Purohit Steel is a leading Grade VR 16 HH Stockist and Exporter in India, supplying NLMK Verona VR 16 HH high-hardness stainless martensitic chromium-molybdenum plastic mould steel with verified chemical composition, mechanical properties and full traceability for mould makers, OEMs and 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 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 Steel
- 2. Why Purohit Steel for VR 16 HH
- 3. Comparison: VR 16 HH vs VR 16 vs VR 16 HH ESR
- 4. Chemical Composition
- 5. Mechanical & Corrosion Properties
- 6. Physical & Thermal Properties
- 7. Metallurgy: VR 16 HH vs Conventional 1.2316
- 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
- Our Certifications
- Countries We Export Worldwide
- Export Packaging & Shipping
- Quality Inspection & Testing
- Latest Price List
- MOQ & Payment Terms
- People Also Search For
What is Grade VR 16 HH Steel?
Grade VR 16 HH is the high-hardness version of NLMK Verona's VR 16 stainless martensitic chromium-molybdenum plastic mould steel. “HH” stands for High Hardness: VR 16 HH shares the exact same base alloy as standard VR 16 (~14% Cr, ~1% Mo) but is quenched and tempered to a higher target hardness of 350-390 HB (approximately 38-42 HRC), compared to 280-325 HB for the standard grade.
It is produced via EAF-LF-VD refining, forging, rolling and quench-and-temper heat treatment, and supplied in accordance with EN 10228-3 Class 4 and SEP 1921 Class E/e internal-soundness standards. Being pre-hardened, it is ready for direct machining without further heat treatment.
The higher hardness of VR 16 HH is intended for more demanding corrosion-resistant tooling — cavities and cores subjected to higher wear, abrasive fillers, or longer production runs — while retaining the stainless corrosion resistance that makes the VR 16 family suitable for corrosive plastics and household appliance moulds.
Note: “VR 16 HH” 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); see Metallurgy below.
Why Purohit Steel for Grade VR 16 HH
- 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, adapted for higher-hardness stock
- 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 vs VR 16 vs VR 16 HH ESR
VR 16 HH sits between standard VR 16 and the premium ESR-refined VR 16 HH ESR. All three share the same base chemical composition and stainless corrosion resistance; the difference is hardness and, for the ESR variant, production route and cleanliness.
| Factor | VR 16 | VR 16 HH | VR 16 HH ESR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supply hardness | 280-325 HB (29-35 HRC) | 350-390 HB (38-42 HRC) | 350-390 HB (38-42 HRC) |
| Production route | EAF-LF-VD, forging, rolling, QT | EAF-LF-VD, forging, rolling, QT | Electro-slag remelting (ESR), forging, rolling, QT |
| Cleanliness / homogeneity | Standard mill cleanliness | Standard mill cleanliness | Enhanced — ESR reduces non-metallic inclusions |
| Best suited for | General corrosion-resistant plastic moulds, extrusion dies | Higher-wear corrosion-resistant tooling needing more hardness | Premium mould inserts and cavities needing maximum cleanliness and finish |
| Relative cost | Lowest of the three | Medium | Highest |
Grade VR 16 HH Chemical Composition
Typical composition per the NLMK Verona VR 16 / VR 16 HH technical datasheet (weight %) — identical to standard VR 16, since HH refers only to the supply hardness:
| 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
| 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), same as standard VR 16 |
| Wear resistance | Higher than standard VR 16, due to increased hardness |
| Toughness | Good, with a homogeneous, carbide-free microstructure (see Metallurgy section) |
| Machinability | Good for its hardness range; slower cutting parameters than standard VR 16 recommended |
Tensile and yield strength figures are not published in the manufacturer's VR 16 HH datasheet; mill test certificates (EN 10204 2.2 / 3.1) are available on request.
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 technical datasheet, common to the whole VR 16 family regardless of supply hardness.
Metallurgy: VR 16 HH vs Conventional 1.2316
NLMK Verona's own technical documentation includes a side-by-side microstructure comparison between conventional W1.2316 stainless mould steel and VR 16 at 50x magnification. Conventional 1.2316 shows a martensitic structure with visible carbides, while the VR 16 family (including the HH variant) shows a homogeneous microstructure without carbides.
For VR 16 HH specifically, this homogeneity is what allows the higher 350-390 HB hardness to be reached without the brittleness that carbide banding can introduce in conventional high-chromium tool steel at comparable hardness — giving a better combination of hardness, toughness and polishability than a standard 1.2316-type material tempered to the same range.
This is a manufacturer-documented metallurgical comparison, not a claim that VR 16 HH is certified or sold as DIN 1.2316 — VR 16 HH remains Purohit's supply designation for the NLMK Verona product.
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 |
Because VR 16 HH targets a higher final hardness (350-390 HB) than standard VR 16 (280-325 HB), a lower tempering temperature within the same overall Cr-Mo tempering curve is used. As with the standard grade, this steel family shows a mild secondary-hardening effect around 450-500°C. 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 needs slightly reduced cutting speeds and more rigid tooling than standard VR 16; coated carbide inserts are recommended for consistent tool life.
- Corrosive-plastic cavities: Where PVC or other corrosive plastics are being moulded at higher production volumes, VR 16 HH's combination of hardness and stainless composition helps resist both wear and corrosion.
- Cooling channels: As with standard VR 16, water-cooled cooling lines resist scaling and rust-related flow restriction over the tool's life.
- EDM finishing: The pre-hardened condition is well suited to EDM cavity sinking without further heat-treatment concerns.
- Grade selection: Choose VR 16 HH where wear resistance matters more than in general corrosion-resistant work; step up to VR 16 HH ESR where maximum cleanliness and cosmetic finish are also required — see the comparison table above.
Applications of Grade VR 16 HH Steel
VR 16 HH is intended for the same corrosion-resistant plastic-moulding applications as standard VR 16, but where higher hardness and wear resistance are also needed:
- Plastic injection moulds for corrosive plastics (e.g. PVC) with higher production volumes
- Dies for plastic extrusion subject to higher wear
- Moulds for household appliances needing longer service life
- Mould inserts and cores in humid or corrosive production environments
- Cavities requiring both corrosion resistance and abrasion resistance
Grade VR 16 HH for Higher-Volume Tooling
For production tooling running higher cycle counts or slightly abrasive filled plastics, the extra hardness of VR 16 HH over standard VR 16 helps extend cavity life between refurbishments, while still resisting corrosion from PVC and similar plastics.
Household Appliance Industry
VR 16 HH is used for moulds producing housings, panels and fittings for household appliances that demand long, consistent tool life without corrosion-related downtime.
Industries We Serve
- Plastic injection moulding industry
- Plastic extrusion industry
- Household appliance manufacturing
- Packaging manufacturing
- Consumer goods production
- Engineering & tooling workshops
Authorized Stockist
Grade VR 16 HH Supply Locations Across India
We supply Grade VR 16 HH 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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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.
Our Certifications
Purohit Steel operates as an ISO-certified company, backed by documented quality management, safety and compliance certifications that support reliable supply to domestic and export customers.
View all certificates in detail on our Certifications page.
Countries We Export Worldwide
Beyond India, Purohit Steel exports tool & mould steel grades to customers across the following countries and regions:
| Export Destinations | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | Saudi Arabia | Oman | Bangladesh | Sri Lanka | Nepal |
| Vietnam | Thailand | Indonesia | Kenya | Nigeria | South Africa |
For export enquiries and destination-specific documentation, please contact our sales team.
Export Packaging & Shipping
Bars, flats and blocks are packed to withstand handling, transit and marine shipment, whether for domestic dispatch or export orders.
- Palletised and strapped packing for round bars, flat bars and blocks
- Moisture-protected wrapping to prevent surface corrosion in transit
- Seaworthy export packing with clear shipping marks and material identification
- Documentation support including packing lists, invoices and mill test certificates for customs clearance
- Shipment by road, rail or sea freight as per order requirement and destination
Quality Inspection & Testing
Every batch held in our stock is checked through documented inspection procedures before dispatch, so mould makers and OEMs receive material with verified, traceable quality.
- Chemical composition verification against mill certificates
- Hardness testing (Brinell / Rockwell) on received stock
- Dimensional inspection as per standard bar and block tolerances
- Visual and surface defect inspection
- EN 10204 2.2 / 3.1 mill test certificates provided on request
- Third-party inspection coordination available for export orders
Full material traceability is maintained from incoming stock through to dispatch for every order.
Latest Price List
Pricing depends on section size, quantity, form (round bar / flat bar / block) and current raw material rates. Indicative guidance is below — contact us for a firm, up-to-date quotation.
| Form | Typical Price Basis |
|---|---|
| Round Bar | Per Kg, based on diameter & length — contact for latest rate |
| Flat Bar / Plate | Per Kg, based on thickness & size — contact for latest rate |
| Block (cut to size) | Per Kg / Per Piece, based on drawing — contact for latest rate |
Prices are subject to change with raw material and freight costs. Share your required size and quantity via the quotation form or WhatsApp for the latest price.
MOQ & Payment Terms
Minimum Order Quantity: Flexible MOQ depending on size and form — from small trial quantities for tooling houses up to bulk orders for OEMs, subject to confirmation at enquiry stage.
Payment Terms: Advance payment / part-advance with balance before dispatch for domestic orders; T/T (bank transfer) or Letter of Credit (LC) for export orders, depending on order value and destination.