*Information Provided is General*
A-2 is an air-hardening tool and die steel. It is intermediate in abrasion resistance between D-2 and O-1 die steel. It possesses excellent non-deforming properties, is deep hardening, and has good toughness properties. Hardening happens between 1750 – 1800°F. A-2 is a 5% chromium air hardening die steel that is less expensive than high carbon-high chromium materials. Typical uses for this grade of material are blanking and forming punches, dies and rolls, slitting cutters, thread roller dies, trimmer dies (both cold and hot), plastic molding dies, straightening and bending dies and gages.
A-2 should be preheated at 1300 – 1400°F then transferred to a furnace at 1750 – 1800°F. Sizes over three inches (76.2mm) in smallest dimension may not achieve full hardness on air cooling, and usually it is necessary to speed up the cooling rate in the critical temperature range of 900 – 1400°F.
Temper as soon as pieces have cooled to room temperature and heat slowly to tempering temperature selected to obtain the hardness desired. For most applications, A-2 is tempered in the range of 350 – 500°F. Double tempering is desirable, particularly when a temperature of 900°F or higher is used.
A-2 is an oversized material.
Flats |
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Rounds |
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Hardening Temp.: 1750 through 1800ºF |
Quench Medium: Air Salt Bath Oil |
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Tempering Range: 400 through 650ºF |
Typical Hardness Level: 57 – 62 R/C |
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Preheat Forging: 1400 through 1500ºF |
Forging Temperature: 2000 through 2100ºF |
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Anneal Temperature: 1600ºF |
Anneal cooling method: Furnace cool to 1000ºF at 100ºF per hr., then air cool |
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Anneal Hardness: 235 BHN |
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A-2 Material in Stock |
Color code: YELLOW |
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Flat Dimensions: |
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Round Dimensions |
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A-2 Typical Analysis |
· Slight variations from typical analysis shown may occur in order to maintain the desired graphitizing potential. |