Introduction
AISI A2 Tool Steel Bar, with maximum dimensional stability during heat treatment, offering high abrasion resistance and good toughness. Generally supplied annealed to HB 231 max. A2 tool steel is an air hardening, cold work tool steel. A 5% Chromium steel which provides high hardness after heat treatment with good dimensional stability. It is heat treatable and will offer a hardness in the range 57-62 HRC.
Applications
AISI A2 tool steel takes a place in tool steel range between AISI O1 tool steel and AISI D2 tool steel, offering an excellent combination of good wear resistance and toughness. It may be regarded, therefore, as a "universal" cold work tool steel.
For cutting operations the good toughness of AISI A2 tool steel gives excellent resistance to chipping of the cutting edge. In many cases tools made from this steel have given better tooling economy than high-carbon, high-chromium steels of the D3/W.-Nr. 1.2080 type.
AISI A2 tool steel has much better machining and grinding properties.It can be used to make Bending Dies, Blanking Dies, Block Gauges, Cams, Coining Dies, Cold Forming Dies, Cold Shears, Cold Trimming Dies, Forming Dies, Knurls, Machine Parts, Mandrels, Plastic Mold Dies, Punch Plates, Punchers, Reamers, Ring Gauges, Roll Threading Dies, Rolls, Shear Blades, Slitters, Stamping Dies, Threading Taps, Trimming Dies, etc.
Quality Standard
ASTM A681 - 08 Standard Specification for Tool Steels Alloy.
All Grades Comparison
ASTM A681 |
Werkstoff |
BS 4659 |
BS EN ISO 4957 |
AFNOR |
AS |
JIS G4404 |
| A2 |
1.2363/X100CrMoV5 |
BA2 |
X100CrMoV 5 |
Z 100 CDV 5 |
A2A |
SKD 12 |
Chemical Composition(%)
C |
Si |
Mn |
P |
S |
Cr |
Mo |
V |
| 0.95-1.05 |
0.10-0.50 |
0.40-1.00 |
0.030 max |
0.030 max |
4.75-5.50 |
0.90-1.40 |
0.15-0.50 |
Typical Hardness/Applications-Air cooled at 930°C-970°C & tempered
Temper (°C) |
Hardness (HRC) |
Typical Applications |
| 150 |
62-63 |
Brick mould liners, gauges, guide pins, thread rolling dies |
| 150 |
61-63 |
Blanking and bending dies, forming rolls |
| 200 |
60-62 |
Crimping, cold heading and coining dies, paper slitters |
| 200 |
58-62 |
Forming tools and roller guide rolls, hobbing punches |
| 250 |
58-60 |
Gripper and trimming dies, cold shear blades |
| 250 |
57-60 |
Cold forging dies, coining dies, knives |
| 400 |
56-58 |
Shear blades, wire drawing grips |
| 550 |
54-56 |
Parts requiring maximum toughness |
HEAT TREATMENT
Forging: Heat slowly to 700°C then more rapidly to 1050-1100°C. Avoid working below 900°C. Reheat as often as necessary to maintain proper forging temperature. After forging cool very slowly. Heat slowly and uniformly. Cool in vermiculite or in other insulating media. Anneal after forging.
Annealing: Soak thoroughly at 840-850°C, then slow furnace cool at a rate of not more than 20°C per hour. After annealing A2 tool steel a maximum hardness of 215 Brinell may be achieved.Protect against surface decarburization using controlled atmosphere or by pack-annealing.
Hardening: Pre heat slowly to 600-700°C and soak. Continue heating to the final hardening temperature of 950/980°C and allow the component to equalise. Quench in oil or cool in air.Temper immediately after hardening. Allow to cool to 125-150° F before tempering. Soak time is 15 minutes per inch of thickness. Minimum of 30 minutes.
Tempering: Heat uniformly and thoroughly to the desired temperature and hold for 25 minutes per cm of thickness. A2 tool steel can be double tempering, after intermediate cooling to room temperature. Temper at 200°C for a balance of hardness and strength or 350°C where strength is more important than hardness.Complete equalization of temperature throughout the tools is essential for good results. Double temper. Recommended temperature is 400-1000° F.
Mill′s test certificate
EN 10204/3.1 with all relevant data reg. chem. composition, mech. properties and results of testing.
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