Bohler-Uddeholm,UDDEHOLM Vancron 40 nitrided powder tool Steel Sheet,Plate

Bohler-Uddeholm UDDEHOLM Vancron 40 nitrided powder tool Steel Sheet/Plate Product Information -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Bohler-Uddeholm UDDEHOLM Vancron 40 nitrided powder tool Steel Sheet/Plate Synonyms -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -:

Bohler-Uddeholm UDDEHOLM Vancron 40 nitrided powder tool steel Product Information -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: # **Böhler-Uddeholm UDDEHOLM Vancron 40 Nitriding Powder Metallurgy Tool Steel** ## **Product Overview** **UDDEHOLM Vancron 40** is a revolutionary **nitrogen-alloyed, powder metallurgy (PM) cold work tool steel** specifically engineered to provide **exceptional resistance to adhesive wear (galling) and abrasive wear**. Unlike conventional tool steels, Vancron 40 incorporates **nitrogen into its base chemistry**, and when combined with its proprietary PM manufacturing and a specialized **low-temperature nitriding process**, it develops an extremely hard, corrosion-resistant surface layer with outstanding anti-galling properties. This makes it the premier choice for applications involving **stainless steel, aluminum, and other sticky or abrasive materials** where traditional tool steels fail prematurely due to material pickup and scoring. --- ## **1. Key Characteristics & Advantages** * **Superior Anti-Galling/Anti-Sticking Properties:** Exceptional resistance to adhesive wear (material pickup), making it ideal for forming, drawing, and blanking stainless steel, aluminum, and copper alloys without the need for lubricants in many cases. * **Extreme Surface Hardness:** After the recommended nitriding treatment, surface hardness can exceed **1300 HV** (equivalent to ~72 HRC), providing outstanding wear and abrasion resistance. * **Good Toughness Core:** Maintains a tough, ductile core (~58-60 HRC) that supports the hard surface layer and resists chipping and catastrophic failure. * **Excellent Corrosion Resistance:** The nitrogen-rich surface layer and chromium content provide significantly better corrosion resistance than conventional tool steels, approaching that of some stainless grades. * **Low Friction Surface:** The nitrided layer exhibits a low coefficient of friction against many metals, reducing forming forces and improving material flow. * **Powder Metallurgy Homogeneity:** Uniform, fine microstructure ensures consistent performance, excellent polishability, and isotropic properties. * **Reduced Lubrication Dependency:** Can often operate with minimal or no lubrication, reducing production costs and environmental impact. --- ## **2. Typical Chemical Composition (Weight %)** The unique chemistry of Vancron 40 is the foundation of its performance, with **Nitrogen (N)** as the critical alloying element. | Element | Carbon (C) | Chromium (Cr) | Molybdenum (Mo) | Vanadium (V) | **Nitrogen (N)** | Silicon (Si) | | :--- | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | | **Content** | **0.50** | **8.00** | **1.50** | **0.50** | **0.40** | **0.40** | **Alloying Rationale:** * **Nitrogen (0.40%):** The key innovation. Alloyed directly into the steel, it enables the formation of a unique, hard, and stable nitride layer during subsequent surface treatment. It also strengthens the matrix and enhances corrosion resistance. * **Chromium (8.0%):** Provides hardenability, forms hard carbides for wear resistance, and is essential for forming chromium nitrides during nitriding, contributing to the extreme surface hardness. * **Carbon, Molybdenum, Vanadium:** Provide a balanced matrix for core toughness, strength, and secondary hardening. * **Powder Metallurgy Process:** Essential for homogeneously distributing the nitrogen and other alloying elements, preventing brittleness and ensuring a uniform response to nitriding. --- ## **3. Physical & Mechanical Properties** ### **Physical Properties (Core):** * **Density:** ~7.7 g/cm³ * **Thermal Conductivity:** ~22 W/(m·K) at 20°C * **Modulus of Elasticity:** ~210 GPa ### **Heat Treatment & Mechanical Data:** * **Soft Annealed Hardness:** ~250 HBW * **Core Heat Treatment (Prior to Nitriding):** * **Austenitizing:** 1080-1120°C (1975-2050°F) * **Quenching:** Oil or gas. * **Tempering:** 500-550°C (930-1020°F), double temper. **Achieves core hardness of 58-60 HRC.** * **Surface Treatment (Mandatory for Optimal Performance):** * **Process:** Salt bath nitriding, plasma nitriding, or gas nitriding at **~500°C (930°F)**. * **Resulting Surface Layer:** A compound layer (white layer) of **CrN and other alloy nitrides**. * **Surface Hardness:** **1100 - 1400 HV** (typically >1200 HV). * **Case Depth:** Up to ~0.15 mm. * **Dimensional Change:** Minimal growth during nitriding (<0.05%). --- ## **4. Primary Applications** Vancron 40 is uniquely suited for applications where adhesive wear is the primary failure mechanism. * **Forming & Drawing of Stainless Steel:** * Punches, dies, and inserts for deep drawing, bending, and forming of austenitic stainless steels (304, 316) without galling. * **Blankng & Punching of Non-Ferrous Metals:** * Progressive dies for aluminum, copper, and brass components, especially in dry or near-dry conditions. * **Extrusion Tools:** * Dies and mandrels for cold extrusion of aluminum and soft alloys. * **Powder Compaction Tools:** * Punches and dies for metal powder pressing, where anti-sticking is critical for part release. * **Plastic Injection Molds:** * For abrasive and corrosive plastics (e.g., PVC, filled polymers), benefiting from both wear and corrosion resistance. * **Thread Rolling & Forming:** * Dies for forming threads on stainless steel and aluminum parts. * **Cutting & Slitting Knives:** For non-ferrous metals and composites. --- ## **5. Relevant International Standards & Comparable Grades** Vancron 40 is a patented, proprietary material. There is **no direct equivalent** in standard tool steel classifications due to its nitrogen-alloyed chemistry. | Category | Grade / Designation | Key Difference / Note | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Proprietary (Uddeholm)** | **VANCRON 40** | The reference nitrogen-alloyed, anti-galling PM tool steel. | | **PM Tool Steel** | **VANADIS 4 Extra, ELMAX** | High wear-resistant PM steels, but without nitrogen alloying and specialized anti-galling properties. They rely on carbide hardness, not nitride surface layers. | | **Nitrided Tool Steels** | **Nitrided H13, Nitrided D2** | These are standard steels *post-treated* with nitriding. Vancron 40 is *designed from the outset* for nitriding, with nitrogen in solution, resulting in a superior, more stable, and harder nitride layer. | | **Stainless Tool Steel** | **STAVAX ESR, MIRRAX** | Offer corrosion resistance but lack the extreme anti-galling and surface hardness of nitrided Vancron 40. | | **International** | **N/A** | No ISO, DIN, AISI, or JIS standard covers this specific nitrogen-alloyed chemistry for tooling. | **Classification:** It is most accurately described as a **"Nitrogen-Alloyed Powder Metallurgy Anti-Galling Tool Steel."** --- ## **6. Processing & Fabrication Guidelines** * **Supply Form:** Bars, blocks, and pre-finished blanks. * **Machining:** Perform all machining **before the final nitriding treatment** and after the core hardening/tempering (58-60 HRC). Machining in this state is more demanding than annealed steel but feasible with carbide tools. **Do not machine after nitriding.** * **Grinding/Finishing:** Final grinding and polishing should be completed **before nitriding**. The nitrided layer is too hard to machine economically. * **Core Heat Treatment:** Standard for a high-alloy PM steel. Requires controlled atmosphere. * **Nitriding Treatment (Critical Step):** * Must be performed **after all machining, grinding, and polishing**. * **Salt bath nitriding (QPQ®-type process)** often yields the best results. * Temperature must be kept **below the final tempering temperature** of the core (e.g., <550°C) to avoid softening the core. * **Post-Nitriding:** Only very light honing or polishing is possible. The component is ready for use. * **Welding:** Not recommended after nitriding. If necessary, the nitrided layer must be completely removed in the weld area, and post-weld heat treatment and re-nitriding are required. --- ## **7. Conclusion** **UDDEHOLM Vancron 40** represents a **paradigm shift in tool steel design**, moving beyond reliance solely on carbide hardness to address the pervasive problem of adhesive wear through **metallurgical innovation**. By integrating nitrogen into the alloy and optimizing the steel for a specific nitriding response, it creates a surface engineered to resist material pickup under the most challenging conditions. For toolmakers and manufacturers struggling with galling, scoring, and premature failure when working with stainless steel, aluminum, and other "sticky" metals, Vancron 40 offers a transformative solution. It dramatically extends tool life, improves part quality by eliminating scratches and pick-up marks, and can streamline production by reducing lubrication needs. It is a specialized, high-value material that solves specific, costly industrial problems where conventional materials consistently fall short. -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Bohler-Uddeholm UDDEHOLM Vancron 40 nitrided powder tool steel Specification Dimensions Size： Diameter 20-1000 mm Length <6896 mm Size:We can customized as required Standard： Per your request or drawing We can customized as required Properties（Theoretical） Chemical Composition -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Bohler-Uddeholm UDDEHOLM Vancron 40 nitrided powder tool steel Properties -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -:

Applications of Bohler-Uddeholm UDDEHOLM Vancron 40 nitrided powder tool Steel Sheet,Plate -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Chemical Identifiers Bohler-Uddeholm UDDEHOLM Vancron 40 nitrided powder tool Steel Sheet,Plate -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -:

Packing of Bohler-Uddeholm UDDEHOLM Vancron 40 nitrided powder tool Steel Sheet/Plate -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Standard Packing: -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Typical bulk packaging includes palletized plastic 5 gallon/25 kg. pails, fiber and Steel Sheet/Plate drums to 1 ton super sacks in full container (FCL) or truck load (T/L) quantities. Research and sample quantities and hygroscopic, oxidizing or other air sensitive materials may be packaged under argon or vacuum. Solutions are packaged in polypropylene, plastic or glass jars up to palletized 3367 gallon liquid totes Special package is available on request. E FORUs’ is carefully handled to minimize damage during storage and transportation and to preserve the quality of our products in their original condition