Material Selection & Heat Treatment Recommendations

To tap the maximum out of our BALINIT

coated tools

For uncoated tools, the selection of steel and heat treatment is dictated by the need for the
greatest possible wear resistance; accordingly, hardness combined with adequate toughness is
sought. This compromise is achieved in rare cases.

The high hardness of the Balinit

coating makes it possible to split the desired functions between

the Surface (required properties high wear resistance, low friction, and high working temp.) and
the Core (required property high toughness). Heat treatment can thus be oriented toward
maximum toughness.

For coated tools to reach long service lives they must not fail by fracturing; this point emphasizes
the importance of substrate toughness. If the coating is to be given adequate support, the
hardness must be set so that the steel does not experience plastic deformation under the surface
pressures that occur when the tool is in use. Thus a hardness of 55 HRC is sufficient for bending
dies used on thin sheet metal. For the stamping of high-strength sheet metal around 5 mm thick,
the hardness should be at least 60 HRC.

Most of the Balinit

coatings are applied around 450 + 50 C. Coating adhesion is poor in low

temperature processes than in processes involving higher coating temperature, and thus the low
temperature processes is not recommended for tools intended for severe service conditions
(cutting tools and metal working dies).

To prevent tools from undergoing distortion and hardness loss during coating, the tempering point
must be over 500 C (typically between 500 and 540 C). Tools must be tempered at least twice
(three times when tolerances are to be kept close). In order to hold the residual austenite content
as low as possible. The steel grows when austenite is transformed to ferrite. If the processes
occur during coating, when the tools are held at 450 +50 C for some three hours, the holding of
tolerances can no longer be guaranteed.

Recommended Heat Treatment Cycle for AISI D 2 / SKD 11 / DIN 1.2379 / High Carbon High
Chromium Cold Work Tool Steel with Molybdenum & Vanadium

Typical Composition: High Carbon High Chromium Cold Work Tool Steel
AISI D 2 / SKD 11 / DIN 1.2379
Carbon - C : 1.5 to 1.6 % Chromium - Cr : 11.5 to 12.5 %
Molybdenum Mo : 0.8 to 1.0 % Vanadium V : 0.8 to 1.0 %
Manganese - Mn : 0.4 to 0.5 % Silicon - Si : Max. 0.3 %
Time
0
650 C
650 C
1040 to 1080 C
500 to 540 Deg. C.
Hardening / Austenizing Tempering
T
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e
-80 C.
Stress
Relieving
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Heat Treatment Recommendations:
1. Stress Relieving: Tools should be stress relieved by gradually heating to 650 to 680 C.,
hold for 2 Hrs, cool slowly to 500 C. & then cool to room temp. or to 50 C. freely in air.
Stress Relieving is essential to get rid of stresses induced during manufacturing process (like
rough Machining & Forming processes). Else these concentrated entrapped stresses lead to
cracks while in use or during hardening.
2. Hardening / Austenizing: Tools should be hardened and Tempered at Higher Secondary
Hardness, thus the tools should be hardened between 1040 to 1080C. As hardening temp.
changes with the Steel composition or its alloy content, steel manufacturer / supplier
recommendations for achieving max. secondary hardness should be considered for selecting
the correct hardening temp. During hardening, tools should be gradually heated to hardening
temp., Preheating to 650 C. and holding for about an hour will help in achieving uniform
hardness, homogeneous structure & dimensional stability in hardened tools. Tools must be
uniformly heated throughout the entire cross section to the hardening temp., and then tools
should be soaked / held at the hardening temp. @ 30 5 min. /25 mm (1 inch) thickness,
without overheating. Tools should then be immediately quenched (rapidly cool) to room temp.
/ 50 C. in a controlled atmosphere to prevent decarburization. For quenching media, its
temp. and rate of cooling steel manufacturers recommendations should be followed. To
maximise transformation of Austenite to desired martensite tools should be Subzero treated
to minus 180 C. or should be Multiple Tempered to the desired hardness to achieve
dimensional & geometrical stability.
3. Tempering: Tools must be tempered at 500 to 540 C. & should be held for 2 Hrs.to relieve
stresses developed in hardening. Temper at least twice & thrice when tolerances are to be
kept close. High temp. tempering yields added toughness preventing breakage in use.
Correct tempering temp. depend on the hardening / Austenizing temp. selected.

Pre-requisites for Balinit

Coatings
As Machining and forming metal processes create internal stress concentration. Burrs, scratches,
Pits, welds, heat treatment salts, other surface imperfection etc. cause additional defects & are
most of the time responsible for premature fatigue failure, loss of strength and corrosion. As
fatigue cracks generally begin at surface imperfections, a compressively-stressed, peened skin is
highly effective in preventing cracks formation or its growth.

Sand Blast Finishing and Shot Peening are most common technology to deburr, clean & enhance
the appearance and improve the fatigue life of the part. Tools must be Shot Peened / Sand
blasted after heat treatment.

Balzers strongly recommend tools to be shot-peened / sand-blasted after heat treatment as it not
only removes heat treatment residues but also results in more relaxed uniformly compressed thin
surface layer allowing tools to function under greater stress levels, eliminates premature fatigue
failures and produces uniform surface for better coating adhesion. It also enhances lubricity and
prevents fretting and galling.

Surface Condition of Tools:
Surfaces must be bright for better adhesion of coating. Surface should not be chrome-plated,
steam blued, black oxidised, Bath or liquid Nitrided, rusted / corroded or have any similar finish as
these treatments forms barrier layers preventing direct adhesion. Surfaces must be free of chips,
adhesive tape, paint, work residues, chemical compounds, abrasive dust, etc.

Welded tools should be stress relieved. Tools must not be assembled by glueing, bolting or
press fitting.

Ground surface must be free of burrs, micro-cracks & burning marks. Roughness value Rz (peak
to valley) should be less than coating thickness i.e. 4 microns or Ra should be 0.2 microns.

EDM processed tools should be made in multiple cuts (1 main + 3 trim cuts) to minimise white
layer effect. White layer of EDM manufactured surface should be mechanically removed by either
Sand blasting, Grinding, Polishing, Lapping etc.

Polished surface should be free from polishing compound residues

Tools should be individually properly packed to prevent damage during transit or contact from
each other. Tools should be Oiled or with Rust preventive.
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