High-speed steel is mainly used to manufacture medium and high-speed cutting tools such as turning tools, milling cutters, reamers, broaches, twist drills, etc.

(1) Processability

Tool steels should have good hot press processing properties and machinability to ensure the manufacture and use of tools. The processability of steel depends on the chemical composition and the quality of the structure.

(2) Quenching temperature is broad

The quenching temperature of the tool steel should be wide enough to reduce the possibility of overheating.

(3) Hardenability and hardenability

Hardenability is the property of steel to achieve the highest hardness after quenching. The hardenability is mainly related to the chemical composition of the steel, especially the carbon content. The higher the carbon content, the higher the hardenability of the steel. Hardenability refers to the hardness distribution of steel from surface to interior after quenching. The level of hardenability is related to the chemical composition, purity and grain size of the steel. According to the different tools used to manufacture, there are certain requirements for these two properties.

(4) Decarburization sensitivity

Decarburization on the surface of the tool will reduce the hardness of the surface layer, thus requiring low decarburization sensitivity of the steel. Under the same addition conditions, the decarburization sensitivity of steel depends on its chemical composition.

(5) Heat treatment deformability

The tool is required to be dimensionally stable during heat treatment.

(6) Resistance to cutting

For the manufacture of tools and gauge steels, good grinding properties are required. The grinding property of steel is related to its chemical composition, especially the vanadium content, and if the vanadium mass fraction is not less than 0.50%, the grinding property is deteriorated.