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2. High Speed Steels :

Molybdenum high speed steels

JESSOP OSEOR FORTUNA BOHLER Chemical Composition
IS ASP AISI
(UK) N (UK) (UK) (Australia) C W Mo Cr V Others
T83MoW6 HSM2 M2 J24 M2 Mo500 Super Rapid 0.85 6 5 4 2
Cr4V2 extra No.
M15 M15 1.5 6.5 3.5 4. 5 5% Co
M35 0.8 6 5 4 2 5% Co
M42 J42 M42 Mo98OH Mo. Rapid 1.1 1.5 9.5 3.75 1.15 8% Co
extra 800

Properties & Applications: This group of high speed tool steels due to its greater toughness is
recommended for cutting tools which are subjected to impact vibration
and intermittent cuts. These grades are cheaper and readily
available. They are sued where toughness is the primary requisite
rather than wear resistance. The tool life rapidly decreases if the
hardness of work is beyond 30HRC.

3. Hot Work Tool Steels

QSB SESSOP
BOHLER ATLAS WITTEN
IS ASP AISI RON SERVILL C Si Mn Cr Mo V W
(Australia) (UK) (Germany)
(UK) E (UK)
T35Cr5MO1 HW4 H11 H11 US Ultra H11 W 66 0.35 1.0 0.3 5 1.4 0.4
V30
r35Cr5MoW HW 1 H12 H12 K18 US Ultra4 CROD1 W7 0.35 1.0 0.3 5 1.4 0.4 1.4
1v30
T35Cr5Mo HW 24 H13 H13 H50 US Ultra2 DIEV & W 66 spk 0.35 1.0 0.3 5 1.4 1.0 1.5
V1 C
T33W9Cr3V HW 3 H21 JO WKZ SENEC W 99 0.35 0.32 0.3 5 0.4 0.9
38 I

Properties & application: These are suitable for die casting dies for Aluminium, magnesium,
Zinc, hard headers for rivets, bolts. They can resist wear and heat
due to the presence of alloying elements. Can also provide high
surface finish due to the presence of chromium.

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H12 H13 : They are tungsten hot work tool steels. Used for Dies, Moulds,
operating beyond 5000C.
H21: Used for extrusion dies, hot swaging dies, forging inserts, brass
forging dies, hot shear blades. Trimmer dies, die-casting dies for
brass.

4. Case Carburizing Steels :

Chemical Composition Mech. Properties

IS ASP BS
C Si Mn Ni Cr Mo UTS %elongation
16Ni80
CH16 En351 0.2 0.3 0.6-1.0 0.6-1.0 0.4-0.8 0.1 70.87 18
Cr60
15NiCr1 0.75- 0.08-
CH9 En353 0.2 0.35 0.5-1.0 1.1-1.5 102.37 12
Mo12 1.25 0.15
16NiCr2 0.15-
CH12 En535 0.2 0.35 0.4-0.7 1.8-2.2 1.4-1.7 133.86 12
Mo22 0.25

Applications: 1. widely used in automobile industries for gear box and transmission
components to resist wear and withstand shock due to tough core.
2&3 Jig bushes and pillars for die sets etc.

5. Nitriding Steels :

IS ASP GOST BS C Si Mn S P Ni Cr Mo Others

40Cr3Mo1 N4 En40 0.3- 0.1- 0.4- 0.005 0.005 0.4 2.5-3.5 0.7-1.2 V 0.1-
V20 C 0.5 0.35 0.8 max. max. max. 0.3
40Cr2AI1 N2 30XM1 En41 0.35- 0.1- 0.65 0.005 0.005 0.04 1.4-1.8 0.1- AI.0.9-
Mo18 0A B 0.45 0.45 max. max. max. max. 0.25 1.3

Applications: 1. Used for components for aircraft industries & automobile industries.
2. Used for components requiring max. Surface hardness of a nitrided case
combined with a fairly high core strength.

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6. Nickel – Maraging Steels

These are ultra high strength steels having very low carbon content (C = 0.03% max). Because
of the presence of Nickel these steels can be air cooled from a temperature of 8000C to set soft
distortion free martensite. High hardness of 52-54 HRC and high strength can be produced by
aging treatment i.e. keeping this steel at 4800C for 3 hours and air-cooling. The following are the
compositions of three grades of Nickel-maraging steels widely used:

Max. stress
Ni Co Mo Ti
(Kg/mm2)
1. 18 8.5 3 0.2 140
2. 18 8 5 0.4 175
3. 18 9 5 0.6 200

7. Advantages :

1. Ultra high tensile, high yield strength & high temperature strength.
2. High notch toughness.
3. Simple heat treatment and dimensional stability.
4. High toughness and ductility.
5. Properties of good machinability and weldability.
6. Can be nitrided.
7. The coefficient of thermal expansion is 12% lower than that of H13.

8. Application :

Best suited for Aluminium die casting dies, precision plastic moulds, forging dies, Carbide die
holders, wear resisting index plates.

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Hardness Comparison Tables For Steel

Vickers Brinell Hardness Rockwell Hardness Tensile Hardness of
Hardness Number, HB Number, HR Strength various qualities
Number, of steel
HV

30 kgf 300 kgf load 3000 kgf C Scale 150 B Scale 100 Kgf/mm2 (untreated)
Load (F/D2=30) load kgf Load kgf Load
940 - - 68.0 -
900 - - 67.0 -
860 - - 65.9 -
840 - 745 65.3 -
820 - 733 64.7 -
780 - 710 63.3 -
740 - 684 61.8 -
700 - 656 60.1 -
660 - 620 58.3 -
620 - 582 56.3 -
580 - 545 54.1 -
550 505 517 52.3 -
500 465 471 49.1 -
450 425 425 45.3 - 150
420 397 397 42.7 - 142
390 369 369 39.8 - 132
370 350 350 37.7 - 126
340 322 322 34.4 - 117
320 303 303 32.2 - 110
300 284 284 29.8 - 103

Case-hardening Steel
Heat treatable Steel
285 270 270 27.8 - 98 Carbon Tool Steel
High Speed Steel
Alloy Tool Steel

265 252 252 24.8 - 90

250 238 238 22.2 - 86
235 223 - - 99.9 81
225 214 - - 98.3 78
210 200 - - 95.7 72
200 190 - - 93.8 69
190 181 - - 91.6 65
175 166 - - 87.9 60
160 152 - - 83.4 55
145 138 - - 78.1 50
135 128 - - 73.9 47
120 114 - - 66.3 42
105 100 - - 56.4 37

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Vickers
Hardness Brinell Hardness Rockwell Hardness Tensile Hardness of various
Number, Number, HB Number, HR Strength qualities of steel
HV
Application: Application : Application: Application:
can be Shall be limited tc Used for Used for
applied on materials having a testing testing
all materials. maximum Brinell materials material
Suited Hardness of 400 with having having
specially for steel ball and of 700 hardness hardness
testing very with carbide ball. values of values of
hard and HRc between HRb between
very thin 20 to 99. 60 to 99.
materials
and also
case
hardened
and nitrided
steels.

Comparative Scale of Temperature, Energy and Power

t 5 t t
C= ( F − 32) F = 1.8 t C + 32
9

Kelvin temperature (in K)

5
TK = 273.15 + t C = TR
9
Rankine temperature (in 0R)

TR = 459.67 + t F = 1.8TK (in 0R)

1 KW = 1.35962 PS
1 PS = 0.735499 KW
1 KWh = 859.845 Kcal
1 Kcal = 0.001163 kWh

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Tool & Die steels

AISI Steel Nominal Composition, Percent

Type C Mn Si W Cr Mo V Other
W1 1.05 0.25 0.20 -- 0.20 -- 0.05 --
W2 1.00 0.25 0.20 -- -- -- 0.20 --
O1 0.90 1.25 0.30 0.50 0.50 -- -- --
O2 0.90 1.60 -- -- -- -- -- --
O6 1.45 0.80 1.10 -- -- 0.25 -- --
A2 1.00 0.60 0.30 -- 5.25 1.10 0.25 --
A8 0.55 -- 1.00 1.25 5.00 1.25 -- --
A9 0.50 -- 1.00 -- 5.20 1.40 1.00 1.40 Ni
D2 1.55 0.30 0.40 -- 11.50 0.80 0.90 --
D3 2.10 0.40 0.90 0.80 11.70 -- -- --
D4 2.25 0.35 0.50 -- 11.50 0.80 0.20 --
D7 2.30 0.40 0.40 -- 12.50 1.10 4.00 --
S1 0.50 -- 0.50 2.25 1.30 -- 0.25 --
S5 0.60 0.85 1.90 -- 0.20 0.50 0.20 --
S7 0.50 0.75 0.30 -- 3.25 1.40 -- --
T1 0.75 -- -- 18.00 4.00 -- 1.10 --
T15 1.55 -- -- 12.25 4.00 -- 5.00 5.00 Co
M1 0.80 -- -- 1.50 3.75 8.50 1.05 --
M2 0.85 -- -- 6.25 4.15 5.00 1.90 --
M4 1.30 -- -- 5.50 4.00 4.50 4.00 --
M7 1.00 -- -- 1.70 3.75 8.75 2.00 --
M42 1.08 -- -- 1.50 3.75 9.50 1.10 8.00 Co
H12 0.35 -- 1.00 1.25 5.00 1.35 0.30 --
H13 0.38 -- 1.00 -- 5.20 1.25 1.00 --
H21 0.30 0.25 0.30 9.00 3.25 -- 0.25 --
H26 0.53 -- -- 18.00 4.00 -- 1.00 --
L6 0.75 0.70 -- -- 0.80 0.30 -- 1.50 Ni
P20 0.4 1.5 -- -- 1.9 0.2 -- --
W – Water Hardening D – High Carbon, High Chromium Die Steels
O – Oil Hardening S – Shock Resisting
A – Air Hardening T – Tungsten Base, High Speed
H – Hot Working M – Molybdenum base, High Speed
P – Pre Hardened & Steel L – Special purpose, Low alloy
The steel listed above are used in great majority for metal stamping operations where tool &
die steels are required.
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CHARACTERISTICS OF TOOL AND DIE STEELS

Table 1 lists the hardening the tempering treatments, and Table 2 the basic characteristics, of the
various tool steels listed. A careful study of these characteristics will be of great assistance in
making the selection of the proper grade. For each job a different basic characteristics may assume
major importance, depending upon the material being formed or worked; the requirements for
economy, toughness, and wear resistance, or the design, which may affect the heat treating
characteristics or the need for machinability. Table 3 shows typical press operations and
recommended tool steels and operating hardness levels. The steels have been arranged in order of
increasing wear resistance. For maximum life between resharpenings, the last steel listed under
each application should generally be selected.
A brief statement of the merits of the different groups follows.

W, Water hardening Tool Steels

W1 & W2 are both readily available and of low cost. W2 contains vanadium and is more
uniform in response to heat treatment; it is of a finer grain size with a higher toughness. Both are
shallow hardening and, when hardened with a hard case and a softer internal core, have high
toughness. They are quenched in water or brine and should be applied where movement in
hardening is not important.

O, Oil hardening Tool Steels

Steels O1 & O2 have, for many years, been the workhorses of the die steel industry and are
known familiarly as manganese oil hardening tool steel. Readily available and of low cost, these
steels, which are hardened in oil, have less movement than the water hardening steels and are of
equal toughness when the water hardening steels are hardened throughout. For special
applications, types O6, which contains free carbon in the form of graphite, has been used
successfully.

A, Air hardening Die steels

The principle air hardening die steel employed is steel A2. This steel has a minimum
movement in hardening and has higher toughness than the oil hardening die steels, with equal or
greater wear resistance. It has a slightly higher hardening temperature than the manganese types.
The availability of the popular A2 steel is excellent. Type A8 is the toughest steel in this group, but
its low carbon content makes it less wear resistant than A2.

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D, High carbon High chromium Die Steel

The principle steels of wide application for long run dies are steels in this group. Grade D2
containing 1.50% carbon is of moderate toughness and intermediate wear resistance; whereas
steels D3, D4, and D7, containing additional carbon, are of very high wear resistance and somewhat
lower toughness. Selection between these is based on the length of run desired and machining and
grinding problems. D2 and D4, containing molybdenum, are air hardening and have minimum
movement in hardening.

S, Shock resisting Tool Steels

These steels contain less carbon and have higher toughness. They are employed where
heavy cutting or forming operations are required and where breakage is a serious problem with
higher carbon materials that might have longer life through higher wear resistance alone. Choice
among the grades is a matter of experience. All steels are readily available, with steel S5 being
widely employed. This grade is an oil hardening type of silicomanganese steel and is more
economical than steel S1, which has equivalent toughness properties with greater wear resistance.

T and M, Tungsten and Molybdenum High speed Steels

Steels T1 and M2 are equivalent in performance and represent standard high speed steels
which have excellent properties for cold working dies. They have higher toughness than many of
the other die steels, combined with excellent wear resistance. While they are expensive, they are
readily available. T15 & M4 are hardened by the standard method rather than carburizing, because
they already have a very high carbon content combined with high vanadium content.
Type M1 may occasionally be used in place of T1 & M2, but it is more susceptible to
decarburization. Steel T15 is the most wear resistant of all steels in the list, and steel M4 is slightly
greater in wears resistance than steel such as D4. These steels are more difficult to machine and
grind than the other high speed steels, but the improved performance obtainable very often justifies
the extra machining expense.

L, Low alloy Tool Steels

Of the many low alloy steels effective as die materials, steel L6 is a chromium nickel steel.
In large sizes it is water quenched and has a hard case and a soft core, with an attendant high
overall toughness. In small sizes it may be oil quenched.

H, Hot Working Steels

Die casting dies, extrusion dies, hot forming dies, and hot drawing mandrels are typical hot
work applications.

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TABLE 1
Hardening & Tempering Treatments for Tool & Die Steels
Minimum
Preheat Rate of Hardening
AISI Steel Time at Quenching
Temperature, Heating for Temperature
Type Temperature Medium
Degrees F Hardening Degrees F
Minutes
W1 12000 / 12500 Slow 14250 - 15000 15 min. Brine or Water
W2 12000 / 12500 Slow 14250 - 15000 15 min. Brine or Water
0 0
O1 12000 / 12500 Slow 1450 - 1500 15 min. Warm Oil
0 0
O2 12000 / 12500 Slow 1400 - 1475 15 min. Warm Oil
0 0
O6 12000 / 12500 Slow 1450 - 1500 30 min. Warm Oil
A2 14500 / 15000 Slow 17250 - 18000 30 min. Air, Oil, Salt
A8 14500 / 15000 Slow 18000 - 18500 30 min. Air, Oil, Salt
A9 14500 / 15000 Slow 18000 - 18500 30 – 60 min. Air, Salt
D2 14500 / 15000 Slow 18000 - 18750 30 min. Air, Salt
D3 14500 Slow 17500
30 min. Warm Oil
0 0 0 0
D4 1450 / 1500 Slow 1800 - 1850 30 min. Air, Salt, Oil
0 0 0
D7 1450 Slow 1875 - 2000 45 min. Air, Oil
S1 14000 Slow 17000 - 17500 15 – 20 min. Salt, Warm Oil
S5 12500 Slow 15500 - 16500 15 – 20 min. Salt, Oil, Water
S7 12000 / 13000 Slow 17250 - 17500 20 min. Oil, Salt
T1 15000 / 16000 Quickly from 21000 - 23500 3 – 7 min. Salt, Warm Oil
preheat
T15 14500 / 15500 Quickly from 21750 - 22750 3 – 5 min. Salt, Warm Oil
preheat
M1 15000 / 15500 Quickly from 21500 - 22250 2 – 5 min. Salt, Warm Oil
preheat
M2 Quickly from 21750 - 22750 3 – 7 min.
15000 / 15500 Salt, Warm Oil
preheat
M4 Quickly from 21500 - 22500 3 – 7 min.
15000 / 15500 Salt, Warm Oil
preheat
M7 Quickly from 21750 - 22250 3 – 7 min.
15000 / 15500 Salt, Warm Oil
preheat
M42 Quickly from 21500 - 22000 3 – 7 min.
15000 / 15500 Salt, Warm Oil
preheat
H12 14000 / 15000 Slow 18250 - 18750 30 – 60 min. Salt, Air
H13 14000 Slow 18250 - 18750 30 – 60 min. Salt, Air
H21 15000 Slow 20000 - 22500 10 – 30 min. Oil, Air
0 0 0
H26 1500 Slow 2100 - 2250 10 – 30 min. Oil, Air
0 0 0 0
L6 1200 / 1250 Slow 1450 - 1550 30 min. Warm Oil

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Continued……..
As Maximum
AISI Tempering
Depth of Resistance to Quenched Tempered
Steel Temperature,
Hardening Decarburization Hardness Hardness
Type Degrees F
HRC HRC
W1 3500 – 5500 Shallow Best 65 – 67 62 – 64
0 0
W2 350 – 550 Shallow Best 65 – 67 62 – 64
O1 3500 – 6000 Medium Good 63 – 65 62 – 64
O2 3500 – 6000 Medium Good 63 – 65 62 – 64
O6 3500 – 6000 Medium Good 63 – 65 61 – 63
A2 3500 – 9500 Deep Fair / Good 63 – 64 62 – 63
A8 3500 – 9500 Deep Fair 62 60 – 62
0 0
A9 350 – 1000 Deep Poor / Fair 58 56 – 58
0 0
D2 350 – 1000 Deep Fair 62 – 64 61 – 63
0 0
D3 350 – 950 Deep Fair 63 – 65 61 – 63
D4 4000 – 10000 Deep Fair 63 – 65 61 – 63
D7 3000 – 10000 Deep Fair 65 – 67 65
S1 3000 – 8000 Medium Fair 57 – 59 56 – 58
S5 3000 – 8000 Medium Fair 60 – 62 59 – 61
S7 4000 – 10000 Medium Poor / Fair 58 – 60 57 – 59
0 0
T1 1000 – 1100 Deep Good 64 64 – 65
0 0
T15 1000 – 1100 Deep Fair / Good 64 – 66 66 – 68
0 0
M1 1000 – 1150 Deep Fair 64 – 66 65 – 67
M2 10000 – 11000 Deep Fair 65 – 66 64 – 65
M4 10000 – 11000 Deep Fair 65 – 66 65 – 66
M7 10000 – 11000 Deep Fair / Good 66 – 67 65 – 67
M42 9750 – 10750 Deep Fair / Good 64 – 66 67 – 69
0 0
H12 1000 – 1100 Deep Fair 51 – 53 51 – 53
0 0
H13 1000 – 1150 Deep Fair 54 – 56 53 – 56
0 0
H21 950 – 1250 Med./deep Fair 53 – 55 54 – 55.5
H26 10000 – 12000 Deep Fair / Good 57 – 59 56 – 58
L6 3500 – 6000 Medium Good 62 – 63 62

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TABLE – 2
Comparison of Basic Characteristics of Tool & Die Steels

Machinability
Toughness

Resistance

Brittleness
Hardening
Resistance Decarburiz

Safety in
AISI Non

Wear
to Softening ation Risk
Steel Deforming
Effect of During Heat
type Properties
Heat Treatment

W1 L F G L G L L/M B
W2 L F G L G L L/M B
O1 G G G L F L L G
O2 G G G L F L L G
O6 G G G L F L L B
A2 B B F/G F G L L F/G
A8 G/B B B G G M L F/G
A9 B B B B G M L F/G
D2 B B L/F F G L L L
D3 G B L F G/B L L L
D4 B B L F G/B L L L
D7 B B L/F F B L L L
S1 F F/G B F F/G M L G
S5 F G B F G L L G
S7 F G B F G M L G
T1 G G G B G/B L L F
T15 G G L B B L M L/F
M1 G G G B G/B L L F
M2 G G G B G/B L L F
M4 G G G B G/B L L F
M7 G G G G/B B L L F
M42 G G G G/B G/B L M F
H12 G G/B G/B G/B F/G L/M L F/G
H13 G G/B G/B G/B F/G L/M L F/G
H21 G G/B G G/B F/G L/M L F/G
H26 G G F B B L/M L F/G
L6 F/G G/B G L F L/M L G

B = BEST F = FAIR G = GOOD L = LOW M = MEDIUM

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TABLE – 3
Recommended Tool Steels & Hardness
Application AISI Steel Type, Group Hardness RC
Blanking Dies & Punches (Short Run) O, A, W 58 – 60
Blanking Dies & Punches (Long Run) A, D 60 – 62
M 61 – 63
Bending Dies O, A, D 58 – 60
Coining Dies S 52 – 54
W 57 – 59
D 58 – 60
Drawing Dies H 52 – 54
W, O 58 – 60
D 60 – 62
Dies – Cold Extrusion W 59 – 61
D 60 – 62
M 62 – 64
- Embossing W, L, O, A, D 58 – 62
L 58 – 60
- Lamination D, A, M 60 – 62
M, D 60 – 62
- Sizing W 59 – 61
Punches – Embossing S 58 – 60
- Trimming W, D, O, A 58 – 60
- Notching M 60 – 62

* * *

122