The Faster the Better heat - treatment of hot work tool steels

This article intends to draw attention to the problems and some solutions manufacturers face when using tool steels. Remarkable improvements have been made in the performance of this important steel group within the last decade. Enhanced material properties have been achieved by increasing cleanliness, homogeneity and modification of chemistry as well as a better understanding of heat treatment and operating conditions. These advances have led to increased loading as well as larger dimensions of tools and dies. This increase in size in particular implicates significant challenges to steel making, tool making and heat treatment. The material properties of tool steels are discussed exemplary for hot work tools steels along with a description of typical heat treatment parameters. Attention is paid on the very narrow range of treatment parameters that give desirable material properties.