High-speed steel

High-speed steel (HSS or HS) is a subset of tool steels, transformed existing alloys into a new kind of steel that
commonly used in tool bits and cutting tools.
could retain its hardness at higher temperatures, allowing
much higher speeds, and rate of cutting when machining.
It is often used in power-saw blades and drill bits. It is
superior to the older high-carbon steel tools used exten- The Taylor-White process[5] was patented and created a
sively through the 1940s in that it can withstand higher revolution in the machining industries, in fact necessitattemperatures without losing its temper (hardness). This ing whole new, heavier machine tool designs so the new
property allows HSS to cut faster than high carbon steel, steel could be used to its full advantage. The patent was
hence the name high-speed steel. At room tempera- hotly contested and eventually nullied.
ture, in their generally recommended heat treatment, HSS The rst alloy that was formally classied as high-speed
grades generally display high hardness (above HRC60) steel is known by the AISI designation T1, which was inand abrasion resistance (generally linked to tungsten and troduced in 1910.[1] It was patented by Crucible Steel Co.
vanadium content often used in HSS) compared with at the beginning of the 20th century.[2]
common carbon and tool steels.
Although molybdenum rich high-speed steels such as
AISI M1 have been used since the 1930s, material shortages and high costs caused by World War II spurred development of less expensive alloys substituting molybde1 History
num for tungsten. The advances in molybdenum-based
high speed steel during this period put them on par with
Although development of modern high speed steel beand in certain cases better than tungsten-based high speed
gan in the second half of the 19th century, there is docusteels. This started with the use of M2 steel instead of T1
mented evidence of similar levels of steel produced earsteel.[2][6]
lier. These include hardened steels in China in 13th century BC, wootz steel manufactured in India around 350
BC and production of Damascus and Japanese layered
steel blades in years 540 AD and 900 AD.[1] High speed 2 Types
properties of those steels would be mostly coincidental,
and the result of local iron ores containing natural traces
High speed steels are alloys that gain their properties
of tungsten or other favorable alloying components.
from either tungsten or molybdenum, often with a comIn 1868 the English metallurgist Robert Forester Mushet bination of the two. They belong to the FeCX multideveloped Mushet steel, considered to be the forerun- component alloy system where X represents chromium,
ner of modern high speed steels. It consisted of 2% tungsten, molybdenum, vanadium, or cobalt. Generally,
carbon (C), 2.5% manganese (Mn), and 7% tungsten the X component is present in excess of 7%, along with
(W). The major advantage of this steel was that it hard- more than 0.60% carbon. The alloying element percentened when air cooled from a temperature at which most ages do not alone bestow the hardness-retaining propersteels had to be quenched for hardening. Over the next 30 ties; they also require appropriate high-temperature heat
years the most signicant change was the replacement of treatment to become true HSS; see History above.
manganese (Mn) with chromium (Cr).[2]
In the unied numbering system (UNS), tungsten-type
In 1899 and 1900, Frederick Winslow Taylor and Maun- grades (e.g. T1, T15) are assigned numbers in the
sel White, working with a team of assistants at the T120xx series, while molybdenum (e.g. M2, M48) and
Bethlehem Steel Company at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, intermediate types are T113xx. ASTM standards recogUS, performed a series of experiments with the heat treat- nize 7 tungsten types and 17 molybdenum types.[7]
ing of existing high-quality tool steels, such as Mushet
steel; heating them to much higher temperatures than The addition of about 10% of tungsten and molybdenum
were typically considered desirable in the industry.[3][4] in total maximises eciently the hardness and toughness
Their experiments were characterised by a scientic em- of high speed steels and maintains those properties at the
piricism in that many dierent combinations were made high temperatures generated when cutting metals.
and tested, with no regard for conventional wisdom or al- In general the basic composition of T1 HSS is 18% W,
chemic recipes, and with detailed records kept of each 4% Cr, 1% V, 0.7% C and the remainder Fe. Such a
batch. The end result was a heat treatment process that HSS tool could machine (turn) mild steel at speeds of up
1

REFERENCES

to 20~30 m/min (which was quite substantial at the time). While the possibilities of heat treating at the surface
should be readily apparent, the other applications beg
some explanation. At cooling rates in excess of 106 K s1
2.1 M2
eutectic microconstituents disappear and there is extreme
segregation of substitutional alloying elements. This has
M2 is molybdenum based high-speed steel in tungsten the eect of providing the benets of a glazed part withmolybdenum series. The carbides in it are small and out the associated run in wear damage.[2]
evenly distributed. It has high wear resistance. After heat
treatment, its hardness is the same as T1, but its bend- The alloy composition of a part or tool can also be
ing strength can reach 4700 MPa, and its toughness and changed to form a high speed steel on the surface of a
thermo-plasticity are higher than T1 by 50%. It is usually lean alloy or to form an alloy or carbide enriched layer on
used to manufacture a variety of tools, such as drill bits, the surface of a high speed steel part. Several methods
taps and reamers. Its decarburization sensitivity is a little can be used such as foils, pack boronising, plasma spray
powders, powder cored strips, inert gas blow feeders, etc.
bit high.
Although this method has been reported to be both benecial and stable, it has yet to see widespread commercial
use.[2]
2.2 M35
M35 is similar to M2, but with 5% cobalt added. The
addition of cobalt increases heat resistance. M35 is also
known as HSSE or HSS-E.

5 Applications

The main use of high-speed steels continues to be in the

manufacture of various cutting tools: drills, taps, milling
2.3 M42
cutters, tool bits, gear cutters, saw blades, planer and joinM42 is a molybdenum-series high-speed steel alloy with ter blades, router bits, etc., although usage for punches
an additional 8% cobalt. It is widely used in metal manu- and dies is increasing.
facturing industries because of its superior red-hardness High speed steels also found a market in ne hand tools
as compared to more conventional high-speed steels, al- where their relatively good toughness at high hardness,
lowing for shorter cycle times in production environments coupled with high abrasion resistance, made them suitdue to higher cutting speeds or from the increase in time able for low speed applications requiring a durable keen
between tool changes. M42 is also less prone to chipping (sharp) edge, such as les, chisels, hand plane blades, and
when used for interrupted cuts and costs less when com- high quality kitchen, pocket knives, and swords.
pared to the same tool made of carbide. Tools made from
High speed steel tools are the most popular for use in
cobalt-bearing high speed steels can often be identied by
woodturning, as the speed of movement of the work past
the letters HSS-Co.
the edge is relatively high for handheld tools, and HSS
holds its edge far longer than high carbon steel tools can.

Coatings

To increase the life of high-speed steel, tools are sometimes coated. One such coating is TiN (titanium nitride).
Most coatings generally increase a tools hardness and/or
lubricity. A coating allows the cutting edge of a tool to
cleanly pass through the material without having the material gall (stick) to it. The coating also helps to decrease
the temperature associated with the cutting process and
increase the life of the tool.

Surface modication

6 See also
Crucible Industries
List of steel producers

7 References
[1] Roberts, George (1998) Tool Steels, 5th edition, ASM International, ISBN 1615032010
[2]

Lasers and electron beams can be used as sources of intense heat at the surface for heat treatment, remelting
(glazing), and compositional modication. It is possible
to achieve dierent molten pool shapes and temperatures.
Cooling rates range from 103 to 106 K s1 . Benecially,
there is little or no cracking or porosity formation.[2]

Boccalini, M.; H. Goldenstein (February 2001).

Solidication of high speed steels. International Materials Reviews 46 (2): 92115 (24).
doi:10.1179/095066001101528411.

[3] Kanigel, Robert (1997). The One Best Way: Frederick

Winslow Taylor and the Enigma of Eciency. Viking
Penguin. ISBN 0-670-86402-1.