1. Chemical composition

1.1 Alloy elements

During shaping operations, with or without chip removal, tools are subjected to extremely complex stresses. The properties required of steels for such applications are as follows:

• high hardness, to resist generalized or localized deformation of the surface when working by pressing or shearing the metal, or by penetrating the metal to remove part of it in the form of chips. Depending on the tool's intended use (cold or hot working), the fact that hardness persists when the steel is heated is of greater or lesser importance;

• good wear resistance, i.e. resistance to scratching, to the risk of adhesion and to micro-scratching caused by particles being torn off when rubbing against another surface;...