Characteristic of Tool Steel
Tool steel refers to the special type of alloy steel used to make tools and equipment. As the name suggests, these steels are generally intended to be used when making tools, either in manual or power-driven form. Most tool steels are made to maintain a relatively high hardness so that they can effectively function as a cutting edge. Tool steel is also known for its ability to resist corrosion, wear and abrasion. In comparison to normal carbon steel, tool steel typically has a higher concentration of alloys which adds to the strength and increasing the selection of the grade.
One of the major characteristics of tool steel is its hardness which lies in HRC (Rockwell C) scale. The hardness of tool steel typically lies within 30 to 50 HRC range depending upon its type. This hardness is often associated with the heat treating process. The heat treating process typically increases the materials hardness by transforming its microstructure from ferrite and pearlite to martensite. The resulting increase in hardness gives tool steel its strength and endurance.
Tool steel also displays special wear-resistant properties. It is often used for making tools that require a very solid wear-resistant material, such as cutting tools and forming dies. Tool steels are also used for the production of fasteners, bearings and ball bearing bearings due to its high wear resistance. Furthermore, some tool steel grades have a resilience which makes them extremely resistant to brittle fracture.
Due to its high alloy content, tool steel also has excellent heat treated properties. These properties allow the alloy to remain ductile within a wide range of temperatures. This provides the material with improved impact resistance and better formability. At the same time, tool steel is also very stable against thermal shock.
Tool steel is also known for its precise machinability. This is achieved through the use of high-speed steel tooling. This material offers a balanced level of precision and allow for steady machining with minimal work-hardening.
Finally, tool steel is also noted for its improved retention of hardenability. This property enables the material to maintain its hardness for a longer period of time. As a result, tools made of high alloy tool steel can maintain their performance for a longer period of time compared to normal carbon steel materials.
In conclusion, tool steel is a special type of alloy steel which is widely used in the making of tools and equipment. These steels are known for their superior hardness and wear-resistant properties. Tool steel also offers excellent machinability and retention of hardenability. Finally, due to its high alloy content, tool steels display improved heat treat properties, offering increased ductility and impact resistance.
