1. Evaluation of Special Quality Die Steels
NADCA Project
Die Materials Committee
Purdue – Oct. 2009

2. STEELS
BohlerUddeholm Dievar
Thyssen E38K
Thyssen 2367
Ellwood ExELL Tuf-Die
SAMPLES-Phase I
4- Thermal fatigue samples quenched in oil, triple tempered to
44-46HRC
5- Charpy V-notch, heat treated in oil and triple tempered to
44-46HRC. 
4- Thermal fatigue samples quenched in a vacuum furnace and
triple tempered to 44-46HRC (welded to a 16” block). 
5- Charpy V-notch quenched in vacuum and triple tempered to
44- 46HRC (cut from plate that was welded to a 16” block).

3. STEELS
BohlerUddeholm Dievar
Thyssen E38K
Thyssen 2367
Ellwood ExELL Tuf-Die
SAMPLES-Phase II
4- Thermal fatigue samples quenched in oil, triple tempered to
48-50HRC
5- Charpy V-notch, heat treated in oil and triple tempered to
48-50HRC. 
4- Thermal fatigue samples quenched in a vacuum furnace and
triple tempered to 48-50HRC (welded to a 16” block). 
5- Charpy V-notch quenched in vacuum and triple tempered to
48- 50HRC (cut from plate that was welded to a 16” block).

4. Report Thermal Fatigue and CVN Results
Flow Chart for Die Steel Evaluation
Receive steel block – mark grain orientation
Cut blanks for Thermal Fatigue and Charpy V-notch
Rough machine
CVN “potential”
Rough machine Thermal
Fatigue and CVN plate
Oil quench
CVN “potential”
Vacuum quench Thermal
Fatigue and CVN plate
Finish/ Grind Thermal Fatigue and Charpy V-notch
Test Thermal Fatigue and Charpy V-notch Impact
Report Thermal Fatigue and CVN Results

5. Length direction Thickness direction Cutting line
8’’
7’’
2.125’’
Charpy impact specimens are taken from the “red” bar as shown in page 2.
2.215’’
2.3’’
Length direction
Thickness direction
* taken from a 12" thick x 10" wide slab

6. 2367 and E38K

7. CAPABILITY HEAT TREATMENT (44-46HRC)
NADCA
GRADE ID
SUPPLIER
TYPE
AUSTENITIZING
TEMPERx3 C D
BOHLER-UDDEHOLM
DIEVAR
1850 F
OIL
1125 F 2
SCHMOLZ & BIKENBACH
2367
1885 F E
E38K
1115 F T
ELLWOOD SPECIALTY
TUF-DIE

8. CAPABILITY HEAT TREATMENT (Oil Quench and Triple Tempered to 44-46HRC)ID
HRC 1 2 3 4 5
Av.
Dievar 44 21 20
20.7
2367 46 14 13 12
13.3
E38K 24 23 22
22.7
Tuf-Die 45 19
19.7

9. CAPABILITY HEAT TREATMENT (48-50HRC)
NADCA
GRADE ID
SUPPLIER
TYPE
AUSTENITIZING
TEMPERx3 C D
BOHLER-UDDEHOLM
DIEVAR
45 F
OIL
1080 F 2
SCHMOLZ & BIKENBACH
2367
45 min 1885 F E
E38K
45 min 1850 F
1070 F T
ELLWOOD SPECIALTY
TUF-DIE

10. CAPABILITY HEAT TREATMENT (Oil Quench and Triple Tempered to 48-50HRC)ID
HRC 1 2 3 4 5
Av.
Dievar
48.6 11 12 13
11.3
2367
48.5 8 9 10
9.0
E38K
49.2 14
13.3
Tuf-Die
49.4 16
12.7

12. (Triple Tempered to 44-46HRC)
VACUUM HEAT TREATMENT
(Triple Tempered to 44-46HRC) ID
HRC 1 2 3 4 5
Av.
% of Capability
Dievar
43.7 18 17 16
17.3
84%
2367
42.3 15 14 13
14.0
105%
E38K
43.0
15.3
68%
Tuf-Die
44.0
16.0
81%

13. Average Maximum Crack Length Superior Steels (Oil quench)
44-46HRC

14. Superior Steels (Oil Quench)
Total Crack Area
Superior Steels (Oil Quench)
44-46HRC

15. Average Maximum Crack Length Superior Steels (Vacuum Quench)
44-46HRC

16. Superior Steels (Vacuum Quench)
Total Crack Area
Superior Steels (Vacuum Quench)
44-46HRC

17. SET-UP for Vacuum Heat Treatment of the Special Steels