UDDEHOLM

DIEVAR DIEVAR
DIEVAR

REFERENCE STANDARD

AISI WNr. JIS

ASSAB DF-2 ARNE O1 (1.2510) (SKS 3)

ASSAB DF-3 O1 (1.2510) (SKS 3)

ASSAB XW-5 SVERKER 3 D6 (D3) (1.2436) (SKD 2)

ASSAB XW-10 RIGOR A2 1.2363 SKD 12

ASSAB XW-41 SVERKER 21 D2 1.2379 SKD 11

ASSAB XW-42 D2 1.2379 SKD 11

CARMO CARMO 1.2358

CALMAX CALMAX 1.2358

CALDIE CALDIE

ASSAB 88 SLEIPNER

ASSAB PM 23 SUPERCLEAN VANADIS 23 SUPERCLEAN (M3:2) 1.3395 SKH 53

ASSAB PM 30 SUPERCLEAN VANADIS 30 SUPERCLEAN (M3:2 + Co) 1.3294 SKH 40

ASSAB PM 60 SUPERCLEAN VANADIS 60 SUPERCLEAN (1.3292)

VANADIS 4 EXTRA SUPERCLEAN VANADIS 4 EXTRA SUPERCLEAN

VANADIS 6 SUPERCLEAN VANADIS 6 SUPERCLEAN

VANADIS 10 SUPERCLEAN VANADIS 10 SUPERCLEAN

VANCRON 40 SUPERCLEAN VANCRON 40 SUPERCLEAN

ELMAX SUPERCLEAN ELMAX SUPERCLEAN

ASSAB 518 P20 1.2311

ASSAB 618 P20 Mod. 1.2738

ASSAB 618 HH P20 Mod. 1.2738

ASSAB 618 T P20 Mod. 1.2738 Mod.

ASSAB 718 SUPREME IMPAX SUPREME P20 Mod. 1.2738

ASSAB 718 HH IMPAX HH P20 Mod. 1.2738

NIMAX NIMAX

MIRRAX 40 MIRRAX 40 420 Mod.

VIDAR 1 ESR VIDAR 1 ESR H11 1.2343 SKD 6

UNIMAX UNIMAX

CORRAX CORRAX

ASSAB 2083 420 1.2083 SUS 420J2

STAVAX ESR STAVAX ESR 420 Mod. 1.2083 ESR SUS 420J2

MIRRAX ESR MIRRAX ESR 420 Mod.

POLMAX POLMAX

RAMAX HH RAMAX HH 420 F Mod.

ROYALLOY ROYALLOY

PRODAX

ASSAB MM40

ALVAR 14 ALVAR 14 1.2714 SKT 4

ASSAB 2714 1.2714 SKT 4

ASSAB 8407 2M ORVAR 2M H13 1.2344 SKD 61

ASSAB 8407 SUPREME ORVAR SUPREME H13 Premium 1.2344 ESR SKD 61

DIEVAR DIEVAR

HOTVAR HOTVAR

QRO 90 SUPREME QRO 90 SUPREME

ASSAB 705 4340 1.6582 SNCM8

ASSAB 709 4140 1.7225 SCM4

ASSAB 760 1050 1.1730 S50C

ASSAB is a trademark of ASSAB Pacific Pte Ltd.

The information contained herein is based on our present state of knowledge and is intended to provide general notes on our products and their uses.
It should not therefore be construed as a warranty of specific properties of the products described or a warranty for fitness for a particular purpose.
Each user of ASSAB products is responsible for making its own determination as to the suitability of ASSAB products and services.

Edition D140715

2
 DIEVAR

DIEVAR
Dievar is a hot work die steel specially developed by Uddeholm Tooling,
our steel mill in Sweden, to provide the best possible performance.

The chemical composition and the very latest in production technique

make the property profile outstanding. Dievar possesses a combination of
excellent toughness and very good hot strength, resulting in a superior hot
work die steel that have excellent resistance to heat checking and gross
cracking.

Dievar is suitable for high demand hot work applications like die casting,
extrusion and forging. The property profile also makes it a suitable choice
in other applications such as plastic moulding (e.g., to solve chipping/
cracking) and High Performance Steel.

Dievar offers the potential for significant improvements in die life, thereby
improving the tooling economy.

3
DIEVAR

General
Dievar is a high performance chromium-molybdenum- DIE CASTING
vanadium alloyed hot work tool steel which offers a very
good resistance to heat checking, gross cracking, hot
wear and plastic deformation. Dievar is characterised by:

Excellent toughness and ductility in all directions

Good temper resistance
Good high-temperature strength
Excellent hardenability
Good dimensional stability throughout heat
treatment and coating operations

Type Cr-Mo-V alloyed hot work tool steel

Standard
None
specification
Part Aluminium / Magnesium alloys
Delivery
Soft annealed to approx. 160 HB Dies 44-50 HRC
condition

Colour code Yellow / Grey

EXTRUSION

Dievar is a premium hot work tool steel developed by

Uddeholm. It is manufactured utilising the very latest in
production and refining techniques. The Dievar
development has yielded a die steel with the ultimate
resistance to heat checking, gross cracking, hot wear
and plastic deformation. The unique properties profile
of Dievar makes it the best choice for die casting, forging
and extrusion.

Copper Aluminium /
Part
alloys Magnesium alloys
Applications Dies - 46-52 HRC

Liners, dummy
46-52 HRC 44-52 HRC
blocks, stems
Heat checking is one of the most common failure
mechanisms, e.g., in die casting and nowadays also in
forging applications. Dievar’s superior ductility yields the HOT FORGING
highest possible level of heat checking resistance. With
Dievar’s outstanding toughness and hardenability, its
resistance to heat checking will be further improved.
If gross cracking is not a factor, then a higher working
hardness can be utilised (+2 HRC).

Regardless of the dominant failure mechanism (e.g.,

heat checking, gross cracking, hot wear or plastic
deformation), Dievar offers the potential for significant
improvements in die life as well as tooling economy.
Part Steel / Aluminium
Dievar is the material of choice for the high demand die
Inserts 44-52 HRC
casting, forging and extrusion industries.

4
 DIEVAR

Properties
The reported properties are representative of samples At a hardness of approximately 45 HRC, the minimum
which have been taken from the centre of a 610 x 203 average unnotched impact ductility is 300 J in the short
mm bar. Unless otherwise indicated, all specimens were transverse direction.
hardened at 1025°C, quenched in oil and tempered
2 + 2 hours at 615°C to 45±1 HRC.
Charpy V-notch impact toughness at elevated
temperatures
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Short transverse direction.
Hardened and tempered to 44 - 46 HRC. Impact energy, J
140
Temperature 20°C 400°C 600°C
120
Density 45 HRC
7800 7700 7600
kg/m3 100

Modulus of elasticity 80
210 000 180 000 145 000
MPa 47 HRC
60
Coefficient of
thermal expansion - 12.7 x 10 -6 13.3 x 10 -6 40
per °C from 20°C
20 50 HRC
Thermal
conductivity - 31 32
W/m °C 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450°C

Testing temperature

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
Temper resistance
Approximate tensile properties at room temperature,
tested in the short transverse direction. The specimens have been hardened and tempered to
45 HRC, and then held at different temperatures from
Hardness 44 HRC 48 HRC 52 HRC 1 to 100 hours.
Tensile Hardness, HRC
1480 MPa 1640 MPa 1900 MPa
strength, Rm
50
Yield
1210 MPa 1380 MPa 1560 MPa 500°C
strength, RP0.2
45
Elongation, A 5 13 % 13 % 12.5 %
550°C
Reduction of 40
55 % 55 % 52 %
area, Z

35
Approximate tensile properties at elevated 600°C
temperatures
30
Short transverse direction, 45±1 HRC. 650°C

Rm, Rp0.2 A5, Z

MPa % 25
0.1 1 10 100
2000 100 Time, h
1800 Z 90
1600 80
1400 70
1200 Rm 60
1000 50
800 Rp0.2 40
600 30
400 20
200 A5 10

100 200 300 400 500 600 700ºC

Testing temperature

5
DIEVAR

Heat treatment
SOFT ANNEALING QUENCHING

Protect the steel and heat through to 850°C. Then cool
in the furnace at 10°C per hour to 650°C, then freely in air.
STRESS RELIEVING
After rough machining, the tool should be heated
through to 650°C, holding time 2 hours. Cool slowly
to 500°C, then freely in air.
HARDENING
Preheating temperature: 600–900°C. Normally a
minimum of two preheats, the first in the 600–650°C
range, and the second in the 820–850°C range. When
three preheats are used, the second is carried out
at 820°C, and the third at 900°C.
Austenitising temperature: 1000–1030°C
As a general rule, quench rates should be as rapid as
possible. Accelerated quench rates are required to
optimise tool properties specifically with regards to
toughness and resistance to gross cracking. However,
risk of excessive distortion and cracking must be
considered.
The quenching media should be capable of creating a
fully hardened microstructure. Different quench rates
for Dievar are defined by the CCT graph as shown in
page 7.
High speed gas/circulating atmosphere
Vacuum (high speed gas with sufficient positive
pressure). An interrupted quench at 320–450°C is
recommended for distortion control, or when quench
cracking is a concern.
Martempering bath, salt bath or fluidised bed at
450–550°C
Martempering bath, salt bath or fluidised bed at
approx. 180–200°C
Warm oil, approx. 80°C
Note: Temper the tool as soon as its temperature
reaches 50–70°C.

Temperature Soaking time Hardness before TEMPERING

°C minutes tempering
Choose the tempering temperature according to the
hardness required by reference to the tempering graph
1000 30 52±2 HRC
below. Temper at least three times for die casting dies,
and two times for forging and extrusion tools. The tool
1025 30 55±2 HRC should be cooled to room temperature between the
tempers. The minimum holding time at tempering
temperature is 2 hours.
Soaking time = time at hardening temperature after the
tool is fully heated through. Tempering in the range of 500–550°C is normally not
recommended, and it will result in a lower toughness.
Protect the tool against decarburisation and oxidation during
austenitising.
Tempering graph
Hardness, HRC Retained austenite, %
Hardness, grain size and retained austenite as 60
functions of austenitising temperature Austenitising temperature
1025°C
Grain 55
size
ASTM Hardness, HRC Retained austenite % 50
10 60 1000°C
Grain size
45 Temper
8 58

Hardness
6 56 40 6

54 4 35 4

Retained austenite Retained austenite

52 2 30 2

50 0 25
990 1000 1010 1020 1030 1040 1050°C 100 200 300 400 500 600 700°C
Austenitising temperture Tempering temperature (2 + 2h)

6
 DIEVAR

Effect of tempering temperature on room DIMENSIONAL CHANGES DURING HARDENING

temperature Charpy V-notch impact energy AND TEMPERING
Short transverse direction. During hardening and tempering, the tool is exposed
to both thermal and transformation stresses. These
Impact strength stresses will result in distortion. Insufficient levels of
Hardness HRC machine stock may result in slower than recommended
60 60 quench rates during heat treatment. To reduce the
level of distortion, a stress relief is always recommended
50 50 bewteen rough and semi-finish machining, prior to
hardening.
40 40
Temper brittleness zone For a stress relieved Dievar tool, a minimum machining
30 30 allowance of 0.3% is recommended to correct for
distortion during heat treatment with a rapid quench.
20 20

10 10

200 300 400 500 600 700°C

Tempering temperature (2h + 2h)

CCT graph
Austenitising temperature 1025°C. Holding time 30 minutes.

°C
1100 Austenitising temperature 1025ºC
Holding time 30 minutes
1000

900 AC1 = 890ºC

f

AC1 = 820ºC
800 Carbides s

Pearlite
700

600

500 Cooling Hardness T800-500

Curve No. HV 10 (sec)

400 1 681 1.5

MS Bainite 2 627 15
300 3 620 280
4 592 1248
5 566 3205
200 6 488 5200
Martensite Mf
7 468 10400
100 8 464 20800
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9 405 41600

1 10 100 1000 10 000 100 000 Seconds

1 10 100 1000 Minutes

1 10 100 Hours
Air cooling of
0.2 1.5 10 90 600 bars, Ømm

7
DIEVAR

Machining recommendations
The cutting data below are to be considered as guiding MILLING
values and as starting points for developing your own
best practice. Face and square shoulder milling

Condition: Soft annealed condition ~160 HB Milling with carbide

Cutting data
parameters
TURNING Rough milling Fine milling

Turning Cutting speed

Turning with cabide (vc) 130 - 180 180 - 220
with HSS†
Cutting data m/min
parameters
Rough Fine Fine
turning turning turning
Feed (f z)
0.2 - 0.4 0.1 - 0.2
Cutting speed mm/tooth
(vc) 150 - 200 200 - 250 15 - 20
m/min Depth of cut (ap)
2-4 ≤2
mm
Feed (f)
0.2 - 0.4 0.05 - 0.2 0.05 - 0.3
mm/r
Carbide P10
Depth of cut (ap) P20 - P40
2-4 0.5 - 2 0.5 - 2 designation Coated carbide
mm Coated carbide
ISO or cermet

P10
Carbide P20 - P30
Coated
designation Coated -
carbide or
ISO carbide End milling
cermet
†
High speed steel
Type of milling

Cutting data
parameters Carbide
Solid High speed
indexable
carbide steel
insert
DRILLING
High speed steel twist drill Cutting speed
(vc) 130 - 170 120 - 160 25 - 301
m/min
Drill diameter Cutting speed (vc) Feed (f)
mm m/min mm/r
Feed (f)
0.03 - 0.202 0.08 - 0.202 0.05 - 0.352
≤5 15 - 20 * 0.05 - 0.15 mm/tooth

5 - 10 15 - 20 * 0.15 - 0.20
Carbide
designation - P20 - P30 -
10 - 15 15 - 20 * 0.20 - 0.25
ISO
15 - 20 15 - 20 * 0.25 - 0.35
1 For coated HSS end mill, vc~ 45–50 m/min
* For coated HSS drill, vc~ 35–40 m/min

GRINDING

Carbide drill Wheel recommendation

Type of drill Type of grinding Grinding wheel designation

Cutting data
parameters Indexable Solid Brazed Face grinding straight wheel A 46 HV
insert carbide carbide1
Face grinding segments A 24 GV
Cutting speed
(vc) 180 - 220 120 - 150 60 - 90 Cylindrical grinding A 46 LV
m/min

Internal grinding A 46 JV
Feed (f)
0.05 - 0.252 0.10 - 0.252 0.15 - 0.252
mm/r
Profile grinding A 100 LV
1 Drill with replaceable or brazed carbide tip
2 Depending on drill diameter

8
 DIEVAR

Machining recommendations
The cutting data below are to be considered as guiding MILLING
values and as starting points for developing your own
best practice. Face and square shoulder milling

Condition: Hardened and tempered to 45±1 HRC Milling with carbide

Cutting data
parameters
TURNING Rough milling Fine milling

Turning with carbide Cutting speed

Cutting data (vc) 50 - 90 90 - 130
parameters m/min
Rough turning Fine turning

Cutting speed
(vc) 40 - 60 70 - 90 Feed (f z)
0.2 - 0.4 0.1 - 0.2
m/min mm/tooth

Feed (f)
0.2 - 0.4 0.05 - 0.2 Depth of cut (ap)
mm/r 2-4 ≤2
mm
Depth of cut (ap)
1-2 0.5 - 1
mm Carbide P10
P20 - P40
designation Coated carbide
Carbide P10 Coated carbide
P20 - P30 ISO or cermet
designation Coated carbide or
Coated carbide
ISO cermet

End milling

Type of milling

Cutting data
parameters Carbide High speed
DRILLING Solid
indexable steel
carbide
insert TiCN coated
High speed steel twist drill (TiCN coated)

Cutting speed
Drill diameter Cutting speed (vc) Feed (f) (vc) 60 - 80 70 - 90 5 - 10
mm m/min mm/r m/min
≤5 4-6 0.05 - 0.10
Feed (f)
0.03 - 0.201 0.08 - 0.201 0.05 - 0.351
5 - 10 4-6 0.10 - 0.15 mm/tooth

10 - 15 4-6 0.15 - 0.20

Carbide
designation - P10 - P20 -
15 - 20 4-6 0.20 - 0.30
ISO

1 Depending on radial depth of cut and cutter diameter

GRINDING
Carbide drill Wheel recommendation

Type of drill Type of grinding Grinding wheel designation

Cutting data
parameters Indexable Solid Brazed Face grinding straight wheel A 46 HV
insert carbide carbide1
Face grinding segments A 36 GV
Cutting speed
(vc) 60 - 80 60 - 80 40 - 50
Cylindrical grinding A 60 KV
m/min

Internal grinding A 60 IV
Feed (f)
0.05 - 0.252 0.10 - 0.252 0.15 - 0.252
mm/r
Profile grinding A 120 JV
1 Drill with replaceable or brazed carbide tip
2 Depending on drill diameter

9
DIEVAR

Surface treatment
NITRIDING AND NITROCARBURISING Depth of nitriding
Nitriding and nitrocarburising result in a hard surface
layer which has the potential to improve resistance to Surface
Time Depth*
wear and soldering, as well as resistance to premature Process hardness
h mm
heat checking. Dievar can be nitrided using gas or HV0.2
plasma. It can also be nitrocarburised via gas or salt
bath process. The nitriding and nitrocarburising Gas nitriding at 10 1100 0.16
temperature should be at least 25–50°C below the 510°C 30 1100 0.22
highest previous tempering temperature, depending
upon the process time and temperature. Otherwise, Plasma nitriding
10 1100 0.15
at 480°C
a permanent loss of core hardness, strength, and/or
dimensional tolerances may be experienced.
Nitrocarburising
– in gas at
During nitriding and nitrocarburising, a brittle compound 2 1100 0.13
580°C
layer, known as the white layer, may be generated. The
– in salt bath at 1 0.08
white layer is very brittle and may result in cracking or 580°C 1100
spalling when exposed to heavy mechanical or thermal
loads. As a general rule, the white layer formation *
Depth of case = distance from surface where hardness is 50 HV0.2 over base
hardness
must be avoided.

Electrical discharge machining

Following the EDM process, the applicable die surfaces
are covered with a resolidified layer (white layer) and a
rehardened and untempered layer, both of which are very
brittle and hence detrimental to die performance.

If EDM is used, the white layer must be completely

removed by grinding or stoning. After finish machining,
the tool should be given an additional temper at approx.
25°C below the highest previous tempering temperature.

Nitriding in ammonia gas at 510°C, or plasma nitriding at

480°C, both result in a surface hardness of approx.
1100 HV0.2 . In general, plasma nitriding is the preferred
method because of better control over nitrogen
potential. However, careful gas nitriding can give
perfectly acceptable results.

The surface hardness after nitrocarburising in either gas

or salt bath at 580°C is approx. 1100 HV0.2 .

10
 DIEVAR

Welding Further information

Welding of die components can be performed, with
acceptable results, as long as proper precautions are For further information, i.e., steel selection, heat
taken during the preparation of the joint, the filler treatment, application and availability, please contact our
material selection, the preheating of the die, the controlled ASSAB office nearest to you.
cooling of the die and the post weld heat treatment
processes. The following guidelines summarise the most
important welding process parameters.

Welding
TIG MMA
method

Working
325 - 375ºC 325 - 375ºC
temp.1

Filler QRO 90 TIG-WELD

QRO 90 WELD
material DIEVAR TIG-WELD

Maximum
interpass 475°C 475°C
temp.2

Cooling 20 - 40ºC/h for the first 2 to 3 hours and

rate then freely in air

Hardness
after 50 - 55 HRC 50 - 55 HRC
welding

Heat treatment after welding

Hardened Temper at 25°C below the original temper-

condition ing temperature.

Soft anneal the material at 850°C

Soft
in protected atmosphere.
annealed
Then cool in the furnace at 10°C per hour
condition
to 600°C, then freely in air.

1 Preheating temperature must be established throughout the die and must be

maintained for the entire welding process, to prevent weld cracking
2 The temperature of the tool in the weld area immediately before the second
and subsequent pass of a multiple pass weld. When exceeded, there is a
risk of distortion of the tool or soft zones around the weld.

11
DIEVAR

Relative comparison of ASSAB hot work die steels

QUALITATIVE COMPARISON OF CRITICAL DIE STEEL PROPERTIES

Coefficient
Temper Hot yield Creep Heat
ASSAB grade of thermal Ductility
resistance strength strength conductivity
expansion
ALVAR 14
ASSAB 8407 2M
ASSAB 8407 SUPREME
DIEVAR
HOTVAR
QRO 90 SUPREME

QUALITATIVE COMPARISON OF RESISTANCE TO DIFFERENT DIE FAILURES

Heat Gross Hot wear / Plastic

ASSAB grade Corrosion (Al)
checking cracking Erosion deformation
ALVAR 14
ASSAB 8407 2M
ASSAB 8407 SUPREME
DIEVAR
HOTVAR
QRO 90 SUPREME

12
DIEVAR

13
DIEVAR

Case study
RESISTANCE TO HEAT CHECKING

Product : Automotive housing

Work material : A380 Aluminium alloy
Work temp. : 690°C
Tooling size : 406 x 508 x 508 mm
Die material : Premium H13 at 44-46 HRC vs DIEVAR 46-48 HRC
Background : Severe heat checking begins on Premium H13 at approximately 20,000 shots.
The customer wanted better die life.

Premium H13 DIEVAR

Comparison of Premium H13 and DIEVAR after 42,000 shots.

Premium H13 DIEVAR

14
 DIEVAR

Ningbo Cikarang* MALAYSIA

ASSAB Tooling Technology PT. ASSAB Steels Indonesia
(Ningbo) Co., Ltd. Tel : +62 21 461 1314 Kuala Lumpur - Head Office
Tel : +86 574 8680 7188 Fax: +62 21 461 1306/ ASSAB Steels (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.
Fax: +86 574 8680 7166 +62 21 461 1309 Tel : +60 3 6189 0022
info.ningbo@assab.com info.cikarang@assab.com Fax: +60 3 6189 0044/55
info.kualalumpur@assab.com

Tel : +62 21 5316 0720-1

Jiangxi*
ASSAB Tooling (Dong Guan)
Co, Ltd., Jiangxi Branch
Tel : +86 769 2289 7888
Fax : +86 769 2289 9312
info.jiangxi@assab.com

15
Choosing the right steel is of vital importance. ASSAB engineers
and metallurgists are always ready to assist you in your choice of
the optimum steel grade and the best treatment for each application.
ASSAB not only supplies steel products with superior quality, we offer
state-of-the-art machining, heat treatment and surface treatment
services to enhance steel properties to meet your requirement in
the shortest lead time. Using holistic approach as a one-stop solution
provider, we are more than just another tool steel supplier.

ASSAB and Uddeholm are present on every continent. This ensures

you that high-quality tool steels and local support are available
wherever you are. Together we secure our position as the world's
leading supplier of tooling materials.

For more information, please visit www.assab.com