High Speed Steel
The term “high speed steel” was derived from the fact that it is capable of cutting meta at a much hight rate than carbon tool steel and continues to cut and retain its hardness even when the point of the tool is heated to a low red temperature. Ungsten is the major alloying element but it is also combined with molybdenum, vanadium and cobalt in varying amounts. Although replaced by cemented carbides for many applications it is still widely used for the manufacture of taps, dies, twist drills, reamers, saw blades and other cutting tools.
