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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).

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This group of steels is specifically intended for use as corrosion-resistant tool steel in plastics processing.
Pre-tempered steels are steels that are already quenched and tempered by the steel supplier, usually with hardnesses of 30 to 40 HRC, and are then delivered to tool production in this condition. By omitting the heat treatment in the course of tool production, the economic efficiency can be significantly improved. With the delivery hardness in the range of approx. 30 to approx. 40 HRC, there is a good compromise between machinability and wear resistance or compressive strength (edge stability), which is sufficient for many applications in plastics processing.

Steels in this product group are usually selected martensitic stainless steels with approx. 13 to 17 % Cr , alloyed with Mo and Ni and a C content of approx. 0.30 to 0.40%.
In the production of these steels, special consideration is given to the needs of plastics processing with regard to polishability and corrosion resistance in terms of purity, homogeneity and analytical balance.
In special cases, the microstructure is specifically optimised by a special analytical balance, and sulphur is added in small proportions (0.10 to approx. 0.20%) to improve machinability. However, due to the addition of sulphur, losses in corrosion resistance and polishability have to be taken into account.

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Steels in this group are specially designed for use as tool steels in plastics processing.
Quenched and tempered steel is low-alloy stainless steel that achieves high tensile and fatigue strength combined with good toughness through quenching and tempering. In most cases, these steels are supplied by the steel supplier already pre-tempered and then used in this condition in tool production. By eliminating further heat treatment steps in the course of tool production, the cost-effectiveness and logistics in toolmaking can be significantly improved. The supplied hardness of approx. 30 to approx. 40 HRC is a good compromise between machinability, wear resistance and compressive strength (edge stability), which is sufficient for many applications in plastics processing. Higher tempering strengths are also used in special cases.
The carbon content is approximately between 0.3 and 0.4 %. The different alloy contents of chromium, manganese, molybdenum and nickel are very precisely matched to the respective application and have a particular influence on larger cross-sections. The weldability of these steels is limited. Coordinated sulphur contents are used on a case-by-case basis to improve machinability.
In the production of these steels, particular consideration is given to the requirements of plastics processing with regard to polishability and corrosion resistance in terms of purity, homogeneity and analysis balance.
Precipitation hardening steels in this group are special steels with alloying additions of Cu and Al, with excellent properties, in particular high toughness and good dimensional stability and good weldability. This group of steels achieves a martensitic microstructure with a higher Ni content combined with a low C content. Alloying elements such as Cu and Al are used to achieve hardenable alloy systems, whereby an increase in strength up to max. 44 HRC is achieved through the precipitation of intermetallic compounds from the martensite during heat treatment. The heat treatment of these steels is simple and minimises distortion and consists of a solution heat treatment with a final hardening treatment at temperatures in the region of approx. 500°C. Such steels are supplied pre-hardened or solution-annealed.

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