The document discusses the advantages of using Toolox 44 steel in various high-temperature applications in steel mills, highlighting its benefits such as extended service life, resistance to back-tempering, and lower maintenance costs compared to other materials like Hardox 400. It provides specific examples of components made from Toolox 33 and Toolox 44, detailing their performance in applications such as sliding shoes, bearing houses, and hydraulic cylinders. The review showcases the compatibility of Toolox with nitriding and its adherence to various quality standards, making it a preferred choice for demanding industrial environments.

1. Applications In Steel Mill
HE-CK130527

2. Benefits Of Selecting Toolox
✔ Ready to use – no heat treatment required
✔ Easy to machine
✔ Weldable
✔ Possible to gas cut
✔ Perfect for nitriding
✔ Dimensional stability
✔ Wear resistance – even high temperatures
✔ Crack resistance

3. Metallurgy

4. Sliding Shoe
PRESSURE POLE

5. Grid
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Olov Zakrisson - Area Technical Manager
provides 2 months of servicel
Sliding Shoe

6. Sliding Shoe
DESCRIPTION
Sliding shoe of pressure pole in coking plant.
Pushes ready coke out of the blast furnace oven.
Abrasion due to sliding on hot coke on top of a bed of heat resistant bricks.
Surrounding temperatures of approximately 1050 °C.
Shoe is at temperatures of around 500 °C. Stays in oven 60 seconds per push.
Hardox 400 at 25 mm ⫤ 2 MONTHS
PROBLEMS
High temperature ruins hardness.
After service life below 250 HB.
Expensive formatting.
Require extreme bending forces.
Grid
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High production cost
Olov Zakrisson - Area Technical Manager
25mm Hardox 400
provides 2 months of servicelife
HX400%
Plateprice%Euro%/%ton% 1%500%€%
Ext.%forma;ng%cost%/%ton% 2%100%€%
Servicelife%/%ton% 360%days%
Total'cost'/'day'' 10,0'€'
Cost'exkl.'forma9ng' 4,2'€''
0"€
2"€
4"€
6"€
8"€
10"€
12"€
HX400
Cost /&day
Due to the high
bendingforce needed
external bending capacity
must be obtained, rendering
a high formating cost.

7. Sliding Shoe
What about Toolox?
➠ Toolox 44 ⫤ 8 MONTHS
EXPERIENCE
Longer service life.
Will not back-temper at 500 °C.
Less maintenance, less downtime.
Lower formatting costs.
EN 10 160 (rolled plates)
EN 10228-3 (forged bars)
with extra demands according to specification SSAB V6
Etching Toolox 44 fulfils the etching requirements of NADCA # 207-2006.
Dimensions Toolox 44 is supplied as plate in thicknesses between 5 - 130 mm, or as forged bars in thicknesses
between 150 - 300 mm.
Delivery condition Quenched and tempered at a minimum temperature of 590 ˚C.
Heat treatment Toolox 44 is not intended for further heat treatment. If Toolox 44 is heated above
590˚C after delivery from SSAB Plate no guarantees for the properties of the steel are given.
Nitriding/coating Nitriding or surface coating may be carried out if the temperature is below 590 °C.
Testing Testing according to EN 10 025 and EN ISO 6506-1.
Hardness is measured on a milled surface 0.5 - 2 mm below the original surface.
Tolerances Thickness, length, width and flatness tolerances according to “Dimension program and
tolerances for new rolling of tool steel plates from SSAB Plate”.
Forged bars; According to DIN 7527.
Surface finish On delivery from SSAB Plate the plate meets the following specifications:
- free from mill scale
- not repair welded
- surface defects below the nominal ordered thickness are not permitted.
Forged bars according to DIN 7527.
onic inspection Ultrasonic inspection is carried out according to:
EN 10 160 (rolled plates)
EN 10228-3 (forged bars)
with extra demands according to specification SSAB V6
ng Toolox 44 fulfils the etching requirements of NADCA # 207-2006.
nsions Toolox 44 is supplied as plate in thicknesses between 5 - 130 mm, or as forged bars in thicknesses
between 150 - 300 mm.
ery condition Quenched and tempered at a minimum temperature of 590 ˚C.
treatment Toolox 44 is not intended for further heat treatment. If Toolox 44 is heated above
590˚C after delivery from SSAB Plate no guarantees for the properties of the steel are given.
ing/coating Nitriding or surface coating may be carried out if the temperature is below 590 °C.
g Testing according to EN 10 025 and EN ISO 6506-1.
Hardness is measured on a milled surface 0.5 - 2 mm below the original surface.
ances Thickness, length, width and flatness tolerances according to “Dimension program and
tolerances for new rolling of tool steel plates from SSAB Plate”.
Forged bars; According to DIN 7527.
ce finish On delivery from SSAB Plate the plate meets the following specifications:
- free from mill scale
- not repair welded
- surface defects below the nominal ordered thickness are not permitted.
Forged bars according to DIN 7527.

8. Cable Drum

9. Cable Drum
DESCRIPTION
Cable drum used for a wagon in coking plant
➠ Toolox 44
EXPERIENCE
220 mm forged block machined
with HSS tools to 190 mm.
Combination of strength, hardness, and
toughness very important.
Works perfectly since 2010.

10. Slag Bucket

11. Slag Bucket
DESCRIPTION
Bucket for handling hot slag.
Temperatures up to 1500 °C.
Hardox 400, St52, Heat Resistant Steel ⫤ 8 WEEKS
➠ Toolox 33 ⫤ 8 MONTHS
EXPERIENCE
Toolox offers high temperature wear resistance.
Reflected in much longer lifetime of Toolox.
Installed January 2011
Photo Taken April 19 2011

12. Crane Wheel

13. Crane Wheel
DESCRIPTION
Steering wheel in an overhead crane
⌀ 610 mm L 125 mm
35CrNiMo14 INDUCTION HARDENED ➠ Toolox 44
EXPERIENCE
Faster manufacturing.
Water jet cut and directly machined to final piece.
Safer solution due to no heat treatment.
Critical component.
First test in 2006 and introduced as standard.
Wheels typically replaced every 3-4 years.

14. Steering Wheel

15. Steering Wheel
DESCRIPTION
Steering wheel in an overhead crane
⌀ 250 mm L 86 mm
1.6582 / 34CrNiMo6 ➠ Toolox 44
EXPERIENCE
Hardness consistent across material.
Crack problems due to hardening avoided.
No heat treatment shortens lead time
1.6582 bar – Turn, thread, harden, and machine again.
Toolox – Gas cut, turn, thread.
Steering wheel and crane wheel used in 10-15
similar applications.

16. Bearing House

17. Bearing House
DESCRIPTION
Bearing house for rollers in continuous caster
⌀ 230 mm L 60 mm
Corrosion and cyclic thermal load
➠ Toolox 33
EXPERIENCE
Increased lifetime from 6 months to at least 1 year.
Easily gas cut and machined.
Rollers surface welded with stainless steel
electrodes to protect against corrosion.
Since 2006 standard for this application.

18. Support Beams

19. Support Beams

20. Support Beams
DESCRIPTION
Support beams for rollers in continuous caster
All materials pass through continuous caster.
1900 x 200 x 40 mm
➠ Toolox 33 NITRIDED
EXPERIENCE
Machine easily and to close tolerances.
Black nitriding to resist wear and corrosion.
High quality control and guaranteed properties.
Very important in this sensitive application.
Since 2010 solution introduced as standard.
More than 125 pieces manufactured.

21. Rolling Mill

22. Slide Rails

23. Slide Rails
DESCRIPTION
Slide rails to guide and move rollers
Rollers slide on rails when moved for regrinding.
Each roller weighs 40-50 tonnes.
Lengths up to 2500 mm
Thicknesses 30, 50.7, 86 mm
1.7225 / 42CrMo4 ➠ Toolox 33 NITRIDED
EXPERIENCE
Excellent flatness and dimensional stability.
Black nitriding to resist wear and corrosion.
64 rails produced, total length 121.7 m.
Rails installed 2009, since then running perfectly.

24. Step Plate

25. Step Plate

26. Step Plate
DESCRIPTION
Step plate to adjust height of rollers in mill
1199 x 850 x 210 mm, 1199 x 1050 x 150 mm
1.6582 INDUCTION HARDENED, 1.2738 HH
➠ Toolox 33
EXPERIENCE
Require high strength and toughness.
1.6582 low strength.
1.2728 HH cracked as well as Toolox 44.
Forged Toolox cut then machined to final piece
Thicker piece gas cut. Thinner piece waterjet cut.

27. Rocker Plate

28. Rocker Plate
DESCRIPTION
Base plate to support HGC hydraulic cylinder
Sits on top of step plate in rolling mill.
2020 x 1490 x 110 mm
Require very good flatness.
St52-3 / 1.0570 ➠ Toolox 33
EXPERIENCE
Machining and welding strips at edges.
Dimensional stability and precision allowed
for faster manufacturing.
Replaced every 2-3 years due to corrosion
and wear.

29. Sleeve Bushing

30. Sleeve Bushing
DESCRIPTION
Sleeve to cover cracked rollers.
Replacement roller took over a month to deliver.
Rollers ⌀ 950 mm L 1087 mm
Sleeve ⌀ 950 mm L 300 mm
17CrNiMo6 CASE HARDENING ➠ Toolox 33
EXPERIENCE
2 rings of thickness 165 mm used
Cut, bent, welded, and crimped onto roller
Production downtime minimized while
waiting for replacement roller.

31. Gear Rack

32. Gear Rack
DESCRIPTION
Gear rack in rolling mill
Sits on ruler arms to guide and center the plates.
2614 x 210 x 66 mm
1.7225 / 42CrMo4 V ➠ Toolox 33
EXPERIENCE
Gas cut 70 mm plate and machined.
Very happy due to fast machining and
high dimensional stability.
Since 2007 introduced as standard.
Gear racks replaced every 2-3 years due to
corrosion and wear.

33. Wear Protection Plate

34. Wear Protection Plate

35. Wear Protection Plate
DESCRIPTION
Wear protection plate in four-high rolling mill.
Used in several different positions.
Dimension Example 1285 x 1000 x 38 mm
Demanding operating conditions.
Sliding forces when rolls lowered towards steel,
with 1 million cycles per year.
Corrosive atmosphere with grease, scale and water.
Previous material uneconomical to produce,
risk of cracks, long delivery time.
Compound Plate (Soft / 60 HRC) ➠ Toolox 44 NITRIDED

36. Wear Protection Plate
Compound Plate (Soft / 60 HRC) ➠ Toolox 44 NITRIDED
EXPERIENCE
More economical production
Gas cut 43 mm, machined, black nitrided.
Good performance.
Hardness 64-71 HRC ensures wear resistance.
Black nitriding also ensures corrosion resistance.
Toughness of Toolox ensures crack resistance.
Introduced in 2003 and now standard for over
40 similar wear pieces.
Some positions corrosion and deformation still play a
role, but Toolox 44 the best solution for the application.

37. Chain Gear

38. Chain Gear
DESCRIPTION
Chain gear in steel plate conveyor
Conveyor driving steel plates into a heating furnace.
Previously one piece milled from ⌀ 380 mm round.
80% material waste.
1.7218 / 25CrMo4 ➠ Toolox 44
EXPERIENCE
New design gives less material cost.
Collar in mild steel.
Gears in Toolox ⌀ 368 mm L 174 mm
Much longer lifetime.

39. Wedge

40. Wedge
DESCRIPTION
Wedges to optimize space between shear blades.
4600 x 170 x 70 mm
Require high flatness and precise tolerances.
1.6582, C45 ➠ Toolox 33
EXPERIENCE
Easier machining due dimensional stability.
Water cut 84 mm plate, machined, put in use.
Toolox 33 now used as standard for this solution.

41. Knife Support

42. Knife Support
DESCRIPTION
Knife support for steel plate shear in rolling mill.
4000 x 230 x 80 mm
Require flatness of 0.1 mm over 4000 mm.
Failure due to plastic deformation after 1 year.
1.7218 / 25CrMo4 ➠ Toolox 33
EXPERIENCE
Manufacturing much faster.
Previous material milled both sides from 104 mm.
Toolox milled from one side only.
Support now replaced intervals of 2-3 years.
Toolox now the standard for this application.

43. Shear Blade

44. Shear Blade
DESCRIPTION
Shear blade to cut Hardox / Weldox steel plates.
Used in different cutting machines.
Dimension Example 3700 x 200 x 70 mm
1.2767 HT 50 HRC ➠ Toolox 44 NITRIDED

45. Shear Blade
1.2767 HT 50 HRC ➠ Toolox 44 NITRIDED
EXPERIENCE
Each corner used until worn out.
8000 cuts / corner and a life of one month.
Knife rotated so all 4 corners used.
Then short edges of knife remachined and knife put
back in use. No need for re-nitriding.
Superior performance
High strength and wear resistance.
Nitriding layer prevents debris sticking to surface

46. Cutting Blade

47. Cutting Blade
DESCRIPTION
Blades for cutting plates in rolling mill.
300 x 48 x 16 mm
➠ Toolox 44 NITRIDED
EXPERIENCE
Gas cut, machined, nitrided.
Low manufacturing cost for each blade.

48. Hydraulic Cylinder Base

49. Hydraulic Cylinder Base
DESCRIPTION
⌀ 292 mm L 99 mm
1.6582 / 34CrNiMo6 ➠ Toolox 33
EXPERIENCE
104 mm gas cut, treated, machined to final piece.
Advantages homogeneity and shape stability
Very important in hydraulic components.

50. Bearing House

51. Bearing House
DESCRIPTION
Bearing house for plate leveler
320 x 210 x 110 mm
Thin walls around bearing
1.7218 / GS25CrMo4 VII ➠ Toolox 33
EXPERIENCE
Gas cut Toolox and machined to final piece.
Meets dimensional stability requirement in
machining.
Bearing houses changed typically every 1-2 years.
Since 2007 standard in several similar machines.

52. Finishing & Testing

53. Wheel Hub

54. Wheel Hub
DESCRIPTION
Wheel hub for heavy duty trucks
High forces on the hub with loads up to 40 tonnes.
⌀ 773 mm L 317 mm
Replacement hubs take 3 months delivery
Cast Material ➠ Toolox 33
EXPERIENCE
In-house manufacturing possible
3 rings from 130 mm cut, welded, machined.
Works perfectly since 2007.

55. Brake Disc

56. Brake Disc
DESCRIPTION
Brake disc of large slag transport truck
8 discs on each truck.
Elevated temperature during braking.
~ ⌀ 500 mm
Cast Material ➠ Toolox 44
EXPERIENCE
High temperature properties
Faster delivery, lower cost.
Discs produced from plates.
Cost saving of 550 euro / disc
Increased toughness.

57. Rotation Bar

58. Rotation Bar
DESCRIPTION
Rotation bar in slag transport truck.
2 bars on each truck.
~ ⌀ 300 mm
240 HB Material ➠ Toolox 44
EXPERIENCE
Longer lifetime.
Previously failure due to wear.
Higher strength, hardness, toughness.
Forged bar 300 mm of Toolox used.

59. Axles & Axle Trees

60. Axles & Axle Trees

61. Axles & Axle Trees
DESCRIPTION
Axle and axle trees used in slag transport truck.
42CrMo4 / 1.7225 ➠ Toolox 44
EXPERIENCE
Axles made from ⌀ 280 mm bars.
Axle trees hard-face welded and milled.
Less wear than previous solution.
Running since 2010.

62. Sprocket Wheels

63. Sprocket Wheels

64. Sprocket Wheels
DESCRIPTION
Sprocket wheels in steel plate painting line.
Wheels are scrapped when the teeth are worn out.
⌀ 680 mm L 180 mm
C 45 ➠ Toolox 33
EXPERIENCE
Triplex pinion was made with 3 plates of 80 mm
gas cut and machined.
Avoided long delivery time of cast material.
Better lifetime and high reliability.
Running since 2006.

65. Shot Blasting Ramp

66. Shot Blasting Ramp
DESCRIPTION
Shot blasting ramp in de-scaling system.
Water nozzles are positioned in the holes.
Entire ramp previously made from cast material.
Cast Material ➠ Toolox 44
EXPERIENCE
New design gives much longer life.
Toolox in most worn part of ramp
3770 mm x 250 mm x 70 mm
Flatness requirement and precise tolerances.
Easy maintenance with removable part.
First time installed 2008, remade in 2013.

67. Pinion

68. Pinion
DESCRIPTION
Pinion in cutting machine
Driving cutting machine by running against gear rack.
⌀ 80 mm L 61 mm
1.6582 / 34CrNiMo6 NITRIDED ➠ Toolox 33 NITRIDED
EXPERIENCE
Gas cut 70 mm plate, machined, nitrided.
Performing perfectly since 2006.

69. Saw Support

70. Saw Support
DESCRIPTION
Support sitting behind circular saw.
710 x 100 x 40 mm
Previous material short lifetime and difficult to
achieve small tolerances in manufacturing.
➠ Toolox 44 NITRIDED
EXPERIENCE
43 mm gas cut, machined, nitrided.
In use since 2006 with perfect result.

71. Boring Tool Support

72. Boring Tool Support
DESCRIPTION
Tool support for boring large holes.
Holes up to 1000 mm diameter.
Method gives closer tolerances and better
surfaces than normal milling.
Used Toolox due to availability.
➠ Toolox 33
EXPERIENCE
Component meets dimensional requirements.
Good result in usage.

73. Machine Frame

74. Machine Frame
DESCRIPTION
Machine frame of tensile testing equipment.
On average 700 specimens tested weekly.
Maximum load force reaches up to 95 ton.
C45 HARDENED, St52-2 ➠ Toolox 33
EXPERIENCE
Easy machining.
Much longer service life.
No cracking as compared to C45.
More resistant to deformations as compared to St52.
Sliding surface deformed only 5/100 mm in Toolox frame
after 1 year vs 16/100 mm in St52 after failure.

75. Vices

76. Vices
DESCRIPTION
Vices to clamp specimen in tensile testing.
Previous material failure due to cracking and wear.
1.2358 HT 55 HRC + NITRIDED ➠ Toolox 44 NITRIDED
EXPERIENCE
First test with Toolox 33.
Low lifetime due to plastic deformation.
Toolox 44 machined, textured, nitrided.
Much longer service life.
1.2358 need 24-28 pieces annually.
Toolox 44 need 6-8 pieces annually.

77. Hydraulic Cylinder

78. Hydraulic Cylinder
DESCRIPTION
Hydraulic cylinder in tensile testing machine.
Push shoes locking the steel test specimens.
Found in both upper and lower part of machine.
High demands on cylinders.
Extreme and repetitive forces.
C60, C45 HT 63 HRC ➠ Toolox 44 NITRIDED
EXPERIENCE
Milled, turned, grinded, nitrided.
Since 2005 working perfectly.
Failure of regular C60 due to low strength.
Failure of heat treated C45 due to cracking.

79. Tensile Jaw

80. Tensile Jaw
DESCRIPTION
Tensile jaws in in tensile testing machine
Strong material needed due to high forces
➠ Toolox 44 NITRIDED
EXPERIENCE
Machined, textured, nitrided.
Longer lifetime than original material.

81. Fixture

82. Fixture
DESCRIPTION
Fixture used to hold and prepare samples.
Strong and tough material required.
Guarantee tolerances and avoid cracks.
➠ Toolox 44 NITRIDED
EXPERIENCE
Gas cut, machined, nitrided.
Works perfectly since 2007.

83. Fixture

84. Fixture
DESCRIPTION
Fixture to clamp work-piece in circular saw
100 x 30 x 17.3 mm
1.2311 NITRIDED, Hardox 500 ➠ Toolox 44 NITRIDED
EXPERIENCE
Gas cut, strips sawed, machined and nitrided.
In operation since 2007 with perfect result.

85. Rail Connection

86. Rail Connection
DESCRIPTION
Rail connection in harbour crane.
Every crane wheel pass local deformation.
1000 cycles / day.
Previous material lifetime one year.
St52-3 / 1.0570 ➠ Toolox 33
EXPERIENCE
70 mm plate cut and machined.
Much longer lifetime.
Now can replace rail and connection at same time.