Toolox® engineering & tool steel can reduce the environmental impact compared to a conventional tool steel. This applies to practically all stages in the manufacturing process, from processing to having the end product in operation.
Prehardening is a great starting point
Toolox® is a prehardened steel which has already undergone hardening and tempering during manufacturing. This eliminates the need for additional heat treatment, which is a highly energy-intensive process involving furnaces that consume large amounts of electricity or gas. No heat treatment also means fewer transports to outside workshops, further reducing fuel consumption and associated emissions.
A stable steel cuts down on material waste
The prehardening process for Toolox® takes place in a tightly controlled environment, leading to excellent dimensional stability. Even after heavy machining the steel shows hardly any distortion, reducing scrap and the need for additional machining to reach correct dimensions, lowering energy use in workshop operations.
“The gear racks we made were absolutely straight: 0.004 mm sidewise deflection and 0.136 mm longitudinal deflection on 1.8 m measuring length!” Tommy Petterson, Stena Stål.
Less chemical treatments
Traditional tool steels often require various chemical processes like carburizing or nitriding during or after heat treatment to achieve the desired surface hardness or wear resistance. With a prehardened steel it is possible to bypass these steps. The benefits of reducing the use of chemicals are less environmental hazards associated with chemical waste disposal and production.
Less is more
Toolox® steel is designed to withstand wear and tear, improving the life span of tools or finished products. Longer-lasting tools or parts need less replacements, which in turn lowers the demand for new materials and the environmental footprint of steel production over time.
An environmental summary
Toolox® steel can be a better environmental option by optimizing energy and material use, reducing emissions, cutting down on waste, and extending the life cycle of tools or parts. These benefits contribute to a lower environmental impact from purchase to final product.
*The potential environmental benefits from using Toolox® steel are given in relation to other steels which don’t have the specific technical properties that Toolox® possess, and always depend on the individual use case. As a producer of Toolox®, SSAB cannot assume any responsibility for environmental consequences that are outside of our control.