The processing of fibre-reinforced plastics requires hardenable, corrosion-resistant tool steels with a high carbide content, approx. 13 to 20 % Chromium, additions of Molybdenum, Tungsten and Vanadium and a hardness of 50 to over 60 HRC. In High-Nitrogen Steels, Carbon is partially replaced by Nitrogen to achieve a hardness of approx. 58 HRC with the best corrosion resistance.
This group of steels is specially designed for use as corrosion-resistant tool steels in plastics processing when corrosion and wear resistance are of primary importance, as is the case, for example, when processing fibre-reinforced and heavily filled, aggressive plastics. Experience shows that corrosion-resistant tool steels with hardnesses of over 50 HRC are then required. Under particularly critical operating conditions, however, steels with a higher carbide content and hardnesses above 60 HRC are often essential.
Steels in this product group are usually selected hardenable, martensitic stainless steels with approx. 13 to 20 % Cr , alloyed with Mo , W and V and a C content of approx. 0.40 to over 2%.
In general, the production of these steels with regard to purity, homogeneity and analytical balance takes special account of the needs of plastics processing with regard to polishability and corrosion resistance, and high-purity steels are frequently produced by remelting processes, e.g. electroslag (ESR), or extremely homogeneous, high-alloy steels are produced by powder metallurgy.
A special category of hardenable corrosion resistant steels are High Nitrogen Steels (HNS). In such steels the high Carbon (C)- content present usually in steels of this group is reduced and part of the Carbon is replaced by Nitrogen(N). This results in a hardness of approx. 58 HRC together with the best corrosion resistance and optimum homogeneity and prevents the excessive bonding of Chromium in the form of carbides. Usually remelting of this steel takes place in the special Pressure Electroslag Remelting Process (PESR).
BÖHLER M310 ISOPLAST is a corrosion-resistant, martensitic chromium steel which, through electroslag remelting and optimization of the chemical composition, has a good homogeneity and a balanced hardness-toughness-corrosion resistance ratio.
Read MoreBÖHLER M390 MICROCLEAN is a corrosion-resistant, martensitic chromium steel produced by powder metallurgy. Due to its alloy design, this steel has very high wear resistance and good corrosion resistance. In addition, BÖHLER M390 MICROCLEAN is approved for food and beverage contact.
Read MoreBÖHLER M398 MICROCLEAN is a corrosion-resistant, martensitic chromium steel produced by powder metallurgy. Due to its alloy design, this steel has good corrosion resistance and higher wear resistance compared to BÖHLER M390 MICROCLEAN.
Read MoreBÖHLER N690 is a corrosion-resistant, martensitic chromium steel with a high carbon content and the addition of cobalt, molybdenum and vanadium. BÖHLER N690 is also approved for food and beverage contact.
Read MoreBÖHLER N695 is a corrosion-resistant, martensitic chromium steel with a high carbon content and added molybdenum.
Read MoreUddeholm Tyrax ESR combines best in class toughness, corrosion and wear resistance. This grade was developed for molding of high performance plastics often filled with glass fiber reinforcements and additives like flame retardants. This matrix- based microstructure is designed to achieve a high-gloss surface by only a few polishing steps, dramatically reducing the tool lead time and enabling production of top quality plastic parts. Uddeholm Tyrax ESR can achieve a high hardness (up to 58 HRC) and is a suitable upgrade from AISI 420 ESR, AISI S7 and AISI 440C. Benefits good dimensional stability at heat treatment and in service even microstructure and small grain size good hardenability Uddeholm Tyrax is also available for Additive Manufacturing, powder for processing Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) and Laser Metal Deposition (LMD).
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