Common Alloy Tool Steels Grade、Chemical Composition and Heat Treatment System Recommendation
The common alloy tool steels used as cutting tools, punching tools and cold molding tools are commonly known as “tool steels”, which are mainly composed of carbon, alloying elements and other elements, and their carbon content is usually higher than 1%.Common alloy tool steel grade,chemical composition and heat treatment system recommendation as follows.
1. High Speed Steel (M1,M2,M3,M4,M7,M42,M35,M40,M41)
High speed steel has high hardness, red hardness and wear resistance at high temperature, good toughness and excellent cutting performance.It can be used to make drills, counter-bore, reamer, and taps.
Chemical Composition(%)
C: 0.85~1.20, Si: 0.20~0.60, Mn: 0.30~0.60, Cr:4.00~4.75, Mo: 1.00~1.50, W: 4.00~4.75, V: 0.80~1.20, Co: 0.20~0.30
Heat Treatment System Recommendation:
Initial Annealing: To heat the material at 980-1090℃, keep it for 1-3 hours and to cooling it in the furnace.
Normalizing: To heat the material at 900-950℃, keep it for 0.5-1 hour and to cooling it air.
Hardening: To heat the material at 1000-1150℃, keep it for 0.5-2 hours and to quench it in oil or water to get high hardness.
Tempering: To heat the material at 500-800℃, keep it for 1-3 hours and to cooling it in the furnace.
2. Chrome-tungsten Group Alloy Steel (Cr2, Cr12, Cr12MoV, Cr12Mo1V1, Cr12W, Cr5Mo1V)
Chromium-tungsten group alloy steel has high hardness, high wear resistance and long tool life advantage. It is mainly used to manufacture drawer knives, woodworking knives and planer knives, used for drawing dies, cutting dies and shear blades.
Chemical Composition(%)
Cr2: C: 0.85~1.00, Si: 0.15~0.35, Mn: 0.3~0.6, Cr:1.40~1.60, W: 0.6~0.9 ；
Cr12: C: 0.80~1.00, Si: 0.15~0.35, Mn: 0.3~0.6, Cr:11.00~13.00 ；
Cr12MoV: C: 0.75~0.98, Si: 0.15~0.35, Mn:0.30~0.60, Cr:11.50~13.00, Mo:0.60~0.80, V:0.18~0.25 ；
Cr12Mo1V1: C: 0.80~1.00, Si: 0.15~0.35, Mn:0.30~0.60, Cr:12.00~14.00, Mo:0.80~1.2, V:0.15~0.25 ；
Cr12W: C: 0.80~1.00, Si: 0.15~0.35, Mn:0.30~0.60, Cr:12.00~14.00, W: 1.80~2.20；
Cr5Mo1V: C: 0.80~1.00, Si: 0.15~0.35, Mn:0.30~0.60, Cr:4.50~5.50, Mo:0.80~1.2, V:0.15~0.25
Heat Treatment System Recommendation:
Initial Annealing：To heat the material at 980-1090℃, keep it for 1-3 hours and to cooling it in the furnace.
Normalizing: To heat the material at 900-950℃, keep it for 0.5-1 hour and to cooling it air.
Hardening: To heat the material at 980-1090℃, keep it for 1-3 hours and to quench it in oil or water to get high hardness.
Tempering: To heat the material at 320-640℃, keep it for 1-3 hours and to cooling it in the furnace.
3. High Carbon Chrome Steel Group (GCr15, GCr15SiMn, GCr18Mo, GCr18SiMn)
High Carbon Chrome Steel Group has many excellent characteristics of High Hardness,
High Wear Resistance and Long Tool Life.It is widely used in the production of bearing rolling elements and printer rollers.
Chemical Composition(%)
GCr15: C: 0.95~1.05, Si: 0.15~0.35, Mn: 0.25~0.45, Cr:1.30~1.60 ；
GCr15SiMn: C: 0.90~1.00, Si: 0.40~0.60, Mn: 0.60~0.90, Cr:1.30~1.60 ；
GCr18Mo: C: 0.90~1.00, Si: 0.15~0.35, Mn: 0.60~0.90, Cr:1.75~2.00, Mo: 0.15~0.25；
GCr18SiMn: C: 0.90~1.00, Si: 0.40~0.60, Mn: 0.60~0.90, Cr:1.75~2.00
Heat Treatment System Recommendation:
Initial Annealing: To heat the material at 980-1090℃, keep it for 1-3 hours and to cooling it in the furnace.
Normalizing: To heat the material at 815-880℃, keep it for 0.5-1 hour and to cooling it in the furnace.
Hardening: To heat the material at 930-960℃, keep it for 1-3 hours and to quench it in oil or water to get high hardness.
Tempering: To heat the material at 180-400℃, keep it for 1-3 hours and to cooling it in the furnace.
Conclusion
The common alloy tool steels are widely used as cutting tools, punching tools, cold molding tools and bearing rolling elements. The correct heat treatment process is the key to guarantee the good quality and performance of these products. That’s why it’s important to understand the chemical composition and recommended heat treatment system for the tool steels you are using.
