Distinct Types of Tool Steel Grades

It’s amazing how the steel industry has been keeping up with the times. They have now found ways to rescue the environmental footprint by adapting to eco-friendly practices. They invest in cleaner production, utilise recycled materials to reduce waste, and conserve raw materials. The evolution of advanced manufacturing techniques is changing how steel is made. Some of the tools that are used in the steel industry include the 01 and P20 tool steel. These different tools are specifically designed to meet the demands of various tools and machinery.

What Are Tool Steels

Tool steels are alloyed steels that are designed for use in steel industries for tools and dies. Key characteristics and properties of tool steels are hardness and wear resistance, red hardness, toughness, dimensional stability and machinability. Tool steels are categorised differently depending on their components. These include cold-work steel, hot-work steel and many others. They are used in the tool-making industry, manufacturing and other industries for plastic extrusion equipment. They enable efficient machining and forming that contributes to the creation of different products and components.

Distinct Types Of Tool Steels

There are different types of tool steels, and they also vary in usage and other factors. Following are some of the distinct types:

• P20 Tool Steel– This is a low alloy tool steel utilised for plastic moulds in India. It contains chromium, which enhances hardness and toughness. It is often supplied in a pre-hardened state of about 300 HBW. It also has good machinability even when hardened and tempered.P20 is mostly used for creating cavities and tooling for plastic injection moulds. Other uses include die casting, particularly for zinc. Some of the key characteristics of P20 are that it offers moderate strength with good toughness. It can also be polished for a high finish for quality plastic moulds. Also has good weldability. P20 Plate Plastic Mold Tool Steel in India is offered by many suppliers in various thicknesses, and others offer it pre-machined

•  O1 Tool Steel- this is a type of hardening, cold-working steel. It is commonly used because of its hardness, wear resistance and toughness. O1 can be oil quenched and has ease of heat treatment, which makes it suitable for various applications. It was specially designed for applications where there is minimum heat for purposes like cutting tools and dies. This tool steel has high carbon content, which contributes to its hardness and wear resistance, making it suitable for materials that experience medium to high stresses. Its toughness is also vital for tools that are prone to impacts. Apart from its use of cutting tools and dies, o1 is used for making knives, gauges and levers.  O1 Tool Steel in India is relatively cheap compared to other grades. 

There are several other types of tool steels that are used in industries for various purposes [oses and these include M-2 high-speed steel, which is the most balanced and wear-resistant. There is also B3 and H-2, amongst many others. 

Conclusion– to learn more about the various tool steel grades, it is advisable to contact suppliers in India that specialise in tool steel manufacturing in order to make the right informed decision that suits your specific needs. Tools like the P20 Plate Plastic Mold Tool Steel in India are easily available, with suppliers offering sizes up to 25mm. However, prices may vary according to the supplier.