
What is 2083 Prehard used for?
2083 Prehard 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 Prehard?
2083 Prehard has a typical yield strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,000 MPa (145 ksi) — stronger than 88% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is 2083 Prehard easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (32/100, worse than 87% 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 Prehard 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 Prehard?
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 Prehard 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 Prehard?
2083 Prehard is rated for continuous use to about 450°C (842 °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.
Can FabDigit make parts in 2083 Prehard?
Yes — 2083 Prehard is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. 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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.