Threading Tap Materials: Traits and Capabilities

Metallurgists have worked for over 160 years in developing more resilient metals for threading difficult-to-machine materials. Nowadays, the amount of different raw materials available to manufacture threading taps is exceptional. This is a necessity since there’s no one material that’s suitable for threading all types of matter.

The major metals used to make threading taps include:

High-speed steel taps
Solid carbide taps
Regal’s SuperTuf particle metal taps

In addition to the tap material, taps can now utilize special coatings and tip configurations for even more customization options, depending on your specific needs and application.

Learn about which material best suits your working conditions and how to get the most out of your investment in threading taps.

High-Speed Steel Taps

High-speed steel (HSS) has remained a popular tap material for decades because it can maintain its integrity while threading, despite high temperatures and vibration. Various types of high-speed steel exist, but the main “ingredients” include high carbon tool steel, tungsten, chromium, vanadium, and iron.

High-speed steel taps are best for threading relatively soft metals, such as:

Alloy Steel
Cast Iron
Copper
Magnesium

For cutting cast iron or other ductile material, HSS can be treated with nitride/oxide, which helps the tap resist abrasion. Other coatings, such as titanium nitride (or aluminum titanium nitride ), can also increase a tap’s durability.

Solid Carbide Taps

The term “carbide” is short for “tungsten carbide,” which is a type of steel made from carbon atoms and tungsten. Solid carbide is much denser than steel and has a high resistance to friction and heat.
Although resistant to an abrasive material, solid carbide tends to be brittle and doesn’t withstand vibrations as well as other tap materials. For that reason, solid carbide taps should be used only with modern, high-speed cutting equipment that has minimal vibration while operating.

Although solid carbide is more expensive than high-speed steel, keep in mind that it’s ultra-durable and capable of maintaining a sharp cutting edge much longer than HSS. Using solid carbide means you’ll go through fewer taps and spend less time changing out taps.
Consider threading taps made from solid carbide if you need taps to:

Withstand much higher temperatures than steel
Run at a much higher cutting speed than steel
Produce cleaner and smoother edges than steel

Solid carbide taps can thread many different types of material:

Alloy Steel
Aluminum
Brass
Carbon steels
Cast iron
Copper
Hardened steel
Inconel
Nickel (and other hard alloys)
Sintered materials
Stainless steel
Titanium

SuperTuf Particle Metal Taps

SuperTuf particle metal was created by in-house research and development specialist, who combined HSSE particle metals with super microparticle metals. Taps made from SuperTuf exhibit excellent hardness, heat absorption, and abrasion resistance.

SuperTuf threading taps can cut through difficult-to-machine material, such as:

Austenitic/martensitic/duplexing stainless steel
Commercially pure alpha/beta titanium alloys
Medium and high carbon steels
Nickel chrome alloys
Nickel-copper
Precipitation hardening stainless steel

Carbo-Clad Carbide Tipped

The term “carbo-clad” refers to tap material that has strips of carbide brazed into the steel body of the tap. These taps are highly durable due to the carbide, while the steel provides greater torsional strength. The resulting tap has better shock absorbency than solid carbide.
Taps that are carbo-clad carbide tipped work very well on hard, nonferrous materials like aluminum, bronze, cast iron, and hard copper. However, they are not recommended for threading taps in steel.

The Right Tap for the Job

Overall, choosing a tap material is straightforward once you know all of the factors. Besides the material being tapped, you’ll also want to consider:

Equipment being used
Production speed
Tap design (thread angle, thread height, pitch, etc.)

Regal Cutting Tools has over 60 years of experience in designing and manufacturing taps. For help in choosing the right tap, with the right material, at the right price, you can ask a question or contact our service team. If you already know what you need, you can call us at 844-535-7284 or Request a Quote.