UDDEHOLM

ASSAB 8407 SUPREME ORVAR SUPREME

ASSAB 8407 SUPREME

REFERENCE STANDARD

AISI WNr. JIS

ASSAB DF-2 ARNE O1 (1.2510) (SKS 3)

ASSAB DF-3 O1 (1.2510) (SKS 3)

ASSAB XW-5 SVERKER 3 D6 (D3) (1.2436) (SKD 2)

ASSAB XW-10 RIGOR A2 1.2363 SKD 12

ASSAB XW-41 SVERKER 21 D2 1.2379 SKD 11

ASSAB XW-42 D2 1.2379 SKD 11

CARMO CARMO 1.2358

CALMAX CALMAX 1.2358

CALDIE CALDIE

ASSAB 88 SLEIPNER

ASSAB PM 23 SUPERCLEAN VANADIS 23 SUPERCLEAN (M3:2) 1.3395 SKH 53

ASSAB PM 30 SUPERCLEAN VANADIS 30 SUPERCLEAN (M3:2 + Co) 1.3294 SKH 40

ASSAB PM 60 SUPERCLEAN VANADIS 60 SUPERCLEAN (1.3292)

VANADIS 4 EXTRA SUPERCLEAN VANADIS 4 EXTRA SUPERCLEAN

VANADIS 6 SUPERCLEAN VANADIS 6 SUPERCLEAN

VANADIS 10 SUPERCLEAN VANADIS 10 SUPERCLEAN

VANCRON 40 SUPERCLEAN VANCRON 40 SUPERCLEAN

ELMAX SUPERCLEAN ELMAX SUPERCLEAN

ASSAB 518 P20 1.2311

ASSAB 618 P20 Mod. 1.2738

ASSAB 618 HH P20 Mod. 1.2738

ASSAB 618 T P20 Mod. 1.2738 Mod.

ASSAB 718 SUPREME IMPAX SUPREME P20 Mod. 1.2738

ASSAB 718 HH IMPAX HH P20 Mod. 1.2738

NIMAX NIMAX

MIRRAX 40 MIRRAX 40 420 Mod.

VIDAR 1 ESR VIDAR 1 ESR H11 1.2343 SKD 6

UNIMAX UNIMAX

CORRAX CORRAX

ASSAB 2083 420 1.2083 SUS 420J2

STAVAX ESR STAVAX ESR 420 Mod. 1.2083 ESR SUS 420J2

MIRRAX ESR MIRRAX ESR 420 Mod.

POLMAX POLMAX

RAMAX HH RAMAX HH 420 F Mod.

ROYALLOY ROYALLOY

PRODAX

ASSAB MM40

ALVAR 14 ALVAR 14 1.2714 SKT 4

ASSAB 2714 1.2714 SKT 4

ASSAB 8407 2M ORVAR 2M H13 1.2344 SKD 61

ASSAB 8407 SUPREME ORVAR SUPREME H13 Premium 1.2344 ESR SKD 61

DIEVAR DIEVAR

HOTVAR HOTVAR

QRO 90 SUPREME QRO 90 SUPREME

ASSAB 705 4340 1.6582 SNCM8

ASSAB 709 4140 1.7225 SCM4

ASSAB 760 1050 1.1730 S50C

ASSAB is a trademark of ASSAB Pacific Pte Ltd.

The information contained herein 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.
Each user of ASSAB products is responsible for making its own determination as to the suitability of ASSAB products and services.

Edition D140715

2
 ASSAB 8407 SUPREME

General Applications
ASSAB 8407 Supreme is a chromium-molybdenum- DIE CASTING
vanadium alloyed tool steel which is characterised by:
Tin, lead Aluminium
Part zinc alloys magnesium
High level of resistance to thermal shock and HRC alloys, HRC
thermal fatigue Dies 46-50 42-48
Good high-temperature strength Fixed inserts, cores 46-52 44-48
Excellent toughness and ductility in all
Sprue parts 48-52 46-48
direc­tions
Good machinability and polishability Nozzles 35-42 42-48
Excellent through-hardening properties Ejector pins (nitrided) 46-50 46-50
Good dimensional stability during hardening Plunger, short-sleeve
(normally nitrided) 42-46 42-48

C Si Mn Cr Mo V Austenitising temp. 1020–1030°C

Typical analysis %
0.39 1.0 0.4 5.2 1.4 0.9

Standard Premium AISI H13, WNr. 1.2344,

specification SKD 61 EXTRUSION
Delivery
Soft annealed to approx. 180 HB Aluminium, Copper Stainless
condition
Part magnesium alloys steel
alloys, HRC HRC HRC
Colour code Orange
Dies 44-50 43-47 45-50
Backers,
die holders,
liners, dummy 41-50 40-48 40-48
blocks, stems

Austenitising 1020–
1040–1050°C
temperature 1030°C

HOT PRESSING
Material Aust. temp. HRC
Aluminium,
1020-1030°C 44-52
magnesium alloys

Copper alloys 1040-1050°C 44-52

Steels 1040-1050°C 40-50

PLASTIC MOULDING
Part Aust. and tempering temp. HRC
IMPROVED TOOLING PERFORMANCE Injection moulds
Austenitising 1020-1030°C
Compression/ 50-52
Tempering 250°C
The name “SUPREME” implies that by special processing transfer moulds
techniques and close control, the steel attains high
purity and a very fine structure. Further, ASSAB 8407
Supreme shows significant im­provements in isotropic OTHER APPLICATIONS
properties compared to con­­ventionally produced AISI
Application Aust. and tempering temp. HRC
H13 grades.
Severe cold
Austenitising 1020-1030°C
These improved isotropic properties are particu­larly punching, 50-52
Tempering 250°C
scrap shears
valuable for tooling subjected to high mecha­ni­cal and
thermal fatigue stresses, e.g., die casting dies, forging tools Austenitising 1020-1030°C
and extrusion tooling. In prac­ti­cal terms, tools may be Hot Shearing Tempering 250°C 50-52
used at somewhat higher working hardnesses (+1 to 2 Tempering 575-600°C 45-50
HRC) without loss of toughness. Since increased hardness Shrink rings
slows down the formation of heat checking cracks, Austenitising 1020-1030°C
(e.g., for cemented 45-50
Tempering 575-600°C
im­proved tool performance can be expected. carbide dies)

Austenitising 1020-1030°C Core

Wear resisting 50-52
ASSAB 8407 Supreme meets the North American Die parts
Tempering 575°C Surface
Casting Association (NADCA) #207-2003 for premium Nitriding ~1000HV1
high quality H13 die steel.

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ASSAB 8407 SUPREME

Properties
All specimens are taken from the centre of a 407 x 127 Effect of time at high temperatures on hardness
mm bar. Unless otherwise indicated, all specimens were
hardened 30 minutes at 1025°C, quenched in air and
Hardness, HRC
tempered 2 + 2 h at 610°C to 45 ± 1 HRC.
50

45
PHYSICAL DATA
500°C
Hardened and tempered to 44-46 HRC.
40

Temperature 20°C 400°C 600°C

35 550°C

Density 600°C
7800 7700 7600
kg/m3 30

Modulus of elasticity
210 000 180 000 140 000
MPa 25
Coefficient of 650°C
thermal expansion - 12.6 x 10 -6 13.2 x 10 -6
20
per °C from 20°C
1 10 100 1000
Thermal Time, h
conductivity 25 29 30
W/m °C

Effect of testing temperature on impact energy

Charpy-V specimens, short transverse direction.

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
Impact energy, J
Approximate tensile strength at room temperature.
100

Hardness 52 HRC 45 HRC

80
45 HRC
Tensile
1820 MPa 1420 MPa
strength, Rm
60
Yield
1520 MPa 1280 MPa
strength, Rp0.2
40

20
Approximate strength at elevated temperatures
Longitudinal direction. 0
100 200 300 400 500ºC
Testing temperature
Rm, Rp0.2 A5, Z
MPa %
2000 100
1800 Z 90
1600 80
1400 70
1200 60
Rm
1000 50
800 40
600 Rp0.2 30
400 20
200 A5 10
0
100 200 300 400 500 600 700ºC
Testing temperature

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 ASSAB 8407 SUPREME

Heat treatment
SOFT ANNEALING Hardness, grain size and retained austenite as
functions of austenitising temperature
Protect the steel and heat through to 850°C. Then cool
in the furnace at 10°C per hour to 650°C, then freely in air. Grain
Size
ASTM Hardness, HRC Retained austenite, %
60
Grain size
10 58
STRESS RELIEVING
56
After rough machining, the tool should be heated 8 Hardness
54
through to 650°C, holding time 2 hours. Cool slowly
to 500°C, then freely in air. 6
52

4 50

48

46 Retained austenite 6
HARDENING

Preheating temperature: 600–850°C, normally in two 44 4

preheating steps. 2
42
Austenitising temperature: 1020–1050°C, normally
1020°–1030°C. 40
1000 1020 1040 1060°C

Temperature Soaking time Hardness before Austenitising temperture

°C minutes tempering
TEMPERING

1025 30 53±2 HRC Choose the tempering temperature according to the

hardness required by reference to the tempering graph.
1050 15 54±2 HRC Temper at least twice with interme­diate cooling to
room temperature.

Soaking time = time at hardening temperature after the The lowest tempering temperature which should be
tool is fully heated through. used is 250°C. The minimum holding time at tempering
tem­perature is 2 hours. To avoid “temper brittleness”,
Protect the tool against decarburisation and oxidation during do not temper in the range 425–550°C, see graph.
hardening.
Tempering graph
Hardness, HRC Retained austenite, %
60
Austenitising temp.
QUENCHING MEDIA
1050°C
55
High speed gas/circulating atmosphere
Vacuum (high speed gas with sufficient positive
50 1020°C
pressure). Interrupted quench is recommended for 1025°C
distortion control, or when quench cracking is a Temper brittleness zone
concern.
45
Martempering bath or fluidised bed at 450–550°C,
then cool in air
Martempering bath or fluidised bed at approx. 40 6
180–220°C, then cool in air Retained austenite
Warm oil
35 4
Note 1: Temper the tool as soon as its temperature
reaches 50–70°C.
30 2
Note 2: In order to obtain the optimum properties for
the tool, the cooling rate should be fast, but not at a
level that gives excessive distortion or cracks. 25
100 200 300 400 500 600 700ºC
Tempering temperature (2h + 2h)

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ASSAB 8407 SUPREME

Approximate impact strength at different DIMENSIONAL CHANGES DURING HARDENING

tempering temperatures
Specimen size: 100 x 100 x 25 mm.
Charpy-V specimens, short transverse direction.
Width Length Thickness
Impact strength % % %
KV Joule
100 Oil hardened Min. -0.08 -0.06 ±0
from 1020°C Max. -0.15 -0.16 +0.03

80
Air hardened Min. -0.02 -0.05 ±0
from 1020°C Max. +0.03 +0.02 +0.05
60
Temper brittleness zone Vacuum hardened Min. +0.01 -0.02 +0.08
from 1020°C Max. +0.02 -0.04 +0.12
40

20
DIMENSIONAL CHANGES DURING TEMPERING
Dimensional change, %
100 200 300 400 500 600ºC + 0.12
Tempering temperature (2h + 2h) + 0.08
+ 0.04
Tempering within the range 425–550°C is normally
not recommended due to the reduction in toughness 0
properties. - 0.04
- 0.08
- 0.12
100 200 300 400 500 600 700 ºC
Tempering temperature (1h + 1h)

Note: The dimensional changes in hardening and tempering

should be added.

CCT graph
Austenitising temperature 1025°C. Holding time 30 minutes.
°C
1100
Austenitising temperature 1025ºC
Holding time 30 minutes
1000
AC = 940ºC
3
900
AC = 840ºC
800 1

Pearlite
700 Carbides

600

Cooling Hardness T800-500

500 Curve No. HV 10 (sec)

400 1 707 1
Bainite 2 673 6
MS 3 613 105
300
4 613 316
5 599 527
200 6 592 1054
7 560 2772
Martensite
100 8 519 5271
9 483 7944
Mf 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10 222 20768

1 10 100 1000 10 000 100 000 Seconds

1 10 100 1000 Minutes

1 10 100 Hours

0.2 1.5 10 90 600 Air cooling of

bars, Ømm

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 ASSAB 8407 SUPREME

Machining recommendations
The cutting data below are to be considered as guiding MILLING
values and as starting points for developing your own
best practice. Face and square shoulder milling

Condition: Soft annealed condition ~180 HB Milling with carbide

Cutting data
parameters
TURNING Rough milling Fine milling

Turning Cutting speed

Turning with carbide (vc) 180 - 260 260 - 300
with HSS†
Cutting data m/min
parameters
Rough Fine Fine
turning turning turning
Feed (f z)
0.2 - 0.4 0.1 - 0.2
Cutting speed mm/tooth
(vc) 200 - 250 250 - 300 25 - 30
m/min Depth of cut (ap)
2-5 -2
mm
Feed (f)
0.2 - 0.4 0.05 - 0.2 0.05 - 0.3
mm/r
Carbide P10 - P20
Depth of cut (ap) P20 - P40
2-4 0.5 - 2 0.5 - 2 designation Coated carbide
mm Coated carbide
ISO or cermet

P10
Carbide P20 - P30
Coated
designation Coated
carbide or
- End milling
ISO carbide
cermet
†
High speed steel Type of milling

Cutting data
parameters Carbide
Solid High speed
indexable
DRILLING carbide steel
insert

High speed steel twist drill

Cutting speed
(vc) 160 - 200 170 - 230 35 - 401
Drill diameter Cutting speed (vc) Feed (f) m/min
mm m/min mm/r

≤5 16 - 18 * 0.05 - 0.15 Feed (f)

0.03 - 0.202 0.08 - 0.202 0.05 - 0.352
mm/tooth
5 - 10 16 - 18 * 0.15 - 0.20
Carbide
10 - 15 16 - 18 * 0.20 - 0.25 designation - P20 - P30 -
ISO
15 - 20 16 - 18 *
0.25 - 0.35

* For coated HSS drill, vc~ 28–30 m/min 1 For coated HSS end mill, vc~ 55–60 m/min
2 Depending on radial depth of cut and cutter diameter

GRINDING
Carbide drill
Wheel recommendation

Type of drill Soft

Hardened
Cutting data Type of grinding annealed
condition
parameters condition
Indexable Solid Brazed
insert carbide carbide1
Face grinding straight wheel A 46 HV A 46 HV
Cutting speed
(vc) 220 - 240 130 - 160 80 - 110 Face grinding segments A 24 GV A 36 GV
m/min
Cylindrical grinding A 46 LV A 60 KV
Feed (f)
0.03 - 0.102 0.10 - 0.252 0.15 - 0.252
mm/r
Internal grinding A 46 JV A 60 IV
1 Drill with interntal cooling channels and brazed carbide tip
2 Depending on drill diameter Profile grinding A 100 LV A 120 KV

7
ASSAB 8407 SUPREME

Surface treatment Electrical discharge machining

NITRIDING AND NITROCARBURISING If spark-erosion is performed in the hardened and
tempered condition, the white re-cast layer should be
Nitriding and nitrocarburising result in a hard surface removed mechanically by grinding or stoning. The tool
layer which is very resistant to wear and erosion. The should then be given an additional temper at approx. 25°C
nitrided layer is, however, brittle and may crack or spall below the highest previous tempering temperature.
when exposed to mechanical or thermal shock, the risk
increasing with layer thickness. Before nitri­ding, the tool
should be hardened and tempered at a temperature at
least 25–50°C above the nitri­ding temperature.

Nitriding in ammonia gas at 510°C, or plasma nitriding

in a 75% hydrogen/25% nitrogen mixture at 480°C, both
result in a surface hardness of about 1100 HV0.2. In general,
plasma nitriding is the preferred method because of
better control over nitrogen potential. Particularly,
plasma nitriding can readily avoid the formation of
so-called white layer, which is not recommended for
hot work service. However, careful gas nitriding can
give perfectly acceptable results.
Welding
Welding of tool steel can be performed with good
results if proper precautions are taken regarding
elevated temperature, joint preparation, choice of
consumables and welding procedure. The following
guidelines summarise the most important welding process
parameters.

ASSAB 8407 Supreme can also be nitrocarburised in

either gas or salt bath. The surface hardness after nitro-
carburising is 900–1000 HV0.2 . Welding
TIG MMA
method

Preheating
325 - 375ºC 325 - 375ºC
Depth of nitriding temp.1

Filler QRO 90 TIG-WELD

Time Depth* QRO 90 WELD
Process material DIEVAR TIG-WELD
h mm

Maximum
Gas nitriding at 10 0.12 interpass 475°C 475°C
510°C 30 0.20 temp.2

Plasma nitriding 10 0.12 Cooling 20 - 40ºC/h for the first 2 to 3 hours and
at 480°C 30 0.18 rate then freely in air

Nitrocarburising Hardness
– in gas at 2.5 0.11 after 50 - 55 HRC 50 - 55 HRC
580°C welding
– in salt bath at 30 0.06
580°C
Heat treatment after welding

*
Depth of case = distance from surface where hardness is 50 HV0.2 over base
hardness Hardened Temper at 25°C below the original
condition tempering temperature.
Nitriding to case depths >0.3 mm is not recommended
for hot work applications. 8407 Supreme can be nitrided Soft anneal the material at 850°C
Soft
in the soft annealed condition. The hardness and depth in protected atmosphere.
annealed
Then cool in the furnace at 10°C per hour
of case will, however, be reduced somewhat in this case. condition
to 650°C, then freely in air.

1 Preheating temperature must be established throughout the die and must be

maintained for the entire welding process, to prevent weld cracking
HARD CHROME PLATING 2 The temperature of the tool in the weld area immediately before the second
and subsequent pass of a multiple pass weld. When exceeded, there is a
risk of distortion of the tool or soft zones around the weld.
After plating, parts should be tempered at 180°C for
4 hours, within 4 hours of plating, to avoid the risk of
hydrogen embrittlement.

8

Polishing
ASSAB 8407 Supreme exhibits good polishability in the
hardened and tempered condition. Polishing after grinding
can be effected using aluminium oxide or diamond paste.
TYPICAL PROCEDURE
1. Rough grinding to 180–320 grain size using a wheel
or stone.
2. Fine grinding with abrasive paper or powder, down to
400–800 grain size.
3. Polish with diamond paste grade 15 (15µm grain size)
using a polishing tool of soft wood or fibre.
4. Polish with diamond paste 8–6–3 (8–6–3µm grain
size) using a polishing tool of soft wood or fibre.
5. When demands on surface finish are high, grade 1
(1µm grain size) diamond paste can be used for final
polishing with a fibre polishing pad.
ASSAB 8407 SUPREME
Photo-etching
ASSAB 8407 Supreme is particularly suitable for
texturing by the photo-etching method. Its high level of
homogeneity and low sulphur content ensure accurate
and consistent pattern reproduction.
The ESR Tool Steel Process
The starting material for our tool steel is carefully
selected from high-quality recyclable steel.
Together with ferroalloys and slag formers, the
recyclable steel is melted in an electric arc furnace.
The molten steel is then tapped into a ladle.
The deslagging unit removes oxygen-rich slag.
Then deoxidation, alloying and heating of the steel
bath are carried out in the ladle furnace. Vacuum
degassing removes elements such as hydrogen,
nitrogen and sulphur.
Electroslag remelting (ESR)
ESR PLANT
In uphill casting, a controlled flow of molten steel
from the ladle filled the prepared moulds, and
solidfies into ingots.
Subsequently, the steel can go directly to our
rolling mill or to the forging press. Our premium
steel grades go to our ESR furnace, where they
are melted once again in an electroslag remelting
process. This is done by melting a consumable
electrode immersed in an overheated slag bath.
Controlled solidification in the steel bath results
in an ingot of high homogeneity, thereby removing
marcrosegregation. Melting under a protective
atmosphere gives an even better steel clealiness.
HOT WORKING
From the ESR plant, the steel goes to the rolling
mill or to our forging press to be formed into round
or flat bars.
Prior to delivery, all bar materials are heat treated
to either soft-annealed condition, or hardened and
tempered condition.
9
ASSAB 8407 SUPREME

MACHINING
Further information
Before putting into stock, flat-bar profiles are
machined to the required size and exact tolerance. For further information, i.e., steel selection, heat
Whilst larger round dimensions are turned in lathe, treatment, application and availability, please contact our
where the steel bars rotate against a stationary ASSAB office nearest to you.
cutting tool. Peeling is performed on smaller round
dimensions via cutting tools that revolve the bars
for removal of surface defects.
To safeguard the quality and integrity of our
tool steels, we perform surface inspection and
ultrasonic testing on all bars. We then cut off and
discard the bar ends and any defects that are found
during inspection.

Relative comparison of ASSAB hot work die steels

QUALITATIVE COMPARISON OF CRITICAL DIE STEEL PROPERTIES

Coefficient
Temper Hot yield Creep Heat
ASSAB grade of thermal Ductility
resistance strength strength conductivity
expansion
ALVAR 14
ASSAB 8407 2M
ASSAB 8407 SUPREME
DIEVAR
HOTVAR
QRO 90 SUPREME

QUALITATIVE COMPARISON OF RESISTANCE TO DIFFERENT DIE FAILURES

Heat Gross Hot wear / Plastic

ASSAB grade Corrosion (Al)
checking cracking Erosion deformation
ALVAR 14
ASSAB 8407 2M
ASSAB 8407 SUPREME
DIEVAR
HOTVAR
QRO 90 SUPREME

10
 ASSAB 8407 SUPREME

Ningbo Cikarang* MALAYSIA

ASSAB Tooling Technology PT. ASSAB Steels Indonesia
(Ningbo) Co., Ltd. Tel : +62 21 461 1314 Kuala Lumpur - Head Office
Tel : +86 574 8680 7188 Fax: +62 21 461 1306/ ASSAB Steels (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.
Fax: +86 574 8680 7166 +62 21 461 1309 Tel : +60 3 6189 0022
info.ningbo@assab.com info.cikarang@assab.com Fax: +60 3 6189 0044/55
info.kualalumpur@assab.com

Tel : +62 21 5316 0720-1

Jiangxi*
ASSAB Tooling (Dong Guan)
Co, Ltd., Jiangxi Branch
Tel : +86 769 2289 7888
Fax : +86 769 2289 9312
info.jiangxi@assab.com

11
Choosing the right steel is of vital importance. ASSAB engineers
and metallurgists are always ready to assist you in your choice of
the optimum steel grade and the best treatment for each application.
ASSAB not only supplies steel products with superior quality, we offer
state-of-the-art machining, heat treatment and surface treatment
services to enhance steel properties to meet your requirement in
the shortest lead time. Using holistic approach as a one-stop solution
provider, we are more than just another tool steel supplier.

ASSAB and Uddeholm are present on every continent. This ensures

you that high-quality tool steels and local support are available
wherever you are. Together we secure our position as the world's
leading supplier of tooling materials.

For more information, please visit www.assab.com