In the field of precision manufacturing, materials engineers are focusing their attention on a special alloy – 1.3355 high-speed tool steel. This alloy material with a carbon content of 0.88-0.95% and a tungsten content of 6.2-7.0% (in accordance with the DIN EN ISO 4957 standard) is quietly changing the technological landscape in multiple industrial fields. Taking the actual test data of a leading tool manufacturer in Germany as an example, its red hardness can still maintain an astonishing hardness performance of 62HRC at 620℃.
The microscopic mystery of breaking through the limits of traditional processing
Unlike ordinary tool steels, the molybdenum-vanadium composite carbide structure (Mo2C-VC) of 1.3355 presents a unique honeycomb-like distribution under an electron microscope. This special crystal configuration brings two key advantages: Firstly, the secondary hardening effect keeps the cutting edge sharp even at continuous high temperatures; Secondly, the addition of 5.8% cobalt significantly improved the tempering stability of the material. A comparative experiment conducted by the Japan Tool Research Institute in 2023 shows that when processing titanium alloys, the 1.3355 tool steel is 2.3 times that of conventional M2 steel.
The driving force behind the innovation of automotive power systems
On the production line of BMW’s latest generation of electric drive units, 1.3355 material is playing an irreplaceable role. Its outstanding resistance to plastic deformation (with a compressive strength of up to 4200MPa at room temperature) is particularly suitable for processing third-generation semiconductor silicon carbide power modules. More notably, the application of this material in high-speed dry cutting processes has reduced the energy consumption for motor shaft processing of a certain new energy vehicle manufacturer by 17%, which is attributed to its outstanding thermal conductivity coefficient (28W/m·K).
A temperature challenger in the field of aviation manufacturing
The experience of Pratt & Whitney’s GTF engine project is worth paying attention to. When processing nickel-based superalloy turbine discs, the 1.3355 end mill maintained a complete cutting edge profile after continuous operation at a linear speed of 160m/min for 23 minutes, while the powder metallurgy tools in the control group showed obvious crater wear at 11 minutes. This property stems from the material’s special austenitizing treatment process – after salt bath quenching at 1180℃ and three tempering at 560℃, a uniform cryptic martensitic structure is ultimately obtained.
The precise choice for medical device manufacturing
A recent report released by Johnson & Johnson’s Medical devices division has revealed new application directions for 1.3355. The minimally invasive surgical drill bit for the spine developed by it, while maintaining the processing accuracy at the 0.1mm level, only increased the cutting edge radius by 2.3μm after 132 cycles of high-pressure sterilization. This stability is attributed to the Mc-type carbides formed by the 8.5% vanadium content in the material, as well as the special surface PVD coating process.
Breakthroughs in new materials for additive manufacturing
In the field of SLM selective laser melting, 1.3355 powder is opening up new application dimensions. The latest research and development parameters of TrumPF Group of Germany show that a process combination of 267W laser power, 0.08mm layer thickness and substrate preheating at 300℃ can obtain printed parts with a relative density of 99.7%. The fuel nozzle of the satellite thruster prepared by this process exhibited superior creep resistance characteristics to traditional castings in the thermal shock test at 850℃.
Dual innovations in environmental friendliness
From the perspective of the entire life cycle, the ecological value of 1.3355 is emerging. Sandvik Group’s closed-loop production system shows that through the short-process EAF electric arc furnace +LF refining, the carbon emissions per ton of steel are reduced by 42% compared with the traditional process. What is more worthy of attention is that its recycling feature enables scrapped cutting tools to be re-atomized into 3D printing powder after hydrogen crushing treatment, achieving true material recycling.
Prospects for Future Technological Integration
With the development of the fourth-generation synchrotron radiation source technology, researchers are using nanoscale X-ray diffraction technology to analyze the dislocation movement law of 1.3355 under extreme working conditions. The latest simulation from Argonne National Laboratory in the United States predicts that by introducing a gradient structure design, tool steel factory the impact toughness of this material is expected to increase by 40% before 2026, which may open up new applications for it in the field of first wall materials for fusion reactors.
