Tool steel
Tool steel is the material used to produce various tools for plastic processing, non-ferrous alloys and other types of steels.
Tool steel must meet very high mechanical properties requirements.
It is also used for plastics injection molds, die casting molds, presses, punches, knives.
Common steel
| Specification | Applications | As-supplied condition | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1739/C45 | workable, shallow-hardenable to 57 HRC, high ductility | low stress mould and tool parts, base plates and holders | annealed or normalised to max. 190 HB |
Plastic mould steel
| Specification | Applications | As-supplied condition | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2311 | cost-effective machining, good polishability, chrome plateable, nitridable and flame hardenable | small and medium-sized injection and compression moulds and mould frames up to 400 mm thick | quenched and tempered to 280-325 HB |
| 1.2312 | very good machinability, not suitable for polishing, surface treatment by etching and hard chromium plating | low stress mould parts, bolsters | quenched and tempered to 280-325 HB |
| 1.2738 | good quenching and hardening properties for sections over 400 mm, nitridable, hard chromium plateable and hardenable | large parts for injection and compression moulds for bumpers, crates, TV cases | quenched and tempered to 280-325 HB |
| 1.2738 HH | quenched and tempered, 1.2311 and 2738 based steel with improved hardness, high gloss polishable, weldable and workable | large forming parts for injection and compression moulds | quenched and tempered to 330-380 HB |
| 1.2343 | Hot work tool steel. Temperature fatigue resistance. High abrasive wear resistance. | High stress moulds and inserts for high abrasive wear applications, Al, Mg and Zn pressure die-casting moulds. | annealed to max. 230 HB |
| 1.2344 | Very good tempering resistance and high resistance to dynamic loads. Good hardness at increased temperatures | High stress mould inserts, sprues and ejector pins | annealed to max. 230 HB |
| 1.2316 | Corrosion resistant steel, good polishability and machinability. Surface treatment by etching | injection moulds, forming inserts and PVC working tools | quenched and tempered to 265-310 HB |
| 1.2085 | Corrosion resistant steel, very good machinability. Steel 1.2316+S | Corrosion resistant injection mould parts | quenched and tempered to 280-325 HB |
| 1.2083 | Corrosion resistant. Chemically aggressive plastics working. Good machinability and polishability. | Mould inserts | annealed to max. 230 HB |
| 1.2767 | Non-deformable steel, through hardened with good impact strength, high gloss polishable for transparent melts. | injection and compression moulds, high hardness inserts | annealed to max. 260 HB | 1.2842 | Shallow-hardenable, stable steel with high abrasive wear resistance | High stress plastic moulds, high hardness inserts for high abrasive wear applications, stamping dies and blanking dies | annealed to max. 230 HB |
Hot work steel
| Specification | Applications | As-supplied condition | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2343 | Hot work tool steel. Temperature fatigue resistance. High abrasive wear resistance. | Moulds, punches and other high impact strength applications | annealed to max. 230 HB |
| 1.2344 | Very good tempering resistance and high resistance to dynamic loads. Good hardness at increased temperatures | High stress injection and compression tools. | annealed to max. 230 HB |
| 1.2365 | Guaranteed high mechanical and impact strength | Extrusion and stamping tools, pipe and cylinder bars | annealed to max. 230 HB |
| 1.2367 | Extremely high resistance to high temperature compared to 2344 and 2365 grades | Pipe drawing and non-ferrous metal (Al and Mg) casting tools | annealed to max. 230 HB |
| 1.2714 | Standard die-block steel with good tempering resistance and through hardenable | Large compression moulds for plastic aluminium working, forge moulds and die-casting moulds | annealed to max. 250 HB |
Cold work steel
| Specification | Applications | As-supplied condition | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2767 | Non-deformable steel, through hardened with good impact strength, high gloss polishable for transparent melts. | Steel for blades and cutters, stamping dies, forge moulds, ejector pins and punch holders | max. 260 HB |
| 1.2379 | Very high abrasive wear resistance, high dimensional stability and resistance to dynamic loads | Cutting, stamping, precision blanking and pressing tools, inserts for high abrasive wear applications | annealed to max. 255 HB |
| 1.2080 | High abrasive wear resistant, non-deformable steel, non-nitridable | deep drawing tools, pull broaches, drawing dies | annealed to max. 250 HB |
| 1.2842 | Shallow-hardenable, stable steel with high abrasive wear resistance | punching dies for sheets and plastics, cutting tools, bars for high abrasive wear applications | annealed to max. 230 HB |
| 1.2210 | Abrasive wear resistance, good machineability and polishability, i.e. silver steel | punches, strikers and ejector pins | annealed to max. 230 HB |
Electroslag remelted (ESR) steel
| Specification | Applications | As-supplied condition | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2343 ESR | High purity 1.2343 grade steel with improved micro-homogenization and mechanical strength. ESR makes it a perfect choice for applications where high polishability is required. | Large dimension plastic moulds, aluminium casting tools. | annealed to max. 220 HB |
| 1.2344 ESR | High purity 1.2344 grade steel with improved micro-homogenization and mechanical strength. ESR makes it a perfect choice for applications where high polishability is required. | Tools subject to high mechanical and thermal loads, aluminium casting and extrusion | annealed to max. 220 HB |
| 1.2365 ESR | High purity 1.2365 grade steel with improved micro-homogenization and mechanical strength. ESR improves mechanical properties. | Large casting tools | annealed to max. 220 HB |