Tool Steels

Tool steels are wear-resistant, ferrous alloys based on iron and carbon with high levels of alloying (hardenability and property modifying) elements such as chromium, molybdenum, tungsten and vanadium. Specific tool steel grades are available for die or cold work, hot work, high-speed and shock-resistance applications. Tool steels are difficult to fabricate in their hardened form and are usually electro-discharge machined (EDM) or ground to achieve the tolerances required for tooling applications. Tool steels are categorized by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), a non-profit association of North American producers, suppliers, and users of steel.

Selecting tool steels requires an understanding of water hardening, oil hardening, hot work and cold work. Water hardening is the process of hardening high-carbon steels by quenching in water or brine after heating. Oil hardening is the process of hardening a ferrous alloy of suitable composition by heating within or above the transformation range and then quenching in oil. Hot work is the process of rolling, forging, or extruding metal at a temperature above its re-crystallization point. Cold work is plastic deformation at such temperatures and rates that substantial increases occur in the strength and hardness of metal. Cold working produces visible structural changes, such as changes in grain shape and mechanical twinning or banding.

Tool steels vary in terms of composition and application. Shock resisting tool steels have a percentage of carbon, as well as alloys, silicon, and nickel as ferrite strengtheners. Chromium increases wear resistance and hardenability to the tool steels. Shock resisting tool steels were originally developed for chisel-type applications, but the number of alloys in this category has evolved to include steels with a broad range of tool applications. This class of tool steels has very good shock resistant qualities with excellent toughness. These types of tool steels are used to form tools, chisels, punches, cutting blades, springs, trimming, swaging dies, concrete and rock drills, and bolt cutters.

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Part Numbers for Tool Steels