Uddeholm

Sleipner ®
 Uddeholm Sleipner ®
THE CHANGING TOOLING ENVIRONMENT
The tooling environment is changing to adapt to the changing market
environment. Lead times are one aspect of this change and they are
getting shorter and shorter. This ultimately means that more emphasis
has to be placed on tool reliability in service and on time to manufacture
the tooling.

The production materials used nowadays are placing more demands

on the tools and the tool steels used to manufacture them. For
example, advanced high strength steel materials now being used for
automotive parts place extra demands on resistance to chipping and
cracking, compressive strength and wear resistance.

THE MODERN GENERAL COLD WORK TOOL STEEL

The classical 12 % Cr-steel such as AISI D2 or W.-Nr. 1.2379 are still the
backbone of cold work tooling but their limitations are becoming more
and more apparent in the changing production environment. Uddeholm
Sleipner is a new 8 % Cr-steel from Uddeholms AB. Its property profile
has been carefully balanced and the result is a very versatile tool steel
which overcomes the limitations of the 12% Cr-steel.

A VERSATILE TOOL STEEL

The property profile of Uddeholm Sleipner is more versatile and superior
to that of 12 % Cr-steels. The machinability, grindability and harden-
ability are much better and it is easier to make small repair welds. This
means that Uddeholm Sleipner is the right choice for faster toolmaking.
The significantly better chipping resistance also result in better tool
performance and easier maintenance.

© UDDEHOLMS AB
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes
without permission of the copyright holder.

This information is based on our present state of knowledge and is intended to provide
general notes on our products and their uses. It should not therefore be construed as a
warranty of specific properties of the products described or a warranty for fitness for a
particular purpose.

Classified according to EU Directive 1999/45/EC

For further information see our “Material Safety Data Sheets”.

Edition 16, 06.2021

 Uddeholm Sleipner

GENERAL PROPERTIES
Uddeholm Sleipner is a chromium-molyb-
PHYSICAL DATA
denum-vanadium alloyed tool steel which is
characterised by: Hardened and tempered to 62 HRC. Data at
room and elevated temperatures.
• Good wear resistance
Temperature 20°C 200°C 400°C
• Good chipping resistance
(68°F) (390°F) (750°F)
• High compressive strength Density
kg/m3 7 730 7 680 7 620
• High hardness (>60 HRC) after high lbs/in3 0.279 0.277 0.275
temperature tempering Modulus of elasticity
MPa 205 000 190 000 180 000
• Good through-hardening properties Psi 29.7 x 106 27.6 x 106 26.1 x 106

• Good stability in hardening Coefficient of

thermal expansion
• Good resistance to tempering back –after low temperature
tempering (60 HRC)
• Good WEDM properties per °C from 20°C – 12.7 x 10–6 –
per °F from 68°F – 7.1 x 10–6 –
• Good machinability and grindability –after high tempera-
ture tempering
• Good surface treatment properties per °C from 20°C – 11.6 x 10–6 12.4 x 10–6
per °F from 68°F – 6.4 x 10–6 6.9 x 10–6

Typical C Si Mn Cr Mo V Thermal conductivity

analysis % 0.9 0.9 0.5 7.8 2.5 0.5 W/m •°C – 20 25
Btu in/(ft2 h °F) – 140 170
Standard spec. None
Specific heat capacity
Delivery condition Soft annealed to approx. 235 HB J/kg °C 460 – –
Colour code Blue/brown Btu/lb. °F 0.11 – –

APPLICATIONS COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

Uddeholm Sleipner is a general purpose The figures should be considered as
steel for cold work tooling. It has a mix- approximate.
ed-abrasive wear profile and a good resistan-
ce to chipping. Furthermore a high hardness Hardness Compressive yield strength Rc0,2
(>60 HRC) can be obtained after high tem- HRC MPa ksi

perature tempering. This means that surface 50 1 700 250

55 2 050 300
treatments such as nitriding or PVD can be 60 2 350 340
made on a high strength substrate. Also, it 62 2 500 360
64 2 650 380
means that complicated shapes with hard-
ness levels >60 HRC can be wire EDM’d
from blocks with relatively thick cross-sec-
CHIPPING RESISTANCE
tions with a much reduced risk of cracking.
Relative chipping resistance for Uddeholm
Uddeholm Sleipner is recommended for Sverker 21, Uddeholm Sleipner and
medium run tooling applications where a Uddeholm Rigor at the same hardness level.
resistance to mixed or abrasive wear and a
good resistance to chipping are required. Relative chipping resistance
1,75
Examples: 1,50
• Blanking and fine blanking 1,25
• Shearing 1,00
• Forming 0,75
• Coining 0,50
• Cold forging 0,25
• Cold extrusion Sverker 21 Sleipner Rigor
• Thread rolling
• Drawing and deep drawing
• Powder pressing
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 Uddeholm Sleipner

ABRASIVE WEAR RESISTANCE QUENCHING MEDIA

Relative abrasive wear resistance for • Vacuum (high speed gas with sufficient
Uddeholm Sverker 21, Uddeholm Sleipner overpressure minimum 2 bar)
and Uddeholm Rigor at the same hardness
• Martempering bath or fluidized bed at
level (low value means better wear
approx. 200–550°C (390–1020°F)
resistance).
• Forced air/gas
Relative abrasive wear rate
1.2 Note: Temper the tool as soon as its tempe-
1.0 rature reaches 50–70°C (120–160°F).
0.8
In order to obtain the optimum properties for
0.6 the tool, the cooling rate should be as fast as
0.4 possible with regards to acceptable distor-
0.2 tion.
A slow quench rate will result in loss of
Rigor Sleipner Sverker 21
hardness compared with the given tempering
curves.
HEAT TREATMENT Martempering should be followed by forced
SOFT ANNEALING air cooling if wall thickness is exceeding
50 mm (2”).
Protect the steel and heat through to 850°C
(1560°F). Then cool in the furnace at 10°C
(20°F) per hour to 650°C (1200°F), then freely HARDNESS, RETAINED AUSTENITE
in air. AND GRAIN SIZE AS FUNCTION OF
AUSTENITIZING TEMPERATURE
STRESS RELIEVING Grain
Retained austenite %
size Hardness HRC
After rough machining the tool should be ASTM 67
35
Grain size
heated through to 650°C (1200°F) and held
10 66 30
for 2 hours. Cool slowly to 500°C (930°F)
then freely in air. 8
65 Hardness 25

64 20
HARDENING 6
Preheating temperature: 600–650°C (1110– 63 15
1200°F) and 850–900°C (1560–1650°F) 4 62 10
Austenitizing temperature: 950–1080°C Retained austenite
2 61 5
(1740–1980°F) but usually 1030–1050°C
(1890–1920°F). 60
975 1000 1025 1050 1075 1100°C
1785 1830 1890 1920 1965 2010°F
Holding time: 30 minutes
Austenitizing temperature (30 minutes)
Note: Holding time = time at hardening tem-
perature after the tool is fully heated through.
A holding time of less than recommended
time will result in loss of hardness.
Protect the part against decarburization and
oxidation during hardening.
Further information can be found in the
Uddeholm brochure “Heat treatment of tool
steels”.

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 Uddeholm Sleipner

TEMPERING
Choose the tempering temperature accor- 540°C (1000°F) may increase the hardness
ding to the hardness required by reference to and compressive strength to some extent
the tempering graph. Temper at least twice but also impair cracking resistance and
with intermediate cooling to room tempera- dimensional stability. However, if lowering the
ture. tempering temperature, do not temper below
520°C (970°F).
For highest dimensional stability and ductility,
a minimum temperature of 540°C (1000°F) When tempering twice the minimum holding
and three tempers is strongly recommended. time at temperature is 2 hours. When tempe-
ring three times the minimum holding time is
Tempering at a lower temperature than
1 hour.

Hardness, HRC Retained austenite %

70
70

65 60
Hardness
60 50

55 40
1075°C/30 min. 1050°C/30 min.

50 30

45 Retained austenite 20

40 1030°C/30 min. 10

35 0
150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700°C
300 390 480 570 660 750 840 930 1020 1110 1200 1290°F
Tempering temperature, (2h + 2h)

Above tempering curves are obtained after heat treatment of samples with a size of 15 x 15 x 40 mm,
cooling in forced air. Lower hardness can be expected after heat treatment of tools and dies due to
factors like actual tool size and heat treatment parameters.

CCT-GRAPH
Austenitizing temperature 1030°C (1890°F). Holding time 30 min.
°F °C
2000 1100
Austenitizing temperature 1030°C
Holding time 30 min.
1800 1000
Ac
1f
900 = 880°C
1600
Ac
1s
800 = 830°C
1400 Carbides
Pearlite
700 Cooling Hardness T800-500
1200 curve no. HV10 (sec)
600
1000 1 824 2
500
2 824 11
800
400 3 813 140

600
Bainite 4 813 280
300
5 813 630
400 200 Ms 6 813 1241
Martensite
100 7 724 2482
200
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 8 649 5215
1 10 100 1 000 10 000 100 000 Second 9 572 8360

1 10 100 1 000 Minutes

1 10 100 Hours

Air cooling of
0.2 1.5 10 90 600 bars, Ø mm

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 Uddeholm Sleipner

TTT-GRAPH
Austenitizing temperature 1030°C (1890°F). Holding time 30 min.

°F °C
2000 1100
Austenitizing temperature 1030°C
Holding time 30 min.
1800 1000
Ac
1f
900 = 880°C
1600
Ac
1s
800 = 830°C
1400 Carbides
Pearlite
700 Temp. Time Hardness
1200 °C hours HV10
600
800 31.0 498
1000
500 750 3.1 266
800 725 1.6 309
400
700 3.0 304
600 300 650 19.6 239
Bainite 600 23.3 724
400 200
300 7.0 813
Martensite
200 100 250 16.3 803
200 23.4 813
1 10 100 1 000 10 000 100 000 Second

1 10 100 1 000 Minutes

1 10 100 Hours

DIMENSIONAL CHANGES SUB-ZERO TREATMENT

The dimensional changes have been Pieces requiring maximum dimensional
measured after austenitizing and tempering. sta-bility in service should be sub-zero trea-
ted.
Austenitizing: 1030°C (1890°F)/30 min, coo-
ling in vacuum furnace at 0.75°C/s (1.35°F/s) Sub-zero treatment reduces the amount of
between 800°C (1470°F) and 500°C (930°F) retained austenite and changes the hardness
as shown in the diagram below.
Tempering: 2 x 2 h at various temperatures
Austenitizing: 1030°C (1890°F)/30 min
Specimen size: 100 x 100 x 100 mm
Tempering: 2 x 2 h at various temperatures
DIMENSIONAL CHANGES AS FUNCTION OF
TEMPERING TEMPERATURE
HARDNESS AND RETAINED AUSTENITE AS
Dimensional changes % FUNCTION OF TEMPERING TEMPERATURE
+0.15 AND SUB-ZERO TREATMENT

+0.10 No treatment
Sub-zero treatment
+0.05 Width
Length Hardness HRC Retained austenite %
0 75 24
70 Hardness 21
–0.05 65 18
Thickness 60 15
–0.10 55 12
200 300 400 500 600 °C
390 570 750 930 1110 °F 50 9
Tempering temperature 45 Retained austenite 6
40 3
35
150 250 350 450 550 650°C
300 480 660 840 1020 1200°F
Tempering temperature °C

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 Uddeholm Sleipner

SURFACE MACHINING
TREATMENTS RECOMMENDATIONS
Some cold work tool steel are given a The cutting data below are to be considered
surface treatment in order to reduce friction as guide values which must be adapted to
and increase wear resistance. The most existing local conditions.
commonly used treatments are nitriding and
More information can be found in the
surface coating with wear resistant layers
Uddeholm publication “Cutting data
produced via PVD or CVD.
recommendations”.
The high hardness and good resistance to
The recommendations in following tables are
chipping together with a good dimensional
valid for Uddeholm Sleipner in soft annealed
stability make Uddeholm Sleipner suitable as
condition to approx. 235 HB.
a substrate steel for various surface coatings.

NITRIDING AND NITROCARBURIZING TURNING

Nitriding and nitrocarburizing result in a
Turning with Turning
hard surface layer which is very resistant to carbide with high
wear and galling. The surface hardness after speed steel
Cutting data Rough Fine Fine
nitriding is approximately 1100 HV0,2kg. The parameters turning turning turning
thickness of the layer should be chosen to Cutting speed
suit the application in question. (vc), m/min. 100–150 150–200 17–22
f.p.m. 328–492 492–656 56–72

PVD Feed, (f)

mm/rev 0.2–0.4 0.05–0.2 0.05–0.3
Physical vapour deposition, PVD, is a i.p.r. 0.008–0.016 0.002–0.008 0.002–0.01
method of applying a wear-resistant coa- Depth of cut, (ap)
ting at temperatures between 200–500°C mm 2–4 0,5–2 0,5–3
inch 0.08–0.16 0.02–0.08 0.02–0.12
(390–930°F).
Carbide
designation
CVD ISO K20, P20 K10, P15 –
Chemical vapour deposition, CVD, is used US C2–C6 C3, C7
Coated Coated
for applying wear-resistant surface coatings carbide carbide
at a temperature of around 1000°C (1830°F).
It is recommended that the tools are sepa-
rately hardened and tempered in a vacuum MILLING
furnace after surface treatment. FACE AND SQUARE SHOULDER MILLING
Milling with carbide
Cutting data Rough Fine
parameters milling milling

Cutting speed (vc)

m/min 110–180 180–220
f.p.m. 360–590 590–722

Feed (fz)
mm/tooth 0.2–0.4 0.1–0.2
inch/tooth 0.008–0.016 0.004–0.008

Depth of cut (ap)

mm 2–5 –2
inch 0.08–0.2 –0.08

Carbide designation
ISO K20, P20 P10–P20
US C2, C6 C3–C7
Coated carbide Coated carbide

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 Uddeholm Sleipner

END MILLING
WELDING
Type of milling Good results when welding tool steel can be
Carbide achieved if proper precautions are taken
Cutting data Solid indexable High speed
during the welding operation.
parameters carbide insert steel

Cutting • The joints should be prepared properly.

speed (vc)
m/min 80–120 100–140 13–181) • Repair welds should be made at ele-
f.p.m. 262–394 328–460 43–591) vated temperature. Make the two first
Feed (fz) layers with the same electrode diameter
mm/tooth 0.03–0.202) 0.08–0.202) 0.05–0.352)
inch/tooth 0.001–0.0082) 0.003–0.0082) 0.002–0.0142)
and/or current.

Carbide • Always keep the arc length as short

designation as possible. The electrode should be
ISO – P15–P40 –
US C6–C5 angled at 90° to the joint sides to
1)
For coated high speed steel end mill vc 30–35 m/min.
minimize undercut. In addition, the
(98–115 f.p.m.) electrode should be held at an angle of
2)
Depending on radial depth of cut and cutter diameter
75–80° to the direction of forward travel.
• For large repairs, weld the initial layers
DRILLING
with a soft filler material (buffering layer)
HIGH SPEED STEEL TWIST DRILL
Cutting
Drill diameter speed (vc) Feed (f)
FILLER MATERIAL
mm inch m/min f.p.m. mm/rev i.p.r. TIG WELDING CONSUMABLES
–5 –3/16 13–18* 43–59* 0.05–0.10 0.002–0.004 Filler Material Hardness after welding
5–10 3/16–3/8 13–18* 43–59* 0.10–0.20 0.004–0.008
10–15 3/8–5/8 13–18* 43–59* 0.20–0.25 0.008–0.010 Type AWS ER312 300 HB (for buffering layers)
15–20 5/8–3/4 13–18* 43–59* 0.25–0.30 0.010–0.012 UTP A67S 55–58 HRC
UTP A696 60–64 HRC
* For coated HSS drill vc 25–35 m/min. (82–115 f.p.m./min.) CastoTig 45303W* 60–64 HRC
Caldie Tig-Weld 58–62 HRC

CARBIDE DRILL * Should not be used for more then 4 layers because of the
increased risk of cracking
Type of drill

Cutting data Indexable Solid Carbide

parameters insert carbide tip1) MMA (SMAW) WELDING CONSUMABLES

Cutting Filler Material Hardness after welding

speed (vc)
m/min 140–160 80–100 45–55 Type AWS E312 300 HB (for buffering layers)
f.p.m. 460–525 262–328 148–180 Castolin EutecTrode 2 54–60 HRC
Feed (f) UTP 67S 55–58 HRC
mm/rev 0.05–0.152) 0.10–0.253) 0.15–0.254) UTP 69 60–64 HRC
i.p.r 0.002–0.0062) 0.004–0.013) 0.006–0.014) Castolin EutecTrode 6 60–64 HRC
1)
Drill with replaceable or brazed carbide tip Caldie Weld 58–62 HRC
2)
Feed rate for drill diameter 20–40 mm (0.8”–1.6”)
3)
Feed rate for drill diameter 5–20 mm (0.2”–0.8”)
4)
Feed rate for drill diameter 10–20 mm (0.4”–0.8”)
PREHEATING TEMPERATURE
GRINDING The temperature of the tool during the entire
welding process should be maintained at an
A general grinding wheel recommendation is
even level.
given below. More information can be found
in the Uddeholm publication ”Grinding of tool
steel”. Soft annealed Hardened

Hardness 230 HB 60–62 HRC

Soft annealed Hardened
Preheating 250°C 250°C
Type of grinding condition condition
temperature (480°F) (480°F)
Face grinding
Max. interpass- 400°C 400°C
straight wheel A 46 HV A 46 HV
temperature (750°F) (750°F)
Face grinding segments A 24 GV A 36 GV
Cylindrical grinding A 46 LV A 60 KV
Internal grinding A 46 JV A 60 JV
Profile grinding A 100 KV A 120 JV

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 Uddeholm Sleipner

HEAT TREATMENT AFTER WELDING ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE

Soft annealed Hardened MACHINING – EDM
Hardness 230 HB 60–62 HRC If EDM is performed in the hardened and
Cooling rate 20–40°C/h (40–80°F/h) for the first tempered condition, finish with a fine-
2 hours then freely in air sparking, i.e. low current, high frequency.
Heat Temper
treatment Soft anneal 10–20°C (20–40°F) For optimal performance the EDM’d surface
Harden below the latest should be ground/polished to completely
Temper tempering temperature
remove the EDM layer and the tool retempe-
More information on welding of tool steel red at approx. 25°C (80°F) below the original
can be found in the Uddeholm publication tempering temperature.
”Welding of Tool Steel”. When EDM’ing larger sizes or complica-
ted shapes Uddeholm Sleipner should be
tempered at high temperature, above 500°C
FLAME HARDENING (930°F), during the heat treatment to lower
the residual stress level and thereby reducing
Use oxy-acetylene equipment with a
the risk of potential cracking in connection
capacity of 800–1250 l/h. Oxygen pressure
with the EDM .
2.5 bar, acetylene pressure 1.5 bar. Adjust to
give neutral flame.
Temperature: 980–1020°C (1795–1870°F). FURTHER
Cool freely in air.
INFORMATION
The hardness at the surface will be 58– Please contact your local Uddeholm office
62 HRC and 41 HRC (400 HB) at a depth of for further information on the selection, heat
3–3.5 mm (0.12–0.14”). treatment, application and availability of Ud-
deholm tool steel.

RELATIVE COMPARISON
OF UDDEHOLM COLD WORK TOOL STEEL
MATERIAL PROPERTIES AND RESISTANCE TO FAILURE MECHANISMS

Hardness/ Resistance to Fatigue cracking resistance

resistance Dimensional Ductility/ Toughness/
Uddeholm grade Machinability Grindability Abrasive wear Adhesive wear
to plastic stability resistance gross cracking
deformation to chipping resistance

Arne
Calmax
Caldie (ESR)
Rigor
Sleipner
Sverker 21
Sverker 3
Vanadis 4 Extra*
Vanadis 8*
Vanadis 23*
Vancron*

* Uddeholm PM SuperClean steel