HEAT TREATMENT

FORGING
Commence at 1000^oC. Re-heat as necessary to avoid working below 800^oC.

ANNEALING
Soak thoroughly at 750/760^oC. Cool in furnace not faster than 20^oC per hour.

STRESS RELIEVING
Heat uniformly to 625^oC max. Allow to equalise and remove from furnace. Cool in still air to room temperature.

HARDENING & TEMPERING
Thoroughly warm Tools or Components before charging

HEATING & SOAKING
(a) Salt Bath Procedure
Charge Tools into Pre-heater chamber at 300/400^oC and soak thoroughly up to 1 hour per inch of ruling section. Remove to Neutral Salt Bath operating at 800/810^oC and maintain for 15 minutes at temperature or 10 minutes per inch of ruling section (whichever is the greater). (Very large sections required to have maximum hardness may be heated at 820^oC.
(b) Open Furnace Procedure
Charge Tools into muffle furnace working at 300/400^oC and soak thoroughly, preferably 1 hour per inch of ruling section. Raise heat uniformly to 800/810^oC and maintain at this temperature for 10/20 minutes according to size. (Very large sections required to have maximum hardness may be heated to 820^oC).

QUENCHING
(1) Quench in oil - ALTERNATIVELY
(2) Quench in Martempering Salt Bath at 200/250^oC. Allow to equalise and cool in still air. Tools should be tempered immediately whilst still hand warm.

TEMPERING
Temper to your requirements according to the tempering graph - soaking at temperature for 1 hour per inch ruling section or 2 hours whichever is longer