HIGH SPEED STEEL

VKM42

B
Brrief Description

Delivery Conditions

VKM42 is a molybdenum based high speed steel,

with high cobalt content. The alloy composition
brings to VKM42 the capacity of attaining a
superhigh hardness, in levels up to 69 HRC. The
high hardness leads to higher wear resistance than
the usual high speed steels and the high cobalt
content contributes to improve hot hardness.

Cr

Mo

Co

1.10

3.75

9.50

1.50

1.15

8.00

Standard Specifications
VKM42 corresponds to AISI M42 and is similar to
the following grades:

DIN WNr 1.3247

BS: BM 42
JIS: SKH 59
AFNOR: Z 110 DKCWV 09-08-04-02-01
EN: HS 2-9-1-8

Physical Property
Density at 20 C: 8.0 kg/dm3

Round bars from 12 to 250 mm: 270 HB max.

Round bars up to 12 mm: 300 HB max.
Square and flat bars: 270 HB max.

Typical Applications

Forms and hardness: annealed materials are

available in the following conditions.

* Or according to customers specification.

Chemical Composition

Standard identification colors*:

yellow

The properties of improved wear resistance and

high hot hardness make possible the application of
VKM42 in the following tools:
End Mills.
Milling cutters.
Taps
Broaches
Reamers.

Processing Procedures
VKM42 can be processed through the following
processes:
- Machining: grinding, turning or milling.
Concerning grinding, special care in the
procedure and wheel choice is necessary to
avoid local heating of the material. Intense local
heating cause tool cracking or poor service
performance.
- Polishing:

HIGH SPEED STEEL

VKM42

He
Heat Treatment
Annealing: soft annealing may be carried out by
heating between 850 and 880 C for 2 hours,
followed by slow cooling at 10/20 C per hour until
650 C and, then, by air cooling. In this treatment, the
use of protective atmosphere is important to avoid
surface decarburization.
Stress relieving: Intense material removal during
machining of tools can induce considerable stress,
which may cause distortions after heat treatment. In
order to avoid this, a stress reliving is recommended
to be applied after machining and before heat
treatment. The indicated procedure is heating
between 600 and 700 C and holding until complete
homogenization, followed by slow cooling (air or
furnace) at least down to 500 C.

Surface treatments: VKM42 is an adequate

substrate for PVD and CVD coatings, which normally
lead to considerable improvements in tool life.
If nitriding is applied, the treatment temperature
should be lower than the tempering temperature, to
avoid decrease of core hardness.
It is important that, before these treatments, tools
have clean surface (without oil or grease) and are
free from grinding overheating.

Toughness
Typical bend test properties of VKM42 are
presented in the table below. Toughness of VKM42
is lower than that of usual high speed steels due to
its highly alloyed composition and high hardness.

Bend
Strength*

Hardening and Tempering:

Considering the high hardness required in VKM42
applications, the indicated temperatures are:
Hardening
1160-1190 C

Tempering
560 C

2600 MPa

Fracture
Energy *

Total
Deflection *

5.8 J

1.20 mm

* Values for samples with section of 5 mm x 7 mm, from the core

of a 20 mm round bar. Hardness of 68 HRC.

Hardening procedure must involve pre-heating at

400/500 C followed by other at 860/880 C. After,
austenitizing may be conducted, followed by
Relative Comparison of
quenching down to room temperature. A protective
Villares Metals High Speed Steels
atmosphere is absolutely necessary. Tree tempering
Wear
Hot
treatments, of at least 2h, are required and after each
Grindability
Machinability
Toughness
resistance
hardness
one tools must cool to room temperature.
VWM2
70
69

Hardness (HRC)

68

VWM7
VKM42
VWM3C
VK5E
VHSSM50

1200
1180

67
66
65
64
63

SINTER23

SINTER30

62
61
60
500

520

540

560

580

600

620

Tempering Temperature (C)

Tempering Curve
The austenitizing temperatures relative to each curve are indicated in
italic type.

All information presented are intended to provide guidelines of

material use. They do not have relation to warranty of specific
properties or contractual obligations.