Case-hardening steels

The case-hardening steel for modern cutting machines

The case-hardening steel ESP 65 was developed specifically for demanding construction materials in modern cutting machines. Compared to 16MnCr5 and 16MnCrS5, ESP 65 offers improved machinability and performance. This excellent machinability leads to shorter machining times, longer tool life and therefore lower process costs. The homogeneous material properties enable precise tolerances and reduce distortion during hardening. Straightening and grinding can be minimized, which further reduces costs.

Specially developed for machining-intensive components

ESP 65 is particularly suitable for machining-intensive components such as gears, worm gears and transmission parts. Thanks to its special properties and manufacturing processes, it has similar machining properties to free-cutting steel, reduces machining stresses and has a positive influence on distortion behavior after hardening. As a result, ESP 65 differs significantly from standard steels.

ESP 65 offers significant cost advantages due to

• high cutting speeds
• higher tool life
• processsafe chip breaking
• ghost trains

Our Carbodur steel is used in a wide range of applications in power-transmitting systems such as hydroelectric power plants, wind turbines and the offshore industry. It is characterized by high wear resistance, fatigue strength and hardness. In propeller drives on oil rigs, for example, precision gears made of Carbodur ensure high wear resistance, while safety and durability are crucial in mining. The versatility of the steel allows it to be adapted to specific requirements, whether for the differential of Formula 1 racing cars or durable truck gears used on construction sites.

We offer Carbodur steel in various alloy compositions:

• unalloyed
• chrome-alloyed
• manganese-chrome-alloyed
• molybdenum-chrome-alloyed
• nickel-chrome-alloyed
• nickel-chrome-molybdenum-alloyed
• chrome-nickel-molybdenum-alloyed

These alloys influence the hardenability of the base material and the carburized surface layer. The hardenability of the base material is characterized by the face quenching test and influences the hardness in the core area. Case-hardened components are tempered at low temperatures up to approx. 180°C in order to achieve a high surface hardness.

Unalloyed case-hardening steel (e.g. C15R in accordance with EN ISO 683-3) is used for low-stress parts such as hubs, shafts and levers for vehicle and general mechanical engineering. Alloyed case-hardening steel (e.g. 16MnCrs5 in accordance with EN ISO 683-3) is used for components with medium or high surface hardness and high core toughness, depending on the alloy. These include highly stressed gear wheels and control parts in vehicle and aircraft construction. With the help of temperature-controlled rolling, we are also able to supply our customers with a 16MnCrS5 with an almost pure ferritic-pearlitic microstructure.