Toughness
In most cases, tools are subject to mechanical impact and repeated demands.
To avoid early ruptures and brittleness, the tool must possess certain toughness.
Toughness is a complex property which lies on many factors. Firstly, it is inversely proportional to hardness and tempering depth. Besides, there are certain factors relative to steel manufacturing which have substantial influence on toughness, such as lack of non-metallic inclusions, grain size and the correct dosage of elements that improve the matrix’s toughness, such as Nickel and Manganese. V, W, Mo and Cr have a favourable effect on toughness, due to their influence on grain refinement.
