IFHTSE Global 21: Heat treatment and surface engineering in the twenty-first century Part 13 - Advances in tool steels and their heat treatment: Part 1 - Cold work tool steels

Several new tool steel grades as well as optimised modifications of standard grades have been developed by special steel producers during the last one to two decades. These steels offer the potential for better properties and tool performance, but only if the heat treatment is performed with an optimum combination of parameters. The achievement of this potential is supported by advanced heat treatment equipment and processes. This paper gives an overview of the possibilities, requirements and optimum heat treatment parameters of these new tool steels based on the examples of cold work tool steels. Thereby special attention is paid to 8%Cr steels, spray formed steels, powder metallurgy steels as well as surface hardening and cryogenic treatment. A second part will be published successively, with examples on hot work tool steels and tool steels for plastic moulding.