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PromiSpecial® Stainless Steel: Superior Corrosion Resistance for Critical Applications
Stainless steel, also called inox, corrosionresistant steel (CRES), or rustfree steel, is an ironbased alloy known for its resistance to rust and corrosion. It consists primarily of iron, with chromium added to enhance its corrosion resistance. Other elements such as molybdenum, nickel, carbon, and nitrogen may be included, depending on the specific and cost requirements.
Tool steel, when properly heat-treated, can achieve extremely high hardness, typically above HRC 60. This makes it ideal for manufacturing cutting tools, stamping dies, and wear-resistant parts.
Tool steel has excellent heat treatment performance, allowing its hardness, toughness, and wear resistance to be adjusted through processes like quenching, tempering, and surface treatment.
Despite its high hardness, tool steel usually possesses good toughness, making it resistant to breakage under impact and vibration. This is crucial for preventing unexpected damage to tools and dies during use.
Our structural steel is not only high-performing but also cost-effective, making it an efficient and economical choice for engineering projects.Cost-Effectiveness
| Type of Stainless Steel | Main Composition | Characteristics | Representative Grades | Applications |
| Austenitic Stainless Steel | Chromium (16-26%), Nickel (8-35%) | – Excellent corrosion resistance – Good toughness – Non-magnetic or weakly magnetic – Cannot be hardened by heat treatment | 304, 304L, 316, 316L, 321, 310S, 317L | Food processing equipment, chemical equipment, medical devices |
| Ferritic Stainless Steel | Chromium (10.5-27%) | – Good corrosion resistance – Strongly magnetic – Lower toughness – Cannot be hardened by heat treatment | 430, 409, 439, 436, 444, 446 | Household appliances, automotive parts, architectural decorations |
| Martensitic Stainless Steel | Chromium (12-18%), Higher Carbon Content | – Can be hardened by heat treatment – High strength – Relatively lower corrosion resistance – Strongly magnetic | 410, 420, 420J2, 431, 440A, 440B, 440C | Knives, bearings, medical instruments |
| Duplex Stainless Steel | Chromium (22-26%), Nickel (3-6%) | – Combines austenitic and ferritic structures – High strength – Excellent corrosion resistance – Weakly magnetic | 2205, 2304, 2507, 2101, 2003, 2016, 2010 | Petrochemical industry, marine engineering, pressure vessels |
| Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steel | Chromium, Nickel, with added Aluminum or Copper | – Can be hardened by aging treatment – High strength – Good corrosion resistance | 17-4PH, 15-5PH, 13-8Mo, 17-7PH, 14-4PH, 15-7Mo | Aerospace, power generation equipment, nuclear industry |
Tool steel, an essential industrial material, plays a crucial role in the manufacturing sector. Its market trends are influenced by various factors, including global economic conditions, manufacturing demand, technological innovations, and raw material price fluctuations. Here’s a brief overview of these trends:
The demand for tool steel is closely linked to the activity level of the global manufacturing industry. During periods of economic growth, the expansion of manufacturing increases the demand for tool steel. For instance, between 2010 and 2018, the global economy’s recovery, especially in Asian regions like China and India, led to significant growth in the tool steel market.
With advancements in technology, the performance requirements for tool steel are continuously rising. High-speed steel (HSS) and powder metallurgy (PM) tool steel are gradually replacing traditional tool steel due to their superior wear resistance and toughness. For example, the Swedish company has introduced new PM tool steel with excellent cutting performance, widely used in the aerospace and automotive industries.
The production cost of tool steel is heavily influenced by raw material prices, especially iron ore and alloy elements. In these years, the price increase of iron ore between 2016 and 2017 led to higher production costs for tool steel, impacting market prices and supply.
As global emphasis on environmental protection and sustainable development increases, the tool steel industry is also seeking more environmentally friendly production methods and materials. Adopting more efficient smelting technologies and reducing the use of harmful substances has become a significant industry trend. Some European tool steel manufacturers have already started using greener production processes to comply with increasingly stringent environmental regulations.
China Tool Steel Market: As the world’s largest manufacturing country, China’s tool steel market has experienced rapid growth over the past decade. With the advancement of the “Made in China 2025” plan, the demand for high-performance tool steel continues to rise.
US Tool Steel Market: The demand for high-end tool steel in the US remains stable, especially in the aerospace and medical device manufacturing sectors. For example, one technology corporation’s new tool steel products have gained significant market share in the US due to their superior performance.
In summary, the market trends for tool steel are influenced by global economic conditions, technological innovations, raw material price fluctuations, and environmental regulations. Understanding these trends is crucial for manufacturers and investors to better grasp market dynamics and make informed decisions. PromiSpecial® is committed to staying ahead of these trends, offering high-quality tool steel products that meet the evolving needs of the global market. Discover how PromiSpecial® tool steels can enhance your manufacturing processes and support your success in this dynamic industry.
Tool steel, a category of special steel, boasts a range of exceptional properties, making it indispensable in various industrial applications. Here are the primary characteristics of tool steel with detailed explanations:
Tool steel exhibits extremely high hardness, enabling it to withstand high-intensity cutting and forming operations. This high hardness also translates to excellent wear resistance, allowing tool steel to maintain its shape and performance over prolonged use. High-speed steel (HSS) typically has a hardness of 60-70 HRC (Rockwell hardness), significantly higher than that of ordinary carbon steel.
Another critical property of tool steel is its superior wear resistance, which ensures a long service life even under frequent friction and abrasive conditions. Powder metallurgy tool steel (PM) features outstanding wear resistance due to its uniform microstructure and fine carbide distribution.
Despite its high hardness, tool steel also possesses excellent toughness, meaning it can withstand impacts and vibrations without easily fracturing. Cold work tool steel like DC53 maintains high hardness while offering exceptional toughness, making it suitable for high-impact load applications.
Tool steel retains its hardness and wear resistance at high temperatures, which is crucial for hot work molds and high-speed cutting tools. Hot work tool steel like H13 maintains its hardness and resistance to thermal fatigue even at elevated temperatures.
Some alloy elements in high-speed steel, such as cobalt and molybdenum, can enhance its corrosion resistance. For example, M42 high-speed steel contains 8% cobalt, which not only improves its hot hardness but also enhances its corrosion resistance. M42 high-speed steel exhibits better corrosion resistance in certain corrosive environments, such as lubricants containing chlorides, compared to ordinary high-speed steel.
Tool steel typically offers good machinability and can be further optimized through heat treatment. Heat treatment adjusts the hardness, toughness, and wear resistance of tool steel to meet specific application requirements. High-speed steel (HSS) can achieve the desired balance of hardness and toughness through quenching and tempering processes.
Tool steel maintains high precision and dimensional stability during machining and usage, which is crucial for manufacturing precision molds and measuring instruments. Precision cold work tool steel like SKD11 retains high precision and dimensional stability after machining and heat treatment.
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