Tools Steel

Tool steels comprise a large group of carbon and alloy steels that share good wear resistance as a common and important feature. They are mainly intended for manufacturing tools that are used for the different operations of forming, cutting, machining or casting metals and alloys. Typical examples include dies, files, punches, burs, chisels, shears, blades, molds, etc.
Tool steels are traditionally classified into seven main groups, namely:

• Water-hardening steels (Type W: Water hardening);
• Shock-resistant steels (Type S: Shock-Resistant);
• Cold-working steels (Types A, O, D) for service temperatures below 250°C (500°F): A: Air Hardening; O: Oil Hardening; D: High-carbon high chromium-Air Hardening;
• Hot-working steels; (Type H) for high-temperature service at 300-600°C (600-1200°F);
• High-speed steel (HSS); highly alloyed steels (type T:  Tungsten; M: Molybdenum); used for machining tools that undergo friction at temperatures of up to 600°C in the contact zone.
• Mold steels (Type P) used for manufacturing molds for die casting zinc and plastic injection. These are low-alloy steels with good characteristics of machining and polishability.
• Other low-alloy steels intended for a particular purposes (Type L).
  

The choice of the steel group and type is determined mainly by how the tool will be used, which in turn determines the optimal characteristics it must have for its durability. This choice depends then on a number of criteria, including tensile strength, hardness, service temperature, thermal fatigue, toughness, dimensional stability, etc.

Contact our metallurgists, to get the right alloy for your welding project.