Tool Steels by Yu. Geller

Posted on October 4, 2026 by The Mitr

This is a fundamental and comprehensive reference book on tool steels.

It discusses in great detail the composition and properties of numerous grades of tool steels manufactured in the USSR and other countries for making cutting tools, hot- and cold-forming dies, measuring instruments, surgical tools, etc.

The first Russian edition of the book was published in 1945. Since then, it has undergone four revised and renewed editions (1955, 1961, 1968, and 1975), each updated by the author to reflect advancements in the field. Recommended as a textbook for higher education students and a reference book for engineers, this work has established itself as an invaluable resource.

The present English edition has been specially prepared by the author to include the latest materials published in the USSR and other countries since the last Russian edition.

The late Prof. Yu. A. Geller, Dr. Sc. (Eng.), was a prominent specialist in the field of materials science. For over 20 years, he served as the Head of the Chair of Materials Science and Heat Treatment of Metals at the Moscow Institute of Machine Tools. His teaching and research career in the field spanned more than 40 years.

Prof. Geller’s published works include approximately 280 articles and eight monographs and textbooks. Among his notable works is The Science of Materials (co-authored with Prof. A. G. Rakhstadt), which was recently translated into English by Mir Publishers. Many of his articles were published internationally, including in the USA, Great Britain, France, and other countries.

Translated from the Russian by V. V. Afanasyev

You can get the book here and here

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CONTENTS

Preface to the English Edition

Part One
Structures and Properties of Tool Steels

Chapter 1. Characteristics, Classification and Compositions of Tool Steels

  1. General Characteristics of Tool Steels
  2. Classification by Properties
  3. Classification by Application
  4. Compositions of Tool Steels
  5. Effect of Steelmaking Conditions on Properties of Tool Steels

Chapter 2. Properties of Tool Steels
6. Durability Properties
A. Principal Properties of Tool Steels
7. Requirements for the Properties of Tool Steels
8. Hardness
9. Resistance to Plastic Deformation
10. Strength. Brittle Fracture Resistance
11. Fatigue Fracture Resistance
12. Toughness. Resistance to Dynamic Loads
13. Thermal Stability (Red Hardness)
14. Thermal Fatigue Resistance
15. Physical Properties (Heat Conductivity, Thermal Expansion, Coefficient of Friction, Adhesion)
16. Chemical Properties. Interaction with Worked Material
17. Wear Resistance
18. Hardenability
B. Technological Properties of Tool Steels
19. Workability
20. Overheating Resistance
21. Resistance to Decarbonization, Oxidation and Deterioration of Surface Layer
22. Hardening Capacity
23. Deformation of Tools
24. Cracking Resistance
25. Machinability and Grindability

Chapter 3. The Structure of Tool Steels. Methods of Analysis
26. As-Annealed Steel. Pearlite
27. α → γ Phase Transformation
28. Effect of Martensite on Steel Properties
29. Grain in Steels
30. Carbide Phases
31. Intermetallic Phases
32. Residual Austenite
33. Graphite in Tool Steels

Part Two
Composition and Heat Treatment of Tool Steels

Chapter 4. Non-Thermostable Steels of High Hardness
A. Composition and Properties
34. Typical Properties
35. Alloying
36. Steels of Low Hardenability
37. Steels of Elevated Hardenability
38. Steels of High Hardenability
B. Hot Mechanical Treatment and Heat Treatment
39. As-Received Steels
40. Heating Conditions for Hot Forming
41. Homogenizing, Annealing and High-Heat Tempering
42. Preliminary Hardening and Tempering
43. Hardening
44. Induction Hardening
45. Sub-Zero Treatment (Cryogenic Quenching)
46. Steel Tempering
47. Thermomechanical Treatment
48. Heat Treatment of Large and Shaped Tools
49. Defects of Heat Treatment and Their Prevention

Chapter 5. Non-Thermostable Steels of Elevated Toughness
50. Composition and Properties. Alloying
51. Steels of Low Hardenability
52. Steels of Elevated Hardenability
53. As-Received Steels
54. Thermal Conditions for Hot Forming
55. Annealing, High-Heat Tempering and Preliminary Hardening
56. Hardening
57. Thermomechanical Treatment
58. Tempering
59. Heat Treatment of Shanked Tools

Chapter 6. Semi-Thermostable Steels of High Hardness
60. Composition and Properties. Alloying
61. Steels of Increased and High Wear Resistance
62. Corrosion-Resistant Steels
63. Temperatures for Hot Forming
64. Heat Treatment of Semi-Thermostable Steels

Chapter 7. Semi-Thermostable Steels of Elevated Toughness
65. Composition and Properties. Alloying
66. Steels Retaining a High Strength at Temperatures up to 350–375 °C
67. Steels Retaining a High Strength at Temperatures up to 400–450 °C
68. Hot Mechanical Working
69. Heat Treatment

Chapter 8. Carbide-Strengthened Thermostable Steels of High Hardness
70. Composition and Properties. Alloying
A. Phase Composition, Structure and Transformations in Carbide-Strengthened Steels
71. Phase Composition
72. The Structure of Cast, Deformed and Annealed Steel
73. Transformations on Heating. Their Effect on Steel Structure and Properties
74. Transformations on Cooling. Their Effect on Steel Structure and Properties
75. The Structure and Properties of Tempered Steel
B. High-Speed Steels of Moderate Thermal Stability
76. Tungsten Steels
77. Tungsten-Molybdenum and Molybdenum Steels
C. High-Speed Steels of Elevated Thermal Stability
78. High-Carbon Steels
79. Nitrogen-Alloyed Steels
80. High-Vanadium Steels
81. Cobalt Steels
82. Steels of Reduced Thermal Stability
D. Steels in Cast Tools
83. Composition and Applications
E. Hot Mechanical Treatment and Heat Treatment
84. High-Speed Steels as Delivered
85. Hot and Low-Temperature Working
86. Homogenizing Treatment
87. Annealing
88. Preliminary Hardening and Tempering
89. Hardening
90. Induction Hardening
91. Tempering
92. Thermomechanical Treatment
93. Treatment of Welded and Tipped Tools
94. Faults in Heat Treatment and Their Prevention

Chapter 9. Intermetallic-Strengthened Thermostable Steels of High Hardness
95. Structure and Properties
96. Steels of High Thermal Stability
97. Steel of Elevated Thermal Stability
98. Corrosion-Resistant Steel of Reduced Thermal Stability
99. Hardening Conditions for Intermetallic-Strengthened Steels

Chapter 10. Thermostable Steels of Elevated Toughness. Die Steels
100. Composition and Properties. Alloying
A. Die Steels of Moderate Thermal Stability
101. Carbide-Strengthened Steels
102. Intermetallic-Strengthened (Maraging) Steels
B. Die Steels of Elevated Thermal Stability
103. Carbide-Strengthened Steels
104. Corrosion-Resistant Steels
C. Die Steels of High Thermal Stability
105. Properties and Applications
D. Hot Working and Heat Treatment, Cast Dies
106. As-Delivered Steels; Conditions for Hot Working and Heat Treatment
107. Defects of Heat Treatment and Their Prevention
E. Steels and Alloys for Operation at High Temperatures
108. Intermetallic-Strengthened Austenitic Steels and Alloys
109. Alloys of Refractory and Other Metals

Chapter 11. Surface Layer of Tools. Defects and Improvement
A. Methods for Improvement of Surface Layer
110. Low-Temperature Cyaniding
111. Nitriding and Nitrocementation
112. Sulphocyaniding and Sulphonitriding
113. Oxidation
114. Cementation and High-Temperature Cyaniding
115. Bonding
116. Chromizing
117. Electrolytic (Galvanic) Chrome-Plating
118. Precipitation of Titanium Carbides
119. Welding-On of Tools
B. Defects of Surface Layers
120. Decarbonized Layer
121. Bright Layer
122. Dark (Burnt) Layer

Part Three
Selection of Tool Steels and Their Heat Treatment

Chapter 12. Selection of Steel Composition and Heat Treatment for Cutting Tools
123. Steels for Metal-Cutting Tools
124. Steels for Machining Organic Materials

Chapter 13. Selection of Steel Composition and Heat Treatment for Cold-Forming Tools
125. Requirements for Steels for Cold-Forming Tools
126. Steels for Die-Forging and Knurling Die Tools
127. Steels for Cold Forming of Sheet and Wire
128. Steels for Pneumatic Tools and Chisels

Chapter 14. Selection of Steel Composition and Heat Treatment for Hot-Forming Tools
129. Requirements for Steels for Hot-Forming Tools
130. Steels for Hammer Dies and Heading Dies
131. Steels for Pressing, Piercing and Drawing Dies
132. Steels for Knurling Tools
133. Steels for Cutters and Saws for Hot Cutting

Chapter 15. Selection of Steel Composition and Heat Treatment for Moulds for Pressure Casting, Liquid-Metal Stamping and Pressing
134. Steels for Moulds for Pressure Casting and Liquid-Metal Stamping
135. Mould Steels for Casting Inorganic Materials
136. Mould Steels for Pressing Plastics

Chapter 16. Selection of Steel Composition and Heat Treatment for Precision Tools
137. Requirements to Be Met by Steels. Heat Treatment
138. Steels for Measuring Instruments
139. Steels for Cutting Tools

References

Name and Subject Index

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