P4 Tool Steel (UNS T51604) – Composition, Properties and Uses
Tool Steel P4 is an alloy steel that is made up of a variety of elements. UNS T51604 is a highly versatile material and has many different uses in industry and manufacturing. P4 Tool Steel, also known as SAE-AISI P4 steel or UNS T51604, is a type of high-speed steel known for its exceptional wear resistance and toughness. Its composition includes chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten, contributing to its impressive properties. This steel is commonly used in cutting tools, such as drills and end mills, and in dies and punches requiring high abrasion resistance. Moreover, P4 Tool Steel is well-suited for high-temperature applications, making it a reliable material for demanding manufacturing processes. Its unique blend of durability and resilience makes it an excellent choice for any task requiring precision and strength. This blog post will take a comprehensive look at Tool Steel P4, including its uses, corrosion resistance, heat resistance, heat treatment, and machining.
What Forms of P4 Tool Steel is Available at Piping Mart?
- Nut
- Bar
- Bolt
- Pipe
- Screw
- Tubing
- Valves
- Washers
- Flanges
- Fasteners
- Electrodes
- Stud Bolts
- Sheet Plates
- Pipe Fittings
- Forged Fitting
- Instrumentation Fittings
P4 Tool Steel Composition
Element | Content (%) |
---|---|
Fe | 92 |
C | 0.12 |
Mn | 0.20-0.60 |
Si | 0.10-0.40 |
Cr | 4.00-5.25 |
Mo | 0.40-1.00 |
Cu | 0.25 |
P | 0.03 |
S | 0.03 |
P4 Tool Steel Physical Properties
Properties | Metric | Imperial |
---|---|---|
Density | 7.85 g/cm3 | 0.284 lb/in3 |
P4 Tool Steel Mechanical Properties
Properties | Metric | Imperial |
---|---|---|
Hardness, Knoop (converted from Rockwell C hardness) | 426 | 426 |
Hardness, Rockwell C | 42 | 42 |
Hardness, Vickers | 410 | 410 |
Tensile strength, ultimate | 1290 MPa | 187000 psi |
Tensile strength, yield | 1035 MPa | 150100 psi |
Elongation at break (in 50 mm) | 15.80% | 15.80% |
Bulk modulus (typical for steel) | 140 GPa | 20300 ksi |
Charpy impact (V-notch) | 43.0 J | 31.7 ft-lb |
Poisson’s ratio | 0.27-0.30 | 0.27-0.30 |
Elastic modulus | 190-210 GPa | 27557-30458 ksi |
P4 Tool Steel Equivalents
- DIN 1.2341
- ASTM A681
- UNS T51604
P4 Tool Steel Uses
Tool Steel P4 has many applications in the industrial and manufacturing industries due to its versatility. It can be used for cutting tools, tool holders, die, punches, forming tools, wear parts, knives, shear blades, cold-work tools and much more. Its high hardness makes it an ideal choice for wear-resistant components that need to perform under tough conditions or harsh environments. Its strength and hardness also make it the go-to material for many tooling applications, such as moulds or punches.
P4 Tool Steel Uses in Industries
Automotive Industry
P4 Tool Steel has numerous uses in the automotive industry, particularly for manufacturing parts that require high strength and durability. This type of steel is commonly used to make gears, crankshafts, and other engine components. Its high wear resistance also makes it ideal for use in transmission systems.
Aerospace Industry
The aerospace industry relies heavily on P4 Tool Steel for its strength and toughness. This type of steel is often used to manufacture critical components such as landing gear, engine parts, and aircraft structural elements. Its ability to withstand extreme temperatures and harsh environments makes it a popular choice in this industry.
Tooling Industry
As its name suggests, P4 Tool Steel is widely used in the tooling industry due to its exceptional hardness and wear resistance. It is commonly used to make cutting tools, dies, and molds for various manufacturing processes such as milling, drilling, and stamping. Its high heat resistance also makes it suitable for hot work applications.
Oil and Gas Industry
P4 Tool Steel is often used to manufacture components for drilling equipment in the oil and gas industry due to its high strength and toughness. It can withstand intense pressure and abrasive conditions in drilling operations without easily deforming or breaking. This makes it a reliable material for critical components such as drill bits and valves.
P4 Tool Steel Corrosion Resistance
Tool Steel P4 offers excellent corrosion resistance in both acidic and alkaline environments. It is resistant to oxidation at high temperatures and does not corrode easily, even when exposed to water or other fluids. The corrosion resistance of this alloy is further enhanced by anodic protection, which increases its durability even more. It is important to note that this alloy should be stored in dry conditions since moisture can cause it to corrode over time if not addressed quickly enough.
P4 Tool Steel Heat Resistance
The heat resistance of Tool Steel P4 makes it an ideal choice for applications where temperatures can reach very high levels, such as welding operations or hot rolling processes. This alloy can resist temperatures up to 600°C without losing any of its strength or hardness characteristics, making it ideal for use in these operations. The heat resistance also helps increase the wear-resistance capabilities making this alloy even more durable than before when exposed to extreme temperatures.
P4 Tool Steel Heat Treatment
When using Tool Steel P4 for certain applications such as cutting tools or knives then, heat treatment may be necessary in order to achieve the desired hardness level as well as improve the wear-resistance capabilities of the material. Heat treatment involves heating the material up to specific temperature ranges, followed by cooling it down again so that alloy properties are changed accordingly depending on the application they are used for.
P4 Tool Steel Machining
Machining with Tool Steel P4 requires special attention due to its high hardness level, which means regular carbide-cutting tools may not be able to cut through it easily without breaking or cracking during the process itself. Specialized cutting tools designed specifically for harder materials such as this one are required in order to ensure successful machining results with minimal damage caused during the process itself due mainly due to their superior toughness compared to regular ones, which can break quickly when exposed to extreme forces like those caused by trying cut through harder materials like this one.
Conclusion:
As you can see from this blog post, many advantages come from using Tool Steel P4 in your industrial or manufacturing operations, thanks mainly due to its versatile nature, which makes it suitable for a wide range of applications with extra strength and durability against extreme conditions is needed. Its heat resistance, corrosion resistance, ability to maintain strength under tough conditions and easy machinability make it an ideal choice for those looking to add extra longevity to their production processes while still keeping costs low. Therefore if you’re looking for a reliable yet cost-effective solution, then consider investing in some tool steel p4 today!
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