Powder metallurgy tool steels

Wrought powder metallurgy (P/M) tool steels offer greater improvements in wear resistance, hardness, heat resistance, toughness, and dimensional stability than conventional cast/wrought tool steels. This is largely explained by the fact that P/M forms have a more refined and more homogeneous microstructure. The solidification rate during manufacture of atomized tool steel powder is significantly faster. The consolidated and hot worked P/M millforms have resultantly smaller, more uniformly distributed carbide particles and a uniform fine grain size. Consequently lot-to-lot performance becomes more consistent and product manufacturing costs may be reduced.