A-2 is an air-hardening die steel with excellent
non-deforming properties. Typical analysis is shown in the chart below:
Carbon
Silicon
Manganese
Chromium
Molybdenum
Vanadium
1%
0.2%
0.6%
5.3%
1.1%
0.2%
A-2 is used in applications requiring toughness, wear
resistance and machinablility.Typical applications
are
Blanking Dies
Forming Dies
Coining Dies
Cams
Drawing Dies
Gages
Plastic Molds
Slitting cutters
Heat Treatment
Forging:
Heat slowly to 1800º - 2000º F
Allow steel to heat through before forging.
DO NOT hot work A-2 below 1500 F.
After forging, allow A-2 to cool slowly, buried in
ashes, lime, etc.
Anneal as soon as possible.
Annealing:
Slowly heat A-2 to 1500º - 1600º
Allow to cool at rate no greater than 50º/hour while
in temp range of 1450ºF and 1300ºF.
Surface protection - pack in tubes/containers with
cinders, spent carburizing compound, or other slightly carbonaceous substance.
Annealed hardness ranges between 202 - 248 Brinell.
Hardening:
Pre-heat slowly to 1300ºF - 1400ºF, then increase
heat more rapidly to hardening temperature of 1700ºF-1800ºF (best results obtained at
higher end of hardening range).
Hold steel at hardening temperature until workpiece is
thoroughly heated through.
Surface protection: pack hardening or controlled atmosphere
furnaces (Pack mat'l should be slightly carbonaceous; furnace atmosphere should be at
least 10% CO).
Cool to room temp or in dry, mild air blast.
Full hardness: - Salt pack: quench piece into salt at 1000ºF- 1100ºF and air-cool. - Oil quench piece until almost black and air cool.
As-hardened hardness should be about 63-65 Rockwell C.
Tempering:
For tools intended for working on medium to light gage
material, normal tempering temperatures vary from 300ºF to 500ºF.Double tempering
treatment at 900ºF-1000ºF is recommended, particularly for tools to be subject to shock.
Allow 1 hour per inch of thickness, but not less than 1 hour for very thin sections.
Sub-Zero Treatment:
More complete austenite transformation can be achieved
by chilling workpiece to -60ºF after cooling from hardening temperature.
Hardness: 66-68 Rc
Dimensional change: expansion of .003" per inch
Re-tempering: at 300ºF, steel hardness of approx. 65
Rc is produced; at 400ºF, a hardness of approx. 64 Rc.
Physical & Mechanical
Properties:
Density, lb. per cu in: .2825
Specific gravity 7.82
Critical points:
Heating (Ac) 100º/hr - begins 1427ºF; ends 1481ºF
Cooling (Ar) 50º/hr - begins 1373ºF; ends 1328ºF
Mean Thermal Coefficient of
Expansion
Range
Coefficient x 10-6
Range
Coefficient x 10-6
ºF
in./in./ºF
ºF
in./in./ºF
70S200
6.54
70S900
7.65
70S300
6.74
70S1000
7.74
70S400
6.82
70S1100
7.81
70S500
6.87
70S1200
7.92
70S600
7.17
70S1300
8.05
70S700
7.38
70S1400
8.08
70S800
7.47
70S1427
8.09
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For More Information please call or fax us at
800-654-2901 (fax) 860-684-6354
Send mail to: sales@nessteel.com with questions or comments about this web
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Last modified: March 22, 1999
