Select Page

Cold Work Tool Steels

The importance of tool steels is much higher than is generally recognised as ordinary. Virtually all objects in our environment that we encounter on a daily basis are manufactured with the help of tool steels. The range of applications for cold work tool steels is very wide and the moulds produced are used in a wide variety of fields.

 

Cold work tool steels are a type of tool steel used for the production of metal parts under cold conditions, generally defined as surface temperatures below 200°C. The high carbon and carbide-forming elements (chromium, tungsten, vanadium, molybdenum, titanium, niobium, etc.) in their chemical structure provide these steels with high wear resistance in the main. Applications include cold tube rolling, punching (stamping), cold drawing, cold extrusion, precision cutting, cold forging, cold forming, powder compacting, cold rolling and cutting (industrial knives). However, in choosing the best steel for forming and cutting dies, not only the process but also the type of metal being formed or cut must be considered.

The most important point when starting to select the right steel grade is to analyse the damage mechanisms by which tool or mould life ends in practice. Because, by taking the right measures against these mechanisms, optimum properties will be obtained and as a result, the working life of the tool or mould will be extended.

Common damage mechanisms in tools and moulds produced from cold work tool steels are as follows:

  • Small chips on the cutting edge (chipping)
  • Plastic deformation
  • Cracking
  • Galling
  • Wear

Due to cyclic mechanical loading and friction between the work material and the tool surface, the active surfaces of the tool are damaged. Damage to the mold causes quality problems in the shaped parts as well as time losses such as production interruption and production stoppage.

To maximize die performance and extend its lifetime, it is essential to improve its resistance to chipping and cracking of the cutting edge when cutting stainless and high-strength steels.

To solve these problems and maximize mold performance, a new generation of “matrix” type cold work tool steels should be preferred. For example, the newly developed DCMX cold work tool steel from Japanese specialty steel producer Daido Steel has 2-4.5 times higher toughness compared to conventional cold work tool steels 1.2379 and 8% chromium steels and avoids these main problems.

Plastic deformation, wear and galling problems can be prevented by providing high hardness, but toughness decreases with increasing hardness. Thanks to the high toughness and hardenability (max. 62.5 HRC) of DCMX, these problems are also prevented.

Cold work tool steels that are continuously in stock in our company are as follows;

Note You can reach the relevant page by clicking on the steel types written in red.

All steels in the list are produced by Önerler's suppliers which are the best special tool steel producers in the field. Various dimensions and parameters specific to your needs.

Please contact for your special requests.

 

​