Carbon Tool Steels
Carbon tool steels are formed from carbon and alloy content, typically with additional elements such as chromium, tungsten, or vanadium added for increased hardness. Carbon tool steels are primarily used in applications where wear resistance is important. They are the two most common categories of tool steel, plain carbon tool steels and alloyed carbon tool steels. Carbon tool steel typically contains between 0.6-1.3% of carbon and is the least expensive to produce compared to alloy tool steels.
Plain carbon tool steels, also known as grade AISI 10XX series steels, are the most machinable yet the least wear-resistant. This category of steel is ideal in applications such as screw machining, and is often used to create punches and dies. Clipping, trimming, broaching, drilling, reaming and thread veering are all processes that are ideal for plain carbon steels. However, due to its lower hardness, these steels are not suited for forming tools and contents subject to heavy wear and shock loads.
Alloyed carbon tool steel, also known as grade AISI ASTM series steels, are more wear-resistant but are also less malleable. Tungsten and chromium create a deeper hardening on alloyed tool steels and give them added wear-resistance, ideal for tools and contents subject to heavy wear and shock loads. Alloyed tool steels can be heat treated after forming in order to increase hardness, and are ideal for forging, rolling and stretching operations.
Application
Carbon tool steels are most often used in the automotive and engineering industries, where they are used to create components that require strength, durability, and wear-resistance. These steels are most often used in the creation of cutting tools and molds, including punch and die work. Carbon tool steels are also used to create components such as housings, shafts, and gears, as well as engine valves, bearings and springs. Their wear-resistance makes them ideal for use in industrial applications such as plastics injection molding, juicing and oil extraction.
Heat Treatments
Carbon tool steels are produced in a variety of grades and hardness levels and must be heat treated in order to achieve the desired properties. The heat treatments used to create carbon tool steels are primarily quenching, softening, and normalizing. Quenching is generally used to bring out the highest possible hardness and wear-resistance, while softening gives the steel a softer and more malleable surface. Normalizing is a process of partially heating and then cooling the tool steel in air to create a uniform grain size and structure.
Conclusion
Carbon tool steels are an ideal choice for applications that require strength, wear-resistance, and machinability. They offer a variety of grades and hardness levels to match specific application requirements, and are easy to heat treat. Carbon tool steels are ideal for creating components such as cutting tools, molds, housings, shafts, gears, engine valves, and bearings.
