Tool Steels / 557

Al0
Chemical Composition. AH: Nommal. I .3S C. I .X0 hln. I.25 Si. Annealing. Heat slog I) and unifomti) to 76s to 795 C. (I410 to 1360
I.80 Ni. I.50 hlo. AISI/UNS (T30110): I.25 to I.50 C. I 60 to 2.10 hln. F). After waking adsquntel, for section size. restrict cooling to a maxi-
1.0010 l.SO Si. l.SS to 3.05 Ni. I.25 w l.7S hlo mum rate of IO C ( IS F) per h until 510 C (950 OF) is reached. after
M hich a faster rate may be used. T> pical annealed hardness, 235 to 269 HB.
Similar Steels (U.S. and/or Foreign). ASTM ;\68 I I A- 10,: FED For minimum hardness a second anneal can be used. Repeat the cycle using
QQ-T-S70 (A-IO) 730 C ( l3SO ;F) 3s the austenitiring temperature. An eight-step annealing
Characteristics. hlangunese air hardening bteel. Carbon and silicon qcle has been recommended. as follows:
hish enough to precipitate out some curhon in the grnphitis form. usualI>
approximateIF 0.3% carbon. hlcdium IO high in machinabilit!. Deep He31 IO 780 -C I I-l.15 FJ and hold for 2 h
hardening and among the lowest of tool ~elb in distortion in heat treating. Cool to S-IO C ( I OOOFI at 22 C c-lo F) per h
hlsdium in toughness and resistance to softening at elevated temperature. Air cool to room lemperature
high in wear resistance. and medium to high in resistance to decarhurizntion Rehsat IO 780 C ( l-135 F, and hold I h per inch of section
Cool to 680 C I 1255 F, at an) con\ enient rate
Forging. Hear slo\% I). Preheat at 650 to 675 -C I I X0 to I245 F). Sinrt Equalize at 680 C (I 2% F) for 2 h
forging at YXO to IOSO C ( I795 to 1920 FL Do not forge bslw 870 C Cool IO S IO C (9SO F) at a rate not to exceed 8 C ( IS F) per h
(IhOOF) Air cool to room temperature

Recommended Heat Treating Practice StreSS Relieving. Optional. Heat to 650 to 675 C (1200 to 1245 F)
and hold for I h per inch of cross section Iminimum of I h). Cool in air
Normalizing. Heat IO 7YO C (I455 FI. Holding time. after uniform
through heating. varies from npproximatel~ IS min. for small sections. to Hardening. Heat slot\ 1~. Preheat at 650 C ( 1200 F). austenitize at 790
approaimatclq I h. for lqe sections. Cool from temperature m still air to 8 IS C ( 1154 to I SO0 F). and hold ;I[ temperature for 30 min for small
558 / Heat Treaters Guide

tools to 60 min for large tools. Air cool as evenly as possible on all sides. tool to cool to room temperature before second temper. Range of hardness
particularly when cooling long flat dies. Typical quenched hardness. 62 IO after tempering. 62. IO 55 HRC
64 HRC

Stabilizing. Optional. Lou-temperature treatment may increase hard-

Recommended Processing Sequence
ness and improve dimensional stabilitj by reducing the amount of retained l Rough machine
austenite. particularly when temperatures at the upper end of the austenitir- l Stress relieve loptional)
ing range are used. It is safer and definitely recommended IO stress relieve l Finish machine
temper at I50 IO 160 C (300 IO 320 F) for a short period before refriger- l Preheat
ating to -85 C (-120 F), particularly for intricate shapes or tools having l Austenitize
abrupt changes in section size. Temper immediately after tool reaches room l Quench
temperature
l Stabilize (optional)
Tempering. Temper immediateI> at I75 to -US C (345 to 795 F) after l Temper/double temper
tool has cooled to SO to 66 C ( I20 to I SO F). Double temper. allowing l Final grind

AlO: Tempering Temperature vs Dimensional

Change. Dimensional changes by tempering A10
(a) after air cooling from 790 C (1455 F) and (b)
925 C (1695 F). Changes greater after quench-
ing from 925 C (1695 F) due to large amounts of
retained austenite. Specimen: 19.05 mm (0.750
in.) diam, 102 mm (4 in.) long
 Tool Steels / 559

AlO: Hardness and Retained Austenite vs Austenitizing

Temperature

AlO: Isothermal Transformation Diagram. Composition: 1.36

C, 1.84 Mn. 1.14 Si. 1.81 Ni, 0.15 Cr, 1.41 MO, 0.38 graphite.
Austenitized at temperatures listed