Joachim Schlegel

Till Schneiders

Hot Work
Tool Steel
A Steel Portrait
Hot Work Tool Steel
Joachim Schlegel · Till Schneiders

Hot Work Tool Steel

A Steel Portrait
Joachim Schlegel Till Schneiders
Hartmannsdorf, Sachsen, Germany Herne, Germany

ISBN 978-3-658-43015-3 ISBN 978-3-658-43016-0 (eBook)

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-43016-0

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Preface

Steel is indispensable, recyclable, and has a very special significance: In our

modern industrial society, steel is the basic material for all major industrial sec-
tors, and even today’s global megatrends, such as climate change, mobility, and
healthcare, cannot be solved or managed without steel.
The 5000-year long history of iron and steel production is impressive. The
world of steel has become astonishingly diverse and so complex that it is not
easy to grasp in practice (Schlegel 2021). In the form of essentials and brochures
for portraits of selected steels and steel groups, this world of steel is to be
brought closer to the reader; compact, understandable, informative, structured
with examples from practice, and suitable for reference.
This brochure describes the hot work tool steels, a group of alloyed steels
suitable for tools with high heat resistance. These can withstand surface temper-
atures of more than 600 °C in use. For this purpose, they are optimally adapted
to the most diverse requirements, especially for tools for hot forming and die
casting. The chemical compositions, manufacturing and processing methods, as
well as the properties and material data of hot work tool steels, are briefly and
clearly presented.
We would like to thank Mr. Frieder Kumm M.A., Senior Editor of the
Construction Engineering Department of Springer Vieweg Publishing, for his
motivation, supervision, and support. We also thank Mr. Dr. Christian Schlegel
and Mr. Dr. Peter Schlegel for their help with proofreading the manuscript in
German and in English, respectively.

Hartmannsdorf, Germany Dr.-Ing. Joachim Schlegel

Herne, Germany Dr.-Ing. Till Schneiders

v
Table of Contents

1 Fundamentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1 What is a Hot Work Tool Steel? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 On the History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.3 Classification in the Field of Tool Steels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.4 Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2 Chemical Compositions and Grades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.1 Alloying Elements in Hot Work Tool Steels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.2 Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3 Microstructure and Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4 Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
4.1 Melting Metallurgical Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
4.2 Powder Metallurgical Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
4.3 Further Processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
4.4 Heat Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
4.5 Surface Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
5 Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
6 Material Data Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Literature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

vii
Fundamentals
1

1.1 What is a Hot Work Tool Steel?

A hot work tool steel is an alloyed tool steel that, as the name suggests, is suitable
for “hot working” of materials.
Hot work tool steels are used for tools for the non-cutting shaping of materi-
als at surface temperatures of the tool above 200 °C (DIN EN ISO 4957). The
workpiece temperatures can vary between 400 and 1200 °C. The main areas
of application are die casting molds, extrusion dies, and forging tools. The hot
work tool steel withstands complex mechanical, thermal, chemical, and tribolog-
ical stresses. Due to these different loads, hot work tool steels are divided into
three groups. The first group includes martensitic steels with low secondary hard-
ness. The steels of the second group have a higher alloy content and pronounced
secondary hardness. For long contact duration and simultaneously high work-
piece temperature, such as during extrusion of heavy metals, the heat-resistant
and scale-resistant austenitic steels of the third group are used.

1.2 On the History

Interesting aspects of the history of hot work tool steels are always related to the
historical development of steels in general and to the manufacturing technology
with its growing requirements. The knowledge gained about the effectiveness of
alloying elements, especially regarding hot strength, plays a significant role; as
well as the hardening process as an essential process in the production of tools
made of hot work tool steels.

© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden 1

GmbH, part of Springer Nature 2024
J. Schlegel and T. Schneiders, Hot Work Tool Steel,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-43016-0_1
2 1 Fundamentals

Until about 1900, unalloyed carbon steels were used for tools. Alloyed tool
steels with significantly better wear properties did not yet exist. These unal-
loyed steels were already hardened but lost their hardness at higher temperatures
around 200 °C and wore out quite quickly. The essential hardening process had
long been used by blacksmiths in China and Japan. Even before 900 AD hard-
ened Japanese swords became famous, forged from soft and hard iron, i.e., iron
with low and high carbon content. Iron was also known and used for weapons
and utensils in Iraq, Cyprus, Egypt, Persia, Greece, among the Hittites and Etr-
uscans, and many other peoples (Johannsen, 1953). The Iron Age in Europe
began around 800 to 700 BC, a time when iron was still reduced from ore in
earth pit furnaces (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Age). Later, shaft furnaces,
piece furnaces, raft furnaces, and finally blast furnaces were used. However, this
took over 2000 years.
One of the many milestones, especially for tool steels, was the crucible steel
process developed by Benjamin Huntsman (1704–1776) around 1740. A high-
quality, very homogeneous steel could be produced, especially regarding carbon
distribution, with more uniform properties (Spur, 1991).
Until the proof of the effect of carbon in steel around 1816, further, later so
important metallic alloying elements for hot work tool steels had been discovered
which would become increasingly important, such as cobalt (Co) in 1735, nickel
(Ni) in 1751, tungsten (W) in 1783, molybdenum (Mo) in 1781, titanium (Ti) in
1791, and vanadium (V) in 1801. Finally, around 1854, Robert Wilhelm Bunsen
(1811–1899) succeeded in producing pure chromium. From about 1850 onwards,
research began into the effects of tungsten, chromium, and molybdenum (carbide
formers) as well as other alloying elements in steel. For example, British met-
allurgist Robert Mushet (1811–1891) invented an improved tool steel with a 5%
tungsten content, patented in 1861 (Ernst, 2009). And with a specially hardened,
high-alloy chromium-tungsten steel, a groundbreaking success in metalworking
was achieved. It was the invention of the “miracle turning steel” that Frederick
Winslow Taylor (1856–1915) presented in 1900 at the World Exhibition in Paris
as “High Speed Steel” (HSS) (Trent & Wright, 2000), (Ernst, 2009). It retains
its hardness up to just below 600 °C and still functions as a tool steel even when
glowing red.
Soon, the systematic development of tool steels began. The plant technology
for steel production was also improved, and research into new steel production
processes was intensified. For example, the first vanadium-containing steel came
onto the market in England around 1903 (Bauer, 2000). In 1904, electric steel
production began, followed by the era of stainless steels from 1912, the use of
vacuum melting processes from 1928, and the electro-slag remelting of steel from
1.2 On the History 3

1930. From 1940 onwards, molybdenum was increasingly used as an alloying

element in tool steel instead of tungsten. Since the 1960s, industrially produced
powder metallurgical tool steels have been known, with hot work tool steels being
produced in this way only since the 1980s (Bayer & Seilstorfer, 1984). And since
that time, surface treatments and coatings have also been used to improve the
wear resistance of forming, cutting, and die-casting tools.
The advances made in recent decades to further increase the performance of
hot work tool steels can be divided into the development of new or the variation
of existing alloys and the further development of production technologies. These
include steel production in electric arc furnaces, improved secondary metallurgy
in ladle furnaces, vacuum degassing plants, or AOD converters (decarburization
with argon-oxygen mixture), as well as remelting processes (ESR—electro-slag
remelting, VAR—vacuum arc remelting) to achieve very high purity of hot work
tool steel. The reduction of residual oxygen and sulfur contents and the targeted
influence of non-metallic inclusions in terms of quantitiy, size, and chemical com-
position e. g. through targeted calcium treatment in ladle metallurgy also ensure
today’s high standard of steel purity (Meyer et al., 1995), (Huemer, 2005). Finally,
in addition to the chemical composition and metallurgical production and pro-
cessing (forming), heat treatments are also important for achieving the desired
steel properties (Liedtke, 2005), see Sect. 4.4: Heat treatment. Considering all
these advanced technologies, the progress made with them in the last 60 years
becomes apparent, for example, in the increase in toughness of hot work tool
steels, accompanied by increasing purity through remelting (Ehrhardt, 2008). And
the toughness (determined, for example, by means of impact bending tests) pro-
vides, in addition to ductility and hardness, an orientation for the service life of
forming tools and die casting dies, as it helps to avoid heat or stress cracks and
to delay the course of thermal fatigue. Figure 1.1 shows this trend since 1960
with references to the technologies used.
The great interest in hot work tool steels today and their importance can be
seen from the international tool steel conferences held since 1987, at which these
steels always formed an important focus (Schneiders, 2005). And for the future,
hot work steel offers great potential and application possibilities in many indus-
tries (see Chap. 5: Applications), also demanded by innovative applications such
as press hardening.
4 1 Fundamentals

400
ESR = Electro-Slag-Remelting
CaT = Calcium Treatment Lowest trace
AF = Arc Furnace elements + CaT +
ESR + Diffusion
300 CaT + ESR +
Toughness (Joule)

annealing + Special
Diffusion treatment
annealing +
Special heat
CaT + ESR + treatment
Diffusion
200 annealing
ESR +
Diffusion
annealing
100
ESR
AF

0
1960 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
Year

Fig. 1.1 Effects of manufacturing technologies on the toughness of hot work tool steel—
trend since 1960, according to (Ehrhardt, 2008)

1.3 Classification in the Field of Tool Steels

Tool steels, according to DIN EN ISO 4957, are special steels used for pro-
cessing (forming, die casting) and machining (cutting) workpieces, but also for
handling equipment and measuring devices. They can be distinguished accord-
ing to various criteria, such as chemical composition in unalloyed or alloyed
tool steels, and according to the application temperature in cold or hot-work tool
steels. Figure 1.2 shows an overview of groups of tool steels with a focus on
their application possibilities. Plastic mold steels are also assigned to tool steels.
However, they are not explicitly listed in the DIN EN ISO 4957 standard. These,
as well as cold work and high-speed steels, are presented in separate essentials.

1.4 Designations

Material numbers
These are assigned by the European Steel Registry and consist of the main mate-
rial group number (first number with a dot), the steel group numbers (second
and third numbers), and the counting numbers (fourth and fifth numbers). For
tool steels DIN EN 10027-2 divides the main material group 1 according to steel
group numbers into:
1.4 Designations 5

Tool steels

Cold work steels Hot work steels High-speed steels

Machining Cold Forging Hot Rolling Cold Machining

forming extrusion forming

Plastic- Cutting Die- Strand Injection Cutting

processing Separating casting extruding molding Separation

Fig. 1.2 Overview of the classification of tool steels

• unalloyed tool steels: 1.15.. to 1.18..

• alloyed tool steels: 1.20.. to 1.28..

The hot work tool steels can be assigned to the steel group numbers 1.20.. to
1.28.. as more or less alloyed tool steels. An exception are the unalloyed tool
steels (carbon steels) such as 1.1625 (C80W2) and 1.1750 (C75W), which are
used, for example for simple, smaller forging hammer dies, forging saddles,
hot shears, riveting dies and similar applications. Two special materials are also
assigned to the hot work materials as high-temperature-resistant alloys: 2.4668
(NiCr19Fe19Nb5Mo3) and 2.4973 (NiCr19CoMo), both used for tools for extrud-
ing heavy metals, such as dies, piercer plugs, and press plates, as well as for hot
shear knives and sinter press tools.

Steel short names

For all the material numbers mentioned above, steel short names can be found,
which are based on their steel’s chemical compositions. They consist of main and
additional symbols, which can be letters (e.g. chemical symbols) or numbers (for
contents of alloying elements). These details differ for unalloyed, alloyed, and
highly alloyed steels as well as for high-speed steels (Langehenke, 2007).
The unalloyed tool steels (carbon steels) are marked with the letter C for
carbon, followed by the carbon content. The number specified for the carbon
content is always multiplied by 100. To recognize the actual content, this number
must be divided by 100. Additional symbols after the numerical value can provide
information on special requirements, e.g., for the coating, treatment condition, or
use.
6 1 Fundamentals

Example: C75W (1.1750) – an unalloyed hot work tool steel with 75 / 100 =
0.75 mass-% carbon (W stands for welding wire).
For low-alloyed tool steels, the carbon content, also multiplied by the factor
100, is indicated in the short name at the first position. And, in contrast to the
unalloyed steels, always without the letter C. This is followed by the chemical
symbols for alloying elements and, in their respective order, their associated mass
contents. It should be noted that these mass contents are always multiplied by
different factors. These multipliers for the individual alloying elements are as
follows:

• Multiplier 4: Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co), Manganese (Mn), Nickel (Ni), Silicon
(Si), Tungsten (W)
• Multiplier 10: Aluminum (Al), Beryllium (Be), Copper (Cu), Molybdenum (Mo),
Niobium (Nb), Lead (Pb), Tantalum (Ta), Titanium (Ti), Vanadium (V), Zirconium
(Zr)
• Multiplier 100: Carbon (C), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Sulfur (S), Cerium
(Ce)
• Multiplier 1000: Boron (B)

To identify the actual alloy contents, the specified numbers in the steel short name
must be divided by the associated multipliers.
Example: 55NiCrMoV7 (1.2714)—a nickel-alloyed hot work tool steel with
55 / 100 = 0.55 mass-% carbon and with 7 / Factor 4 = 1.75 mass-% nickel,
this steel also contains chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium in comparatively
lower contents.
The high-alloyed tool steels are marked with an X at the beginning of the
short name. High-alloyed means that the average content of at least one alloy-
ing element is ≥5 mass-% (DIN EN 10027-1). The X is followed by the carbon
content, again generally multiplied by a factor of 100, and the other alloying ele-
ments with their chemical symbols. The alloying elements are listed in decreasing
order of their mass content. The mass fractions associated with each alloying ele-
ment are then listed. However, these are not multiplied by a factor (typical for
high-alloyed steels!).
Example: X35CrMoV5-1-1 (1.2342)—a classic hot work tool steel with
35 / 100 = 0.35 mass-% carbon, approx. 5 mass-% chromium, 1 mass-%
molybdenum, and 1 mass-% vanadium.
1.4 Designations 7

Brand names
In practice, manufacturers and dealers use their own designations, brand names,
or protected trade names for their hot work tool steels.
The steel designations for hot work tool steels produced by DEW (Deutsche
Edelstahlwerke) provide information on special technologies and structures, e.g.
EFS = extra fine structure, Superclean = remelted for highest purity, Supercool
= special steel with very high thermal conductivity, or apply to special steels that
are not standardized. Thermodur® is the general designation by DEW for hot
work tool steel.
Examples:
Thermodur® 2329 corresponds to 1.2329 (46CrSiMoV7)
Thermodur® 2342 EFS corresponds to 1.2342 (X35CrMoV5-1-1)
Thermodur® 2999 Superclean (X45MoCrV5-3-1),
Thermodur® E 38 K Superclean and Thermodur® E 40 K Superclean
correspond to non-standardized special steels.
Böhler (voestalpine High Performance Metals) as a steel producer also uses
its own brand names with references to technology, such as: ISODISC = ingot
casting, ISOBLOC = electro slag remelted, VAR = vacuum arc remelted
Examples:
Böhler W300 ISOBLOC® corresponds to 1.2343 (X37CrMoV5-1)
Böhler W303 ISODISC® corresponds to 1.2367 (X38CrMoV5-3)
Böhler W403 VMR® roughly corresponds to 1.2367 (X38CrMoV5-3)
UDDEHOLM (voestalpine High Performance Metals) classifies their pro-
duced hot work tool steels into the following groups with their own names:

• conventional hot work tool steels: Formvar®, Orvar® 2 Microdized, Vidar™

1, 1.2343 and 1.2344
• remelted hot work tool steels: Orvar® Supreme, Vidar™ 1 ESR, 1.2343 ESR
• Premium hot work tool steels: Dievar®, Qro® 90 Supreme, Unimax®, Vidar®
Superior

KIND&CO Edelstahlwerk Wiehl uses names like RPU for 1.2367 (X38CrMoV5-
3), USD for 1.2344 (X40CrMoV5-1) and USN for 1.2343 (X37CrMoV5-1).
The steel manufacturer Friedr. Lohmann GmbH labels the hot work tool steels
in its delivery program with LO-W, e.g. LO-W 2343 for 1.2343 (X37CrMoV5-1)
or LO-W 2367 for 1.2367 (X38CrMoV5-3).
Also Dörrenberg Edelstahl uses its own designations for hot work tool steels,
e.g. WP5 for 1.2343 (X37CrMoV5-1) and A50 for 1.2714 (55NiCrMoV7).
8 1 Fundamentals

And all other manufacturers worldwide, such as ArcelorMital, Nippon

Koshuha Steel, Hitachi Metals (YXR 33), Aubert & Duval (SMR4), Villares
Metals (VTM), Crucible (CPM1V), Sanyo Special Steel, Daido Steel, and Sever-
stal trade hot work tool steel under their own names. This list is not exhaustive.
It would otherwise exceed the scope of this brochure.

Designations according to international standards

Steels are classified with a UNS number (abbreviation: Unified Numbering
System for Metals and Alloys), which is commonly used in the USA, such as
T20813 for the hot work tool steel 1.2344 (X40CrMoV5-1).
Based on country-specific standards, hot work tool steels can be found or
compared on the steel market:
USA: ASTM (originally “American Society for Testing and Materials”) as
well as AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute). For example, the hot work tool
steel mentioned above 1.2344 (X40CrMoV5-1) is designated as H13 in ASTM
A 681.
Germany: DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung e. V.) EN (Europäische
Normen). For example the above mentioned hot work tool steel H13 is designated
as 1.2344 (X40CrMoV5-1) in DIN EN 4957 (Tool steels).
Japan: JIS (Japan Industrial Standard)
France: AFNOR/NF (Association Française de Normalisation)
United Kingdom: BS (British Standards)
Italy: UNI (Ente Nazionale Italiano di Unificazione)
China: GB (Guobiao), Chinese: National Standard)
Sweden: SIS (Swedish Institute of Standards)
Spain: UNE (Asociación Española de Normalización)
Poland: PN (from: Polish Committee for Normation).
Austria: ÖNORM (national österreichische Norm)
Russia: GOST (Gosudarstvenny Standart)
Czech Republic: CSN (Czech national technical standard)
It should be noted in such a comparison that these are “equivalent”, i.e. often
only “comparable” hot work tool steels, which may differ slightly in the details
of the chemical analysis. Figure 1.3 shows this using the example of grade 1.2344
(X40CrMoV5-1) with comparable assignable grades according to AISI (H13),
UNS (T20813) and JIS (SKD61).
1.4 Designations 9

Chemical composition (% by mass)

C Si Mn P S Cr Mo V
Germany:
X40CrMoV5-1 0,35-0,42 0,80-1,20 0,25-0,50 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,020 4,80-5,50 1,20-1,50 0,85-1,15
USA:
AISI H13 0,32-0,45 0,80-1,20 0,20-0,50 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,030 4,75-5,50 1,10-1,75 0,80-1,20
UNS T20813 0,32-0,45 0,80-1,20 0,20-0,50 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,030 4,75-5,50 1,10-1,75 0,80-1,20
Japan:
JIS SKD61 0,35-0,42 0,80-1,20 0,25-0,50 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,020 4,80-5,50 1,00-1,50 0,80-1,50

Fig. 1.3 Comparison of standards (chemical analyses) using the example of hot work tool
steel 1.2344 (X40CrMoV5-1)
Chemical Compositions and Grades
2

2.1 Alloying Elements in Hot Work Tool Steels

The most important alloying elements in hot work tool steels are, in addition
to carbon (C), chromium (Cr), tungsten (W), silicon (Si), nickel (Ni), molyb-
denum (Mo), manganese (Mn), vanadium (V), and cobalt (Co) and they have a
significant influence on the transformation behavior during heat treatment and on
the technological properties. These alloying elements are quantitatively coordi-
nated so that the desired properties are achieved at the working temperature of
the tools. The carbon content is responsible for the hardness increase (achievable
hardness increase during hardening) of the steels, while the hardness penetration
(penetration depth of the martensitic transformation) and the precipitation hard-
ening (formation of secondary carbides during tempering) depend on the metallic
alloying elements.
The following describes the influences of the alloying elements in more detail:

Carbon (C):
In addition to iron, tool steels have carbon as the most important alloying element.
It is responsible for the formation of the martensitic microstructure and carbides
with the elements chromium, tungsten, molybdenum, and vanadium. The mass
fraction of carbon is adjusted to the mass fractions of these others elements. With
a higher carbon content, the strength and hardenability of the steel increase, while
ductility, forgeability, weldability and machinability decrease. The steel becomes
more brittle.

© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden 11

GmbH, part of Springer Nature 2024
J. Schlegel and T. Schneiders, Hot Work Tool Steel,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-43016-0_2
12 2 Chemical Compositions and Grades

Chromium (Cr):
Chromium is a strong carbide former and improves the hardness penetration by
lowering the critical cooling temperature. This is the material-dependent cooling
rate that is necessary for the formation of the hard martensitic microstructure
during hardening. The “upper critical cooling rate” represents the longest cooling
duration or the lowest cooling rate to achieve 100% martensite, and the “lower
critical cooling rate” represents the shortest cooling duration and thus the high-
est cooling rate at which martensite first appears. This allows tools with larger
dimensions or cross-sections to be hardened.
In addition, chromium increases the high-temperature strength as well as the
heat and corrosion resistance (steels with over 12 to 13 mass-% chromium are
corrosion-resistant).

Tungsten (W):
Tungsten forms very hard carbides, improves toughness, and inhibits grain
growth. At the same time, tungsten improves high-temperature strength, tem-
pering resistance and wear resistance at high temperatures.

Silicon (Si):
Silicon is added to the steel melt in the form of the iron pre-alloy ferro-silicon
for deoxidation (binding of the oxygen released during the cooling of the melt).
Silicon has a solid-solution strengthening effect, increases scale resistance and
quench hardness at higher contents, but also causes a decrease in toughness.

Nickel (Ni):
Nickel has a positive effect on the yield strength and toughness of steel. All
transformation points of steel (temperatures at which phase transformations occur
when exceeded or falling below) are lowered by nickel. Nickel alone makes steel
only rust-resistant, but in austenitic steels combined with chromium, resistance
is also achieved against oxidizing substances. Defined nickel contents lead to
advantageous specific physical properties, e.g. very low thermal expansion (Invar
steels).

Molybdenum (Mo):
Molybdenum is a strong carbide former and, like chromium, causes a decrease in
the critical cooling rate. In addition, molybdenum contributes to the formation of
special carbides, thus contributing to secondary hardness during tempering. Con-
sequently, molybdenum, similarly to tungsten, favorably influences hardenability,
2.1 Alloying Elements in Hot Work Steels 13

temper brittleness, yield strength and tensile strength, as well as high-temperature

strength. Scale resistance is reduced by molybdenum.

Manganese (Mn):
Manganese acts as a deoxidizer, i.e., it removes oxygen from steel and simultane-
ously binds sulfur. It dissolves in the steel matrix, does not form carbides and has
a solid-solution strengthening effect (increases yield strength and tensile strength).
The decrease in critical cooling rate caused by manganese in steel improves its
hardenability. Manganese also positively affects forgeability and weldability, but
negatively affects thermal expansion (increases it). Manganese also has a dis-
advantageous effect due to its tendency to form coarse grains and to increase
the retained austenite content (Wendl, 1985). Retained austenite is the undesired
austenitic phase in the desired martensitic structure that is usually present dur-
ing conventional heat treatment by hardening and tempering. This means that
the originally present austenite phase has not completely transformed into the
martensite phase during quenching.

Vanadium (V):
Vanadium is also a strong carbide former. Like chromium and molybdenum,
vanadium forms special carbides and is therefore very important for secondary
hardening (Karagöz & Andrén, 1992). Wear resistance, high-temperature strength
and tempering resistance are positively influenced.

Cobalt (Co):
Cobalt does not form carbides in steel, but it does improve tempering and wear
resistance as well as high temperature strength. By adding cobalt, the highest hot
hardness is achieved.
To ensure high temperature strength, but also thermal fatigue resistance and
toughness of hot work tool steels, a microstructure of martensite with secondary
carbide precipitations is required (Kulmburg, 1998), see Chap. 3: Microstructure
and properties. Therefore, hot work tool steels without nickel, tungsten, and cobalt
usually have alloy contents in the following ranges:

• Carbon: 0.30 to 0.55 mass-%

• Chromium: 2.7 to approx. 5.5 mass-%
• Molybdenum: 1.1 to 3.2 mass-%
• Vanadium: 0.3 to 1.15 mass-%
14 2 Chemical Compositions and Grades

Nickel contents of 1.5 to 1.8 mass-% are found in e.g. the nickel-alloyed hot
work tool steel 1.2714 (55NiCrMoV7). Tungsten-alloyed hot work tool steels
can contain up to 9 mass-% tungsten, such as 1.2581 (X30WCrV9-3). And a
cobalt-containing hot work tool steel, like 1.2661 (38CrCoW18-17-17), has 4.0
to 4.5 mass-% cobalt.

2.2 Types

A classification of hot work tool steels according to microstructure and grade

is always related to the main application areas. These are die casting molds,
extrusion dies, and forging tools, i.e. tools with cyclic loads in contact with
workpieces that can have temperatures from 400 to 1200 °C. The contact dura-
tion between workpiece and tool can range from milliseconds (hammer dies) to
minutes (extrusion). This results in different temperature loads and wear stresses,
for which the hot work tool steels have been adapted in terms of their toughness
and high temperature strength. Based on this, the following three groups can be
distinguished:

• Martensitic steels without or with low secondary hardness, e.g. 1.2714 (55NiCr-
MoV7).

This group offers only relatively low high temperature and creep strength.

• Martensitic steels with pronounced secondary hardness, e.g. 1.2344

(X40CrMoV5-1).

These steels with higher alloy contents of molybdenum and vanadium show
higher hot strength due to hardening by special carbides.

• Austenitic steels, e.g. 1.2779 (X6NiCrTi26-15).

This third group contains the high temperature strength and scale-resistant
austenitic hot work tool steels. They are used where very long contact dura-
tions at high workpiece temperatures occur, e.g., in extrusion of heavy metals.
Austenitic hot work tool steels show higher high temperature strength at working
temperatures above 650 °C than martensitic hot work tool steels.
By using state-of-the-art technologies during melting, remelting and heat treat-
ment, hot work tool steels with particularly fine and homogeneous structure and
2.2 Types 15

highest purity can be produced today, contributing to the highest and most uni-
form tool life. This leads to another possibility of distinguishing hot work tool
steels:

• Conventional hot work tool steels for normal stress

• Remelted hot work tool steels and, if necessary, with special heat treatment for
high stress

Figure 2.1 shows an overview of the chemical analyses of the predominantly used
hot work tool steels today, sorted by ascending material numbers.
16 2 Chemical Compositions and Grades

Material
Steel short name
Chemical composition (% by mass)
number
C Si Mn P S Co Cr Mo Ni V W Others
Martensitic hot work tool steels
1.1750 C75W 0,72-0,82 0,15 0,60-0,80 ≤ 0,035 ≤ 0,035 - - - - - - -
1.2082 X21Cr13 0,17-0,22 0,30-0,50 0,20-0,40 ≤ 0,035 ≤ 0,035 - 12,5-13,5 - - - - -
1.2083 X40Cr14 0,36-0,42 ≤ 1,00 ≤ 1,00 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,030 - 12,5-14,5 - - - - -
1.2309 65MnCrMo4 0,60-0,68 0,30-0,50 1,00-1,20 ≤ 0,035 ≤ 0,035 - 0,60-0,80 0,20-0,30 - - - -
1.2311 40CrMnMo7 0,35-0,45 0,20-0,40 1,30-1,60 ≤ 0,035 ≤ 0,035 - 1,80-2,10 0,15-0,25 - - - -
1.2312 40CrMnMoS8-6 0,35-0,45 0,20-0,40 1,40-1,60 ≤ 0,030 0,05-0,10 - 1,80-2,00 0,15-0,25 - - - -
1.2313 21CrMo10 0,16-0,23 0,20-0,40 0,20-0,40 ≤ 0,025 ≤ 0,025 - 2,30-2,60 0,30-0,40 - - - -
1.2323 48CrMoV6-7 0,40-0,50 0,15-0,35 0,60-0,90 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,030 - 1,30-1,60 0,65-0,85 - 0,25-0,35 - -
1.2329 46CrSiMoV7 0,43-0,48 0,60-0,75 0,65-0,85 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,030 - 1,65-1,85 0,25-0,35 0,45-0,60 0,17-0,22 - -
1.2340 X36CrMoV5-1 0,32-0,40 ≤ 0,50 0,10-0,50 ≤ 0,020 ≤ 0,010 - 4,60-5,40 1,10-1,60 ≤ 0,30 0,35-0,60 - -
1.2342 X35CrMov5-1-1 0,30-0,40 0,70-1,20 0,40-0,60 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,030 - 4,50-5,50 1,00-1,20 - 0,80-1,00 - -
1.2343 X37CrMoV5-1 0,33-0,41 0,80-1,20 0,25-0,50 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,020 - 4,80-5,50 1,10-1,50 - 0,30-0,50 - -
1.2344 X40CrMoV5-1 0,35-0,42 0,80-1,20 0,25-0,50 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,020 - 4,80-5,50 1,20-1,50 - 0,85-1,15 - -
1.2345 X50CrMoV5-1 0,40-0,53 0,80-1,10 0,20-0,40 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,030 - 4,80-5,20 1,25-1,45 - 0,80-1,00 - -
1.2355 50CrMoV13-15 0,45-0,55 0,20-0,80 0,80-0,90 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,020 - 3,00-3,50 1,30-1,70 - 0,15-0,35 - -
1.2357 50CrMoV13-14 0,45-0,55 0,20-0,50 0,50-0,80 ≤ 0,020 ≤ 0,030 - 3,00-3,60 1,20-1,60 - 0,05-0,25 - -
1.2360 X48CrMoV8-1-1 0,40-0,50 0,70-0,90 0,35-0,45 ≤ 0,020 ≤ 0,005 - 7,30-7,80 1,30-1,50 - 1,30-1,50 - -
1.2362 X63CrMoV5-1 0,60-0,65 1,00-1,20 0,30-0,50 ≤ 0,035 ≤ 0,035 - 5,00-5,50 1,00-1,30 - 0,25-0,35 - -
1.2365 32CrMoV18-28 0,28-0,35 0,10-0,40 0,15-0,45 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,020 - 2,70-3,20 2,50-3,00 - 0,40-0,70 - -
1.2367 X38CrMoV5-3 0,35-0,40 0,30-0,50 0,30-0,50 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,020 - 4,80-5,20 2,70-3,20 - 0,40-0,60 - -
1.2564 30WCrV15-1 0,25-0,35 0,80-1,10 0,30-0,50 ≤ 0,035 ≤ 0,035 - 0,90-1,20 - - 0,15-0,20 1,70-2,20 -
1.2567 30WCrV17-2 0,25-0,35 0,15-0,30 0,20-0,40 ≤ 0,035 ≤ 0,035 - 2,20-2,50 - - 0,50-0,70 4,00-4,50 -
1.2581 X30WCrV9-3 0,25-0,35 0,10-0,40 0,15-0,45 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,020 - 2,50-3,20 - - 0,30-0,50 8,50-9,50 -
1.2603 45CrVMoW5-8 0,40-0,50 0,50-0,70 0,30-0,50 ≤ 0,035 ≤ 0,035 - 1,30-1,60 0,40-0,60 - 0,75-0,90 0,40-0,60 -
1.2605 X35CrWMoV5 0,32-0,40 0,80-1,20 0,20-0,50 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,020 - 4,75-5,50 1,25-1,60 - 0,20-0,50 1,10-1,60 -
1.2606 X37CrMoW5-1 0,32-0,40 0,90-1,20 0,30-0,60 ≤ 0,035 ≤ 0,035 - 5,00-5,60 1,30-1,60 - 0,15-0,40 1,20-1,40 -
1.2622 X60WCrMoV9-4 0,55-0,65 0,20-0,40 0,20-0,40 ≤ 0,035 ≤ 0,035 - 3,70-4,20 0,80-1,00 - 0,60-0,80 8,50-9,50 -
1.2661 38CrCoWV18-17-17 0,35-0,45 0,15-0,50 0,20-0,50 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,020 4,00-4,50 4,00-4,70 0,30-0,50 - 1,70-2,10 3,80-4,50 -
1.2662 X30WCrCoV9-3 0,27-0,32 0,15-0,30 0,20-0,40 ≤ 0,035 ≤ 0,035 1,80-2,30 2,20-2,50 - - 0,20-0,30 8,00-9,00 -
1.2678 X45CoCrWV5-5-5 0,40-0,50 0,35-0,50 0,30-0,50 ≤ 0,025 ≤ 0,025 4,00-5,00 4,00-5,00 0,40-0,50 - 1,80-2,10 4,00-5,00 -
1.2709 X3NiCiMoTi18-9-5 ≤ 0,03 ≤ 0,10 ≤ 0,15 ≤ 0,010 ≤ 0,010 8,50-10,0 ≤ 0,25 4,50-5,20 17,0-19,0 - - Ti 0,8-1,2
1.2711 54NiCrMoV6 0,50-0,60 0,15-0,35 0,50-0,80 ≤ 0,025 ≤ 0,025 - 0,60-0,80 0,25-0,35 1,50-1,80 0,07-0,12 - -
1.2713 55NiCrMoV6 0,50-0,60 0,10-0,40 0,65-0,95 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,030 - 0,60-0,80 0,25-0,35 1,50-1,80 0,07-0,12 - -
1.2714 55NiCrMoV7 0,50-0,60 0,10-0,40 0,60-0,90 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,030 - 0,80-1,20 0,35-0,55 1,50-1,80 0,05-0,15 - -
1.2726 26NiCrMoV5 0,22-0,30 0,30-0,50 0,20-0,40 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,030 - 0,60-0,90 0,20-0,40 1,30-1,60 0,15-0,20 - -
1.2738 40CrMnNiMo8-6-4 0,35-0,45 0,20-0,40 1,30-1,60 ≤ 0,035 ≤ 0,035 - 1,80-2,10 0,15-0,25 0,90-1,20 - - -
1.2740 28NiCrMoV10 0,24-0,32 0,30-0,50 0,20-0,40 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,030 - 0,60-0,70 0,50-0,70 2,30-2,60 0,25-0,32 - -
1.2743 60NiCrMoV12-4 0,55-0,60 0,30-0,50 0,50-0,80 ≤ 0,035 ≤ 0,035 - 1,00-1,30 0,30-0,40 2,70-3,00 0,07-0,12 - -
1.2744 57NiCrMoV7-7 0,50-0,60 0,15-0,35 0,60-0,80 ≤ 0,035 ≤ 0,035 - 0,90-1,20 0,70-0,90 1,50-1,80 0,07-0,12 - -
1.2747 28NiMo17 0,24-0,31 0,15-0,35 0,20-0,40 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,030 - 0,30-0,50 1,15-1,25 4,20-4,70 0,15-0,20 - -
1.2766 35NiCrMo16 0,32-0,38 0,15-0,30 0,40-0,60 ≤ 0,035 ≤ 0,035 - 1,20-1,50 0,20-0,40 3,80-4,30 - - -
1.2767 45NiCrMo16 0,40-0,50 0,10-0,40 0,20-0,50 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,030 - 1,20-1,50 0,15-0,35 3,80-4,30 - - -
1.2787 X23CrNi17 0,10-0,25 ≤ 1,00 ≤ 1,00 ≤ 0,035 ≤ 0,035 - 15,5-18,0 - 1,00-2,50 - - -
1.2885 X32CrMoCoV3-3-3 0,28-0,35 0,10-0,40 0,15-0,45 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,030 2,50-3,00 2,70-3,20 2,60-3,00 - 0,40-0,70 - -
1.2886 X15CrCoMoV10-10-5 0,13-0,18 0,15-0,25 0,15-0,25 - - 9,50-10,5 9,50-10,5 4,90-5,20 - 0,45-0,55 - -
1.2888 X20CoCrWMo10-9 0,17-0,23 0,15-0,35 0,40-0,60 ≤ 0,035 ≤ 0,035 9,50-10,5 9,00-10,0 1,80-2,20 - - 5,00-6,00 -
1.2889 X45CoCrMoV5-5-3 0,40-0,50 0,30-0,50 0,30-0,50 ≤ 0,025 ≤ 0,025 4,00-5,00 4,00-5,00 2,80-3,30 - 1,80-2,10 - -
1.2999 X45MoCrV5-3-1 ~ 0,45 ~ 0,30 ~ 0,30 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,030 - ~ 3,0 ~ 5,0 - ~ 1,0 - -
Austenitic hot work tool steels
1.2731 X50NiCrWV13-13 0,45-0,55 1,20-1,50 0,60-0,80 ≤ 0,035 ≤ 0,035 - 12,0-14,0 - 12,5-13,5 0,30-1,00 1,50-2,80 -
1.2779 X6NiCrTi26-15 ≤ 0,08 ≤ 1,00 ≤ 2,00 ≤ 0,030 ≤ 0,030 - 13,5-16,0 1,00-1,50 24,0-27,0 0,10-0,50 - Ti 1,9-2,3
1.2782 X16CrNiSi25-20 ≤ 0,20 1,80-2,30 ≤ 2,00 ≤ 0,035 ≤ 0,035 - 24,0-26,0 - 19,0-21,0 - - -
1.2786 X13NiCrSi36-16 ≤ 0,15 1,50-2,00 ≤ 2,00 ≤ 0,035 ≤ 0,035 - 15,0-17,0 - 34,0-37,0 - - -
Nickel-based alloys
Fe rest/bal.
2.4668 NiCr19Fe19Nb5Mo3 0,02-0,08 ≤ 0,35 ≤ 0,35 ≤ 0,015 ≤ 0,015 ≤ 1,00 17,0-21,0 2,80-3,30 50,0-55,0 - - Nb/Ta 4,7-5,5
Ti 2,8-3,3
Fe ≤ 5,00
2.4973 NiCr19CoMo ≤ 0,12 ≤ 0,50 ≤ 0,10 - - 10,0-12,0 18,0-20,0 9,00-10,5 rest/bal. - - Ti 2,8-3,3
Al 1,4-1,8

Fig. 2.1 Comparison of chemical analyses of hot work tool steels

Microstructure and Properties
3

The properties of a steel are determined by its microstructure formation, which

in turn is influenced by the chemical composition and processing, including heat
treatment. This applies generally to all steels and thus also to hot work tool steels.
Figure 3.1 shows this relationship for tool steels with their specific requirements.
The heat-treatable hot work tool steels are usually delivered as semi-finished
products or cuttings in the soft annealed state, which is easy to machine (max.
235 HB), with a ferritic matrix structure containing spherically shaped carbides
(Schruff, 1989). Figure 3.2 shows this for the example of the hot work tool steel
1.2343 (X37CrMoV5-1) with carbides precipitated and spherically shaped in the
soft ferritic matrix by soft annealing with slow cooling.
This soft annealed microstructure is well suited as a starting point for mechan-
ical processing to produce the desired tools. For their use, a microstructure
of martensite with secondary carbide precipitations is necessary to ensure high
temperature strength, as well as thermal fatigue resistance and toughness. This
is achieved by targeted heat treatment (hardening and tempering in the high-
est possible temperature range, this combination is called QT—quenching and
tempering) of the tools after machining. Figure 3.3 shows a micrograph of the
microstructure of a quenched and tempered, martensitic hot work tool steel using
the example of 1.2343 (X37CrMoV5-1). The martensitic, needle-like structure of
the hardened microstructure is clearly visible. Due to their very small size, the
carbide precipitations are difficult to discern.
The tools for hot forming and pressure die casting made of hot work tool steels
are subject to complex mechanical, thermal, chemical, and tribological stresses
that occur cyclically. Figure 3.4 shows these complex stresses using the example
of a forging die.

© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden 17

GmbH, part of Springer Nature 2024
J. Schlegel and T. Schneiders, Hot Work Tool Steel,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-43016-0_3
18 3 Microstructure and Properties

Hardenability Machinability Surface Heat

hardness assumption formability treatment treatment
hardening depth grindability
dimensional accuracy

Temperature
resistance
thermal shock Requirements Microstructure Processing
resistance
creep resistance

Hardness / Strength
Toughness wear resistance
fracture resistance resistance to plastic Chemical Manufacturing
edge resistance deformation composition conditions

Fig. 3.1 Influence of microstructure formation and properties of tool steels according to
(Schruff, 2002)

Fig. 3.2 Soft annealed microstructure of the hot work tool steel 1.2343 (X37CrMoV5-1)
with clearly visible spherically shaped carbides in the ferritic matrix (micrograph: Deutsche
Edelstahlwerke Specialty Steel GmbH & Co.KG)
3 Microstructure and Properties 19

Fig. 3.3 Cross-sections of the hot work tool steel 1.2343 (X37CrMoV5-1): bar, hot rolled
and quenched and tempered, 500× magnification (micrograph: BGH Edelstahl Lugau
GmbH)

The following properties of hot work tool steels are required:

• high microstructural uniformity

• high hot strength and toughness
• high tempering resistance
• high hot wear resistance
• high scale resistance
• high resistance to temperature changes (thermal shock resistance)
• high thermal conductivity
• good hardenability
• good machinability and coatability
• good dimensional stability
20 3 Microstructure and Properties

Mechanical load
Mechanically induced Relative movement
stresses die / workpiece

Deformation, crack growth, fracture, wear

Wear, deformation, thermal fatigue

Thermally induced Softening

stresses

Thermal load

Fig. 3.4 Illustration of the complex stress of a forging die

• low tendency to warp

• low tendency to stick
• high resistance to erosion, high-temperature corrosion and oxidation

Hot strength
Hot strength describes the ability of a material to withstand loads (mechanical
stresses) even at elevated temperatures and to “endure” these without permanent
deformation.
The predominantly used martensitic hot work tool steels have tensile strengths
Rm in the range of 1200 to over 2300 N/mm2 at room temperature (König &
Klocke, 2006). Depending on the test temperatures, the hot work tool steels show
characteristic curves of hot strength depending on the alloy composition. In the
temperature range around 400 °C, the hot strengths Rm are still about 1200 to
1400 N/mm2 . Figure 3.5 shows curves of the hot strength (Rm and Rp0,2 ) as well
as the reduction in area (Z) for the hot work tool steel 1.2343 (X37CrMoV5-1)
as an example.

Tempering resistance
Tempering resistance characterizes the resistance of a material to softening at
increasing temperatures. The characteristic tempering resistance of a hot work
3 Microstructure and Properties 21

1800

Tensile Strength Rm and 0,2-Yield strength Rp0,2 (N/mm2)

1600
Rm
1400

1200

1000
Rp0,2
800 80

600 60

Necking Z (%)
400 Z 40

200 20

0 0
20 200 300 400 500 600
Testing temperature (°C)

Fig. 3.5 Curves of the hot strength of the hot work tool steel 1.2343 (X37CrMoV5-1)
according to (Schruff, 2002)

tool steel, which also favors its application range up to more than 600 °C, can
be seen from the comparison of its tempering curve with the tempering curves
of a cold work tool steel and a high-speed steel. This comparison is shown in
Fig. 3.6.
If, for example, during die forging, the tempering effect of quenching and
tempering is exceeded at too high temperatures, the surface layer of the tool
softens. Die edges in forging dies absorb heat from both sides, so they reach
a higher temperature than flat die surfaces. In addition, such edges are usually
mechanically more highly stressed, so that deformation and softening mutually
reinforce each other. In combination with the tribological load, wear is increased
in these areas (Berns, 2004).
22 3 Microstructure and Properties

Scope of application for:

High-speed steels

Hot work tool steels

Cold work steels

High speed steel

1.3343
65

60
Hot work tool
steel 1.2343
55
Hardness HRC

50

45

40
Cold work tool
steel 1.2210
35

30
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
Temperature (°C)

Fig. 3.6 Comparison of the tempering curves of a hot work tool steel, a cold work tool steel
and a high-speed steel

Thermal Fatigue Resistance

The service life of a hot work tool is significantly determined by its resistance to
constant temperature changes. For example, the main failure cause of die casting
molds, with a share of 80%, is the formation of thermal shock cracks or thermal
fatigue (Schruff, 2003). Under production conditions, the tool and the hot work-
pieces are in contact, causing the tool surface to be subjected to cyclic thermal
3 Microstructure and Properties 23

and mechanical stress. The surface layer of the tool will heat up faster during this
cyclic thermal load than the bulk material. This creates a steep temperature gra-
dient, so that stresses can build up in the surface layer (Schneiders, 2005). These
thermally induced stresses cause the formation of microcracks, similar to fatigue.
A delay in the formation of microcracks (incipient cracks) can be achieved by
using a hot work tool steel with higher heat resistance and ductility. The fur-
ther service life of the tool depends crucially on the progression of the formed
cracks (crack propagation). For this reason, a high fracture toughness (resistance
to crack propagation) of the material is also advantageous.

Hot Wear Resistance

According to DIN 50320, wear is defined as “progressive material loss from
the surface of a solid body caused by mechanical factors, i.e. by contact move-
ments and relative movements of a solid, liquid, or gaseous body”. Responsible for
such mass loss are the four wear mechanisms adhesion (adherence at the con-
tact surfaces), abrasion (superficial removal by friction), tribochemical reaction
and surface fatigue (Macherauch & Zoch, 2011). The main wear mechanisms
during forming are adhesion and abrasion. During contact between the tool and
workpiece, adhesion occurs at roughness peaks. This is caused by local sticking
and welding due to molecular and atomic interactions. The relative movement
between the tool and workpiece separates these connections. This can occur at
the original contact surfaces or in the near-surface areas of the involved part-
ners, resulting in material removal. Abrasion is caused by the penetration of
hard particles into a softer surface. In hot work tools exposed to higher temper-
atures during operation, scale primarily appears as an abrasive. As a result of
the relative movements between the tool and workpiece, the micro-mechanisms
of micro-ploughing, micro-cutting, micro-fatigue and micro-cracking occur. The
tool surface shows grooves, chipped areas, breakouts and cracks after abrasive
stress, leading to material loss. Tribochemical reactions are chemical interactions
occurring between the tool, workpiece, lubricant, and surrounding medium. Sur-
face fatigue is caused by material fatigue, crack formation and material removal
due to mechanical and thermal stress (Schneiders, 2005).

High-Temperature Corrosion
The service life of the tool depends on the resistance or durability of a tool mate-
rial against the mentioned wear mechanisms during its application. In addition,
the surfaces of hot work tool steels in operation at elevated temperatures are
also exposed to the action of various media such as air, lubricants, coolants and
workpiece material. Above 570 °C, iron oxidizes to wustite (FeO). This would
24 3 Microstructure and Properties

normally lead to a thick, rapidly growing scale layer, which would cause material
loss through flaking. In hot work tool steels, this is prevented by the increased
chromium content. This causes the formation of a thin, adherent oxide layer
(Berns, 1993). Therefore, oxidative removal is usually not the main focus in hot
work tool steels (Berns, 2004).
Graphite-containing coolants have a carburizing effect, but due to the low
solubility of carbon in the body-centered cubic lattice, this effect can be neglected
when hot forming tools made of hot work tool steel. However, if the structure of
the tool’s surface layer is transformed (austenitized) during operation at excessive
temperatures, decarburization of the surface can occur due to oxidation of the
carbon (Berns, 2004). This leads to a reduction in surface hardness and thus
increased wear.
In die casting of light and heavy metals, significant material loss can occur on
the tool. The reasons for this include the dissolution of the tool material in the
liquid metal, e.g. aluminum (Persson et al., 2002).

Thermal conductivity
This property of a material describes its ability to conduct heat well, or in other
words, how fast heat spreads from one point through the material (forming tool).
High thermal conductivity is important for hot forming and die casting tools to
quickly dissipate temperature differences and avoid damaging temperature peaks
on the tool surface, deformations, and internal stresses. Furthermore, high thermal
conductivity can contribute to a reduction in cycle time, e.g. in die casting or
plastic processing.

Toughness
In the context of the mentioned properties such as high temperature strength, tem-
pering, and scale resistance in connection with the stresses during the use of tools,
the hot toughness of the used hot work tool steels plays a special role concerning
the achievable tool life (see Fig. 1.1). In general, toughness is understood as the
resistance of a material to fracture or crack propagation (Issler et al., 2003). This
is usually determined in the impact bending and notched impact bending test as
energy of rupture related to the nominal cross-section of the sample. Toughness
is thus the ability of a material to absorb mechanical energy during plastic defor-
mation without breaking. The opposite of toughness is brittleness. And toughness
should not be confused with ductility. Ductility describes the property of a mate-
rial to permanently plastically deform under load before breaking, determinable,
for example, with the tensile test (Gottstein, 2014).
3 Microstructure and Properties 25

Property Definition Effect / Benefits

Hot toughness Resistance of a material to cracking or crack Hot toughness reduces the risk of cracking and crack
propagation. propagation, important for tools with deep engravings, cross-
sectional transitions and edges. Stress peaks are reduced
and good dimensional stability of the tools is achieved.

High temperature The ability of a material to absorb loads Sufficient high-temperature strength, i.e. "bearable" loads
strength (mechanical stresses) without permanent even at high temperatures, provides safety against
deformations, even at elevated service deformation and wear of the tools.
temperatures.
Tempering resistance Resistance of a material to softening at A high tempering resistance of the hot work steels leads to
increasing temperatures. sufficient working hardness even at elevated temperatures.
Hot wear resistance Resistance to progressive material loss on the A high resistance to heat wear reduces the risk of erosion,
tool surface caused by mechanical effects i.e. signs of wear on the mold contours of the tools.
(adhesion, abrasion, tribochemical reactions
and contact fatigue).
Thermal shock The ability of a material to withstand Temperature changes are particularly harsh stresses. The
resistance constandly repeating rapid temperature higher the thermal shock resistance of the hot work tool
changes occurring during continuous steel, the lower the risk of stress cracks and thus damage to
operation. the surface of the tool.
Thermal conductivity The thermal conductivity of a material A high thermal conductivity reduces the temperature
indicates how well it conducts heat or how well differences and thus stresses in the tool. Damaging
it is suitable for thermal insulation. temperature peaks on the tool surface and deformations are
avoided.

Fig. 3.7 Overview of important properties of hot work tool steels and their effects or ben-
efits (Based on a presentation from the company information on hot work tool steel by
voestalpine Böhler Edelstahl GmbH & Co KG, 2018)

Toughness allows the dissipation of stress peaks occurring during operation

due to mechanical or thermal overloading, and delays crack formation and propa-
gation due to thermal fatigue, or unsuitable tool cross-sections. This is particularly
important when using hot work tool steels for forming tools and die casting
molds, as heat cracks and stress cracks occur especially in tools with deep engrav-
ings, at cross-sectional transitions and along edges. Since the plastic deformation
capacity of tool steels is only desired in combination with a simultaneously high
elastic limit, a high elastic limit is also the essential criterion for the fracture
safety of these tool steels (Kulmburg et al., 1994). In addition, high hot strength
and tempering resistance are prerequisites for good dimensional stability of the
tools.
Figure 3.7 provides an overview of the important properties of hot work tool
steels and their effects or benefits.
Manufacturing
4

The production of hot work tool steels and the tools made from them includes the
melting or powder metallurgical production, including secondary metallurgical
treatments, further processing into semi-finished products and finished products
(tools), heat treatments, and possibly additional final surface treatments. Whether
conventional or remelted hot work tool steels, manufacturers use adapted and
very different production technologies for each quality.

4.1 Melting Metallurgical Production

Alloyed tool steels, including hot work tool steels, are nowadays produced in
electric steel plants from pure-grade scrap (Ernst, 2009). Modern electric steel
plants operate with electric arc furnaces with batch sizes up to 200 tons. In the
electric arc furnace (EAF), the current (usually three-phase) forms an electric
arc between the current-carrying graphite electrodes and the scrap input. This
arc melts the scrap through thermal radiation. The raw steel is then cast into a
preheated ladle. In downstream secondary metallurgical plants, further “refining”
of the still liquid raw steel is carried out: alloying of certain alloying elements,
homogenization of the melt, reduction of carbon and sulfur content, setting of
the casting temperature. For high-quality, alloyed hot work tool steels, vacuum
treatment in the VOD converter (vacuum-oxygen-decarburization—decarburiza-
tion under vacuum with oxygen) is predominantly used. After completion of this
fine treatment, usually also called “ladle metallurgy” or “secondary metallurgical
treatment” (Burghardt & Neuhof, 1982), the finished steel melt is cast as ingot
casting or pre-block continuous casting.

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GmbH, part of Springer Nature 2024
J. Schlegel and T. Schneiders, Hot Work Tool Steel,
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28 4 Manufacturing

For particularly high requirements regarding purity and homogeneity (reduc-

tion of segregations in the cast structure), remelting may be necessary. Electro-
slag remelting plants (ESR) or vacuum arc remelting furnaces (VAR) are used
to subject the already melted, secondary metallurgically treated and cast steel to
a further cleaning and refining process.
In the ESR process, remelting takes place in a reactive slag. This reduces
undesired accompanying elements and non-metallic inclusions, resulting in an
improved purity level without changing the basic composition of the steel. The
controlled axially solidification leads to dense, very homogeneous ingots (N.N.,
1994).
Remelting in the electric arc furnace under vacuum, also called VAR (vacuum-
arc-remelting), also leads to an improvement in purity level. Oxidation of the
melted material is prevented, and additionally, the content of dissolved gases such
as oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen (Trenkler & Kreiger, 1988) and the content
of unwanted trace elements can be reduced (N.N., 1994). Although the sulfur
content is not significantly reduced during VAR, the sulfides are more finely
distributed (Trenkler & Kreiger, 1988).
Comparing the remelting processes ESR and VAR, ESR offers lower remelt-
ing costs, more intensive desulfurization, higher flexibility of ingots weights
due to the possibility of rapid electrode changes, and higher quality of the
ingot surface. Ingots remelted under vacuum (VAR) have minimal gas contents,
reduced contents of trace elements such as lead, bismuth and tellurium, lower
micro-segregation levels in the block center, and more precise adjustment of the
chemical composition (N.N., 1994).
Using the example of hot work tool steel 1.2367 (X38CrMoV5-3), the effects
of remelting on purity and toughness can be illustrated. The steel produced via
ingot casting achieves K0 values according to DIN 50602 between 10 and 50 in
terms of purity. The electroslag remelted steel has K0 values between 5 and 20,
while a vacuum remelted variant of this steel shows values below 6. With this
increase in purity and the simultaneous reduction of segregations, the toughness
is increased. Accordingly, the VAR variant achieves the highest toughness values
of up to 500 J/cm2 in the impact bending test. The ESR steel still achieves more
than 400 J/cm2 , while the ingot cast variant has impact bending toughness values
of only about 100 J/cm2 (Jung, 2003).
After casting and any remelting, the hot forming (forging, rolling) of the
cast ingots into semi-finished products round, square or flat takes place. Dur-
ing this hot forming and the associated heat input, remaining segregations are
reduced, and the precipitated carbides are largely dissolved again (Gümpel, 1983).
Figure 4.1 shows a simplified complete process route of the melt metallurgical
4.2 Powder Metallurgical Production 29

Scrap Remelting Forming Heat treatment

ESR Forging or Soft annealing
or VAR Rolling Stress Relieving
Fine Hardening and
Melting treatment Casting Tempering Semi-
EAF VOD Ingot casting finished
product

Finishing

Fig. 4.1 Process route of the melt metallurgical production of hot work tool steels and their
further processing into tools

production of hot work tool steels, including further processing into semi-finished
products and heat treatment.

4.2 Powder Metallurgical Production

Since the 1960s, tool steels have been produced powder metallurgically on an
industrial scale (Grinder, 1999), with hot work tool steels being produced in
this way only since the 1980s (Bayer & Seilstorfer, 1984). Compared to melt
metallurgical production, the more cost-intensive powder metallurgical production
offers some advantages. For example, the hot formability of melt metallurgically
produced tool steels decreases with increasing alloy content. In contrast, there
are no formability limits for powder metallurgically produced blocks for much
larger alloy ranges (Wilmes, 1990). The reason for this is the homogeneous,
segregation-minimized, fine microstructure with evenly distributed, small carbides
in the micrometer range.
The powder metallurgical production route initially began with melting, pow-
der atomization under inert gas, encapsulation of the powder, and subsequent hot
isostatic pressing (compaction). Later, other powder metallurgical process routes
were added, such as vacuum or liquid phase sintering (Grinder, 1999). Ultimately,
the hot isostatic pressing (HIP) technique has also become established for the
production of hot work tool steels, albeit to a limited extent. Only this process
route will be mentioned below, i.e. the three main steps of metal powder pro-
duction, shaping/compacting of the powder (HIP process), and heat treatment/
sintering.
30 4 Manufacturing

The powder production begins with the generation of a melt in the induction
furnace. The desired chemical composition is achieved by using scrap in com-
bination with unalloyed and low-alloyed steels, alloying elements, and powder
metallurgically produced process scrap, controlled and, if necessary, corrected
(Bockholt, 2002). The finished steel melt is directed into a casting distributor,
where the deposition of non-metallic slags takes place, thus improving the purity
level. At the bottom of the distributor, a nozzle is attached through which the melt
flows out and is atomized using nitrogen. The produced powder has a spherical
shape and can be immediately filled into capsules, compacted to a preform close
to the theoretical density and simultaneously sintered. This is done by hot iso-
static pressing (HIP) in a heatable pressure chamber under protective gas (argon)
at temperatures around 1150 °C and pressures around 100 MPa. Figure 4.2 shows
a simplified version of this special HIP process.
The powder compaction is based on diffusion processes between the powder
grains (surface, grain boundary and lattice diffusion) as well as on plastic defor-
mation. The hot work tool steel ingots produced by the HIP process are forged or
hot-rolled into semi-finished products. For further processing to the desired final
products, such as die-casting molds or forging dies, machining processes, thermal

Hot isostatic pressing (HIP)

Pressure Pressure Compressed

Pressure Green
chamber

Pressure
medium

Powder in
a flexible
envelope

Pressure build up Compression Pressure reduction

Fig. 4.2 Principle of the hot isostatic pressing process (HIP process)
4.4 Heat Treatment 31

treatments (hardening) and surface treatments (coatings) are used. While powder
metallurgically produced cold work and high-speed steels have now been able to
establish themselves on the market, the application of powder metallurgical hot
work tool steels is limited to a few special applications (Schneiders, 2005).

4.3 Further Processing

The metallurgically produced and formed semi-finished product made of hot

work tool steel is further processed using manufacturing techniques to create
a hot work tool, i.e. a product precisely defined in terms of shape, dimensions,
dimensional tolerances, surface quality, and mechanical properties. Various man-
ufacturing techniques are usually used for this purpose. These include mechanical
processes such as turning, milling, planing/shaping, drilling and grinding, as well
as thermal processes such as die-sinking and wire electrical discharge machin-
ing to create the desired contours in a die-casting mold, extrusion die or forging
die. With such processing, a diverse range of stresses on the tools begins, which
can also lead to damage. For example, during mechanical processing, the surface
layer of the tool is heated, plastically deformed and subjected to residual stresses.
However, due to the high tempering temperature of hot work tools, softening due
to increased temperatures during machining is not expected. A stress-relief treat-
ment to reduce hardening and residual stresses is always recommended. Also, a
low surface roughness should always be maintained, as machining grooves are
preferred starting points for fatigue cracks (Berns, 2004).
In the case of electrical discharge machining, the tool surface is melted drop
by drop through electrical discharges. The remaining surface layer consists of
an outer, melted and re-solidified layer and an inner heat-affected zone. The
melted surface layer can sometimes be crack-prone. To exclude damage during
operation, it is recommended to mechanically remove this melt zone and also to
stress-relieve the tool (Becker & Kiel, 1983).

4.4 Heat Treatment

During the production and after completion of hot work tools, heat treatments
are carried out. These include intermediate heat treatments such as the anneal-
ing processes diffusion annealing, soft annealing and stress-relief annealing
as well as final heat treatments such as quenching and tempering (harden-
ing and tempering). The influencing factors are heating (heating and holding
32 4 Manufacturing

time), temperature, atmosphere (air, vacuum, protective gas) and cooling (cool-
ing rate). In different combinations and sequences, these cause changes in the
steel microstructure (precipitations and phase transformations, changes in their
proportions, their arrangement, shape, and composition), thereby adjusting the
desired properties (Weißbach, 2007). Figure 4.3 shows the temperature ranges of
the mentioned heat treatment processes for hot work tool steels, plotted in the
simplified iron-carbon diagram.
Based on these temperature ranges of the different heat treatment processes,
Fig. 4.4 comparatively shows the associated time-temperature curves.
Not only the certain hardnesses on the finished hot work tool are adjusted
by heat treatment, but also other mechanical properties, such as hot toughness
and thermal shock resistance. And considering the often very large-sized tools,
it quickly becomes clear that very special requirements are placed on the heat
treatment processes.

Soft annealing
The delivery condition for hot work tool steels for the production of tools is usu-
ally the soft-annealed, easily machinable state. The so-called annealed hardnesses
are in the range of 210 to approx. 320 HB, depending on the alloy. Soft annealing
is usually carried out at temperatures in the range of 650 to 750 °C, always with
temperature ranges of approx. 30 to 50 K. The holding times are usually more
than 4 h, depending also on the workpiece size. Slow furnace cooling down to
500 °C is important, after which further air cooling can take place. This creates a
structure in the hot work tool steel consisting of a ferritic matrix with spherically
shaped carbides (Schruff, 1989), see example in Fig. 3.2.
Specific soft annealing parameters for individual hot work tool steels can be
found in the data sheets in Chap. 6: Material data sheets.

Diffusion annealing
Diffusion annealing is used to reduce microstructural inhomogeneities (local dif-
ferences in the chemical composition of steels caused by segregation). This is
also where the common term homogenizing annealing originates from (https://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annealing_(materials_science)). With this heat treatment,
the degree of segregation can be reduced and thus the toughness increased.
Since diffusion processes are strongly dependent on temperature and time,
heating to very high temperatures (approx. 1100 and 1300 °C) is required, see
Fig. 4.3. In addition, very long holding times, possibly up to 50 h, are necessary.
The cooling must be carried out slowly. Such diffusion annealing is very complex
and cost-intensive due to the high temperatures and long annealing times. It is
4.4 Heat Treatment 33

Diffusion annealing
1200

Austenite
1000
Austenite +
Cementite
G
Soft annealing
800
Austenite
Temperature (°C)

+ Ferrite S
P

600

Stress-relief annealing
400
Perlite

200
Ferrite + Perlite +
Perlite Cementite

0
0,0 0,4 0,8 1,2 1,6 2,0
Carbon content (%)

Fig. 4.3 Temperature ranges of the heat treatment types, shown in the simplified iron-carbon
diagram
34 4 Manufacturing

Diffusion annealing
Temperature range for transformation
(Ferrite into austenite on heating,
austenite into ferrite on cooling)

Soft annealing
Temperature

Stress-relief
annealing Quenching

Tempering

Time

Fig. 4.4 Time-temperature curves for various heat treatment processes

mainly used when segregations in the structure are to be reduced in ingots. Due
to the high scale losses, diffusion annealing is usually carried out before hot
forming.

Quenching and tempering (hardening and tempering)

The desired performance characteristics of hot work tools are adjusted after
processing by quenching and tempering. “Quenching and tempering” refers to
the combination of hardening and tempering processes in the upper possible
temperature range. These final heat treatments ensure high hardness and the
necessary toughness at the same time, thus adjusting the desired performance
characteristics.

Hardening
Hardening serves to increase the mechanical resistance (hardness, strength) of
the steel by a targeted change in the microstructure through transformation
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardening_(metallurgy)). This hardening process
works because the steel to be hardened shows a phase transformation from fer-
rite to austenite or austenite to ferrite during heating and cooling. However, since
the cooling takes place as a rapid quenching with adapted cooling media such
4.4 Heat Treatment 35

as water, oil, polymer, or air, the brittle martensitic microstructure is formed.

The higher the supercooling effect or the stronger the quenching effect, the more
martensite is formed. The needle-like structures of the martensitic microstructure,
as seen in Fig. 3.3, are characteristic.
For hardening, the hot work tool steel or the tool made from it is first
heated to a temperature above the transformation temperature. Depending on the
alloy composition of the hot work tool steel, this temperature range is approx-
imately 850 to 1100 °C. After a defined holding time at this temperature, the
“austenitization”, i.e., the transformation of the initial ferritic into the austenitic
microstructure, has taken place. Therefore, this transformation temperature is also
called “austenitization temperature” in practice. At the same time, a large portion
of the carbides, which were spherically embedded in the initial microstructure
(soft annealed state), dissolve and a large part of the carbon is now dissolved in
the metallic matrix. In general, the temperature for hot work tool steels is cho-
sen so that a two-phase region of austenite and undissolved annealing carbides is
present (see Thermo-Calc diagram, software for thermodynamic calculations of
phase equilibria). This microstructure is now quenched to produce the marten-
sitic microstructure. This occurs due to the rapid cooling, there is no time for
an ordered transformation of austenite back into ferrite. The carbon dissolved in
the austenite remains dissolved in the solid solution (forced dissolution), caus-
ing lattice distortions and thus a hardness in the range of approximately 55
to 65 HRC. However, this is only achieved if the rapid cooling is carried out
at a cooling rate adapted to the alloy composition. In practice, this is referred
to as the “critical cooling rate”. This material constant can be taken from the
associated time-temperature-transformation diagram (TTT diagram) and indicates
the minimum cooling rate necessary for martensite formation. Based on this,
the quenching medium air, oil, polymer or water (in this order with increasing
quenching effect) can be selected according to ecological and economic aspects
so that as little distortion and crack formation as possible occur in the hardened
material. The following should apply to the choice of quenching rate: “As fast as
necessary and as slow as possible!”.
During quenching, in addition to the martensitic transformation of the steel,
carbides are again precipitated. Therefore, after quenching, the hardened structure
consists of martensite and partly still residual austenite, the precipitated carbides
and non-dissolved annealing carbides (Gümpel & Hoock, 1984).

Tempering
Immediately after hardening, the tempering process takes place, usually two
or three times. It serves to improve the toughness and dimensional stability
36 4 Manufacturing

of hardened workpieces. These are heated again and held at different temper-
ing temperatures for varying lengths of time. Hardening stresses are mainly
reduced during this process. The brittle martensite is transformed into a structure
with slightly lower hardness but somewhat higher toughness. In general, a steel
becomes softer during tempering the higher it is heated (https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Tempering_(metallurgy)). For each steel, there are so-called tempering dia-
grams that show the hardness progression with increasing tempering temperature,
see Fig. 3.6.
The hardness progression during tempering of some hot work tool steels
is interesting. Initially, there is a slight decrease in hardness, which is due to
a relaxation of the martensite lattice. At tempering temperatures above about
450 °C, finest special carbides (size of 3 to 10 nm) of the elements chromium,
molybdenum, and vanadium are formed (Kulmburg, 1998). These carbides lead
to precipitation hardening on the one hand and, on the other hand, the residual
austenite is depleted of carbon, so the transformation temperature (i.e. the marten-
site finish temperature) increases. In this way, the remaining residual austenite
can transform into martensite during cooling after the first tempering. This new
formed martensite hardens during the second tempering due to further special
carbide precipitation. The microstructure of tempered hot work tool steels thus
consists of tempered martensite with non-dissolved annealing carbides and finest
special carbides.

Stress-relief annealing
To ensure low-distortion further processing and to avoid the occurrence of possi-
ble hardening cracks, stress-relief annealing is therefore carried out for almost all
steels, often even before hardening. Internal stresses in the semi-finished product
or in the finished tool are not visible, but depending on the history of produc-
tion, they are usually present. Mechanical processing (in the soft state before
hardening or hard machining in the quenched and tempered state), a possibly
uneven cooling after tempering, or a straightening process cause stresses in the
material. Without stress-relief annealing, these stresses would be released during
hardening, further processing, and finally during application, leading to geometric
deviations (distortion) and possibly also to cracks. In practice, stress-relief anneal-
ing is therefore carried out during and after mechanical processing, i.e. before
tempering, if necessary. Since the effect of reducing internal stresses also occurs
during the multiple temperings required after hardening, additional stress-relief
annealing after tempering is usually not or only rarely necessary.
In general, the heating during stress-relief annealing takes place at temper-
atures around 500 to 650 °C, which are always about 30 to 50 °C below the
4.5 Surface Treatment 37

Austenitize
Premachining

Finishing
Hardening
temperature
Temperature

Quenching
Stress-relief Preheating
650 °C
annealing

Cooling
in air
Preheating 1. Tempering 2. Tempering 3. Tempering
Tempering
300 - 450 °C
temperature

Hardening
Time

Fig. 4.5 Time-temperature sequence for stress-relief annealing, quenching and tempering of
a hot work tool steel, simplified representation according to (Schruff, 2002)

tempering temperature of the particcular hot work tool steel. This avoids changes
in the microstructure and thus property changes. After a holding time of usually
2 to 4 h, which is based on the size of the part to be treated, very slow cooling
takes place in the furnace.
The sequence of the described heat treatment processes stress-relief annealing,
quenching and tempering is shown schematically in Fig. 4.5 as a representation
of the time-temperature sequence for an example in which stress-relief annealing
is carried out before hardening.

4.5 Surface Treatment

A surface treatment on the finished tool always involves structuring or modifica-

tion to specifically bring about property changes. This measure is carried out to
increase wear resistance when the hot work tool steel alone is not sufficient for
the use of the respective tool. The following are used for this purpose:

• Changing the properties of the material through a thermochemical treatment

(e.g. nitriding)
• Applying a wear-reducing layer to the tool surface (deposition welding)

In addition to surface treatment processes aimed at increasing the wear resis-

tance of new tools, worn tools are reconditioned. This reconditioning is done by
38 4 Manufacturing

welding on new material, reworking the shape contours, and repairing cracks by
welding.
In all surface treatments on the finished tools, it is important to ensure that
the necessary process temperatures are not higher than the previously selected
tempering temperature for the hot work tool steel used. This is the only way to
avoid a loss of hardness or strength of the base material.

Nitriding
Nitriding is a special process for surface hardening of steel. More precisely it is
actually an enrichment of nitrogen in the tool surface through a thermochemical
treatment at about 500 to 590 °C in nitrogen-containing gases (gas or plasma
nitriding) or in salt baths with treatment times ranging from one hour to 100 h.
In this process, nitrogen diffuses into the component surface, forming extremely
hard and wear-resistant, nitride-containing layers that can be 0.2 to 0.5 mm thick,
depending on the treatment. The core area of the tool being treated remains
sufficiently tough and unchanged. The advantages of nitriding are that no struc-
tural transformations occur during this treatment, the resulting hard surface offers
higher wear resistance, and the tendency of the hot work tool to stick and weld
with the forming material is reduced. Prior to nitriding treatment, any residual
stresses in the tool should be relieved by stress-relief annealing (N.N., 2018).

Deposition welding
In deposition welding, a thermal fabrication process, wear-resistant layers are
applied to the workpiece surface and metallurgically bonded to the base material.
In practice, this is occasionally referred to as “hard facing”. Depending on the
intended use of the hot work tools, conventional arc welding, laser or plasma
powder arc welding (cladding) are used for coating. These methods are also used
for repair welding of surfaces and edges/radii of the tools.
Applications
5

The described hot work tool steel is used for the chipless forming of metals at
surface temperatures of the tool above 200 °C. The workpiece temperatures can
range between 400 and 1200 °C. It withstands the mechanical, wear and thermal
stresses that occur during tool use. Based on this, a variety of tools for hot
forming and die casting are made from hot work tool steel:

• Forging:
Forging saddles for open-die forging, hammer and press dies, tools for forging
machines, mandrels for die forging, deburring dies, tools for press hardening
• Extrusion:
Extrusion dies, die holders, extrusion punches, extrusion discs, mandrels,
inner and intermediate sleeves, recipient jackets
• Flow forming:
Flow forming dies, press punches, mandrels
• Rolling:
Blooming-, profile-, upsetting-, bending-rolls, roll rings, pilger mandrels,
rollers, mandrel bars
• Hot cutting:
Hot shear blades, hot cutting plates, hot stamping tools, hot punches
• Die casting:
Pressure chambers, pistons, die casting molds, ejector pins
• Injection molding:
Mold tools made of plastic mold steels – see separate essential
• Other applications:

© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden 39

GmbH, part of Springer Nature 2024
J. Schlegel and T. Schneiders, Hot Work Tool Steel,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-43016-0_5
40 5 Applications

Tools for glass production, metal powder processing such as sinter press
tools, machine components for gas turbines, environmental technology, measur-
ing devices, fittings, parts for diesel fuel pumps, pneumatic hammers and many
more.

Figure 5.1 provides an overview of the application areas of various hot work tool
steels, based on the hot work tool steels specified in Fig. 2.1.
For an optical impression of these diverse applications of hot work tool steels,
the Fig. 5.2 shows a mosaic of selected examples.
Within the scope of this brochure only a rough classification of hot work tool
steels according to their property spectrum and the requirements of their main
application areas can be made from the impressive variety of applications.

Open-die forging
For open-die forging with forging hammers and forging presses, the interchange-
able forging saddles are used as hot work tools. These are flat, V-shaped, or oval
in shape as upper and lower saddles (see Fig. 5.2 top left). The movable upper
saddle is also referred to as a “ram” in practice.
The forging saddles are subject to high heat, strong pressure, and impact
stresses during use. The hot work tool steels 1.2714 (55NiCrMoV7) or 1.2779
(X6NiCrTi26-15) are predominantly used as the supporting base material for
the forging saddles. Interchangeable inserts for the main wear zones, which
are made for example from the highly stress able nickel-base alloy 2.4668
(NiCr19Fe19Nb5Mo3), allow for longer service life and quick tool changes when
worn.

Die forging
The forging dies with the negative contours of the forging parts to be formed
are also subject to high thermal loads (cyclic temperature change stress) with
simultaneous strong pressure and impact stress. The service life of the forging
dies depends on the complex interaction of these loads, the tool material used,
the tool design, the tool guidance, the tool heat treatment and surface treatment,
as well as the material to be forged. After a certain number of forging cycles,
wear phenomena such as abrasion, thermal and mechanical fatigue, i.e., crack
formation, and permanent deformation can occur at the contours, edges, tips, and
narrow recesses (Schruff, 2002). Therefore, the well-known high requirements for
the hot work tool steels used for forging dies include high thermal conductivity,
high high temperature strength and hot toughness, high hardening temperature
and high tempering resistance, as well as high thermal shock resistance and high
5 Applications 41

Hardness
Material Hardness
number
Steel short name annealed Applications
HB max. HRC min.
Martensitic hot work tool steels
1.1750 C75W 217 62 Small and medium-sized dies, hot shears, riveting punches, trimming tools, profile and finishing saddles
1.2082 X21Cr13 200 (1570)* Light alloy mold tools, pistons, pressure chambers and nozzles for light metal processing
1.2083 X40Cr14 241 52 Pressure chambers and pistons for light metal die casting with good polishability
1.2309 65MnCrMo4 (740)* (2450)* Blooming rolls for steel, pre-rolls for section rolling mills, upsetting rolls, bending rolls, hot rolling rings
1.2311 40CrMnMo7 230 (1770)* Heated recipient jackets and intermediate liners in extrusion presses, die holders and inserts
1.2312 40CrMnMoS8-6 220 51 High-strength mold frames for plastics processing, tools for chipless forming
1.2313 21CrMo10 200 (1670)* Chambers for die-casting machines, hobbed die-casting molds and similar tools
1.2323 48CrMoV6-7 220 52 Recipient jackets, intermediate boxes, die holders for extrusion presses and injection molds
Matrices, molds, containers for die-casting molds, sleeves for extrusion presses (high working
1.2329 46CrSiMoV7 230 54
temperature)
1.2340 X36CrMoV5-1 200 51 Universally usable hot work tool steel for extrusion and die-casting tools
1.2342 X35CrMov5-1-1 230 (1850)* Mandrel bars, die-casting molds, extrusion tools
1.2343 X37CrMoV5-1 229 48 Die-casting tools, extrusion tools, plastic molds, ejector pins, forging dies
1.2344 X40CrMoV5-1 229 50 Plastic injection mold tools, extrusion tools, extrusion dies, ejectors, die-casting molds
1.2345 X50CrMoV5-1 229 60 Hot stretching rollers, scissor knives, mandrels, punches, pneumatic hammer tools and piercing tools
1.2355 50CrMoV13-15 248 56 Cold and hot forming tools, die-casting molds, powder metal dies, bending and stamping dies
1.2357 50CrMoV13-14 248 56 Cutting tools such as scissor blades, parts for diesel fuel pumps and pneumatic hammers
1.2360 X48CrMoV8-1-1 240 60 Presses, extrusion dies, die inserts with very good compressive strength
1.2362 X63CrMoV5-1 225 63 Hot-cut plates, punches, scissor knives, ejectors, trimming dies
Die-casting molds, recipient inner bushings for heavy metals, press discs, pressing mandrels, perforated
1.2365 32CrMoV12-28 229 46
mandrels
1.2367 X38CrMoV5-3 229 50 High-quality dies, tools for the production of screws, nuts, rivets and bolts
Dies for screws, nuts, rivets, mandrels to produce hole pieces, press mandrels, press discs for non-ferrous
1.2564 30WCrV15-1 230 52
metal processing
1.2567 30WCrV17-2 240 52 Inner bushings, press punches, press washers, mandrels, dies for heavy and light metal
1.2581 X30WCrV9-3 241 48 Recipient inner bushings, press mandrels, press dies, die-casting molds, screw and nut matrices
1.2603 45CrVMoW5-8 240 52 Hot scissor knives, inner bushings, press discs for metal extrusion presses, upsetting tools
1.2605 X35CrWMoV5 229 48 Hot work tools such as forging tools, die-casting dies, continuous casting tools, hot shears, rollers
1.2606 X37CrMoW5-1 230 58 Strand extrusion tools, pressing tools, forging dies, molding dies, die-casting molds for light metal
1.2622 X60WCrMoV9-4 270 57 Piercer plugs, mandrels for heavy metal processing
1.2662 X30WCrCoV9-3 250 52 Parts that are not cooled during hot forming: gate valves, mandrels, die-casting molds
1.2678 X45CoCrWV5-5-5 260 47 Hot extrusion dies, mandrels, punches, die and die inserts, brass die-casting molds
1.2709 X3NiCiMoTi18-9-5 323 55 Moderate thermal stress tools, die casting molds for light metal alloys
1.2711 54NiCrMoV6 240 56 Plastic molds, cutting tools, pneumatic hammer parts, diesel fuel pump parts
1.2713 55NiCrMoV6 248 54 Dies of all kinds, inserts and punches for screw production, similar tools
1.2714 55NiCrMoV7 248 42 Smaller dies, press dies, punch heads for extrusion presses, molded part press dies
Pilger mandrels, plastic molds, molding plates, cold sinking, injection molding, embossing tools, bending
1.2726 26NiCrMoV5 240 (1670)*
tools
1.2738 40CrMnNiMo8-6-4 235 52 Plastic injection molds with deep engravings, e.g. for bumpers, dashboards
1.2740 28NiCrMoV10 240 49 Pilger mandrels, hot and cold cutting tools, parts for measuring instruments
1.2743 60NiCrMoV12-4 235 61 Forging dies, pressing dies of all sizes
1.2744 57NiCrMoV7-7 250 (2300)* Dies for drop hammers, double impact hammers, press dies for light metal
1.2747 28NiMo17 258 (1860)* Pilger mandrels
1.2766 35NiCrMo16 260 (1770)* Molded parts dies, impact dies, hot rolling rings, inner bushings for extrusion presses, upsetting tools
Tools for hot pressing, cold lowering, injection molding, forming and bending, embossing tools, shearing
1.2767 45NiCrMo16 285 52
knives, punching
1.2787 X23CrNi17 245 48 Molding tools for glass processing, pump shafts, parts for the food industry
1.2885 X32CrMoCoV3-3-3 230 54 Die casting dies, hot pressing tools, extrusion tools for heavy metals
1.2886 X15CrCoMoV10-10-5 320 50 Highly stressed hot work tools: press mandrels, press dies, hot impact extrusion tools
1.2888 X20CoCrWMo10-9 320 52 Extremely hot stressed inserts, hot pressing tools, hot extrusion tools, die casting tools
Applications with the highest demands on high temperature strength, tempering resistance and wear
1.2889 X45CoCrMoV5-5-3 240 54
resistance
1.2999 X45MoCrV5-3-1 230 57 Forging dies, mandrels for high-speed forging machines, die-casting tools for heavy metals
Austenitic hot work tool steels
1.2731 X50NiCrWV13-13 Highly stressed press dies for extrusion of heavy metals
1.2779 X6NiCrTi26-15 Inner bushings for strand extrusion of heavy metals, forging molds, die-casting molds
1.2782 X16CrNiSi25-20 Rollers for glass processing (excellent scale, corrosion resistance and high temperature strength)
1.2786 X13NiCrSi36-16
Nickel-base alloys
2.4668 NiCr19Fe19Nb5Mo3 (1400)* Tools for extrusion of heavy metals, such as dies, die inserts, mandrel tips, press discs, hot scissor knives,
2.4973 NiCr19CoMo (1300)* sintering press tools, parts for gas turbines, environmental technology
(xxxx)* Expressed as tensile strength (N/mm2)

Fig. 5.1 Hot work tool steels and their applications

42 5 Applications

Fig. 5.2 Mosaic of selected applications of hot work tool steels, top left: forging saddles of
a 2000-ton press (photo: Schlegel, J., BGH Edelstahl Lippendorf GmbH), bottom left: ham-
mer die for a scissor piece (photo: Beck, K.-P., Bergheim), top right: extrusion die (photo:
VT vetimec, dies & special components), middle right: die casting tool (photo: VT vetimec,
dies & special components), bottom right: low-pressure casting tool for aluminum wheels
(photo: Borbet GmbH)

hot wear resistance. Based on this, the hot work tool steels 1.2344 (X40CrMoV5-
1), 1.2365 (32CrMoV12-28), 1.2367 (X38CrMoV5-3), 1.2714 (55NiCrMoV7)
and 1.2999 (X45MoCrV5-3-1), as well as a special molybdenum hot work tool
steel according to American standard SAE-AISI H42 (T20842) are mainly used
for the production of dies.
5 Applications 43

Extrusion
The extrusion process is used to produce a very long, profiled semi-finished
product (extrusion) by pressing a billet (round pre-block, heated to forming tem-
perature for steel) into a pressure chamber (recipient). The extrusion is carried
out by a stamp through a shaping die, with the extrusion taking on the profile
cross-section of the die. If a specially profiled mandrel is used, internally pro-
filed hollow extrusions (tube profiles) can also be produced. Depending on the
exit direction of the extrusion and the movement direction of the press stamp, a
distinction is made between direct and indirect extrusion, known in practice as
forward extrusion and backward extrusion. The friction forces in these process
variants are very different. In forward extrusion, the internal friction between the
recipient’s inner wall and the surface of the block must be overcome. In contrast,
this friction does not occur in backward extrusion. The friction component is even
lower in the rarely used hydrostatic extrusion process. Here, the pressing force
from the stamp is not applied directly to the block, but indirectly via an active
medium (water or oil). The hydrostatic pressure surrounding the block in the
recipient on all sides causes, at corresponding values (up to approx. 20.000 bar),
the material to be pressed out through the die into an extrusion without or with
very little friction in the die.
The tools for extrusion, such as the block holder (recipient) with the inner
bushing, the press stamp, the press plate and die, and the mandrel, are subject to
complex loads in operation, which have different effects on the individual tools,
such as material fatigue, locally very high wear, and increased temperature loads
at high pressures. Therefore, the hot hardness and high temperature strength with
high hot toughness, very good creep resistance, and good pressure and crack
resistance of the hot work tool steels used are important. For example, the fol-
lowing hot work tool steels are used for extrusion dies: 1.2340 (X35CrMoV5-1),
1.2343 (X37CrMoV5-1), 1.2344 (X40CrMoV5-1) and 1.2367 (X38CrMoV5-3).

Die-casting
The die-casting process involves injecting liquid metal from a casting chamber
into a closed mold contour using a piston and solidifying it under pressure, usu-
ally at 200 to 300 bar. Mainly, metals with low to medium melting points such
as tin, lead or zinc alloys, aluminum and magnesium, up to high-melting copper
alloys are shaped using die casting. It is a very economical casting process for
producing large series of formed components with high dimensional accuracy.
Cold chamber and hot chamber die casting are distinguished. In the cold cham-
ber process, the molten metal is taken from the furnace in portions and filled into
the casting chamber. A hydraulically driven piston then presses this melt into the
44 5 Applications

die casting mold. In this process, the cold casting chamber is only in contact
with the liquid melt temporarily during casting, not continuously throughout the
entire casting time. In the hot chamber die casting process, the casting cham-
ber is constantly in contact with the melt and is therefore constantly heated to
casting temperature. The requirements for the materials of the casting chamber,
the casting piston, and the casting mold with its core in terms of wear resis-
tance, tempering resistance, high temperature strength and toughness, and thermal
shock crack resistance are therefore also different (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Die_casting). In particular, for the cold construction of molds (basic construction
with frame), the hot work tool steel 1.2312 (40CrMnMoS8-6) is used for exam-
ple. Suitable hot work tool steels for the highly stressed mold-forming parts of
the casting mold are: 1.2343 (X37CrMoV5-1), 1.2344 (X40CrMoV5-1), 1.2365
(32CrMoV12-28), 1.2367 (X38CrMoV5-3) or the special Cr-Mo-V alloyed steel
Thermodur E 40 K Superclean from DEW. Increasingly, remelted ESR quali-
ties are used. Often, the mold-forming components undergo surface coating after
hardening to increase service life.
Material Data Sheets
6

For selected hot work tool steels, the relevant material data for each steel grade
are summarized below, such as:

• common trade names, equivalent standards and designations

• chemical compositions (standard analyses)
• physical properties
• information on thermal treatments, hardness progression during tempering,
high-temperature strength
• applications

For this selection, the most common and widely used hot work tool steel grades
in practice were used. Sources included known data on these steels, which can
be found in currently valid standards and material data sheets of steel manu-
facturers and steel dealers, in the Stahlschlüssel—Key to steel (Wegst & Wegst,
2019), as well as on Wikipedia, Wikibooks, and other encyclopedias, e.g., Metal
Encyclopedia, Weltstahl.com.

Note:
Steel manufacturers often only specify one value or narrower tolerances for the
contents of alloying elements in their material data sheets than the standard values
of the DIN EN ISO 4957 standard allow. Such manufacturer information cannot
be considered in this book, also not manufacturer-specific information, for exam-
ple, for ESR-remelted high-purity grades, special steels, and other properties,
such as weldability, grindability and machinability, as well as recommendations
for forming, welding, favorable cutting parameters during machining and surface
treatment.
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden 45
GmbH, part of Springer Nature 2024
J. Schlegel and T. Schneiders, Hot Work Tool Steel,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-43016-0_6
46 6 Material Data Sheets

1.2083 (X40Cr14)
Cold work tool steel, which is also used for hot work with high hardness acceptance (hardenable
steel), with high wear resistance, good machinability, good thermal conductivity, is easy to spark
erode, polish and etch, shows very low distortion.

Usual steel trade names:

M310 (Böhler), HC50 (Dörrenberg), Formadur 2083 (DEW)

Equivalent standads and designations:

Germany: DIN EN ISO 4957 1.2083 (X40Cr14) UNS:
USA: AISI / ASTM 420 England: BS
Japan: JIS Sweden: SS
France: AFNOR Z40C14 Russia: GOST

Chemical composition (in % by mass):

C Si Mn P S Co Cr Mo Ni V W Others
min. 0,36 - - - - - 12,50 - - - - -
max. 0,42 1,00 1,00 0,030 0,030 - 14,50 - - - - -

Physical proberties:

Density ρ: 7,80 g/cm3 Coefficient of thermal expansion α in 10-6/K:

Specific heat capacity c: 460 J/kg·K 20 bis 100 °C 10,5
Modulus of elasticity E: 200 kN/mm2 20 bis 200 °C 11,0
20 bis 300 °C 11,6
Thermal conductivity λ in W/m·K: 20 °C 21,0 20 bis 400 °C 11,9
200 °C 22,0 20 bis 500 °C
300 °C 23,8 20 bis 700 °C
400 °C 24,7

Thermal treatment: Cooling:

Soft annealing 760 - 800 °C ≥ 3 hours, in the furnace down to 500 °C, air
Hardness annealed ≤ 230 HB
Stress-relief annealing 600 - 650 °C 2 bis 4 hours, cooling in the furnace
Hardening 1000 - 1050 °C Oil, compressed gas (N2), hot bath (500 - 550 °C)
Tempering acc. tempering diagram

Hardness after quenching: approx. 53 HRC

Work hardness: approx. 52 HRC

Applications:
Corrosion and acid-stressed applications as plastic mold steel, for molding and pressing tools,
injection molds for abrasive plastics, machine components for the food industry, for medical
technology, e.g. surgical instruments, automotive components, sensors
6 Material Data Sheets 47

1.2311 (40CrMnMo7)
Quenched and tempered hot-work/plastic mold steel, delivery hardness 280 to 325 HB, low-sulfur
content and pressure-resistant, with high hardenability, is easy to machine and polish, and can also
be easily welded and nitrided.

Usual steel trade names:

M238 (Marks), M201 (Böhler), MCM (Dörrenberg), Formadur 2311 (DEW)
Equivalent standads and designations:
Germany: DIN EN ISO 4957 1.2311 (40CrMnMo7) UNS:
USA: AISI / ASTM P20 England: BS
Japan: JIS SKT3 Sweden: SS
France: AFNOR 40CMD8 Russia: GOST

Chemical composition (% by mass):

C Si Mn P S Co Cr Mo Ni V W Others
min. 0,35 0,20 1,30 - - - 1,80 0,15 - - - -
max. 0,45 0,40 1,60 0,035 0,035 - 2,10 0,25 - - - -
Physical proberties:
Density ρ: 7,80 g/cm3 Coefficient of thermal expansion α in 10-6/K:
Specific heat capacity c: 460 J/kg·K 20 bis 100 °C 11,1
20 bis 200 °C 12,9
Modulus of elasticity E: 20 bis 300 °C 13,4
Thermal conductivity λ in W/m·K: 20 °C 34,5 20 bis 400 °C 13,8
350 °C 33,5 20 bis 500 °C 14,2
20 bis 600 °C 14,6
700 °C 32,0 20 bis 700 °C 14,9

Thermal treatment: Cooling:

Soft annealing 580 - 600 °C ≥ 3 hours, in the furnace down to 500 °C, air
Hardness annealed ≤ 230 HB
Stress-relief annealing approx. 600 °C 2 - 4 hours, cooling in the furnace
Hardening 830 - 870 °C Oil, warm bath (200 - 230 °C)
Tempering acc. tempering diagram

Hardness after quenching: approx. 53 HRC

Work hardness: 29 - 46 HRC

Applications:
Heated recipient jackets and intermediate sleeves in extrusion and tube presses for all metals, die
holders and die inserts, parts for mechanical engineering, plastic mold making (mold plates, inserts),
blow molding, injection molding and pressure molding
48 6 Material Data Sheets

1.2312 (40CrMnMoS8-7)
Hot work/plastic mold steel, delivery hardness 280 to 325 HB, low alloyed with defined sulfur
content, easy to machine, has good dimensional accuracy and toughness, wear-resistant after
nitriding.

Usual steel trade names:

M200 (Böhler), MCMS (Dörrenberg), Formadur 2312 (DEW)
Equivalent standads and designations:
Germany: DIN EN ISO 4957 1.2312 (40CrMnMoS8-6) UNS:
USA: AISI / ASTM P20+S England: BS
Japan: JIS Sweden: SS
France: AFNOR 40CMD8.S Russia: GOST

Chemical composition (% by mass):

C Si Mn P S Co Cr Mo Ni V W Others
min. 0,35 0,30 1,40 - 0,050 - 1,80 0,15 - - - -
max. 0,45 0,50 1,60 0,030 0,100 - 2,00 0,25 - - - -

Physical proberties:
Density ρ: 7,84 g/cm3 Coefficient of thermal expansion α in 10-6/K:
Specific heat capacity c: 460 J/kg·K 20 bis 100 °C
Modulus of elasticity E: 210 kN/mm2 20 bis 200 °C 13,0
20 bis 300 °C 13,7
Thermal conductivity λ in W/m·K: 150 °C 40,4 20 bis 400 °C
200 °C 40,4 20 bis 500 °C
250 °C 39,9 20 bis 600 °C
300 °C 39,0 20 bis 700 °C

Thermal treatment: Cooling:

Soft annealing 710 - 740 °C 4 - 6 hours, cooling in the furnace
Hardness annealed ≤ 230 HB
Stress-relief annealing 650 - 680 °C 2 - 3 hours, cooling in the furnace
Hardening 840 - 870 °C Oil, warm bath, air
Tempering acc. tempering diagram two times with two hours

Hardness after quenching: approx. 54 HRC

Work hardness: approx. 34 - 50 HRC

Applications:
Plastic injection molds, extruder nozzles for thermoplastics , molds and mold frames for die-casting,
parts for mechanical engineering, tools for non-cutting molding
6 Material Data Sheets 49

1.2329 (46CrSiMoV7)
Hot work tool steel with high tempering resistance, hot strength, high resistance to thermal shock
and heat cracking, with good quenchability, with good machinability and weldability, good toughness,
nitridable, PVD/CVD coated, easy to polish.

Usual steel trade names:

Thermodur 2329 (DEW)

Equivalent standads and designations:

Germany: DIN EN ISO 4957 1.2329 (46CrSiMoV7) UNS:
USA: AISI / ASTM England: BS
Japan: JIS Sweden: SS
France: AFNOR Russia: GOST

Chemical composition (% by mass):

C Si Mn P S Co Cr Mo Ni V W Others
min. 0,43 0,60 0,65 - - - 1,65 0,25 0,45 0,17 - -
max. 0,48 0,75 0,85 0,030 0,030 - 1,85 0,35 0,60 0,22 - -

Physical proberties:
Density ρ: 7,85 g/cm3 Coefficient of thermal expansion α in 10-6/K:
Specific heat capacity c: 20 bis 100 °C
20 bis 200 °C
Modulus of elasticity E:
20 bis 300 °C
Thermal conductivity λ in W/m·K: 150 °C 20 bis 400 °C
200 °C 20 bis 500 °C
250 °C 20 bis 600 °C
300 °C 20 bis 700 °C

Thermal treatment: Cooling:

Soft annealing 780 - 800 °C in the furnace or in air
Hardness annealed ≤ 230 HB
Stress-relief annealing
Hardening 880 - 920 °C Air, oil, warm bath (200 - 250 °C)
Tempering acc. tempering diagram

Hardness after quenching: approx. 53 - 55 HRC

Work hardness: approx. 50 HRC

Applications:
dies, molds, stamping, engineering components for high working temperatures, low-pressure tools,
containers for printing presses, sleeves for extrusion presses, extrusion press ingots
50 6 Material Data Sheets

1.2340 (X36CrMoV5-1)
Hot work tool steel with very good hot strength, with improved toughness, with good thermal
conductivity and insensitivity to heat cracking, high-gloss polishable, coatable, nitridable and easy to
machine.

Usual steel trade names:

~ Thermodur E 38 K Superclean (DEW), W400 (Böhler)
Equivalent standads and designations:
Germany: DIN EN ISO 4957 1.2340 (X36CrMoV5-1) UNS: ~ T20811
USA: AISI / ASTM ~ H11 USA: NADCA E1810
Japan: JIS England: BS
France: AFNOR Sweden: SS

Chemical composition (% by mass):

C Si Mn P S Co Cr Mo Ni V W Others
min. 0,32 - 0,10 - - - 4,60 1,10 - 0,35 - -
max. 0,40 0,50 0,50 0,020 0,010 - 5,40 1,60 0,30 0,60 - -

Physical proberties:
Density ρ: 7,80 g/cm3 Coefficient of thermal expansion α in 10-6/K:
Specific heat capacity c: 460 J/kg·K 20 bis 100 °C 11,8
Modulus of elasticiy E: 211 kN/mm2 20 bis 200 °C 12,4
Thermal conductivity λ in W/m·K: 20 bis 300 °C 12,6
annealed hardened & tempered 20 bis 400 °C 12,7
20 bis 500 °C 12,8
20 °C 29,8 26,8 20 bis 600 °C 12,9
350 °C 30,0 27,3 20 bis 700 °C 12,9
700 °C 33,4 30,3
Thermal treatment: Cooling:
Soft annealing 740 - 780 °C in the furnace
Hardness annealed ≤ 200 HB
Stress-relief annealing
Hardening 1000 - 1030 °C Oil, warm bath (500 - 550 °C)
Tempering acc. tempering diagram

Hardness after quenching: approx. 53 HRC

Work Hardness: approx. 51 - 52 HRC

Applications:
Universally applicable hot work tool steels, especially for applications subject to high bending
stresses such as extrusion and die casting tools for light metal
6 Material Data Sheets 51

1.2342 (X35CrMoV5-1-1)
Hot work tool steel with high toughness, good thermal conductivity and insensitivity to heat
cracking, conditionally water-coolable.

Usual steel trade names:

Thermodur 2342 EFS / 2343 EFS Superclean (DEW)
Equivalent standads and designations:
Germany: DIN EN ISO 4957 1.2342 (X35CrMoV5-1-1) UNS:
USA: AISI / ASTM USA: NANCA
Japan: JIS England: BS
France: AFNOR Sweden: SS

Chemical composition (% by mass):

C Si Mn P S Co Cr Mo Ni V W Others
min. 0,30 0,70 0,40 - - - 4,50 1,00 - 0,80 - -
max. 0,40 1,20 0,60 0,030 0,030 - 5,50 1,20 - 1,00 - -

Physical proberties:
Density ρ: 7,80 g/cm3 Coefficient of thermal expansion α in 10-6/K:
20 bis 100 °C 10,9
Specific heat capacity c: 20 bis 200 °C 11,9
Modulus of elasticity E: 20 bis 300 °C 12,3
20 bis 400 °C 12,7
Thermal conductivity λ in W/m·K: 20 °C 24,5 20 bis 500 °C 13,0
350 °C 26,8 20 bis 600 °C 13,1
700 °C 28,8 20 bis 700 °C 13,5

Thermal treatment: Cooling:

Soft annealing 750 - 800 °C in the furnace
Hardness annealed ≤ 230 HB
Stress-relief annealing
Hardening 1000 - 1040 °C Air, oil, warm bath (500 - 550 °C)
Tempering acc. tempering diagram

Hardness after quenching: approx. 53 HRC

Work hardness: approx. 48 - 50 HRC

Applications:
mandrel bars, die casting molds, extrusion dies
52 6 Material Data Sheets

1.2343 (X37CrMoV5-1)
Hot work tool steel with high hot strength and toughness, good thermal conductivity and
insensitivity to hot cracking, conditionally water-coolable.

Usual steel trade names:

Thermodur 2343 EFS / 2343 EFS Superclean (DEW)
Equivalent standads and designations:
Germany: DIN EN ISO 4957 1.2342 (X35CrMoV5-1-1) UNS:
USA: AISI / ASTM H11 USA: NADCA
Japan: JIS England: BS
France: AFNOR Z38CDV5 Sweden: SS

Chemical composition (% by mass):

C Si Mn P S Co Cr Mo Ni V W Others
min. 0,33 0,87 0,20 - - - 4,80 1,10 - 0,30 - -
max. 0,41 1,20 0,60 0,030 0,020 - 5,50 1,50 - 0,50 - -

Physical proberties:
Density ρ: 7,80 g/cm3 Wärmeausdehnungskoeffizient α in 10-6/K:
Specific heat capacity c: 460 J/kg·K 20 bis 100 °C 11,8
Modulus of elasticity E: 215 kN/mm2 20 bis 200 °C 12,4
20 bis 300 °C 12,6
Thermal conductivity λ in W/m·K:
20 bis 400 °C 12,7
annealed hardened & tempered 20 bis 500 °C 12,8
20 °C 29,8 26,8 20 bis 600 °C 12,9
350 °C 30,0 27,3 20 bis 700 °C 12,9
700 °C 33,4 30,3

Thermal treatment: Cooling:

Soft annealing 750 - 800 °C in the furnace
Hardness annealed ≤ 230 HB
Stress-relief annealing
Hardening 1000 - 1030 °C Air, oil, warm bath (500 - 550 °C)
Tempering acc. tempering diagram

Hardness after quenching: approx. 54 HRC

Work hardness: approx. 52 - 53 HRC

Applications:
Universally usable hot work tool steel, die-casting and extrusion tools for light metal, forging dies,
mandrel bars, reinforcing rings, hot scissor blades, hot extrusion tools
6 Material Data Sheets 53

1.2344 (X40CrMoV5-1)
Standard hot work tool steel with higher hot strength than 1.2343 (X37CrMoV5-1), with very good
heat toughness and heat wear resistance, with good thermal conductivity and heat crack resistance.

Usual steel trade names:

Thermodur 2344 EFS / 2344 EFS Superclean (DEW), ES 245 W (EschmannStahl),
WP5V (Dörrenberg)
Equivalent standads and designations:
Germany: DIN EN ISO 4957 1.2344 (X40CrMoV5-1) UNS: T20813
USA: AISI / ASTM H13 England: BS BH13
Japan: JIS SKD61 Sweden: SS 2242
France: AFNOR Z40CDV5 Russia: GOST 4Ch5MF1S

Chemical composition (% by mass):

C Si Mn P S Co Cr Mo Ni V W Others
min. 0,35 0,80 0,25 - - - 4,80 1,20 - 0,85 - -
max. 0,42 1,20 0,50 0,030 0,020 - 5,50 1,50 - 1,15 - -

Physical proberties:
Density ρ: 7,78 g/cm3 Coefficient of thermal expansion α in 10-6/K:
Specific heat capacity c: 460 J/kg·K 20 bis 100 °C 10,9
Modulus of elasticity E: 215 kN/mm2 20 bis 200 °C 11,9
Thermal conductivity λ in W/m·K: 20 bis 300 °C 12,3
20 bis 400 °C 12,7
annealed hardened & tempered
20 bis 500 °C 13,0
20 °C 27,2 25,5 20 bis 600 °C 13,3
350 °C 30,5 27,6 20 bis 700 °C 13,5
700 °C 33,4 30,3

Thermal treatment: Cooling:

Soft annealing 750 - 800 °C ≥ 4 hours, in the furnace down to 500 °C, air
Hardness annealed ≤ 240 HB
Stress-relief annealing 600 - 650 °C in the furnace
Hardening 1000 - 1040 °C Air, nitrogen, oil, warm bath (500 - 550 °C)
Tempering acc. tempering diagram

Hardness after quenching: approx. 54 HRC

Work hardness: approx. 45 - 53 HRC

Applications:
Universally applicable, e.g. for die-casting tools and permanent molds for light metal processing,
tools for forging machines, dies, die inserts, extrusion tools, mandrel rods for tube production, hot
scissor knives, ejector pins
54 6 Material Data Sheets

1.2345 (X50CrMoV5-1)
Hot work tool steel with increased carbon content, high wear resistance, good hot strength and
high hardenability, with only little change in size.

Usual steel trade names:

DM51 (Dörrenberg), K306 (Böhler)

Equivalent standads and designations:

Germany: DIN EN ISO 4957 1.2345 (X50CrMoV5-1) UNS:
USA: AISI / ASTM England: BS
Japan: JIS Sweden: SS
France: AFNOR Russia: GOST

Chemical composition (% by mass):

C Si Mn P S Co Cr Mo Ni V W Others
min. 0,48 0,80 0,20 - - - 4,80 1,25 - 0,80 - -
max. 0,53 1,10 0,40 0,030 0,030 - 5,20 1,45 - 1,00 - -

Physical pproberties:

Density ρ: 7,80 g/cm3 Coefficient of thermal expansion α in 10-6/K:

20 bis 100 °C 11,7
Specific heat capacity c: 460 J/kg·K
20 bis 200 °C
Modulus of elasticity E: 215 kN/mm2 20 bis 300 °C 12,7
Thermal conductivity λ in W/m·K: 20 °C 19,5 20 bis 400 °C
20 bis 500 °C 13,4
350 °C 24,8 20 bis 600 °C
700 °C 26,4 20 bis 700 °C 13,8

Thermal treatment: Cooling:

Soft annealing 780 - 810 °C in the furnace down to 500 °C, air
Hardness annealed ≤ 230 HB
Stress-relief annealing 600 - 650 °C 2 bis 4 hours, cooling in the furnace
Hardening 1010 - 1030 °C Air, nitrogen, oil, warm bath (500 - 550 °C)
Tempering acc. tempering diagram

Hardness after quenching: approx. 56 HRC

Work hardness: approx. 52 - 55 HRC

Applications:
Hot stretching rollers, scissor knives, cold pilger rollers and mandrels
6 Material Data Sheets 55

1.2365 (32CrMoV12-28)
Hot work tool steel with very good hot strength, high toughness and high tempering resistance,
with good thermal conductivity, high thermal shock resistance, water-coolable and cold-sinkable.

Usual steel trade names:

Thermodur 2365 EFS / 2365 EFS Superclean (DEW), DM3 (Dörrenberg), W320 (Böhler)
Equivalent standads and designations:
Germany: DIN EN ISO 4957 1.2365 (32CrMoV12-28) UNS: T20810
USA: AISI / ASTM h10 England: BS BH10
Japan: JIS SKD7 Sweden: SS X38CrMo16
France: AFNOR 32CDV12-28 Russia: GOST 3Ch3M3F

Chemical composition (% by mass):

C Si Mn P S Co Cr Mo Ni V W Others
min. 0,28 0,10 0,15 - - - 2,70 2,50 - 0,40 - -
max. 0,35 0,40 0,45 0,030 0,020 - 3,20 3,00 - 0,70 - -

Physical proberties:
Density ρ: 7,85 g/cm3 Coefficient of thermal expansion α in 10-6/K:
Specific heat capacity c: 460 J/kg·K 20 bis 100 °C 11,8
20 bis 200 °C 12,5
Modulus of elasticity E: 215 kN/mm2 20 bis 300 °C 12,7
Thermal conductivity λ in W/m·K: 20 bis 400 °C 13,1
annealed hardened & tempered 20 bis 500 °C 13,5
20 bis 600 °C 13,6
20 °C 32,8 31,4
20 bis 700 °C 13,8
350 °C 34,5 32,0
700 °C 32,2 29,3

Thermal treatment: Cooling:

Soft annealing 750 - 800 °C in the furnace
Hardness annealed ≤ 229 HB
Stress-relief annealing 600 - 650 °C 2 bis 4 hours, cooling in the furnace
Hardening 1030 - 1050 °C Oil, warm bath (500 - 550 °C)
Tempering acc. tempering diagram

Hardness after quenching: approx. 52 HRC

Work hardness: approx. 50 HRC

Applications:
For highly stressed hot work tools such as die-casting molds and recipient inner bushings for heavy
metal alloys, press discs, press and hole mandrels for extrusion presses
56 6 Material Data Sheets

1.2367 (X38CrMoV5-3)
Hot work tool steel with high hot strength and high tempering resistance, high toughness and
hardenability, high thermal shock resistance and low tendency to warping

Usual steel trade names:

Thermodur 2367 EFS / 2367 EFS Superclean (DEW), DM3X (Dörrenberg), W303 (Böhler)
Equivalent standads and designations:
Germany: DIN EN ISO 4957 1.2367 (X38CrMoV5-3) UNS:
USA: AISI / ASTM England: BS
Japan: JIS Sweden: SS X38CrMoV5-3
France: AFNOR Z38CDV5-3 Russia: GOST

Chemical composition (% by mass):

C Si Mn P S Co Cr Mo Ni V W Others
min. 0,35 0,30 0,30 - - - 4,80 2,70 - 0,40 - -
max. 0,40 0,50 0,50 0,030 0,020 - 5,20 3,20 - 0,60 - -

Physical proberties:
Density ρ: 7,85 g/cm3 Coefficient of thermal expansion α in 10-6/K:
Specific heat capacity c: 460 J/kg·K 20 bis 100 °C 11,9
20 bis 200 °C 12,5
Modulus of elasticity E: 215 kN/mm2 20 bis 300 °C 12,6
Thermal conductivity λ in W/m·K: 20 bis 400 °C 12,8
annealed hardened % tempered 20 bis 500 °C 13,1
20 °C 30,8 29,8 20 bis 600 °C 13,3
20 bis 700 °C 13,5
350 °C 33,5 33,9
700 °C 35,1 35,3

Thermal treatment: Cooling:

Soft annealing 730 - 800 °C in the furnace
Hardness annealed ≤ 235 HB
Stress-relief annealing 600 - 650 °C 2 bis 4 hours, cooling in the furnace
Hardening 1020 - 1050 °C Air, oil, warm bath (500 - 550 °C)
Tempering acc. tempering diagram

Hardness after quenching: approx. 57 HRC

Work hardness: 52 - 50 HRC

Applications:
dies, die-casting dies, intermediate bushings, die holders, press punches for heavy metal, profile dies
and mandrels, tools for screw, nut, rivet and stud production, hot scissor knives
6 Material Data Sheets 57

1.2606 (X37CrMoW5-1)
Hot work steel with very good hot strength and good heat-wear behavior, high thermal shock
resistance.

Usual steel trade names:

1.2606 Calor MOCR (Haeckerstahl), EPS W 51 (Ossenberg)
Equivalent standads and designations:
Germany: DIN EN ISO 4957 1.2606 (X37CrMoV5-1) UNS:
USA: AISI / ASTM H12 England: BS BH12
Japan: JIS SKD62 Sweden: SS
France: AFNOR Z35CWDV5 Russia: GOST

Chemical composition (% by mass):

C Si Mn P S Co Cr Mo Ni V W Others
min. 0,32 0,90 0,30 - - - 5,00 1,30 - 0,15 1,20 -
max. 0,40 1,20 0,60 0,035 0,035 - 5,60 1,60 - 0,40 1,40 -

Physical Proberties:

Density ρ: 7,85 g/cm3 Coefficient of thermal expansion α in 10-6/K:

20 bis 100 °C
Specific heat capacity c: 20 bis 200 °C
20 bis 300 °C
Modulus of elasticity E: 20 bis 400 °C
Thermal conductivity λ: 20 bis 500 °C
20 bis 600 °C
20 bis 700 °C

Thermal treatment: Cooling:

Soft annealing 820 - 850 °C in the furnace
Hardness annealed ≤ 230 HB
Stress-relief annealing
Hardening 1000 - 1050 °C Oil, warm bath (500 - 550 °C)
Tempering acc. tempering diagram

Hardness after quenching: 58 HRC

Work hardness: approx. 55 HRC

Applications:
Inner bushings and punches for metal extrusion presses, pressing tools, molding dies, forging dies,
die-casting molds for light metal, hot scissor knives, trimming tools
58 6 Material Data Sheets

1.2678 (X45CoCrWV5-5-5)
High-alloyed hot work tool steel with added cobalt for maximum wear resistance, with very good
hot strength and tempering resistance.

Usual steel trade names:

1.2678
Equivalent standads and designations:
Germany: DIN EN ISO 4957 1.2678 (X45CoCrWV5-5-5) UNS: T20819
USA: AISI / ASTM H19 England: BS
Japan: JIS Sweden: SS
France: AFNOR Russia: GOST

Chemical composition (% by mass):

C Si Mn P S Co Cr Mo Ni V W Others
min. 0,40 0,30 0,30 - - 4,00 4,00 0,40 - 1,80 4,00 -
max. 0,50 0,50 0,50 0,025 0,025 5,00 5,00 0,60 - 2,10 5,00 -

Physical proberties:
Density ρ: 7,70 g/cm3 Coefficient of thermal expansion α in 10-6/K:
Specific heat capacity c: 460 J/kg·K 20 bis 100 °C 10
20 bis 200 °C
Modulus of elasticity E: 200 kN/mm2 20 bis 300 °C
Thermal conductivity λ in W/m·K: 20 °C 25 20 bis 400 °C
20 bis 500 °C
350 °C
20 bis 600 °C
700 °C
20 bis 700 °C

Thermal treatment: Cooling:

Soft annealing 780 - 800 °C in the furnace
Hardness annealed ≤ 240 HB
Stress-relief annealing
Hardening 1130 - 1160 °C Oil, gas, air, warm bath,
Tempering acc. tempering diagram

Hardness after quenching: 54 HRC

Work hardness: 50 - 54 HRC

Applications:
Hot extrusion dies, mandrels, punches, highly stressed dies and die inserts, brass die-casting molds
6 Material Data Sheets 59

1.2709 (X3NiCoMoTi18-9-5)
High-alloyed hot work tool steel, outstandingly low-distortion, with special property of precipitation
hardenability (nickel martensite), ultra-high strength with good toughness, easy to polish, actually a
cold work steel that can also be used up to 450 °C.

Usual steel trade names:

Cryodur 2709 (DEW), 18% Ni Maraging 300, ~ W720 (Böhler)
Equivalent standads and designations:
Germany: DIN EN ISO 4957 1.2709 (X3NiCoMoTi18-9-5) UNS: ~ K93120
USA: AISI / ASTM 18MAR300 England: BS
Japan: JIS Sweden: SS
France: AFNOR Russia: GOST

Chemical composition (% by mass):

C Si Mn P S Co Cr Mo Ni V W Others
min. - - - - - 8,50 - 4,50 17,00 - - Ti
max. 0,03 0,10 0,15 0,010 0,010 10,00 0,25 5,20 19,00 - - 0,80-1,20

Physical proberties:
Density ρ: 8,05 g/cm3 Coefficient of thermal expansion α in 10-6/K:
Specific heat capacity c: 460 J/kg·K 20 bis 100 °C 10,7
20 bis 200 °C 11,2
Modulus of elasticity E: 175 kN/mm2 20 bis 300 °C 11,5
Thermal conductivity λ in W/m·K: 20 °C 18,4 20 bis 400 °C 11,5
20 bis 500 °C 11,9
350 °C 23,2
500 °C 24,0
Thermal treatment: Cooling:
Solution annealing 820 - 840 °C Quenching in gas flow
Aging treatment 480 - 550 °C 6 hours air

Hardness: 55 - 57 HRC
(reachable by aging)

Applications:
Suitable for tools that require maximum strength and high yield and tensile strengths under
moderate thermal loads, are tough and have little notch sensitivity: extrusion punches for pressing
steel, diecasting molds, partial press dies, mandrels for cold rolling tubes, parts for automotive,
aerospace and prototype construction, also as powder for additive applications
60 6 Material Data Sheets

1.2714 (55NiCrMoV7)
Hot work tool steel, low alloyed with good toughness and high compressive strength, good
hardenable in oil and air (similar: 1.2713 – 55NiCrMoV6).

Usual steel trade names:

L6-Werkzeugstahl, W500 (Böhler), Thermodur 2714 (DEW)
Equivalent standads and designations:
Germany: DIN EN ISO 4957 1.2713 (55NiCrMoV6) UNS: T61206
USA: AISI / ASTM L2 / L6 England: BS
Japan: JIS SKT4 Sweden: SS
France: AFNOR 55NiCrMoV7 Russia: GOST 5ChNM

Chemical composition (% by mass):

C Si Mn P S Co Cr Mo Ni V W Others
min. 0,50 0,10 0,60 - - - 0,80 0,35 1,50 0,05 - -
max. 0,60 0,40 0,90 0,030 0,030 - 1,20 0,55 1,80 0,15 - -

Physical proberties:

Density ρ: 7,85 g/cm3 Coefficient of thermal expansion α in 10-6/K:

20 bis 100 °C 12,2
Specific heat capacity c: 470 J/kg·K
20 bis 200 °C 13,0
Modulus of elasticity E: 175 kN/mm2 20 bis 300 °C 13,3
Thermal conductivity λ in W/m·K: 20 °C 36,0 20 bis 400 °C 13,7
20 bis 500 °C 14,2
350 °C 38,0 20 bis 600 °C 14,4
700 °C 35,0

Thermal treatment: Cooling:

Soft annealing 660 - 700 °C in the furnace
Hardness annealed ≤ 250 HB
Stress-relief annealing 630 - 650 °C 2 bis 4 hours, cooling in the furnace
Hardening 830 - 870 °C Oil, air
Tempering acc. tempering diagram

Hardness after quenching: 56 - 58 HRC

Applications:
Dies of all kinds for installation hardnesses from 355 to 410 HB as well as jaws, inserts, punches for
screw production and similar tools, forging saddles, plastic press molds, rollers, rollers, hot scissor
knives
6 Material Data Sheets 61

1.2740 (28NiCrMoV10)
Air-hardening special steel for hot work with high toughness and thermal shock resistance.

Usual steel trade names:

Thermodur 2740 (DEW)
Equivalent standads and designations:
Germany: DIN EN ISO 4957 1.2740 (28NiCrMoV10) UNS:
USA: AISI / ASTM England: BS
Japan: JIS Sweden: SS
France: AFNOR Russia: GOST

Chemical composition (% by mass):

C Si Mn P S Co Cr Mo Ni V W Others
min. 0,24 0,30 0,20 - - - 0,60 0,50 2,30 0,25 - -
max. 0,32 0,50 0,40 0,030 0,030 - 0,90 0,70 2,60 0,32 - -

Physical proberties:
Density ρ: 7,85 g/cm3 Coefficient of thermal expansion α in 10-6/K:
20 bis 100 °C
Specific heat capacity c: 20 bis 200 °C
20 bis 300 °C
Modulus of elasticity E:
20 bis 400 °C
Thermal conductivity λ: 20 bis 500 °C
20 bis 600 °C

Thermal treatment: Cooling:

Soft annealing 670 -7800 °C in the furnace
Hardness annealed ≤ 240 HB
Stress-relief annealing
Hardening 840 - 870 °C Oil, air
Tempering acc. tempering diagram

Hardness after quenching: 49 HRC

Applications:
Special steel for mandrel rods and pilgrim mandrels
62 6 Material Data Sheets

1.2766 (35NiCrMo16)
Tool steel for hot work, easy to harden, low distortion, with high toughness, polishable.

Usual steel trade names:

35NiCrMo16 or: X35NiCrMo4
Equivalent standads and designations:
Germany: DIN EN ISO 4957 1.2766 (35NiCrMo16) UNS:
USA: AISI / ASTM England: BS
Japan: JIS Sweden: SS
France: AFNOR Russia: GOST

Chemical composition (% by mass):

C Si Mn P S Co Cr Mo Ni V W Others
min. 0,32 0,15 0,40 - - - 1,20 0,20 3,80 - - -
max. 0,38 0,30 0,60 0,035 0,035 - 1,50 0,40 4,30 - - -

Physical proberties:

Density ρ: 7,85 g/cm3 Coefficient of thermal expansion α in 10-6/K:

20 bis 100 °C
Specific heat capacity c:
20 bis 200 °C
Modulus of elasticity E: 20 bis 250 °C 24
Thermal conductivity λ in W/m·K: 20 °C 20 bis 400 °C
20 bis 500 °C
250 °C 42,2 20 bis 600 °C
850 °C 42,3

Thermal treatment: Cooling:

Soft annealing 620 - 660 °C in the furnace
Hardness annealed ≤ 260 HB
Stress-relief annealing
Hardening 820 - 850 °C Oil, air
Tempering acc. tempering diagram

Hardness after quenching: 56 HRC

Work hardness: 37 - 49 HRC

Applications:
Highly stressed press and impact dies, press punches, upsetting tools, hot rolling rings and inner
bushings for metal extrusion presses
6 Material Data Sheets 63

1.2767 (45NiCrMo16)
Quenched and tempered steel (good hardenability), nickel alloyed, with highest toughness, very
high compressive and flexural strength, high-gloss polishable. Also used as cold work steel.

Usual steel trade names:

45NiCrMo16 or: X45NiCrMo4
Equivalent standads and designations:
Germany: DIN EN ISO 4957 1.2767 (45NiCrMo16) UNS:
USA: AISI / ASTM ~ 6F7 England: BS
Japan: JIS Sweden: SS
France: AFNOR 45NCD16 Russia: GOST

Chemical composition (% by mass):

C Si Mn P S Co Cr Mo Ni V W Others
min. 0,40 0,10 0,20 - - - 1,20 0,15 3,80 - - -
max. 0,50 0,40 0,50 0,030 0,030 - 1,50 0,35 4,30 - - -

Physical proberties:

Density ρ: 7,85 g/cm3 Coefficient of thermal expansion α in 10-6/K:

20 bis 100 °C
Specific heat capacity c: 460 J/kg·K
20 bis 200 °C
Modulus of elasticity E: 210 kN/mm2 20 bis 250 °C
Thermal conductivity λ in W/m·K: 20 °C 28 20 bis 400 °C
20 bis 500 °C
1 00 °C 30 20 bis 600 °C

Thermal treatment: Cooling:

Soft annealing 610 - 650 °C in the furnace
Hardness annealed ≤ 260 HB
Stress-relief annealing approx. 650 °C in the furnace
Hardening 840 - 870 °C Oil, warm bath, air
Tempering acc. tempering diagram

Hardness after quenching: 53 - 57 HRC

Work hardness: 52 - 55 HRC

Applications:
Plastic molds, mold plates, solid stamping tools, mold inserts for injection molds, embossing, forming
and bending tools, cold sinking tools
64 6 Material Data Sheets

1.2782 (Xx16CrNiSi25-20)
Austenitic hot work tool steel, scale resistant to air up to 1150 °C, resistant to oxidizing
atmosphere, excellent hot strength, good cold forming.

Usual steel trade names:

Thermodur 2782 (DEW), TK 2782 ESU (thyssenkrupp)

Equivalent standads and designations:

Germany: DIN EN ISO 4957 1.2782 (X16CrNiSi25-20) UNS:
USA: AISI / ASTM England: BS
Japan: JIS Sweden: SS
France: AFNOR Russia: GOST

Chemical composition (% by mass):

C Si Mn P S Co Cr Mo Ni V W Others
min. - 1,80 - - - - 24,00 - 19,00 - - -
max. 0,20 2,30 2,00 0,035 0,035 - 26,00 - 21,00 - - -

Physical proberties:
Density ρ: 7,85 g/cm3 Coefficient of trhermal expansion α in 10-6/K:
Specific heat capacity c: J/kg·K 20 bis 100 °C
20 bis 200 °C 16,5
Modulus of elasticity E: 190 - 210 kN/mm2 20 bis 250 °C
20 bis 400 °C 17,0
Thermal conductivity λ in W/m·K: 20 °C 13,0 20 bis 500 °C
500 °C 19,0 20 bis 600 °C 17,5

Thermal treatment: Cooling:

Solution annealing 1000 - 1100 °C Air or water

Aging treatment Hardness annealed ≤ 230 HB

Strength after quenching: 495 - 705 MPa

Applications:
Tools for glass processing, e.g. caps, pipe bowls, pipe spindles, mouthpieces, starting iron tools
6 Material Data Sheets 65

1.2787 (X23CrNi17)
Hot work tool steel, temperable, resistant to corrosion and scale.

Usual steel trade names:

Thermodur 2787 (DEW), N350 (Böhler)
Equivalent standads and designations:
Germany: DIN EN ISO 4957 1.2787 (X23CrNi17) UNS:
USA: AISI / ASTM England: BS S80
Japan: JIS SUS431FB / SUS431 Sweden: SS
France: AFNOR Z15CN16-02 Russia: GOST ~ 20Ch17N2

Chemical composition (% by mass):

C Si Mn P S Co Cr Mo Ni V W Others
min. 0,10 - - - - - 15,50 - 1,00 - - -
max. 0,25 1,00 1,00 0,035 0,035 - 18,00 - 2,50 - - -

Physical proberties:

Density ρ: 7,70 g/cm3 Coefficient of thermal expansion α in 10-6/K:

Specific heat capacity c: 460 J/kg·K 20 bis 100 °C 10,0
20 bis 200 °C 10,5
Modulus of elasticity E: 215 kN/mm2 20 bis 300 °C 11,0
Thermal conductivity λ in W/m·K: 20 °C 25 20 bis 400 °C 11,0
20 bis 500 °C 11,0

Thermal treatment: Cooling:

Soft annealing 710 - 750 °C in the furnace
Hardness annealed ≤ 245 HB
Stress-relief annealing approx. 650 °C in the furnace
Hardening 990 - 1020 °C Oil or warm bath, 200 °C
Tempering acc. tempering diagram

Hardness after quenching: 47 HRC

Work hardness: 38 - 45 HRC

Applications:
Tools for glass processing
66 6 Material Data Sheets

1.2885 (X32CrMoCoV3-3-3)
Hot work tool steel with cobalt content, with good hot strength, good tempering resistance and
good heat-wear resistance, with good thermal conductivity it can tolerate hard water cooling.

Usual steel trade names:

LO-W 2885 (Lohmann)
Equivalent standads and designations:
Germany: DIN EN ISO 4957 1.2885 (X23CrMoCoV3-3-3) UNS:
USA: AISI / ASTM H10A England: BS
Japan: JIS Sweden: SS
France: AFNOR Russia: GOST

Chemical composition (% by mass):

C Si Mn P S Co Cr Mo Ni V W Others
min. 0,28 0,10 0,15 - - 2,50 2,70 2,60 - 0,40 - -
max. 0,35 0,40 0,45 0,030 0,030 3,00 3,20 3,00 - 0,70 - -
Physical proberties:

Density ρ: 7,88 g/cm3 Coefficient of thermal expansion α in 10-6/K:

20 bis 100 °C 10,5
Specific heat capacity c: 20 bis 200 °C 11,3
Modulus of elasticity E: 20 bis 300 °C 11,8
20 bis 400 °C 12,3
Thermal conductivity λ in W/m·K: 20 °C 27,3 20 bis 500 °C 12,5
20 bis 600 °C 12,8

Thermal treatment: Cooling:

Soft annealing 760 - 840 °C in the furnace down to < 500 °C
Hardness annealed ≤ 230 HB
Stress-relief annealing
Hardening 1000 - 1050 °C Oil, gas, warm bath (550 °C)
Tempering acc. tempering diagram

Hardness after quenching: 52 HRC

Work hardness: 46 - 50 HRC

Applications:
Tools for die-casting, hot pressing, extrusion and continuous casting mainly for heavy metals, hole
mandrels
6 Material Data Sheets 67

1.2888 (X20CoCrWMo10-9)
High-alloyed hot work tool steel with special resistance to high temperature wear, has extremely
high tempering resistance and high temperature resistance to molten metals.

Usual steel trade names:

LO-W 2888 (Lohmann)
Equivalent standads and designations:
Germany: DIN EN ISO 4957 1.2888 (X20CoCrWMo10-9) UNS:
USA: AISI / ASTM England: BS
Japan: JIS Sweden: SS
France: AFNOR Russia: GOST

Chemical composition (% by mass):

C Si Mn P S Co Cr Mo Ni V W Others
min. 0,17 0,15 0,40 - - 9,50 9,00 1,80 - - 5,00 -
max. 0,23 0,35 0,60 0,035 0,035 10,50 10,00 2,20 - - 6,00 -

Physical proberties:

Densitiy ρ: 8,08 g/cm3 Wärmeausdehnungskoeffizient α in 10-6/K:

20 bis 100 °C
Specific heat capacity c: 20 bis 200 °C
20 bis 300 °C
Modulus of elasticity E: 215 kN/mm2 20 bis 400 °C
Thermal conductivity λ in W/m·K: 20 °C 15,9 20 bis 500 °C
20 bis 600 °C

Thermal treatment: Cooling:

Soft annealing 760 - 880 °C in the furnace down to < 500 °C
Hardness annealed ≤ 340 HB
Stress-relief annealing 600 - 650 °C cooling in air
Hardening 1100 - 11650 °C Oil, gas, warm bath (550 °C)
Tempering acc. tempering diagram

Hardness after quenching: 52 HRC

Work hardness: 42 - 54 HRC

Applications:
Extrusion tools for copper, copper alloys and steels, dies, die-casting tools of all kinds for brass,
chambers for magnesium die-casting
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