Adhesive Wear-Resistant Tool Steels
Galling occurs when two sliding metal surfaces stick together under pressure. Small surface asperities cold-weld, tear away, and transfer material from one surface to another. In tooling, this can cause scoring, material pickup, rough part surfaces, and early tool failure.
For galling-prone applications, the tool steel should reduce metal-to-metal adhesion, resist surface damage, and maintain hardness under sliding pressure.
Galling-Resistant Tool Steel Options
Aobo Steel supplies selected high-speed and cold-work tool steels for forming, drawing, sliding contact, pickup, scoring, and adhesive wear conditions.
M2 | 1.3343 | SKH51
High-speed steel for hardness, hot hardness, and surface stability under sliding contact pressure.
M35 | 1.3243 | SKH55
Cobalt high-speed steel for better hot hardness under more demanding contact pressure and heat.
M42 | 1.3247 | SKH59
High-cobalt HSS for severe sliding, high forming pressure, and applications needing strong hot hardness.
DC53 Tool Steel
8% chromium cold-work steel direction with finer carbide distribution and improved toughness.
Recommended Tool Steels for Galling Resistance
| Steel Group | Typical Grades | Why They Help Reduce Galling |
|---|---|---|
| Graphitic tool steels | O6, A10 | Free graphite acts as a built-in dry lubricant and reduces friction at the tool surface. |
| Low-chromium tool steels | A6 | Lower chromium content helps reduce adhesive pickup when forming stainless or high-chromium work materials. |
| High-speed steels | M2 | High hardness, hot hardness, and fine carbide structure help resist surface damage under sliding contact. |
| Cobalt-molybdenum HSS | M35, M42 | Better hot hardness and strength under severe forming pressure, especially for high-strength materials. |
| 8% chromium cold work steels | DC53 and similar grades | Finer carbide distribution than traditional 12% Cr steels, giving better toughness and lower risk of microcracking. |
| Powder metallurgy tool steels | PM cold work and PM HSS grades | Very fine, uniform carbides reduce local welding and surface tearing under adhesive wear. |
Why These Tool Steels Are Used for Galling Problems
Galling is not the same as simple abrasive wear. The tool surface also needs to resist adhesion, material pickup, and surface tearing.
Graphitic tool steels such as O6 and A10 differ from conventional tool steels. Their free graphite provides natural lubricity, helping reduce friction between the tool and the workpiece.
Low-chromium steels such as A6 are useful when forming stainless steel or other high-chromium materials. In these applications, high-chromium tool steels can sometimes increase adhesive pickup because similar metallic elements tend to bond under pressure.
High-speed steels such as M2, M35, and M42 are used when galling occurs under high contact pressure, elevated temperatures, or severe forming stress. Their hot hardness helps the tool surface stay stable during sliding contact.
8% chromium cold-work steels, including DC53-type materials, are often preferred over traditional 12% chromium steels when better toughness and a finer carbide distribution are required. This helps reduce microcracking and surface breakdown during adhesive wear.
For galling problems, do not choose only by wear resistance. The better steel is the one that limits adhesion, surface pickup, and tearing under the actual contact pressure, sliding speed, work material, and lubrication condition.
Need Tool Steel for Galling or Adhesive Wear Problems?
Aobo Steel can help match tool steel options to forming, sliding, pickup, scoring, and adhesive wear conditions. Send your grade, size, quantity, work material, and failure condition.