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A-2 Air Hardening Tool Steel
A-2 is an air hardening chromium-molybdenum-vanadium alloy die steel. This grade offers intermediate abrasion resistance generally between O-1 and D-2. A-2 is characterized by: - Good wear resistance - Good machinability - High compressive strength - Very good non-deforming properties - Deep hardening - High dimensional stability after hardening and tempering
Analysis:
| C | CO | CR | MN | MO | NI | P | S | SI | V | W |
|---|
| 0.95 - 1.05 | 4.75 - 5.50 | 0.40 - 1.00 | 0.90 - 1.40 | 0.10 - 0.50 | 0.15 - 0.50 |
Size Availability:
Flats • Hollowbar • Metric • Non-Standard • Rounds • Squares • StandardApplications:
| 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 |
Designations:
A-2 Air Hardening Tool Steel - USKrovan AISI A-2 Air Hardening Tool Steel - US
AFNOR Z 100 CDV 5 - France
DIN 1.2363 - Germany
JIS SKD 12 - Japan
SS 2260 - Sweden
B.S. BA 2 - United Kingdom
ASTM A681 - US
FED QQ-T-570 - US
SAE J437 - US
SAE J438 - US
UNS T30102 - US
AISI A2 Cold Work Tool Steel - US
| Treatment | Temperature Range | Cooling/Quenching | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forging | 2000-2100° F | Cool Slowly | Heat slowly and uniformly. Cool in vermiculite or in other insulating media. Anneal after forging. |
| Annealing | 1545-1580° F | Cool slowly at a rate of 25° F per hour to 1110° F. | Protect against surface decarburization using controlled atmosphere or by pack-annealing. |
| Stress Relieving | 1020-1200° F | Cool slowly in furnace to 950° F. Then in air. | Stress relieve after rough machining |
| Preheating | 1450-1500° F | Preheat time in furnace is ¾ Hr. per inch of thickness. Heating up to temperature as slow as possible. | |
| Hardening | 1700-1800° F | 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 | Complete equalization of temperature throughout the tools is essential for good results. Double temper. Recommended temperature is 400-1000° F. |