HEAT TREATMENT
FORGING
Commence at 1000oC. Re-heat as necessary to avoid working below 900oC.
ANNEALING
Soak thoroughly at 840/850oC. Cool in furnace not faster than 20oC per hour.
STRESS RELIEVING
Heat uniformly to 650oC 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 300/400oC and soak thoroughly up to 1 hour
per inch of ruling section. Remove to Neutral Salt Bath operating at 700/750oC and
maintain at this temperature for 15 minutes per inch of ruling section. Raise heat of Salt
Bath to 950/970oC and allow sufficient time to equalise but do not soak for more than a
few minutes.
(b) Open Furnace Procedure
Charge Tools into muffle furnace working at 300/400oC
and soak thoroughly, preferably 1 hour per inch of ruling section.
Raise heat as rapidly as possible to 950/970oC and
allow sufficient time to equalise but do not soak for more than a few minutes.
QUENCHING
(1) Quench in oil - ALTERNATIVELY
(2) Quench in Martempering Salt Bath at 540oC. 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. A second temper is
recommended as being beneficial. This steel should respod to hardening by the Vacuum
furnace, gas quench process. |