High Speed Steels are high-alloy, W-Mo-V-Co bearing steels designed to cut other materials efficiently at high speeds, and must stand up to the extreme heat generated at the tool's cutting edge. This heat can reach 1000F and more depending on cutting conditions, coolants used and other operational factors.

To provide good cutting tool performance, all high speed steel must have some common basic characteristics:

High attainable hardness - usually a minimum attainable hardness of HRC 63. Typical cutting tools may be HRC 64/68, depending on grade & application. High carbon, along with elements to promote strong secondary hardness (W, Mo), are common to all high speed steels for this purpose.

High hardness at elevated temperatures - This involves both red hardness (the ability to stay hard at elevated temperature during cutting) and temper resistance (the ability to resist permanent softening over time due to high temperature exposure). The W and/or Mo contents of high speed steels promote these properties, and cobalt enhances it further when needed.

High wear resistance - to promote edge retention during cutting. Constant abrasion wears away tool surfaces. The high volumes of wear-resistant carbides in high speed steel microstructures aids in resisting this abrasion.

Sufficient impact toughness - to handle interrupted cutting applications, to avoid chipping during cutting, and to avoid breakage in fragile tools. High speed steels are notably tougher than carbide or ceramic materials. CPM-produced high speed steels offer the ultimate in impact resistance for cutting tools.

This section includes a selection of CPM (Crucible Particle Metallurgy) high speed steels commonly used for high performance long run applications. These CPM grades offer enhanced wear resistance resulting in exceptional tool life with improved toughness. They are the most wear resistant high speed steels available.