US1998954A - Alloy steel - Google Patents

Description

?atented Apr. 23, 19.35

UNlTED STATES ALLOY STEEL Joseph V. Emmons, Shaker Heights, Ohio, as-

signor to The Cleveland Twist Drill Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation oi @hio No Drawing. Application December 22, 1934,

Serial No. 758,754

13 Claims.

This invention relates to ferrous alloys and more particularly to alloy steels in which tungsten is employed as a principal alloying constituent. More specifically, this invention relates to that type of ferrous alloys or alloy steels which is employed in the form of cutting tools and wearresisting parts and which type is commonly referred to by those familiar with the art as an alloy tool steel.

As is well known to those familiar with the art, alloy tool steels have, in the past, been made with tungsten as the principal alloying constituent and the types commonly known as high speed steels are at present the standard commercial tool steels for high duty machining of metallic substances.

The tungsten high speed steel most widely used commercially at the present time is essentially an alloy of carbon and iron with approximately 18% tungsten, 4% chromium and 1% vanadium. This standard type is commonly known as 18-41 high speed steel. In addition, such steel contains minor quantities of such alloying elements and impurities as manganese, silicon, copper, sulphur, phosphorus, arsenic, tin, etc. Such elements as cobalt, nickel, uranium and tantalum are sometimes added to secure certain changes in the properties of the steel.

In my previous U. S. Patent No. 1,937,334, is

disclosed the fact that a very satisfactory steel capable of being satisfactorily used for the same purposes for which 18-41 high speed steel has been used may be secured, if to a steel in which molybdenum is the principal alloying ingredient, minor amounts of tungsten are added and if the amount of such tungsten is present in adefined proportional relationship to the amount of molybdenum present. It has been explained that the unexpectedly desirable results secured by the addition of minor amounts of tungsten to a molybdenum steel as taught in my above identified patent is due to a powerful auxiliary effect which such minor amount of tungsten has upon the molybdenum content of the alloy. The desirable results secured by the addition of such ,minor amounts of tungsten to a molybdenum steel are greater than any results which would be expected upon the theory of, equivalencyof tungsten and j molybdenum as taught in the prior art.

The present invention relates to the discovery that molybdenum, when added to a ferrous alloy composition, in which tungsten is the principal alloying element, and when thus added in amounts which bear a certain proportional relationship to the amount of tungsten present, has a powerful auxiliary efiect upon such steel. Such results are considerably more pronounced than those usually achieved by the addition of molybdenum to high tungsten steels in accordance with the practices in the prior art.

It is a principal object of this invention, therefore, to provide a ferrous alloy composition, or more particularly, a tool steel of the type in which tungsten is a principal alloying constituent and to which there has also been added a minor amount of molybdenum for its powerful auxiliary effect, thus producing a steel which, when used for purposes of cutting tools, wear-resisting parts and the like, has performance characteristics equal to and in certain respects superior to those of comparable steels in the prior art.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a high speed tool steel of the high tungsten type having cutting or wear-resisting properties superior to the cutting or wear-resisting properties of the standard 18'.41 tungsten high speed tool steel.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a high speed tool steel of the high tungsten type substantially equal in cutting or wear-resisting qualities to the standard 18-4-'-1 high speed tool steel but which contains a materially lesser amount of the expensive ingredient tungsten.

It is also an object of myinvention to provide a high speed tool steel of the type in which tungsten is the alloying element having the dominating effect and which steel has a lower specific gravity than comparable steels of this type known to the prior art.

It is a further object of my invention to provide high speed tool steels which may attain a higher degree of secondary hardness after hardening and tempering than is usual with the standard 18-4-1 type of steel.

It is still another object of my invention to provide steels having high secondary hardness and also having high values of strength and of plasticity developed simultaneously by the same heat treatment so that said steels exhibit exceptional toughness.

' Other objects of my invention will appear as .the description proceeds.

To'the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The following description sets forth in detail some approved combinations of ingredients embodying my invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but a few of the various forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

The present invention relates, as previously indicated, to the discovery that certain minor amounts of molybdenum, as hereinafter more fully defined, when added to a ferrous alloy composition of the type in which tungsten is a principal alloying ingredient, have a powerful auxiliary alloyingeffect thereon, considerably greater than any effect of molybdenum previously observed in such alloy compositions.

More specifically, this invention comprises the discovery that in the class of alloy tool steels in which tungsten is the dominationg alloying element, there is a definite relationship between tungsten and molybdenum whichgif properly observed, produces unexpectedly favorable results.

This relationship is made effective by adding to such steels auxiliary molybdenum in amounts from about 12% to about 28% of the amount of tungsten present. Such additions have been found to greatly and unexpectedly increase the cutting and wearing quality of tools made from the steel. 1

The above given range of from about 12% to 28% for the ratio between the tungsten and molybdenum may be conveniently divided into the following narrower ranges, viz:-

Molybdenum from above 12% to about 15% of the tungsten present;

Molybdenum from above 15% to about 25% of the tungsten present;

Molybdenum from above 25% to about 28% of the tungsten present.

The previously defined range for the ratio between the two elements may be further divided in the following manner, viz:--

Molybdenum from about 12% to about 20% of the amount of tungsten present; and

'Molybdenum from above 20% to about 28% of the amount of tungsten present.

In the ensuing description wherein will be found a disclosure of a large number of alloys, in which the above defined proportional relationship between tungsten .and molybdenum is maintained, it will be noted that there are certain groups of compositions which may be conveniently classified in the above defined manner.

The broad limits of composition within which this invention resides are as follows:

Carbon about 0.15% toabout 1.60% Silicon a trace to about 3.00% Chromium about 3.25% to about 6.00% Tungsten about 8.00% to about 20.00%

Vanadium None to about 6.00% Molybdenum about 0.96% to about 5.60% Cobalt None to about 16.00%

the remainder being substantially iron together with such other alloying elements and impurities as are sometimes found in this type of alloy composition.

A somewhat narrower range of compositions is as follows:-

Carbon about 0.65

to about 0.90% Silicon about 0.20% to about 2.20% Chromium about 3.37% to about 4.98% Tungsten about 10.32% to about 19.00% Vanadium about 0.45% to about 3.09% Molybdenum about 1.24% to about 5.32% Cobalt None to about 14.00%

the remainder being substantially iron together with such other alloying elements and impurities as are sometimes found in this type of alloy composition.

A still narrower range of compositions is as follows:-

Carbon about 0.65% to about 0.85% Silicon about 0.27% to about 1.00% Chromium about 3.42% to about 4.73% Tungsten about 11.04% to about 16.50% Vanadium about 0.68% to about 2.46% Molybdenum about 1.32% to about 4.62% Cobalt None to about 12.00%

the remainder being substantially iron together with such other alloying elements and impurities- 1 Mo Example No. C Cr W M Si Va 00 s 0 Ratio w Actual Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Pereent- Percent 3 0. 72 4. 05 13. 05 13. 6 1. 78 1. 27 0. 72 0. 63 3. 90 11. 68 14.1 1. 65 1. 16 l. 01 0. 66 3. 93 12.00 14. 1 1. 69 2. 20 0. 68 0. 76 3. 78 12. 06 14. 3 1. 73 0. 38 1. 80 0. 7O 4. 98 11. 96 14. 6 l. 1. 30 0.67 0. 65 3. 75 12. 16 14. 7 1. 79 1. 21 1. 54 0. 73 4. 00 11. 04 14. 7 1; 62 1. l9 0.68 0. 80 3. 37 11. 89 15. 0 1,. 78 l. 06 2. 46 1. 03 3. 66 11. 76 15. 0 1. 76 1. 48 3. 62 0. 90 3. 61 12. 11 l6. 1 1. 83 1. 36 3. 09 0. 65 3. 92 11. 06 15. 1 1. 67 0. 47 0. 76 0.83 4. 73 15. 61 15. 2 2. 37 0.27 2. 04

0. 69 3. 71 11. 72 15. 4 1. 80 1. 25 None 1 l. 57 3. 42 11. 76 16. 8 l. 98 0. 50 5. 56 0.74 4.05 9.86 17.4 1.72 1.43 0.72 0. 77 4. 09 12. 33 17. 4 2. 14 1. 31 0.79 0. 76 3. 92 10. 54 18. 7 l. 97 1. 23 0. 83 0. 77 3. 75 14. 00 20. 0 2. 80 0. 40 1. 50 0. 78 4. 00 11. 00 22. 7 2. 50 0. 20 2. 50 0. 70 3. 90 10. 32 24. 1 2. 49 1. 20 0. 07 0. 70 3. 93' 12. 41 25. 0 3. 10 1. 32 0. 76 0. 3. 50 16. 50 27. 3 4. 50 0. 50 0. 75 0. 79 4. 00 8. 50 28. 0 2. 38 0. 20 3. 00

Attention is directed to the. fact that in the foregoing table the various compositions are arranged in the order of the proportional relationship therein between molybdenum and tungsten.

In the following table I include certain data in regard to the heat treatment and some of the physical properties of certain of the examples of the specific alloy compositions included-in the previous table:-

preciably, thus reducing the weight of steel required to make a tool or other article of manufacture.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that my invention relates not to the substitution of molybdenum for tungsten in high speed tool steels as has been suggested in certain instances in the prior art, but instead to the production of a new type of tungsten steel in which a specific minor amount of molybdenum is Tempering Maximum Maximum Plasticity at Hardness in Best hardem range for secondary torsional maximum pacific gravannealed com Ex. no. in range a F maximum hardness obstrength obstrength in ity in an dition Rock g secondary served Rockserved in degrees of nealed we B Scale hardness F. well scale inch-pounds 1 twist 1 condit on 2 2270-2340 990-1140 66. 0 476 126 8. 32 2310-2340 1040-1140 66. 3 457 34 8. 39 100-101 2270-2350 About 1040 8. 36 2270-2340 940-10 65. 3 442 50 8. 29 102-104 2290-2340 940-1140 66. l 484 102 8. 38 94- 99 227 0-2340 940-1140 65. 2 431 38 8. 36 99-100 2270-2340 840-1040 65. 4 449 96 8. 32 99-100 2270-2310 990-1140 66. 5 429 29 8. 29 99-100 2290-23 1040-1140 67. 7 454 45 8. 28 97- 99 2270-2330 1140-1090 66. 4 435 96 8. 21 2270-2330 940-1140 66. 9 446 56 8. 24 97-100 2310-2340 990-1140 65. 7 429 48 8. 40 97- 98 2310-2340 940-1090 66. 6 449 45 8. 57 96-101 2240-2310 940-1040 65. 4 418 47 8. 35 101-102 2250-2310 1140-1190 67. 8 452 58 8. 15 99-100 2270-2330 1040-1140 8. 25 99-101 2240-2310 940-1040 64. 4 429 67 8. 33 99-100 2240-2310 1140-1090 64. 5 446 94 8. 25 98 2240-2270 940-1040 62. 4 8. 28 100-104 2240-2340 940-1040 66. 2 453 62 8. 39 100-102 1 For a description of the method of determining these properties refer to Proceedings American Society for Testing Materiils vol. 31,

part II (1931), page 47.

Certain maximum values, such as hardness, given in the foregoing table, are those which have been observed; however, it is possible that higher values may be attainable by diiferent heat treatments.

While the above values, indicating the best hardening and tempering ranges, are the results of actual observations, it is recognized that they are a matter of opinion only and for specific purposes, desirable. heat treatments might be found outside these values.

It will be observed that the specific gravities of the examples listed inthe above table are materiallyv lower than those of the 18-4-1 type of high speed steel, the specificgravity of which is generally in excess of 8.60.

Particular attention is called to Example Nos. 8 and 14. These steels showed outstanding cutting quality when used as drills, their drilling performance definitely exceeding that of the drills made of 18-4--1 high speed steel with which they were compared.

Particular attention is also called to the high secondary hardness developed by Example Nos. 3, 6, 9,10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 23. Hardnesses in excess of Rockwell C 66 are regarded as being above those ordinarily developed in the 18-4-1 type of high speed steel.

Attention is also called to the high tempering range which is recorded for Example 16. The values of 940 to 1190 indicate a broad range and a high order of red hardness.

The abnormally high plasticity values shown by Examples 2, 6, 8, 11 and 19 are caused by the peculiarity that the maximum strength of the steel is developed at a tem peIing temperature so low that it falls within the range of high plasticity.

The high silicon contents of many of theabove examples are found to produce a very sound, thoroughly deoxldized steel. High silicon also reduces the specific gravity of the steel quite ap-- used for its powerful auxiliary eifect in increasing the cutting and wearing qualities of such steel. By the addition of the auxiliary quantities of molybdenum in the above defined specific ratio to the amount of tungstenpresent, I have been able to produce a high speed steel of the tungsten type having cutting properties better than those of the molybdenum-free tungsten steels of the prior art and also 'better than certain other molybdenum-containing tungsten steels of the prior art which lie outside the above specified range of ratios of molybdenum to tungsten and with which comparisons have been made.

A wide variety of heat treatments may be employed in connection'with the above mentioned steels, including among others hardening, tempering, carburizing, and nitriding, for the purpose of developing specific useful properties in articles made from such steels. It should be noted that the tempering and nitriding operations may, if desired, be carried out simultaneously.

If desired, steels of the above compositions may be deposited as weld metal for the purpose of producing localized cutting or wear-resisting portions of an article of manufacture.

Steels of some of the above compositions, due to their great strength and toughness. are suitable for use as supporting and auxiliary wearing parts in composite tools, employing primary cutting edges or wearing surfaces formed on elements of hard non-ferrous metallic compositions.

Exceptional hardness is obtainable by appropriate heat treatment of certain of the abovementioned compositions. This makes possible tools particularly suitable for machining materials of greater hardness than those at present I low degree of toughness. Such steels may be utilized in composite tools by supporting them with stronger or tougher steels of the same or other compositions.

Certain compositions made in accordance with this invention have a grain structure, as cast, so fine as to make practical the production of some types of tools, cast to substantially their finished shape, which do not require hot work for grain refinement to fit them for use.

The resistance of certain compositions made in accordance with this invention to grain growth at temperatures approaching the melting point, makes possible the production therefrom of certain articles of manufacture by various processes requiring a high degree of plastic flow, such as die forging, pressing and extruding.

As is well known to those familiar with the art, any specification for a particular alloying composition must permit of certain variations due to the fact that in making up the steel it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to commercially produce a composition exactly like a given specification. It is to be understood, therefore, that throughout the description and claims where I have used figures to denote definite amounts and ranges, such amounts and ranges are to be construed to include the range of variations usually permissible in making up steel to given specifications.

It is understood that in the compositions specified therein, minor amounts of other alloying elements and impurities such as manganese, nickel, titanium, tantalum, uranium, copper, aluminum, sulphur, phosphorus, arsenic, tin etc., may be included and when the phrase the balance being substantially all iron is used, it is intended to include minor amounts of such elements.

Other forms may be employed embodying the features of my invention instead of the one here explained, change being made in the composition provided the elements stated in the amounts by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated elements be employed.

I therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:-

1. A ferrous alloy comprising: carbon from about 0.15% to about 1.60%; chromium from about 3.25% to about 6.00%; tungsten from about 8.00% to about 20.00% molybdenum from twelve and one-half per cent to twenty-eight per cent of the amount of tungsten present; silicon from a substantial amount to about 3.00% vanadium from a substantial amount to about 6.00%; and the remainder being substantially all iron.

2. A ferrous alloy comprising: carbon from about 0.15% to about 1.60%; chromium from about 3.25% to about 6.00%; tungsten from about 10.32% to about 19.00%; molybdenum from twelve and one-half per cent to twenty-eight per cent of the amount of tungsten present; silicon from a substantialamount to about 3.00%; vanadium from a substantial amount to about 6.00%; and the remainder being substantially all iron.

3. A ferrous alloy comprising: carbon from about 0.15% to about 1.60%; chromium from about 3.25% to about 6.00%; tungsten from about 11.04% to about 16.50% molybdenum from twelve and one-half per cent to twenty-eight per cent of the amount of tungsten present; silicon from a substantial amount to about 3.00%; vanadium from a substantial amount to about 6.00%; and the remainder being substantially all iron.

4. A ferrous alloy comprising: carbon from about 0.15% to about 1.60%; chromium from about 3.25% to about 6.00%; tungsten from about 8.00% to about 20.00%; molybdenum from twelve and one-half per cent to fifteen per cent of the amount of tungsten present; silicon from a substantial amount to about 3.00%; vanadium from a substantial amount to about 6.00%; and the remainder being substantially all iron.

5. A ferrous alloy comprising: carbon from about 0.65% to about 0.90%; chromium'from about 3.37% to about 4.98%; tungsten from about 10.32% to about 19.00%; molybdenum from twelve and one-half per cent to fifteen per cent of the amount of tungsten present; silicon from about 0.20% to about 2.20% vanadium' from about 0.45% to about 3.09%; and the remainder being substantially all iron.

6. A ferrous alloy comprising: carbon from about 0.65% to about 0.85%; chromium from about 3.42% to about 4.73%; tungsten from about 11.04% to about 16.50%; molybdenum from twelve and one-half per cent to fifteen per cent of the amount of tungsten present; silicon from about 0.27% to about 1.00%; vanadium from about 0.68% to about 2.46%; and the remainder being substantially all iron.

7. A ferrous alloy comprising: carbon from about 0.15% to about 1.60%; chromium from about 3.25% to about 6.00%; tungsten from about 8.00% to about 20.00%; molybdenum from fifteen per cent to twenty per cent of the amount of tungsten present; silicon from a. substantial amount to about 3.00% vanadium from a substantial amount to about 6.00%; and the remainder being substantially all iron.

8. A ferrous alloy comprising: carbon from about 0.65% to about 0.90%; chromium from about 3.37% to about 4.98%; tungsten from about 10.32% to about 19.00%; molybdenum from fifteen per cent to twenty per cent of the amount of tungsten present; silicon from about 0.20% to about 2.20%; vanadium from about 0.45% to about 3.09%; and the remainder being substantially all iron.

9. A ferrous alloy comprising: carbon from about 0.65% to about 0.85%; chromium from about 3.42% to about 4.73%; tungsten from about 11.04% to about 16.50%; molybdenum from fifteen per cent to twenty per cent of the amount of tungsten present; silicon from about 0.27% to about 1.00%; vanadium from about 0.68% to about 2.46%; and the remainder being substantially all iron.

10. A ferrous alloy comprising: carbon from about 0.15% to about 1.60%; chromium from about 3.25% to about 6.00%; tungsten from about 8.00% to about 20.00%; molybdenum from twenty per cent to twenty-eight per cent of the amount of tungsten present; silicon from a substantial amount to about 3.00%; vanadium from a substantial amount to about 6.00%; and the remainder being substantially all iron.

11. A ferrous alloy comprising: carbon from about 0.65% to about 0.90%; chromium from about 3.37% to about 4.98%; tungsten from about 10.32% to about 19.00%; molybdenum from twenty per cent to twenty-eight per cent of the amount of tungsten present; silicon from about 0.20% to about 2.20%; vanadium'from about 0.45% to about 3.09%; and the remainder being substantially all iron.

12. A ferrous alloy comprising: carbon from about 0.65% to about 0.85%; chromium from about 3.42% to about 4.73%; tungsten from about 11.04% to about 16.50%; molybdenum from twenty per cent to twenty-eight per cent of the amount of tungsten present; silicon from about 0.27% to about 1.00%; vanadium from about 0.68% to about 2.46%; and the remainder being substantially all iron.

13. A tool formed of a ferrous alloy comprising: carbon from about 0.15% to about 1.60%; chromium from about 3.25% to about 6.00%; tungsten from about 8.00% to about 20.00%;

molybdenum from twelve and. one-half per cent to twenty-eight per cent of the amount of tungsten present; silicon from a substantial amount to about 3.00%; vanadium from a substantial amount to about 6.00%; and the remainder being substantially all iron.

JOSEPH V. EMMONS.