Development of a cost-optimized high-speed steel

Independence from price-volatile alloying elements from politically unstable regions can be a decisive competitive factor for small and medium-sized companies. Cobalt in particular, as a popular element for solid solution strengthening in iron-based alloys, is therefore repeatedly coming under scrutiny. This circumstance provides the basis for the development of a new high-speed steel (HSS) for rolling mill rolls. The demands on the material are high: Both the hardness and the wear properties must meet the requirements and - despite the lack of cobalt - a sufficiently high matrix strength must be achieved.

The approach chosen here was targeted alloy development with the aid of statistical design of experiments. The alloying elements tungsten, molybdenum, vanadium and chromium are varied in a partial-factorial, two-stage model, starting from a proven reference alloy of the project partner which, however, contains cobalt. The alloys combined in this way are cast and characterized in detail mechanically and microstructurally. Mathematical models will be obtained from the empirical data, which, after regression analysis and taking into account the requirements placed on the final material, will lead to a new, optimized alloy.

The partner company will cast and harden the new alloy under real conditions and test it in service. If these tests are successful, the jointly developed material will be incorporated into the plant portfolio and the project partner will be able to maintain or even expand its market position against strong competition.

Duration: 01.04.2020 - 30.09.2021

Project partner: Roller Foundry & Hard Casting Plant Quedlinburg GmbH

Funding: ZIM

Responsible: Stephanie Duwe