ASSAB 718 HH

UDDEHOLM IMPAX HH
 REFERENCE STANDARD

AISI WNr. JIS

ASSAB DF-3 ARNE O1 1.2510 SKS 3

ASSAB XW-5 SVERKER 3 D6 (D3) (1.2436) (SKD 2)
ASSAB XW-10 RIGOR A2 1.2363 SKD 12
ASSAB XW-42 SVERKER 21 D2 1.2379 (SKD 11)
CALMAX / CARMO CALMAX /CARMO 1.2358
VIKING VIKING / CHIPPER (1.2631)
CALDIE CALDIE
ASSAB 88 SLEIPNER
ASSAB PM 23 SUPERCLEAN VANADIS 23 SUPERCLEAN (M3:2) 1.3395 (SKH 53)
ASSAB PM 30 SUPERCLEAN VANADIS 30 SUPERCLEAN (M3:2 + Co) 1.3294 SKH 40
ASSAB PM 60 SUPERCLEAN VANADIS 60 SUPERCLEAN (1.3292)
VANADIS 4 EXTRA SUPERCLEAN VANADIS 4 EXTRA SUPERCLEAN
VANADIS 8 SUPERCLEAN VANADIS 8 SUPERCLEAN
VANCRON SUPERCLEAN VANCRON SUPERCLEAN
ELMAX SUPERCLEAN ELMAX SUPERCLEAN
ASSAB 518 P20 1.2311
ASSAB 618 T (P20) (1.2738)
ASSAB 618 / 618 HH (P20) 1.2738
ASSAB 718 SUPREME / HH IMPAX SUPREME / HH (P20) 1.2738
NIMAX NIMAX
NIMAX ESR NIMAX ESR
VIDAR 1 ESR VIDAR 1 ESR H11 1.2343 SKD 6
UNIMAX UNIMAX
CORRAX CORRAX
ASSAB 2083 420 1.2083 SUS 420J2
STAVAX ESR STAVAX ESR (420) (1.2083) (SUS 420J2)
MIRRAX ESR MIRRAX ESR (420)
MIRRAX 40 MIRRAX 40 (420)
POLMAX POLMAX (420) (1.2083) (SUS 420J2)
RAMAX HH RAMAX HH (420 F)
ROYALLOY ROYALLOY (420 F)
COOLMOULD COOLMOULD
ASSAB 2714 1.2714 SKT 4
ASSAB 2344 H13 1.2344 SKD 61
ASSAB 8407 2M ORVAR 2M H13 1.2344 SKD 61
ASSAB 8407 SUPREME ORVAR SUPREME H13 Premium 1.2344 SKD 61
DIEVAR DIEVAR
20180718

QRO 90 SUPREME QRO 90 SUPREME

FORMVAR FORMVAR
( ) - modified grade

ASSAB is a trademark of voestalpine High Performance Metals Pacific Pte Ltd. The information contained herein is based on our present state of
knowledge and is intended to provide general notes on our products and their uses.
It should therefore not be construed as a warranty of specific properties of the products described or a warranty for fitness for a particular purpose.
Each user of ASSAB products is responsible for making its own determination as to the suitability of ASSAB products and services.

Edition 20181005

2 | ASSAB 718 HH
GENERAL APPLICATIONS
ASSAB 718 HH is used for the same applications as
ASSAB 718 HH is a prehardened mould steel,
ASSAB 718 Supreme, but mainly when demands on
which offers the following benefits:
strength and wear resistance are somewhat higher:
zz No hardening risks
zz Injection moulds for thermoplastics
zz No hardening costs
zz Extrusion dies for thermoplastics
zz Time saving (i.e., no waiting for heat treatment)
zz Blow moulds
zz Lower tool cost (e.g., no distortion to rectify)
zz Forming tools, press-brake dies (possibly flame
zz Modifications easily carried out hardened or nitrided)
zz Can be subsequently nitrided to increase surface zz Aluminium die casting prototype dies
wear resistance and locally flame hardened to
zz Structural components, shafts
reduce surface damage.
ASSAB 718 HH is manufactured to consistently high
quality standards with a very low sulphur content,
giving a steel with the following characteristics: PROPERTIES
zz Good polishing and photo-etching properties PHYSICAL DATA
zz Good machinability Delivery condition.
zz High purity and good homogeneity
Temperature 20 oC 200 oC 400 oC
zz Uniform hardness
Note: ASSAB 718 HH is 100% ultrasonic tested. Density
7 800 7 750 7 700
kg/m3
Heavier sections are supplied premachined, which
Modulus of elasticity
offers the following advantages compared with N/mm2
205 000 200 000 185 000
unmachined material:
Coefficient of thermal
zz Saving of weight expansion - 12.7 x 10-6 13.6 x 10-6
/°C from 20°C
zz Free of decarburised surface Thermal
zz Exact nominal size (plus tolerance) conductivity* 29 30 31
W/m °C
zz Less machining
Specific heat capacity
zz Absence of scale minimises machine and tool wear 460 - -
J/kg oC

Typical C Si Mn Cr Ni Mo S
analysis % 0.37 0.3 1.4 2.0 1.0 0.2 <0.010 MECHANICAL DATA
Standard
specification
AISI P20 modified, WNr. 1.2738 TENSILE STRENGTH
Delivery Approximate tensile strength at room temperature.
Hardened and tempered to 340 – 380 HB
condition
Hardness 340 HB 370 HB
Colour code White / Brown
Tensile strength, Rm
1110 1180
N/mm2

Yield strength, Rp0.2

985 1090
N/mm2

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

Approximate compressive strength at room

temperature.

Hardness 340 HB 370 HB

Compressive yield strength,

Rc0.2 1000 1150
N/mm2

ASSAB 718 HH | 3
MACHINING MILLING

RECOMMENDATIONS FACE AND SQUARE SHOULDER MILLING

The cutting data below are to be considered as Milling with carbide
Cutting data
guiding values which must be adapted to existing local parameters Rough milling Fine milling
conditions.
Condition: Pre-hardened to ~360 HB Cutting speed (vC)
100 – 140 140 – 170
m/min

TURNING
Feed (f z)
0.2 – 0.4 0.1 – 0.2
mm/tooth
Turning
with High
Turning with carbide
Cutting data Speed Depth of cut (ap)
Steel 2–4 ≤ 2
parameters mm
Rough Fine Fine
turning turning turning Carbide P10
P20 - P40
designation Coated carbide
Coated carbide
Cutting speed (vC ), ISO or cermet
100 - 150 150 - 200 10 - 15
m/min

Feed (f)
0.2 – 0.4 0.05 – 0.2 0.05 - 0.3
mm/rev
END MILLING

Depth of cut (ap) Type of end mill

2–4 0.5 - 2 0.5 - 2.5
mm
Cutting data
parameters Carbide
High speed
P20-P30 P10 Solid carbide indexable
Carbide designation steel
Coated Coated - insert
ISO
carbide carbide
Cutting
speed (vC), 60 – 100 60 – 100 25 – 30 1
m/min

DRILLING
Feed (f z)
0.006 - 0.20 2 0.06 – 0.20 2 0.02– 0.35 2
mm/tooth
HIGH SPEED STEEL TWIST DRILL*
Carbide
Drill diameter Cutting speed (vC) Feed (f) designation K10, P40 P20 – P30 –
mm m/min mm/r ISO

≤5 18 - 20 0.05 – 0.15 1
For coated HSS end mill, vc~ 45–50 m/min
2
Depending on radial depth of cut and cutter diameter
5 – 10 18 - 20 0.15 – 0.25

10 – 15 18 - 20 0.25 – 0.30

15 – 20 18 - 20 0.30 – 0.35
GRINDING
* For coated HSS, uncoated HSS is not recommended
A general grinding wheel recommendation is
given below. More information can be found in the
publication ”Grinding of tool steel”.
CARBIDE DRILL

Type of drill Type of grinding Wheel recommendation

Cutting data
parameters Indexable Carbide
Solid carbide
insert tip 1 Face grinding straight wheel A 46 HV

Cutting speed Face grinding segments A 36 GV

150 - 170 120 - 150 60 - 90
(vc), m/min
Cylindrical grinding A 60 KV
Feed (f)
0.03 – 0.12 2
0.05 – 0.20 2
0.10 – 0.20 2
mm/r Internal grinding A 60 IV

1
Drill with internal cooling channels and brazed tip Profile grinding A 120 JV
2
Depending on drill diameter

4 | ASSAB 718 HH
HEAT TREATMENT TEMPERING GRAPH
The diagram is valid for small samples 15 x 15 x 40 mm
ASSAB 718 HH is intended for use in the hardened
austenitised 30 minutes at 850°C, quenched in air and
and tempered condition, i.e., the delivery condition.
tempered 2 + 2 hours.
When, however, the steel is to be heat treated to
a higher hardness or case hardened, the following Hardness
instructions may be helpful. HRC HB
55 600
550

50 500
SOFT ANNEALING 45
450
400
Protect the steel and heat through to 700°C. Then 40
35 350
cool in the furnace at 10°C per hour to 600°C, then 30 300
freely in air. 250
200
100 200 300 400 500 600 700°C
Tempering temperature
STRESS-RELIEVING
After rough machining, the tool should be heated
through to 550°C, holding time 2 hours. Cool slowly
to room temperature.
SURFACE TREATMENT
HARDENING NITRIDING AND NITROCARBURISING
Note: The steel should be fully soft annealed before Nitriding gives a hard surface, which is very resistant
hardening. to wear and erosion. A nitrided surface also increases
Preheating temperature: 500–600°C. the corrosion resistance.
Austenitising temperature: 850°C For best results, the following steps should be followed:
The steel should be heated through to the austenitising 1. Rough machining
temperature and held at temperature for 30 minutes. 2. Stress tempering at 550°C
Protect the tool against decarburisation and oxidation 3. Grinding
during the hardening process. 4. Nitriding
The following surface hardness and nitriding depths
will be achieved after nitriding:
QUENCHING MEDIA
Surface
zz Oil (60 – 80°C) Time Depth
Process hardness
h mm
zz Martempering bath at 300°C, maximum 4 minutes, HV1
then cool in air 20 650 0.30
Note: Temper the tool as soon as its temperature Gas nitriding at 525°C
30 650 0.35
reaches 50 – 70°C.
24 700 0.30
Plasma nitriding at
480°C
48 700 0.40

TEMPERING Gas nitrocarbursing at

2 700 0.10
570°C
Choose the tempering temperature according to the
hardness required by reference to the tempering graph.
Temper twice with intermediate cooling to room
temperature, the preferred tempering temperature
is 250°C or higher. In exceptional cases, a minimum HARD CHROME PLATING
tempering temperature of 180°C can be used for small
simple inserts and parts where toughness is of less After plating, the tool should be tempered at 180°C for
4 hours, within 4 hours of plating, to avoid the risk of
importance. Holding time at tempering temperature
hydrogen embrittlement.
minimum 2 hours.

ASSAB 718 HH | 5
FLAME AND INDUCTION Welding method TIG MMA
HARDENING
Preheating temperature 200 - 250 oC 200 - 250 oC

ASSAB 718 HH can be flame or induction hardened ASSAB 718 ASSAB 718
Filler material
to a hardness of approx. 50 HRC. TIG-WELD WELD
Flame hardening may cause a certain amount of Maximum interpass
375ºC 375ºC
distortion, depending on the design of the mould. If temperature
possible, flame hardening should be carried out directly Post weld cooling
20 - 40 oC/h the first 2 h then
after rough machining. Grinding will then be performed freely in air.
after flame hardening. Hardness after welding 300 - 330 HB 300 - 330 HB
Heat treatment after
welding:
Tool that need to be
Temper at 520ºC for 2 h
polished

Tool that need to be

photo-etched Temper at 550ºC for 2 h

POLISHING
ASSAB 718 HH has excellent polishability in its
delivery condition. After grinding, polishing can be
carried out using aluminium oxide or diamond paste.

The surface to be hardened is heated continuously by TYPICAL PROCEDURE

means of a gas flame to approx. 850°C (pale-red 1. Grind to 0.05 mm from the finished size.
colour), followed by cooling in air. The gas flame may 2. Polish with diamond paste grade 45 to obtain a
be an ordinary oxyacetylene flame. The size of the dull and even surface.
blowpipe and the temperature of the gas are adapted
3. Polish with diamond paste grade 15.
so that the heating is accomplished in a few seconds.
4. Polish with diamond paste grade 3, or grade 1 for
The flame hardened tool does not need to be particularly high demands on surface finish size.
tempered as this would cause a drop in hardness.
Note: Each steel grade has an optimum polishing
time,which largely depends on hardness and polishing
technique. Overpolishing can lead to a poor surface
ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE finish (e.g., an “orange peel” effect).
MACHINING — EDM
If spark-erosion, EDM, is performed in the as-delivered
PHOTO-ETCHING
condition, the tool should then be given an additional ASSAB 718 HH is particularly suitable for texturing
temper at approx. 550°C. If the steel has been by the photo-etching method. Its very low sulphur
rehardened, the additional tempering temperature content ensures accurate and consistent pattern.
should be 25°C lower than the last tempering
temperature used.
FURTHER
INFORMATION
WELDING Please contact your local ASSAB office for further
Good results when welding tool steel can be achieved information on the selection, heat treatment,
if proper precautions are taken during welding application and availability of ASSAB tool steel.
(elevated working temperature, joint preparation,
choice of consumables and welding procedure). If
the tool is to be polished or photo-etched, it is
necessary to work with an electrode type of matching
composition.

6 | ASSAB 718 HH
ASSAB
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Choosing the right steel is of vital importance. ASSAB engineers
and metallurgists are always ready to assist you in your choice
of the optimum steel grade and the best treatment for each
application. ASSAB not only supplies steel products with superior
quality, we offer state-of-the-art machining, heat treatment and
surface treatment services to enhance steel properties to meet
your requirement in the shortest lead time. Using a holistic
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