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Tool Steel Bar/Plate Selection Guide
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A-2
A-6
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H-13
L-6
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O-6
S-5
S-7
DC-53
S-1
Viscount - 44
P-20
W-2
T420 ESR
M-2
M-3
M-4
M-42
T-15
AISI - A2
An air-hardening tool steel containing five percent chromium. Replaces the oil hardening (O1 type) when safer hardening, less distortion and increased wear-resistance are required. Provides an intermediate grade between the oil hardening and the high carbon, high chromium (D2) types.
AISI A6
A6 is an air-hardening, non-deforming tool steel that combines the deep hardening characteristics of air-hardening steels with the simplicity of low temperature heat treatment possible in many of the oil-hardening grades.
AISI D2
D2 is an air-hardening, high carbon, high chromium tool steel with extremely high wear resisting properties. It is a very deep hardening steel and will be practically free from size change after proper treatment. The high percentage of chromium gives it mild corrosion-resisting properties in the hardened condition.
AISI H13
H13 is a 5% chromium hot work tool steel designed for applications that require extreme toughness combined with good red-hardness. H13 will allow an extra margin of safety in tools subject to heavy hammer blows, and those containing deep recesses or sharp corners. Although H13 was designed as a hot work steel, it has solved many cold work applications where extra toughness could be gained with some sacrifice of wear resistance.
AISI L6
L6 is a tough, oil-hardening tool steel possessing a fine-grained structure and desirable shock resistance. L6 is also associated with high strength and good non-deforming characteristics.
AISI O1
O1 is an oil-hardening, non-deforming tool steel which can be hardened at relatively low temperatures. Tools and dies made from O1 will have good wearing qualities since the tungsten and higher chromium content gives improved wear resistance over the straight manganese grades.
AISI O6
O6 is an oil-hardening cold work steel which has outstanding machinability resulting from small particles of graphitic carbon uniformly distributed throughout the steel. These particles increase resistance to wear and galling in service. For an oil-hardening steel, 06 holds size well during heat treating.
AISI S5
S5 is an oil-hardening silicon-manganese steel of medium carbon content especially adapted for punches, shear blades, chisels, and other shock resisting applications. S5 is therefore applicable where the properties of silicon-manganese steels are desired in combination with well-known advantages of oil-hardening steels. A reduced tendency to distort or crack in heat treatment is accordingly combined with high toughness in S5.
AISI S7
AISI S7 is a general purpose air-hardening tool steel with high impact and shock resistance. It has good resistance to softening at moderately high temperatures. This combination of properties makes it suitable for many hot work and cold work applications. Excellent combination of high strength and toughness. Useful in moderate hot work as well as cold work work tooling. Added size stability when air hardened.
DC53
DC53 is a general purpose, cold work die and mold steel whose strength and toughness approach those of high-speed steels.
AISI S1
AISI S1 is a medium carbon tool steel containing tungsten, chromium and vanadium. The beneficial effects of these alloys are well known and, when added to steel of this Carbon content in a properly balanced proportion, they impart an excellent combination of moderate hardness and high toughness. S1 is easy to heat treat and can be oil quenched from a wide temperature range. When the steel is oil quenched, it shows little tendency to move or distort. Occasionally a tool steel is required that has a very high toughness value and at the same time a surface of near file hardness. For such applications, S1 can be carburized to produce a wear-resisting surface without loss of the high strength and high toughness of the core. Carburized S1 has solved some intricate tool steel problems when no other type of tool steel would prove satisfactory. Since S1 combines to a good degree both toughness and hardness, it is adapted to wide use. It is excellent for chisels, punches, and pneumatic tools; certain types of hot working dies such as square heading dies for bolts; and for upset dies and dies which are subjected to shock and water cooling.
VISCOUNT 44® (Prehardened AISI Type H13 Typical Analysis)
Viscount 44® is fully heat treated H13 hot work steel with carefully controlled and evenly dispersed sulphide additives. It is the same analysis type as Latrobe's popular VDC, but the free-machining sulphides improve the machinability to the point where die work at a hardness of Rockwell C 42-46 is practical. It is thus possible to bypass the risk of heat treatment involved in tool building.
AISI P20 Prehardened
P20 is a chrome-moly tool steel made specifically to fill the requirements for the machined cavities and forces used in zinc die casting and plastic molding. It is delivered fully quenched and tempered to approximately Brinell 300. Other hardness levels may be obtained through additional heat treatment. P20 composition and structure provide excellent machining and polishing characteristics.
AISI W2
W2 is a shallow hardening tool steel. Due to its vanadium content, the grain is superior in toughness and resistance to fatigue compared to straight carbon tool steels thereby making it desirable for many types of impact tools.
AISI T420 STAINLESS ESR
AISI T420 ESR is an air or oil hardening mold steel having superior internal steel cleanliness combined with good resistance to corrosion. It is suitable for mold applications and is capable of providing an excellent polished surface. A special re-melting process called Electro Slag Refining or ESR provides a 420 type steel with the very low inclusion content required by mold makers who polish mold surfaces.
AISI M2
M2 is a tungsten-molybdenum high-speed steel and is a popular grade for general purpose cutting and non-cutting applications. It has a wider heat-treating range than most of the molybdenum high-speed steels, coupled with a resistance to decarburization that is characteristic of tungsten types. M2 offers an excellent combination of red hardness, toughness, and wear resistance. M2 is available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. As with all Alro Specialty Metal products, M2 is subjected to a variety of rigid quality control tests and inspection to ensure quality, uniformity, and reliability.
AISI M3
M3 was developed after extensive studies of the effect of increased carbon and vanadium contents on the intermediate molybdenum-tungsten high-speed steels. The analysis was tried and proven on practically all high-speed steel applications. M3 offers the unusual combination of extremely high-edge strength at high hardness levels. With few exceptions, best life is accomplished with a minimum hardness of 65.5 Rockwell C. Experience indicates that the chemical balance achieved in M3 results in optimum combination of cutting ability, abrasion resistance, edge strength, red hardness, and long service life. M3 is more readily machined and offers less grinding resistance than higher vanadium types.
AISI M4 (PM)
M4 PM, a member of the molybdenum-tungsten family of high-speed steels, is a special purpose grade which utilizes its higher carbon and vanadium contents to develop excellent abrasion resistance. Produced conventionally, M4 is difficult to machine in the annealed condition and grind in the hardened condition. M4 PM is produced by the powder metallurgy process and allows an addition of .06/.08 sulfur which provides a uniform dispersion of small sulfides throughout the structure and enhances machinability. Coupled with finer carbides and structural uniformity, better grindability is also achieved. These factors, along with increased toughness, are ideally suited for heavy-duty cold-work applications.
AISI M42
M42 is a molybdenum-cobalt high-speed steel capable of being hardened to 70 Rockwell C. The carbon content is higher than in most high-speed steels, and with this balanced composition, contributes to wear resistance and hot hardness as well as the high hardness capability. M42 exhibits good grindability and relatively good toughness at high hardness levels. M42 is being used for the machining of heat treated materials (high hardness) and high temperature alloys.
AISI T15 (PM)
T15 PM is a tungsten high-speed steel designed for use in machining operations requiring heavy cuts, high speeds and feeds. Its primary use is in applications requiring the machining of high-hardness heat-treated materials such as high temperature alloys. The high carbon, vanadium, and cobalt contents contribute to good wear resistance, hot hardness and good hardness capabilities. T15 PM is produced by the powder metallurgy process which has resulted in improved quality from the standpoint of structural uniformity, response to heat treatment and grindability. These factors, along with increased toughness, are increased usage in the industry because of its recognized superior cutting ability.