Purohit Steel is a leading Grade VR 16 HH ESR Stockist and Exporter in India, supplying NLMK Verona VR 16 HH ESR electro-slag remelted, high-hardness stainless martensitic chromium-molybdenum plastic mould steel with verified chemical composition, mechanical properties and full traceability for mould makers, OEMs and precision tooling houses.
As an authorized stockist of NLMK Verona and an ISO-certified company established in 1965, we maintain ready stock of Grade VR 16 HH ESR in round bar, flat bar and block form, with in-house bandsaw cutting, machining, grinding, drilling, gun drilling, EDM and wire-cut support for fast turnaround across India and export markets.
Table of Contents
- 1. What is Grade VR 16 HH ESR Steel
- 2. What ESR Actually Changes
- 3. Why Purohit Steel for VR 16 HH ESR
- 4. Comparison: VR 16 HH ESR vs VR 16 HH vs 1.2083 ESR
- 5. Chemical Composition
- 6. Mechanical & Corrosion Properties
- 7. Physical & Thermal Properties
- 8. Heat Treatment Guidelines
- 9. Available Forms & Sizes
- 10. Machining & Selection Notes
- 11. Applications & Uses
- 12. Industries We Serve
- 13. Related Products
- 14. Authorized Stockist Brands
- 15. Cities We Supply in India
- 16. Our Services
- 17. Frequently Asked Questions
- 18. About Purohit Steel
What is Grade VR 16 HH ESR Steel?
Grade VR 16 HH ESR is the electro-slag remelted (ESR) version of NLMK Verona's VR 16 HH stainless martensitic chromium-molybdenum plastic mould steel. It shares the exact same base composition and 350-390 HB (38-42 HRC) target hardness as standard VR 16 HH, but is produced through an ESR remelting step instead of the conventional EAF-LF-VD refining route.
ESR is a secondary refining process, distinct from the primary melting practice, applied specifically to improve steel cleanliness before forging and rolling. It is supplied in accordance with EN 10228-3 Class 4 and SEP 1921 Class E/e internal-soundness standards, and delivered pre-hardened, ready for direct machining without further heat treatment.
Note: “VR 16 HH ESR” is Purohit Steel's supply designation for this NLMK Verona VR Tool Steels product — it is not itself a DIN standard number. Based on its composition it belongs to the same stainless martensitic Cr-Mo family as DIN 1.2316 (X36CrMo17), refined via ESR for a cleaner microstructure than the conventional route.
What ESR Actually Changes
Electro-Slag Remelting is a genuinely different, additional production step compared to the standard EAF-LF-VD route used for VR 16 and VR 16 HH — it is not simply a marketing label on the same bar stock. In ESR, a conventionally cast electrode is re-melted, droplet by droplet, through a chemically active slag bath under controlled conditions, and re-solidified into a new ingot from the bottom up.
- Fewer non-metallic inclusions: The slag bath chemically scavenges sulphide and oxide inclusions as the steel passes through it, reducing internal defect density compared to primary-melt material.
- Directional solidification: Bottom-up solidification in a water-cooled mould reduces macro-segregation and porosity that can occur in conventionally cast ingots.
- More homogeneous, fine-grained structure: The controlled solidification produces a more uniform as-cast structure before forging and rolling even begin.
- Practical benefit: For a stainless mould steel already valued for corrosion resistance and polishability, this translates into better fatigue resistance, more consistent hardness through the section, and a superior mirror-polish/optical finish potential compared to the non-ESR grade.
This is the same reason ESR is used across the industry for premium tool steel variants (for example 1.2083 ESR) — it is a recognised, genuine metallurgical upgrade path, not unique marketing terminology.
Why Purohit Steel for Grade VR 16 HH ESR
- Ready Stock: Round bar, flat bar and block sizes held in inventory for immediate dispatch
- ISO-Certified Quality: Documented quality management since 1965
- Authorized Stockist: Sourced directly through NLMK Verona, the manufacturer of the VR Tool Steels range, and SeAH CSS
- Value-Added Machining: In-house bandsaw cutting, precision machining, grinding, drilling, gun drilling, EDM and wire-cut, suited to premium finish work
- Technical Support: Assistance with grade selection between VR 16, VR 16 HH and VR 16 HH ESR
- Pan-India & Export Supply: Warehousing in Vasai with a sales outlet in Mumbai, serving customers across India and international markets
- Export-Ready Packaging: Palletised, moisture-protected packing suitable for both domestic transport and export shipment
Comparison: VR 16 HH ESR vs VR 16 HH vs 1.2083 ESR
VR 16 HH ESR is best compared against its own non-ESR sibling and against another premium ESR-refined corrosion-resistant mould steel Purohit Steel stocks.
| Factor | VR 16 HH ESR | VR 16 HH | 1.2083 ESR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium content | ~14% Cr | ~14% Cr (identical alloy) | ~13% Cr |
| Supply hardness | 350-390 HB (38-42 HRC) | 350-390 HB (38-42 HRC) | ~290-330 HB |
| Production route | Electro-slag remelting (ESR) | EAF-LF-VD (conventional) | Electro-slag remelting (ESR) |
| Cleanliness | High — ESR refined | Standard mill cleanliness | High — ESR refined |
| Best suited for | Premium cavities/inserts needing max cleanliness at higher hardness | General higher-wear corrosion-resistant tooling | Moulds for food, medical and hygiene applications |
| Relative cost | Higher than VR 16 HH | Medium | Highest of the three |
Grade VR 16 HH ESR Chemical Composition
Typical composition per the NLMK Verona VR 16 / VR 16 HH ESR technical datasheet (weight %) — the same base alloy as VR 16 and VR 16 HH, refined via ESR:
| Element | Symbol | Composition (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon | C | 0.28 |
| Manganese | Mn | 0.9 |
| Silicon | Si | 0.30 |
| Chromium | Cr | 14 |
| Molybdenum | Mo | 1 |
| Nickel | Ni | 0.7 |
| Phosphorus | P | 0.008 max |
| Sulphur | S | 0.003 max |
| Iron | Fe | Balance |
Mechanical & Corrosion Properties of Grade VR 16 HH ESR
| Property | Typical Value / Rating |
|---|---|
| Hardness (supply condition) | 350 - 390 HB (approx. 38 - 42 HRC), quenched & tempered |
| As-quenched hardness (before tempering) | ~50 HRC (per manufacturer heat-treatment data) |
| Corrosion resistance | Excellent — stainless martensitic grade (~14% Cr) |
| Cleanliness / inclusion content | Improved over non-ESR VR 16 HH, due to electro-slag refining |
| Toughness | Improved consistency at high hardness vs conventional-melt equivalents |
| Polishability | High — suited to optical/cosmetic-grade cavity surfaces |
| Fatigue resistance | Better than conventional-melt material of the same hardness, due to reduced inclusion density |
Tensile and yield strength figures are not published in the manufacturer's VR 16 HH ESR datasheet; mill test certificates (EN 10204 2.2 / 3.1) are available on request. Cleanliness, toughness, polishability and fatigue resistance improvements are the established, industry-recognised benefits of ESR processing.
Physical & Thermal Properties
| Property | 20°C | 100°C | 250°C | 500°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal Expansion Coefficient (×10-6/K) | 10.5 | 10.5 | 10.9 | 11.7 |
| Thermal Conductivity (W/(m·K)) | 23.4 | 23.7 | 24.0 | — |
| Young's Modulus (GPa) | 218 | 213 | 205 | 180 |
Reference values per the NLMK Verona VR 16 / VR 16 HH ESR technical datasheet, common to the whole VR 16 family (composition-dependent properties are unaffected by the ESR route itself).
Heat Treatment Guidelines
| Process | Temperature | Holding Time | Cooling | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supply condition | Quenched & tempered (pre-hardened) 350-390 HB — ready to machine, no further heat treatment normally required | |||
| Annealing | 770 - 820°C | Min. 2 min/mm | Furnace to 600°C, then air | — |
| Stress relieving | 550 - 600°C | Min. 2 min/mm | Air or furnace | Carry out after machining to remove residual stress |
| Hardening | Preheat 600-700°C, austenitize 990-1040°C | Min. 1 min/mm | Polymer or gas quench | Quenched hardness approx. 50 HRC |
| Tempering | Lower temper range to retain higher hardness | — | Air | Carry out after hardening; 2nd temper max 30°C below 1st |
The heat treatment schedule for VR 16 HH ESR follows the same Cr-Mo tempering behaviour as standard VR 16 / VR 16 HH, since ESR changes the melting/cleanliness route, not the subsequent quench-and-temper response. Confirm the exact tempering schedule for your target hardness with our technical team.
Available Forms & Sizes
- Round Bars
- Flat Bars / Plates
- Blocks
- Custom sizes cut to drawing via in-house bandsaw cutting
Material is machined, ground, drilled and finished in-house through our precision machining, grinding, drilling, gun drilling, EDM and wire-cut facilities, so blocks can be supplied close to finished dimensions.
Machining & Selection Notes
- Cutting tools: At 350-390 HB, VR 16 HH ESR machines with the same tooling approach as standard VR 16 HH, but its more homogeneous, inclusion-free structure typically gives more predictable tool wear and surface finish.
- Final finishing: The reduced inclusion content makes VR 16 HH ESR the better choice when final cavity surfaces will be highly polished or textured to a fine, defect-free finish.
- Precision tooling: Because fatigue resistance is improved over the non-ESR grade, VR 16 HH ESR is worth the premium for cyclically loaded precision cutting tools and stamping dies.
- EDM finishing: The pre-hardened condition is well suited to EDM cavity sinking without further heat-treatment concerns.
- Grade selection: Use standard VR 16 HH for general higher-wear corrosion-resistant tooling; step up to VR 16 HH ESR when cosmetic finish, fatigue life or dimensional consistency at the top end of the hardness range are critical — see the comparison table above.
Applications of Grade VR 16 HH ESR Steel
VR 16 HH ESR is positioned for premium, high-value tooling applications where both corrosion resistance and material cleanliness matter:
- Premium mould inserts and cavities for corrosive plastics (e.g. PVC)
- Core pins, cavities and slides needing consistent, defect-free surfaces
- Precision cutting tools
- Hot runner components
- Punches, dies and stamping tools requiring fatigue resistance
- High-performance industrial tooling where downtime for tool failure is costly
Grade VR 16 HH ESR for Premium Mould Inserts
Where a cavity or insert will be highly polished, textured to a fine pattern, or subjected to repeated thermal and mechanical cycling, the reduced inclusion density of ESR-refined steel lowers the risk of localised polish defects, corrosion pitting starting at inclusions, or fatigue cracking.
Hot Runner & Precision Tooling
Hot runner components and precision cutting tools benefit from VR 16 HH ESR's combination of corrosion resistance, high hardness and improved cleanliness, supporting tighter dimensional consistency over the tool's service life.
Industries We Serve
- Plastic injection moulding industry (premium tooling)
- Precision tooling & die industry
- Household appliance manufacturing
- Packaging manufacturing
- Consumer goods production
- Engineering & tooling workshops
Authorized Stockist
Grade VR 16 HH ESR Supply Locations Across India
We supply Grade VR 16 HH ESR steel across major industrial cities including Mumbai, Pune, Khopoli, Nashik, Aurangabad, Navi Mumbai, Palghar, Umbergaon, Vapi, Valsad, Daman, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Cochin, Delhi, Gurgaon, Manesar and Sonipat — as well as to export markets.
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Frequently Asked Questions
About Purohit Steel
Purohit Steel was established in 1965 by Shree Bherumalji Rajpurohit, a visionary in metallurgy. Over the decades, we have built a strong reputation as a trusted stockist and exporter of tool steel, plastic mould steel and engineering steel products across India.
As an ISO-certified company, we source premium materials from globally reputed manufacturers, including as an authorized stockist of NLMK Verona, and operate a modern warehousing facility in Vasai along with a sales outlet in Mumbai, enabling efficient storage, fast processing and timely delivery across India and export markets.
With decades of relationships with tool & die manufacturers and a customer-focused approach, Purohit Steel continues to deliver reliable, technically supported steel solutions for the mould-making industry.
Read more about Purohit Steel, view our certifications, or get in touch with our technical sales team.