Tool Steel Supplier

Tool steels feature the increased amount of carbon and other alloying elements which give them enhanced physical properties, making them the ideal choice for a variety of applications. Cutting tools, cams, dies, chuck jaws, blocks, gages, and drill bits are just some examples of the many different tool steel applications. Along with many different applications, there are also many different tool steel grades available, including cold-working tool steels that encompass water-hardening tool steels, oil-hardening tool steels, and air-hardening tool steels. There are high-speed tool steels, hot-working tool steels, and shock-resisting tool steels as well. With so many different choices, it is necessary to be able to identify the correct tool steel for the job. Listed in this article are seven things to consider when selecting a tool steel grade. Will the tool steel be subjected to large impacts? Tool steels are generally hard and brittle. When impacts occur on materials like this, it...

Steel parts often require some form of heat treatment to achieve an increase in hardness and obtain maximum strength and durability. Through the many different processes of heat treatment, the properties of steel are changed via physical and mechanical channels. As an added benefit, heat treatment can also aid in the manufacturing process. When we talk about the change of mechanical properties, we’re referring to the shear strength, toughness and tensile strength of the steel. Allowing for this mechanical change in properties enables your product to be more efficient in its daily duties and more resistant to wear and tear during even its toughest jobs. There are a number of different heat treatment options to choose from—and they all are dependent on the properties required for the steel’s end function. It’s essential to work with an established company that recognizes these differences to ensure that your product meets the specified requirements you have in mind for it. Like...

The electric arc furnace The Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), together with the basic oxygen process, is one of the two modern ways of making steel. In China, EAFs are used to produce special quality steels (steels alloyed with other metals) and some ordinary (non-alloy) quality steels - the lighter long products such as those used for reinforcing concrete. Unlike the basic oxygen route, the EAF does not use hot metal. It is charged with "cold" material. This is normally steel scrap (recycled goods made from steel which has reached the end of their useful life). Other forms of raw material are however available which have been produced from iron ore. These include direct reduced iron (DRI) and iron carbide, as well as pig iron, which is iron from a blast furnace which has been cast and allowed to go cold, instead of being charged straight into a basic oxygen vessel. The process Steel scrap (or other ferrous material) is first tipped into the EAF from an overhead crane...

ANNEALING ANNEALING IS AN ASPECT OF HEAT TREATMENT USED TO SOFTEN STEELS AND TO IMPROVE MACHINABILITY, MATERIAL STABILITY & MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY BRINGING THE STEEL TO A SPECIFIED TEMPERATURE ABOVE THE UPPER CRITICAL TEMPERATURE AND HOLDING AT THAT TEMPERATURE FOR A SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF TIME ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THAT GRADE. ALL TOOL STEELS ARE SPHEROIDIZED ANNEALED (SPHEROIDAL OR GLOBULAR MICROSTRUCTURE) WHICH PRODUCES A FINE GRAIN STRUCTURE. THE FINE GRAIN STRUCTURE ACHIEVED THROUGH THIS ANNEALING PROCESS ALLOWS TOOL STEELS TO EXPERIENCE FORECASTED GROWTH DURING HEAT TREAT. THIS EXPECTED GROWTH IS CRITICAL TO TOOL MAKERS PRODUCING TOOLS AND PARTS OUT OF TOOL STEEL. TOOL STEELS ARE ANNEALED AT THE MILL DURING INITIAL PRODUCTION TO DIFFERENT BRINELL HARDNESS RANGES (BHN) DEPENDING ON THE SPECIFIC GRADE OF TOOL STEEL; FOR INSTANCE, AN O1 TOOL STEEL WILL BE NEAR 201 BHN IN THE AS-SHIPPED CONDITION, A SUPER HIGH SPEED GRADE SUCH...

In this article, we would like to discuss the elements that make up tool & high speed steels. What do these elements do to provide the mechanical and physical properties we need for our applications? The most common elements are the following: CARBON (C): this is the most basic alloying element which enables steel to harden. Carbon combines with the other elements to form hard, wear-resistant carbides. MANGANESE (Mn): controls hardenability in alloy cold work steels. SILICON (Si): improves toughness in the shock resisting steels group. Added to hot work steels to raise critical points and reduce scaling tendencies. Added to O-6 & A-10 to form graphite. CHROMIUM (Cr): controls hardenability and is added for abrasion resistance and hot hardness. TUNGSTEN (W): provides red hardness and hard wear resistant carbides that are harder than chrome and iron carbides. Also used to improve hardenability in tool & high speed steels. Combines very well with molybdenu...