Powder Metallurgy Tool Steels

Powder metallurgy tool steels are high alloy steels (HATS) that use metal powders and high temperature isostatic pressing (HIP) to make higher performance materials, where a long tool life is critical.  The products have a fine, uniform structure with no segregation and therefore provide the greatest possible combination of hardness and toughness.  Powder metallurgy uses “gas atomization” where a stream of liquid steel is passed through nitrogen sprays that instantly solidify the steel into a fine powder. That powder is then pressed into a canister at high pressure and temperature to create a solid ingot that can then be processed normally