Unalloyed tool steel

Non-alloy tool steels are steels which are used to produce cutting and forming tools. They contain small amounts of alloying elements, typically up to around 3%, and are used to produce relatively simple shapes with minimum mechanical properties. The most common alloying elements in non-alloy tool steels are manganese and chromium. These steels are generally used to make cutting and forming tools for everyday use, such as knives, awls, chisels, screwdrivers, files and drills.

Non-alloy tool steels are typically produced by open-hearth and basic electric arc furnace steel making techniques. The tight control of the chemistry and heat treatment parameters used in their production ensures a high quality material with excellent wear resistance and hardness. This hardness gives the tools a long service life and is the main reason why they have been used for centuries.

The main characteristics of non-alloy tool steels are as follows;

They have high wear resistance and hardness, making them suitable for most cutting and forming operations

These steels are easy to machine, heat treat and surface finish, making them ideal for applications requiring precise control and accurate finishing

They have good toughness and ductility, making them resistant to knocks and other forces

They have a relatively low cost when compared to alloy steels

Non-alloy tool steels are relatively easy to use and maintain. They can be hardened by heat treatment and by adding certain alloying elements such as chromium and manganese, enabling them to be used in a wide range of applications.

These steels are usually supplied in an annealed or ‘soft’ condition, making them suitable for forming complex shapes. They can then be hardened and tempered to suit their specific application.

Non-alloy tool steels are available in a variety of grades and sizes, making them suitable for a wide range of applications. They are used in the production of cutting tools, punches, reamers, taps and dies, moulds, dies and grinding tools.

Non-alloy tool steels are also used in a variety of other applications, such as machine components and agricultural tools. They are a popular choice for applications which require a combination of strength and wear resistance.

Non-alloy tool steels are a versatile and cost effective material, making them an ideal choice for many different applications. They are widely used in many industries and applications, and offer excellent performance and reliability.

Non-alloy tool steel is a kind of tool steel that does not contain alloy elements. It is very high in carbon content, usually up to 1.5-2.5%. Its basic characteristic is hardness, red hardness and wear resistance. Non-alloy tool steel is suitable for all kinds of requirements that require good toughness and high hardness.

Non-alloy tool steel is classified according to manufacturing method and user requirements. Generally, the manufacturing methods are ingot smelting and powder metallurgy. It can be divided into high speed tool steel, die steel, plastic mold steel, cold work tool steel and hot work tool steel according to its properties. It is mainly used in making cold working mold, hot working mold, high speed cutting tools, measuring tools and quenching tools, etc.

High speed tool steel is further divided into high speed die steel, high speed cutting steel and high speed wire cutting steel. The hardness of the high speed tool steel is usually 58-62hrc. Its characteristics are high hardness, wear resistance, red hardness and a certain degree of toughness. It is usually used to make drills, taps, milling cutters and reamers, etc.

Die steel is used to make dies and molds. The most common ones are used for punching and bending. It has high hardness, good wear resistance and good process ability. In addition, it also has good thermal conductivity, quenching sensitivity and processability.

Plastic mould steel is mainly used for making plastic moulds. It has good toughness, wear resistance, fatigue resistance and rust resistance. The carbon content is usually in the range of 0.80-1.50%. It is usually used to manufacture molds for plastic products, such as machine shell and daily necessities.

Cold work tool steel is mainly used to make molds working in a lower temperature environment. It has a higher hardness and wear resistance and is used to make important molds, such as cutting tools, drawing dies, stamps and shearing blades, etc.

Hot work tool steel is mainly used for making high temperature and wear resistant molds, such as hot extrusion die, die casting die, forging die and hot shear knives, etc. It has good crack resistance and heat resistance, which can effectively extend the service life of the mold.