Tool materials - selection, heat treatment and properties

Tool materials play a central role in many production chains. Processed as tools, they are used to shape materials by forming, reshaping and cutting. This results in high demands on strength and wear resistance, even at elevated temperatures or chemical attack. Properties such as good machinability and polishability are desirable for the production of tools. The properties of tool steels can be varied over a very wide range through heat treatment and the resulting microstructure like no other steel group. This results in considerable optimization potential for the respective application.
The aim of the seminar is to provide an overview of the wide range of tool steels for cold forming, hot forming and plastics processing. Experts from industry and science will not only explain the basic materials science correlations, but will also demonstrate the practical limits of what is feasible through application examples and an examination of the damage mechanisms. The areas of heat treatment, surface layer treatment and surface coating take up the largest share in order to take into account their importance with regard to stress adaptation.
The seminar is aimed at employees from the engineering sciences, master craftsmen, foremen, materials testers and technicians from the areas of development, design, production, materials technology and quality assurance.