highspeedteräksiä

Highspeedteräksiä, commonly known as high-speed steel (HSS), is a category of tool steels renowned for their exceptional hardness and wear resistance, especially at elevated temperatures. This property makes them ideal for cutting tools that operate at high speeds, generating significant friction and heat. The defining characteristic of HSS is its ability to retain its hardness, or "red hardness," even when heated to temperatures where conventional steels would soften.

The composition of HSS typically includes significant amounts of tungsten and/or molybdenum, along with chromium and vanadium. These alloying elements, particularly tungsten and molybdenum, are responsible for the formation of hard, wear-resistant carbides within the steel matrix. The high chromium content contributes to the steel's hardenability and corrosion resistance. Vanadium forms very hard carbides that resist abrasion.

There are two main families of HSS: tungsten-based (often designated with a "T") and molybdenum-based (often designated with an "M"). Molybdenum-based HSS is generally considered a more economical and less brittle alternative to tungsten-based HSS, offering comparable performance. Common applications for HSS include drill bits, milling cutters, reamers, taps, and saw blades. Its ability to maintain a sharp cutting edge under demanding conditions makes it a cornerstone of modern machining operations.