VIDAR SUPREME

Hot work tool steel

 VIDAR
SUPREME

This information is based on our present state of knowledge and is

intended to provide general notes on our products and their uses.
It should not therefore be construed as a warranty of specific
properties of the products described or a warranty for fitness for a
particular purpose.

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 VIDAR
SUPREME

General TOOLS FOR HOT PRESSING

VIDAR SUPREME is a chromium-molybdenum- Austenitizing

vanadium alloyed hot work tool steel which is Material temperature (approx.) HRC
characterized by: Aluminium,
• High level of resistance to thermal shock and magnesium 1000°C (1832°F) 44–52
Copper alloys 1000°C (1832°F) 44–52
thermal fatigue
Steel 1000°C (1832°F) 40–50
• Good high-temperature strength
• Excellent toughness and ductility in all
directions
• Uniform and high level of machinability OTHER APPLICATIONS
• Excellent through-hardening properties
• Good dimensional stability during hardening. Austenitizing
Application temperature (approx.) HRC
Typical C Si Mn Cr Mo V
analysis % 0,38 1,0 0,4 5,0 1,3 0,4 Severe cold 1000°C (1832°F)
punching, Tempering: 52–54
Standard AISI H11, B H11, W.-Nr. 1.2343, scarp shears 250°C (482°F)
specification AFNOR Z38 CDV 5,
UNI X37 CrMoV 51 KU, Shrink rings 1000°C (1832°F)
UNE X37 CrMoV 5 (e.g. for cemented Tempering:
carbide dies) 575–600°C 45–50
Delivery (1067–1112°F)
condition Soft annealed to approx.180 HB
Wear-resisting 1000°C (1832°F) Core
Colour code Orange/red parts Tempering: 50–52
575°C (1067°F) Surface
+ Nitriding ~ 1000 HV0,2

IMPROVED TOOLING PERFORMANCE

The name “SUPREME” implies that by special
processing techniques and close process control,
the steel attains high purity and a very fine struc-
ture. Further, VIDAR SUPREME shows significant
improvements in isotropic properties compared to
conventionally produced material of the X38 CrMo
V 51 (W.-Nr. 1.2343) type.
These improved isotropic properties are particu-
larly valuable for tooling subjected to high mech-
anical and thermal stresses, e.g. die casting dies and
forging tools. In practical terms, tools may be used
at somewhat higher working hardnesses (2 HRC)
without loss of toughness. Since increased service
hardness limits the formation of heat checking
cracks, improved tool performance can be expected.

Applications
TOOLS FOR DIE CASTING

Aluminium-,
Tin, lead, Magnesium
zinc alloys alloys
Part HRC HRC
Dies 46–50 42–48
Fixed inserts, cores 48–52 46–50
Sprue parts (ORVAR) (ORVAR)
Nozzles (ORVAR) (ORVAR)
Ejector pins (nitrided) (ORVAR) (ORVAR)
Plunger, shot-sleeve
(normally nitrided) (ORVAR) (ORVAR)
Austenitizing 990°C 1000°C
temperature (1814°F) (1832°F)

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SUPREME

Effect of time at high temperatures on hardness

Properties Hardness, HRC
50
PHYSICAL DATA
All specimens are taken from the centre of a 500 x 45
500°C
(932°F)
110 mm (19,7" x 4,3") bar. Unless otherwise is indi-
cated all specimens were hardened from 1000°C 40
(1832°F), quenched in air and tempered 2 + 2h at 550°C (1022°F)
610°C (1130°F). The hardness were 45 ±1 HRC. 35
Temperature 20°C 400°C 600°C
(68°F) (750°F) (1010°F) 30
Density, 600°C
kg/m3 7 800 7 700 7 600 650°C (1202°F) (1112°F)
lbs/in3 0,281 0,277 0,274 25

Modulus of elasticity
MPa 210 000 180 000 140 000 20
psi 30,5 x 106 26,1 x 106 20,3 x 106 1 10 100 1000
Time, h
Coefficient of
thermal expansion
per °C from 20°C – 12,6 x 10–6 13,2 x 10–6
per °F from 68°F – 7,0 x 10–6 7,3 x 10–6
Thermal
conductivity Effect of testing temperatures on impact energy
W/m °C 25 29 30
Btu in/(ft2h°F) 176 204 211 Charpy V specimens, short transverse direction.

ft. lbs Impact energy, J

74 100
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
59 80
Approximate tensile strength at room temperature.
45 HRC
Hardness 44 HRC 44 60

Tensile strength, Rm 1410 MPa 144 kp/mm2

30 40
Yield strength, Rp0,2 1170 MPa 119 kp/mm2
Elongation, A5 12%
15 20
Reduction in area, Z 50%
0
100 200 300 400 500 °C
210 390 570 750 930 °F
Testing temperature °C
Approximate strength at elevated temperatures
Longitudinal direction.

psi Rm, Rp0.2 A5,

1000x MPa Z%
290 2000 100
261 1800 Z 90
232 1600 80
203 1400 70
174 1200 60
145 1000 Rm 50
116 800 40
87 600 Rp0,2 30
58 400 20
29 200 A5 10
0
100 200 300 400 500 600 700 °C

210 390 570 750 930 1110 1290 °F

Testing temperature

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 VIDAR
SUPREME

Heat treatment QUENCHING MEDIA

• High speed gas/circulating atmosphere.
SOFT ANNEALING • Vacuum (high speed gas with sufficient positive
Protect the steel and heat through to 850°C pressure).
(1562°F). Then cool in furnace at 10°C (20°F) per • Martempering bath (salt or fluidized bed) at
hour to 650°C (1202°F), then freely in air. 500–550°C (932–1022°F).
• Martempering bath (salt or fluidized bed) at
180–220°C (356–428°F).
STRESS RELIEVING • Warm oil.
After rough machining the tool should be heated Note 1: Temper the tool as soon as its temperature
through to 650°C (1202°F), holding time 2 hours. reaches 50–70°C (122–158°F).
Cool slowly to 500°C (932°F), then freely in air. Note 2: In order to obtain the optimum properties
for the tool, the cooling rate should be fast, but not
HARDENING at a level that gives excessive distortion or cracks.
Preheating temperature: 600–850°C (1112–1562°F)
(normally two preheating steps).
Austenitizing temperature: 990–1010°C (1814–
1850°F), normally 990–1000°C (1814–1832°F).
Soaking time: 30–45 minutes. Soaking time = time
at austenitizing temperature after the tool is fully
heated through.
Protect the tool against decarburization and oxida-
tion during austenitizing.

CCT graph
Austenitizing temperature1000°C (1832°F). Holding time 30 minutes.
°F °C
2000 1100
Austenitizing temperature 1000°C (1832°F)
Holding time 30 min.
1800 1000
AC3 915°C (1680°F)
900
1600 AC1 850°C (1562°F)
800
1400 Carbides Pearlite
700
1200
600
Cooling Hard-
1000 curve ness T800–500
500 No. HV 10 (sec)
800
400 1 715 2
Bainite 2 715 13
600 300 M s 3 695 125
4 654 374
400 200 5 642 623
Martensite 6 642 1248
200 100 M f 7 559 5200
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 459 10400
1
1 10
10 100
100 1000
1 000 1010000
000 100
100000
000 Seconds
Seconds

11 10
10 100
100 1000
1 000 Minutes
Minutes

11 10
10 100 Hours
100 Hours
Air cooling
Air cooling of
0,2
0,2 1,5
1,5 10
10 90
90 600
600 of bars,Ø
bars, Ø mm mm
0,0079
0,0079 0,059
0,059 0,394
0,394 3,54
3,54 23,6
23,6 Ø
inch
inch

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SUPREME

Hardness, grain size and retained austenite as a Approximate impact strength at different tempering
function of austenitizing temperature temperatures.
Charpy V specimens, short transverse direction.
Grain size
ASTM Hardness, HRC Retained austenite % ft.lb. Impact strength
- KV Joule
10 60 74 100
Hardness
58
8 59 80
56
54 60
Grain size 44
6 52
50 30 40
4 48 8
15 20
46 6
2 Retained austenite
44 4 0
100 200 300 400 500 600 °C
42 2
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 °F
980 990 1000 1010 1020 °C Tempering temperature (2h + 2h)

1796 1814 1832 1850 1868 °F

Austenitizing temperature Tempering within the range 425–550°C (797–
1022°F) is normally not recommended due to
impaired toughness.

TEMPERING
DIMENSIONAL CHANGES DURING
Choose the tempering temperature according to
HARDENING AND TEMPERING
the hardness required by reference to the temper-
ing graph below. Temper twice with intermediate During hardening and tempering the die is ex-
cooling to room temperature. Lowest tempering posed to thermal as well as transformation
temperature 180°C (356°F). Holding time at tem- stresses. This will inevitably result in dimensional
perature minimum 2 hours. To avoid brittleness do changes and in the work case distortion. It is there-
not temper in the range 425–550°C (797–1022°F). fore recommended to always leave a machining
allowance after machining before the die is hard-
ened and tempered. Normally the size in the larg-
Tempering graph est direction will shrink and the size in the smallest
Air cooling of specimen 15 x 15 x 40 mm (0,6" x direction might increase but this is also a matter of
0,6" x 1,6") the die size, the die design as well as the cooling
rate after hardening.
Hardness, HRC Retained austenite %
For VIDAR SUPREME it is recommended to leave
58
a machining allowance of 0,2 per cent of the dimen-
56
54
sion in length, width and thickness.
52
50 NITRIDING AND NITROCARBURIZING
48
46 Nitriding and nitrocarburizing result in a hard sur-
Austenitizing temperature face layer which is very resistant to wear and ero-
44 1000°C (1832°F)
42 sion. The nitrided layer is, however, brittle and my
40 crack or spall when exposed to mechanical or ther-
38 mal shock, the risk increasing with layer thick-
36
Retained austenite ness. Before nitriding, the tool should be hardened
34 8
32 6
and tempered at a temperature at least 50°C
30 4 (120°F) above the nitriding temperature.
28 2 Nitriding in ammonia gas at 510°C (950°F) or
26 0 plasma nitriding in a 75% hydrogen/25% nitrogen
100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 °C
at 480°C (896°F) both result in a surface hardness
212 392 572 752 932 1112 1292 1472 °F
of 1100 HV0,2. In general, plasma nitriding is the
Tempering temperature (2 + 2h)
preferred method because of better control over
nitrogen potential; in particular, formation of the
so-called “white layer”, which is not recommended
of hot-work service, can readily be avoided. How-
ever, careful gas nitriding can give perfectly accept-
able results.
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 VIDAR
SUPREME

VIDAR SUPREME can also be nitrocarburized in TURNING

either gas or salt bath. The surface hardness after
nitrocarburizing is 900–1000 HV0,2. Turning with Turning
carbide with high
Cutting data speed steel
DEPTH OF NITRIDING parameters Rough turning Fine turning Fine turning

Cutting
Depth speed (vc)
Process Time mm inch m/min 150–200 200–250 30
f.p.m. 500–665 665–835 100
Gas nitriding 10 h 0,12 0,0047
at 510°C (950°F) 30 h 0,20 0,0079 Feed (f)
mm/r 0,3–0,6 –0,3 –0,3
Plasma nitriding 10 h 0,14 0,0055 i.p.r. 0,01–0,024 –0,01 –0,01
at 480°C (895°F) 30 h 0,19 0,0075
Depth
Nitrocarburizing of cut (ap)
– in gas at mm 2–6 –2 –2
580°C (1075°F) 2,5 h 0,12 0,0047 inch 0,08–0,24 –0,08 –0,08
– in salt bath at Carbide
580°C (1075°F) 1h 0,07 0,0028 designation
ISO P20–P30 P10 –
* Depth of case = distance from surface where hardness Coated carbide Coated carbide
is 50 HV0,2 over base hardness. or cermet

Nitriding to case depths >0,3 mm (0,012") is not

recommended for hot-work applications. VIDAR
SUPREME can also be nitrided in the soft an- MILLING
nealed condition. The hardness and depth of case
will, however, be reduced somewhat in this case. Face- and square shoulder milling
Milling with Milling
carbide with high
Cutting data speed steel
parameters Rough milling Fine milling Fine milling

Cutting data Cutting

speed (vc)

recommendations m/min
f.p.m.
Feed (fz)
160–210
535–700
210–280
700–930
35
115

The cutting data below are to be considered as

mm/tooth 0,2–0,4 0,1–0,2 0,1
guiding values which must be adapted to existing inch/tooth 0,008–0,016 0,004–0,008 0,004
local condition.
Depth
of cut (ap)
DRILLING mm 2–5 –2 –2
inch 0,08–0,20 –0,08 –0,08
High speed steel twist drill
Carbide
Drill diameter Cutting Feed (f) designation
speed (vc) ISO P20–P40 P10–P20 —
mm inch m/min f.p.m. mm/r i.p.r. Coated Coated
carbide carbide or
– 5 –3/16 17* 56* 0,08–0,20 0,003–0,008 cermet
5–10 3/16–3/8 17* 56* 0,20–0,30 0,008–0,012
10–15 3/8–5/8 17* 56* 0,30–0,35 0,012–0,014
15–20 5/8–3/4 17* 56* 0,35–0,40 0,014–0,016
1)
For coated HSS drill vc ~24 m/min. (80 f.p.m.).
End milling
Type
Type of of milling
milling
Carbide
Carbide drill Cutting data Solid indexable High
Type of drill parameters carbide insert speed steel

Cutting data Indexable Solid Brazed Cutting

parameters insert carbide carbide1) speed (vc)
m/min 70 130–180 351)
Cutting f.p.m. 235 435–600 1151)
speed (vc)
m/min 180–220 80 60 Feed (fz)
f.p.m. 600–735 265 200 mm/tooth 0,03–0,202) 0,08–0,202) 0,05–0,352)
inch/tooth 0,001–0,0082) 0,003–0,0082) 0,002–0,0142)
Feed (f)
mm/r 0,03–0,102) 0,10–0,252) 0,15–0,252) Carbide
i.p.r. 0,001–0,0042) 0,004–0,012) 0,006–0,012) designation
ISO K10, P40 P20–P30 –
1)
Drill with internal cooling channels and brazed carbide 1)
tip. For coated HSS end mill vc ~45 m/min. (150 f.p.m.).
2)
2)
Depending on drill diameter. Depending on radial depth of cut and cutter diameter.

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 VIDAR
SUPREME

GRINDING
A general grinding wheel recommendation is
Welding
Welding of tool steel can be performed with good
given below. More information can be found in the
results if proper precautions are taken regarding
Uddeholm publication “Grinding of Tool Steel”.
elevated temperature, joint preparation, choice of
Wheel recommendation consumables and welding procedure.
Soft annealed Hardened
Type of grinding condition condition Welding method TIG MMA

Face grinding Working 325–375°C 325–375°C

straight wheel A 46 HV A 46 GV temperature (620–710°F) (620–710°F)
Face grinding QRO 90
segments A 24 GV A 36 GV Filler metals TIG-WELD QRO 90 WELD
Cylindrical grinding A 46 LV A 60 JV
Hardness
Internal grinding A 46 JV A 60 IV after welding 50–55 HRC 50–55 HRC
Profile grinding A 100 LV A 120 JV
Heat treatment after welding
Hardened Temper at 25°C (50°F) below the
condition original tempering temperature.
Soft annealed Soft-anneal the material at 850°C
condition (1560°F) in protected atmosphere.

Electrical-discharge Then cool in the furnace at 10°C

(20°F) per hour to 650°C (1200°F)
then freely in air.
machining More detailed information can be found in the
If spark-erosion is performed in the hardened and Uddeholm brochure “Welding of tool steel”.
tempered condition, the white re-cast layer should
be removed mechanically e.g. by grinding or ston-
ing. The tool should then be given an additional
temper at approx. 25°C (50°F) below the previous
tempering temperature.

A die casting die in VIDAR SUPREME.

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SUPREME

Hard-chromium
plating
After plating, parts should be tempered at 180°C
(360°F) for 4 hours to avoid the risk of hydrogen
embrittlement.

Photo-etching
VIDAR SUPREME is particularly suitable for
texturing by the photo-etching method. Its high
level of homogeneity and low sulphur content
ensures accurate and consistent pattern reproduc-
tion.

Polishing
VIDAR SUPREME exhibits good polishability in
the hardened and tempered condition. Polishing
after grinding can be effected using aluminium
oxide or diamond paste.
Typical procedure:
1. Rough grinding to 180–320 grain size using a
wheel or stone.
2. Fine grinding with abrasive paper or powder
down to 400–800 grain size.
3. Polish with diamond paste grade 15 (15µm grain
size) using a polishing tool of soft wood or fibre.
4. Polish with diamond paste 3 (3µm grain size)
using a polishing tool of soft wood or fibre.
5. When demands on surface finish are high,
grade 1 (1µm grain size) diamond paste can be
used for final polishing with a fibre polishing
pad.

Further information
Please contact your local Uddeholm office for fur-
ther information on the selection, heat treatment,
application and availability of Uddeholm tool steels.