6. Main treatment methods

The principles of heat treatment for tool steels are broadly the same as for other steels, but their application sometimes requires different techniques and always special precautions, due to the low conductivity of these steels, and their susceptibility to decarburization and tapping after heating to the high temperatures required for maximum hardness. Depending on the type of parts to be treated, the heating methods used may include muffle furnaces, salt bath furnaces, fluidized-bed furnaces, vacuum furnaces, etc.