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Selection of Tool Steel - Tablet Compression Tooling

By- Chandrakant Patilchandrakant1979p@gmail.com

Compression Cycle On Rotary Tablet Press Compression Cycle On Rotary Tablet Press

Punches & DiesPunches & Dies

Punches and dies are essential tools in the tableting process and therefore are critical to the quality of the tablets produced.

Tool Steels

Tool steel is the product of a highly

specialized branch of the steel

industry.

To be acceptable to the

pharmaceutical industry the steel

should be free from impurities and

undesirable elements.

Selection of right steel is the key to

the successful performance of

Tablet compression tooling.

Properties of Tool Steels

Material Test Certificate for Tool Steels

Type of Tool steel

Tool Steels

Steels used to manufacture tablet press tooling have been grouped into three

categories:

Chemical Composition of Tool Steels

Chemical element

AISIS1

AISIS5

AISIS7

AISI408

AISIA2

AISID2

AISID3

AISI440C

AISIO1

Carbon 0.40-0.55

0.50-0.65 0.45-0.55 0.40-0.55 0.95-1.05 1.40-1.60 2.00-2.35 0.95-1.20 0.85-1.00

Manganese 0.10-0.40

0.60-1.00 0.20-0.80 0.40-0.60 0.00-1.00 0.00-0.60 0.00-0.60 0.00-1.00 1.00-1.40

Silicon 0.15-1.20

1.75-2.25 0.20-1.00 0.25 max 0.00-0.50 0.00-0.60 0.00-0.60 0.0-1.00 0.10-0.50

Chromium 1.00-1.80

0.00-0.35 3.00-3.50 0.60-0.80 4.75-5.50 11.00-13.00

11.0-13.5 16.0-18.0 0.40-0.60

Vanadium 0.15-0.30

0.00-0.35 0.00-0.35 -- 0.15-0.50 0.00-1.10 0.00-1.00 -- 0.30 max

Tungsten 1.50-3.00

-- -- -- -- -- 0.00-1.00 -- 0.40-0.60

Molybdenum

0.00-0.50

0.20-1.35 1.30-1.80 -- 0.90-1.40 0.70-1.20 -- 0.00-0.75 --

Nickel -- -- -- 3.00 -- -- -- 0.00-0.50 --

Cobalt -- -- -- -- -- 0.00-1.00 -- -- --

Percentage of chemical elements.

Hardness of tool steels

Hardness of punches expressed in HRC

Hardness of tool steels

For more information on fundamentals of

Rockwell hardness testing log on

www.instron.com & www.wilsoninstruments.com

• Wear resistance of steel usually

increases as its hardness increases on the other hand toughness and ductility decreases.

• Hardness of tool steel is checked by with a nondestructive tester Rockwell tester.

• Rockwell tester has two scales A and C for measuring tool hardness.

Hardness of tool steels

Typical Hardness Reading for Tool Steels

Hardness Ranges (HRC-Rockwell C scale)

Type of tool steel

AISIS1

AISIS5

AISIS7

AISI408

AISIA2

AISID2

AISID3

AISI440C

AISIO1

Punch 54-56 50-59 54-58 48-56 58-60 58-60 58-60 56-58 55-60

Die -- -- -- -- 60-62 -- 62-64 56-58 --

High hardness value

indicates, more

resistance to wear

Selection of tool steel

While procuring new punch setWhile procuring new punch set

Collect the information about the nature of product like abrasive, corrosive etc.Collect the information about the nature of product like abrasive, corrosive etc.

Collect the information on tooling related problems if the particular product is manufactured at other locations within the company.

Collect the information on tooling related problems if the particular product is manufactured at other locations within the company.

Discuss product properties & tooling related issues with Tooling manufacturer.Discuss product properties & tooling related issues with Tooling manufacturer.

Select the correct tool steel.Select the correct tool steel.

Selection of correct quality of steel

Cost factor for Tool steel

Thank You

Questions please !