UDDEHOLM QRO 90 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.
Classified according to EU Directive 1999/45/EC
For further information see our Material Safety Data Sheets.
Edition 5 Revised 05.2010
The latest revised edition of this brochure is the English version,
which is always published on our web site www.uddeholm.com

SS-EN ISO 9001

SS-EN ISO 14001

UDDEHOLM QRO 90 SUPREME

General
Uddeholm QRO 90 Supreme is a high-performance, chromium-molybdenum-vanadium
alloyed hot work tool steel which is characterized by:
Excellent high temperature strength and
hot hardness
Very good temper resistance
Unique resistance to thermal fatigue
Excellent thermal conductivity
Good toughness and ductility in longitudinal
and transverse directions
Uniform machinability
Good heat treatment properties
Typical
analysis %

C
0.38

Standard
specification

None.

Si
0.30

Mn
0.75

Cr
2.6

Mo
2.25

Delivery
condition

Soft annealed to approx. 180 HB

Colour code

Orange/light brown

V
0.9

Improved tooling performance

Uddeholm QRO 90 Supreme is a specially
premium hot work steel developed by Uddeholm to provide better performance in high
temperature tooling.
The name supreme implies that by special
manufacturing techniques, including electro-slag
remelting the steel attains high purity and good
mechanical properties. This together with the
optimum balance of alloying elements in
Uddeholm QRO 90 Supreme gives a properties profile which is unique among hot work
die steel. The combination of high temperature

strength, temper resistance and thermal

conductivity exhibited by Uddeholm QRO 90
Supreme is unparalleled. Thus Uddeholm
QRO 90 Supreme has given improved service
life in die casting and extrusion of nonferrous
metals and forging and extrusion of steel.

Applications
Die casting dies and
associated tooling
Uddeholm QRO 90 Supreme will normally
out-perform other standard hot work steel in
both aluminium, brass and copper die casting.
Its excellent high temperature strength ensures suppression of heat checking and prolonged die life.
Furthermore its high thermal conductivity
gives the opportunity to reduce the cycle time
and improve productivity.
Uddeholm QRO 90 Supreme can be used
for parts where resistance against heat checking, erosion and bending is required. Typical
applications are cores, core pins, inserts, smallto medium-sized dies, shot sleeves, moving
parts for aluminium, brass and copper die
casting.

Extrusion dies and extrusion tooling

In aluminium extrusion Uddeholm QRO 90
Supreme is recommended for dies when the
extruded tonnage is likely to exceed the die
life for a standard tool steel e.g.:
Dies for simple profiles to be produced in
long series requiring more than one die
Dies for complicated or thin walled profiles
Hollow dies
Dies for difficult-to-extrude alloys
For extrusion tooling components e.g. liners,
dummy blocks, mandrels and stems Uddeholm
QRO 90 Supreme gives an improved tool life
compared to AISI H13 in aluminium and steel
extrusion.
In brass and copper extrusion Uddeholm
QRO 90 Supreme has given improved tool life
for dummy blocks and die holders compared
to AISI H13.
Similar improvements have also been made
with liners in Uddeholm QRO 90 Supreme for
brass extrusion.

UDDEHOLM QRO 90 SUPREME

Forging dies
Uddeholm QRO 90 Supreme has given many
outstanding results for press forging of steel,
and brass, particularly in small- and mediumsized dies. The product is also eminently suitable for progressive forging, upset forging,
extrusion forging, powder forging and all
processes where heavy water cooling is used.

Properties
All specimens are taken from the centre of a 356
x 127 mm (14" x 5") bar. Unless otherwise is
indi-cated all specimens were hardened 30
minutes at 1030C (1885F), quenched in air
and tem-pered 2 + 2h at 645C (1190F). The
hardness were 45 1 HRC.

APPROXIMATE STRENGTH
AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES

Longitudinal direction.
Rm/Rp0.2/MPa
N/mm2
2000
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400

Z, A5%
100
90
80
70
60

Rm

50
40

Rp0.2

200

30
20
10

A5
100 200 300
210 390 570

400
750

500 600 700 800C

930 1110 1290 1470F

Testing temperature

EFFECT OF TIME AT HIGH

TEMPERATURES ON HARDNESS

Physical data

Hardness, HRC
50

Hardened and tempered to 45 HRC.

Data at room and elevated temperatures.
Temperature
Density
kg/m3
lbs/in3
Modulus of
elasticity
N/mm2
psi

500C (930F)

45

20C
(68F)

400C
(750F)

600C
(1110F)

7 800
0.281

7 700
0.277

7 600
0.274

35

210 000
30.5 x 106

180 000
26.1 x 106

140 000
20.3 x 106

12.6 x 10
7.0 x 10-6

13.2 x 10
7.3 x 10-6

Thermal
conductivity
W/m C
Btu in(ft2hF)

33
230

33
230

-6

45 HRC

10

-6

1000

Time, hours

EFFECT OF TESTING TEMPERATURE

ON IMPACT ENERGY

ft lbs Impact energy, J

37

50

30

40

22

30

15

20

72

10

40 HRC

Tensile strength 165 kp/mm2 150 kp/mm2 128 kp/mm2

Rm
1620 N/mm2 1470 N/mm2 1250 N/mm2
143 kp/mm2 130 kp/mm2 112 kp/mm2
1400 N/mm2 1270 N/mm2 1100 N/mm2

100
210

100

Charpy V specimens, short transverse

direction.

Approximate tensile strength at room temperature.

48 HRC

650C
(1200F)

25
20

Mechanical properties

Yield strength
Rp0,.

600C
(1100F)

30

Coefficient of
thermal expansion per
C from 20C
F from 68F

Hardness

550C
(1020F)

40

200
300
400
390
570
750
Testing temperature

500
930

600C
1110F

UDDEHOLM QRO 90 SUPREME

Heat treatment
general recommendations

Quenching media
High speed gas/circulating atmosphere
Vacuum (high speed gas with sufficient
positive pressure). An interrupted quench is
recommended

Soft annealing
Protect the steel and heat through to 820C
(1500F). Then cool in the furnace at 10C
(20F) per hour to 650C (1200F), then freely
in air.

Martempering bath or fluidized bed at

550C (1020F)
Martempering bath or fluidized bed at
180220C (360430F)

Stress relieving

Warm oil

After rough machining the tool should be

heated through to 650C (1200F), holding
time 2 hours. Cool slowly to 500C (930F),
then freely in air.

Note 1: Temper the tool as soon as its temperature reaches 5070C (120160F).
Note 2: In order to obtain the optimum
properties for the tool, the cooling rate should
be fast but not at a level that gives excessive
distortion or cracks.

Hardening
Pre-heating temperature: 600850C (1110
1560F) normally in two pre-heating steps.
Austenitizing temperature: 10201050C (1870
1920F).
Temperature
C
F
1020
1050

1870
1920

Soaking* time
minutes

Hardness before
tempering

30
15

512 HRC
522 HRC

* Soaking time = time at hardening temperature after the

tool is fully heated through.

Protect the part against decarburization and

oxidation during hardening.
CCT GRAPH

Austenitizing temperature 1870F (1020C). Holding time 30 minutes

F
2000

C
1100

1800

1000

1600

Austenitizing temperature 1020C (1870F)

Holding time 30 mintues
Ac1
f
= 900C (1650F)

900

Ac1
s
= 800C (1470F)

800
1400

Pearlite

Carbides
700

1200
Cooling Hardness
Curve
HV 10
No.

600
1000
500
800

400

Bainite
600

Ms

300

400

200

200

100

Martensite
Mf
1

10

100
1

1 000

10 000

10

1.5

100 000

100

1 000

1
0.2

10

10
90

T800500
(sec)

642

606

28

606

140

585

280

542

630

450

2325

450

5215

429

11063

429

32840

Seconds
Minutes

100 Hours
600

Air cooling of
bars, mm

UDDEHOLM QRO 90 SUPREME

HARDNESS, GRAIN SIZE AND RETAINED

AUSTENITE AS FUNCTIONS OF AUSTENITIZING
TEMPERATURE
Grain
size
ASTM Hardness
HRC
60
10

Lowest tempering temperature 600C

(1110F). Holding time at temperature minimum 2 hours. To avoid temper brittleness
do not temper in the range 500600C (930
1110F).

Retained austenite %

TEMPERING GRAPH
Grain size

Air cooling of specimens 25 x 25 x 40 mm

(1" x 1" x 1 1/2"). Larger sections, which
contain bainite after hardening, are characterized by a lower initial hardness and displacement of the secondary hardening peak to
higher temperatures. During overtempering,
however, the curves are more or less identical
from about 45 HRC down, irrespective of
section size.

58
8

56
Hardness
54

52
50

48
6

46
Retained austenite
2

44

42

Hrte HRC
60
55

Retained austenite %

1050C
(1920F)

Austenitizing temperature
1030C (1885F)

40
1020
1040
1870
1905
Austenitizing temperature

C
F

Tempering
Choose the tempering temperature according
to the hardness required by reference to the
tempering graph. Temper minimum twice with
intermediate cooling to room temperature.

50
45

1020C
(1870F)
6

40
Retained austenite
35

30

25
100
210

Core pins in Uddeholm QRO 90 HT (prehardened

Uddeholm QRO 90 Supreme)
6

200
300
400
500
600
390
570
750
930
1110
Tempering temperature (2h + 2h)

Shot sleeves in Uddeholm QRO 90 Supreme

C
F

UDDEHOLM QRO 90 SUPREME

APPROXIMATE IMPACT STRENGTH AT

DIFFERENT TEMPERING TEMPERATURES

Longitudinal specimens, heat treated after

machining.
Impact strength
ft.lb. KV Joule
20

10

30
25
20
15
10
5
100
210

200 300
400
500 600
390 570
750
930 1110
Tempering temperature (2h + 2h)

C
F

Tempering within the range 500-600C

(9301110F) is normally not recommended
due to the reduction in toughness properties.

Dimensional changes
during hardening and tempering
During hardening and tempering the die is
exposed to thermal as well as transformation
stresses. This will inevitably result in dimensional changes and in the work case distortion.
It is therefore recommended to always leave a
machining allowance after machining before
the die is hardened and tempered. Normally
the size in the largest direction will shrink and
the size in the smallest direction might increase but this is also a matter of the die size,
the die design as well as the cooling rate after
hardening.
For Uddeholm QRO 90 Supreme it is
recommended to leave a machining allowance
of 0.3 per cent of the dimension in length,
width and thickness.

Nitriding and nitrocarburizing

Nitriding in ammonia gas at 510C (950F) or

plasma nitriding in a 75% hydrogen/25% nitrogen mixture at 480C (895F) both result in a
surface hardness of about 1000 HV0.2. In general, plasma nitriding is the preferred method
because of better control over nitrogen potential; in particular, formation of the so-called
white layer, which is not recommended for
hot-work service, can readily be avoided.
However, careful gas nitriding can give perfectly acceptable results.
Uddeholm QRO 90 Supreme can also be
nitrocarburized in either gas or salt bath. The
surface hardness after nitrocarburizing is 800
900 HV0.2.

Depth of nitridig
Depth
Process

Time

mm

inch

Gas nitriding
at 510C (950F)

10 h
30 h

0.16
0.27

0.0063
0.0106

Plasma nitriding
at 480C (895F)

10h
30 h

0.18
0.27

0.0070
0.0106

Nitrocarburizing
in gas at
580C (1075F)
in salt bath at
580C (1075F)

2.5 h

0.20

0.0078

1h

0.13

0.0051

Nitriding to case depths >0.3 mm (0.012 inch)

is not recommended for hot-work applications.
It should be noted that Uddeholm QRO 90
Supreme exhibits better nitridability than AISI
H13. For this reason, the nitriding times for
Uddeholm QRO 90 Supreme should be
shortened in relation to H13, otherwise there
is considerable risk that the case depth will be
too great.
Uddeholm QRO 90 Supreme can be nitrided
in the soft annealed condition. The hardness
and depth of case will, however, be reduced
somewhat in this case.

Nitriding and nitrocarburizing result in a hard

surface layer which is very resistant to wear
and erosion. The nitrided layer is, however,
brittle and may crack or spall when exposed to
mechanical or thermal shock, the risk increasing with layer thickness. Before nitriding, the
tool should be hardened and tempered at a
temperature minimum 2550C (5090F)
above the nitriding temperature.
Formeinstze aus Uddeholm QRO 90 Supreme.
7

UDDEHOLM QRO 90 SUPREME

Machining
recommendations

Milling
FACE AND SQUARE SHOULDER MILLING
Milling with carbide

The cutting data below are to be considered

as guiding values which must be adapted to
existing local conditions. More information can
be found in the Uddeholm publication Cutting
data recommendations.

Turning
Turning with carbide
Cutting data
parameters

Rough
turning

Cutting
speed (vc)
m/min
f.p.m.

200250
656820

Feed (f)
mm/rev
i.p.r.

250300
820984

24
0.080.16

Carbide
designation
ISO
US

Feed (fz)
mm/tooth
inch/tooth

P20P30
C6C5
Coated
carbide

Drill diameter

0.52
0.020.08

P10P20
C7C6
Coated
carbide or
cermet

Cutting speed, (vc)

Feed, (f)

mm

inch

m/min.

f.p.m.

mm/rev

i.p.r.

5
510
1015
1520

3/16
3/163/8
3|85|8
5|83|4

1618*
1618*
1618*
1618*

5259*
5259*
5259*
5259*

0.050.15
0.150.20
0.200.25
0.250.30

0.0020.006
0.0060.008
0.0080.010
0.0100.012

* For coated HSS drill vc = 2830 m/min. (9298 f.p.m.)

25
0.080.2

2
0.08

P20P40
C6C5
Coated
carbide

P10P20
C7C6
Coated
carbide or
cermet

Type of milling
Cutting data
parameters

Solid
carbide

Carbide
indexable
insert

High
speed steel

Cutting
speed (vc)
m/min
f.p.m.

160200
525656

170230
558755

35401)
1151311)

Feed (fz)
mm/tooth
inch/tooth

0.030.22)
0.0010.0082)

Carbide
designation
ISO
US

Solid
carbide

2)

0.050.25
0.0020.012)

130160
427525
2)

0.10.25
0.0040.012)

Drill with replaceable or brazed carbide tip

Depending on drill diameter

For coated HSS end mill vc = 5560 m/min. (180197 f.p.m. )

Depending on radial depth of cut and cutter diameter

Carbide
tip1)

Type of grinding
220240
722787

P20P30
C6C5

A general grinding wheel recommendation is

given below. More information can be found in
theUddeholm publication Grinding of Tool
Steel.

Type of drill
Indexable
insert

2)

0.080.22)
0.050.352)
0.0030.0082) 0.0020.0142)

Grinding

CARBIDE DRILL

0.10.2
0.0040.008

0.52
0.020.08

1)

2)

0.20.4
0.0080.016

0.050.3
0.0020.01

HIGH SPEED STEEL TWIST DRILL

1)

260300
853984

Carbide
designation
ISO
US

Drilling

Feed, (f)
mm/rev
i.p.r.

180260
590853

Cutting speed (vc)

m/min
f.p.m.

END MILLING

Depth of cut (ap)

mm
inch

Cutting
speed, (vc)
m/min
f.p.m.

Fine milling

2530
8298

0.20.4
0.050.2
0.0080.016 0.0020.008

Cutting data
parameters

Rough milling

Depth of cut (ap)

mm
inch

Turning
with HSS
Fine
turning

Fine
turning

Cutting data
parameters

80110
262361
2)

0.150.25
0.0060.012)

Face grinding
straight wheel
Face grinding
segments
Cylindrical
grinding
Internal grinding
Profile grinding

Soft annealed
condition

Hardened
condition

A 46 HV

A 46 HV

A 24GV

A 36 GV

A 46 LV

A 60 KV

A 46 JV
A 100 KV

A 60 IV
A 120 JV

UDDEHOLM QRO 90 SUPREME

Hard-chromium plating

Electrical-discharge
machining
If spark-erosion is performed in the hardened
and tempered condition, the white re-cast
layer should be removed mechanically e.g. by
grinding or stoning. The tool should then be
given an additional temper at approx. 25C
(50F) below the previous tempering temperature.

Welding

After plating, parts should be tempered at

180C (360F) for 4 hours to avoid the risk of
hydrogen embrittlement.

Further information
Please contact your local Uddeholm office for
further information on the selection, heat
treatment, application and availability of Uddeholm tool steel.

Welding of tool steel can be performed with

good results if proper precautions are taken
regarding elevated temperature, joint preparation, choice of consumables and welding
procedure.
Welding method

TIG

MMA

Working
temperature

325375C
(620710F)

325375C
(620710F)

Filler metals

QRO 90
TIG-WELD

QRO 90 WELD

Post welding
cooling
Hardness after
welding

2040C/h (3570F/h) for the first

23 hours and then freely in air.
5055 HRC

5055 HRC

Heat treatment after welding

Hardened
condition
Soft annealed
condition

Temper at 1020C (2040F)

below the original tempering temperature
Soft-anneal the material at 820C
(1500F) in protected atmosphere.
Then cool in the furnace at 10C
(20F) per hour to 650C (1200F)
then freely in air.

More detailed information can be found in the

Uddeholm brochure Welding of Tool Steel.

Dummy blocks in Uddeholm QRO 90 Supreme.

9

UDDEHOLM QRO 90 SUPREME

ELECTRIC ARC
FURNACE

ESR-PLANT

UPHILL CASTING

HEAT
TREATMENT

ROLLING MILL
FORGING

MACHINING

STOCK

The ESR Tool Steel Process

The starting material for our tool steel is carefully selected from high quality recyclable steel. Together with
ferroalloys and slag formers, the recyclable steel is melted
in an electric arc furnace. The molten steel is then tapped
into a ladle.
The de-slagging unit removes oxygen-rich slag and
after the de-oxidation, alloying and heating of the steel
bath are carried out in the ladle furnace. Vacuum degassing removes elements such as hydrogen, nitrogen and
sulfur.
ESR PLANT
In uphill casting the prepared moulds are filled with a
controlled flow of molten steel from the ladle.
From this, the steel can go directly to our rolling mill
or to the forging press, but also to our ESR furnace
where our most sophisticated steel grades are melted
once again in an electro slag remelting process. This is
done by melting a consumable electrode immersed in an
overheated slag bath. Controlled solidification in the steel
bath results in an ingot of high homogeneity, thereby

10

removing macro segregation. Melting under a protective

atmosphere gives an even better steel cleanliness.
HOT WORKING
From the ESR plant, the steel goes to the rolling mill or
to our forging press to be formed into round or flat bars.
Prior to delivery all of the different bar materials are
subjected to a heat treatment operation, either as soft
annealing or hardening and tempering. These operations
provide the steel with the right balance between hardness and toughness.
MACHINING
Before the material is finished and put into stock, we also
rough machine the bar profiles to required size and exact
tolerances. In the lathe machining of large dimensions, the
steel bar rotates against a stationary cutting tool. In
peeling of smaller dimensions, the cutting tools revolve
around the bar.
To safeguard our quality and guarantee the integrity of
the tool steel we perform both surface- and ultrasonic
inspections on all bars. We then remove the bar ends and
any defects found during the inspection.

Network of excellence
UDDEHOLM is present on every continent. This ensures you
high-quality Swedish tool steel and local support wherever you
are. ASSAB is our wholly-owned subsidiary and exclusive sales
channel, representing Uddeholm in the Asia Pacific area.
Together we secure our position as the worlds leading supplier
of tooling materials.

www.assab.com

www.uddeholm.com

UDDEHOLM R-100506 / TRYCKERI KNAPPEN, KARLSTAD

UDDEHOLM is the worlds leading supplier of tooling materials. This

is a position we have reached by improving our customers everyday
business. Long tradition combined with research and product development equips Uddeholm to solve any tooling problem that may arise.
It is a challenging process, but the goal is clear to be your number one
partner and tool steel provider.
Our presence on every continent guarantees you the same high quality
wherever you are. ASSAB is our wholly-owned subsidiary and exclusive
sales channel, representing Uddeholm in the Asia Pacific area.
Together we secure our position as the worlds leading supplier of
tooling materials. We act worldwide, so there is always an Uddeholm
or ASSAB representative close at hand to give local advice and support.
For us it is all a matter of trustin long-term partnerships as well as in
developing new products. Trust is something you earn, every day.
For more information, please visit www.uddeholm.com, www.assab.com
or your local website.