Most Common Tool Steel Grades with Applications

Tool steel is a type of steel used in the manufacture of cutting tools, gauges, molds and wear-resistant tools. 

It has high hardness and the ability to maintain high hardness at high temperatures, as well as good wear resistance and appropriate toughness. 

Tool steel can be categorized into carbon tool steel, alloy tool steel and high-speed tool steel according to its chemical composition.

The most common tool steel grades and their applications are as follows:

1. T7, T7A: sub-eutectic steel, with good plasticity, toughness and strength, can withstand vibration and shock loads, commonly used in the manufacture of tools that are not subjected to shock loads and require appropriate hardness and wear resistance, such as forging molds, chisels, hammers, punches and so on.

2. T8, T8A: eutectic steel, high hardness and wear resistance after heat treatment, used in the manufacture of cutting edges do not change the heat of the tools, such as woodworking tools, wind tools, pliers tools, etc..

3. T8Mn, T8MnA: with high hardenability and hardness, commonly used in the manufacture of woodworking tools with large cross-section, hand saw blades, engraving tools, etc..

4. T9, T9A: over-eutectic steel, with high hardness, commonly used in the manufacture of tools requiring high hardness and a certain degree of toughness, such as engraving tools, rivets and dies.

5. T10, T10A: over-eutectic steel, with high wear resistance, commonly used in the manufacture of cutting edge does not change the heat of the tool, such as processing tools for wood.

Each of these tool steel grades has its own unique properties and applications, choose the right tool steel grade can meet different work requirements and use of the environment.