Sep 12, 2016 -- Bohler-Uddeholm is proud to introduce Uddeholm Idun® from the Swedish manufacturer Uddeholms AB. With this revolutionizing grade, we offer a safe and reliable fast forward button to finished tool holders for indexable inserts. A pre-hardened and stainless holder grade which transforms production to a one-stop shop where heat treatment and coatings will no longer be necessary.   

Time to market is of the essence for today’s tool producers. In recent years there has therefore been a trend towards machining more and more tools in the hardened condition to both meet the market demand on shorter delivery times, and also save both time and money on heat treatment.
 
The next natural step in order to further decrease the production time is to get rid of costly and time demanding coatings. Until now this has not been possible. Uddeholm Idun changes this by being the first patented corrosion resistant tool holder grade on the market. A characteristic property that is requested both for its aesthetics as well as to protect the tool holder from corrosion attacks.   Test results better or in parity with Ni-coated tools Uddeholm Idun has undergone comparison tests in a salt spray chamber according to  SS-EN ISO 9227 using 0.1M salt solution at 35°C (95°F) for 3.5 hours.  

In the test three samples were used. One standard milling cutter where the nickel coating had been ground off; one milling cutter with an intact nickel coating; and one milling cutter made from Uddeholm Idun. After 3.5 hours, the ground off milling cutter was heavily corroded; on the nickel coated holder we found out that the nickel coating protected the holder to some extent, but corrosion spots had already started to appear. Uddeholm Idun
 
showed less corrosion than the nickel coated cutter which proves that the corrosion resistance is at least in parity with nickel coating or better.    Outruns standard P20 type materials Uddeholm Idun is meeting the market demand by being pre-hardened to 42-46 HRC, a hardness range optimal for milling cutters. Uddeholm Idun, which is an ESR (Electro Slag Remelted) steel, has a uniform microstructure with small carbides in a martensitic matrix. The hardness is consistent from the surface to the center. Although delivered in the hardened condition, Uddeholm Idun still offers a good machinability and can be induction hardened to 56 HRC on the surface if wear resistance needs to be improved locally.  

Uddeholm Idun has a much better softening resistance than standard P20 type materials at a constant temperature of 450°C (842°F) and keeps a high hardness at 500°C (932°F) for a long time. Specimens have been exposed for high temperatures up to 100 hours.   

Competing materials tend to get a soft surface due to the temperatures created when in production. When losing the surface hardness the functionality of the steel is, of course, lost.   

When producing milling cutters in the hardened condition by turning, milling and/or drilling compressive positive stresses are normally introduced on the surface. Compressive stresses can also be introduced by e.g. shot peening. Uddeholm Idun has very good stress relaxation properties that ensure that these stresses are kept high up to relatively high temperatures, much better than the competing P20 type materials.  When time is what matters, the natural step is to move to the new and revolutionary corrosion resistant steel grade on the market: Uddeholm Idun.
    
About Bohler-Uddeholm Corporation:   
Bohler-Uddeholm Corporation (BUC) is the US sales organization of the Bohler-Uddeholm group, the World’s leading manufacturer of high quality tooling materials suitable for Metalforming and Stamping Dies, Plastics Molding, Die Casting, Extrusion, Forging, cutting tool applications as well as specialty materials for aerospace and power generation components.  Through our fully integrated partner, eifeler Coatings Technology, we also offer PVD Surface Coating Solutions. Our headquarters is located in Elgin, IL, and we service the entire U.S.A. through our network of Service Centers and Steel Stores.  

Bohler-Uddeholm Corporation is part of the voestalpine Group. The voestalpine Group is a steelbased technology and capital goods group that operates worldwide. With around 500 Group companies and locations in more than 50 countries and on all five continents, the Group has been listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange since 1995.  
 
For more information please contact:  
Ulf Wisen
(630) 883-3017
Email Contact
www.bucorp.com