CARRS 53S

BS EN ISO 4957 - X40CrMoV5-1

BS4659 - BH13, AISI - H13, DIN - 1.2344

TYPICAL ANALYSIS

C	0.40	Si	1.00
Cr	5.00	Mo	1.40
V	1.00

CHARACTERISTICS
This steel is particularly recommended where Tools require to be alternatively heated and cooled, and in operations involving impact shocks. Tools may be water cooled in use without cracking. After normal heat treatment has been carried out, it is suitable for nitriding 0.30 mm (0.012") deep.
Colour Code: RED.

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS

•	Hot forging and pressing dies subject to severe abrasion	•	Extrusion mandrels for copper and brass
•	Barrels and plungers (pressure die-casting)	•	Hot chisels
•	Drop stamping (die inserts and ejectors)	•	Ejectors and nozzles for pressure die-casting of zinc, lead and tin base alloys
•	Extrusion dies, mandrels and punches	•	Pressure pads
•	Extrusion liners	•	Extrusion stems and rams
•	Blanking and bending tools	•	Horizontal and vertical forging punches and dies
•	Hot brass pressing dies	•	Hot heading tools
•	Die-holders	•	Backer blocks (extrusion)
•	Gripper dies	•	Nut forming dies
•	Shearing (hot)	•	Hot-cropping,billet shearing and circular shearing

HEAT TREATMENT graph

FORGING
Commence at 1100^°C. Re-heat as necessary to avoid working below 900^°C

ANNEALING
Soak thoroughly at 850/860^oC. Cool in furnace not faster than 20^°C per hour

STRESS RELIEVING
Heat uniformly to 650^°C 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^°C and soak thoroughly (up to 1 hour per inch of ruling section). Remove to Neutral Salt Bath operating at 800/850^oC and soak for 15 minutes per inch of ruling section (minimum 20 minutes). Remove to Super-heat Bath operating at 1000/1020^°C and soak for 20 minutes at temperature or approximately 10 minutes per inch of ruling section, whichever is greater.

(b) Open Furnace Procedure
Charge Tools into muffle furnace working at 300/400^°C and soak thoroughly (up to 1 hour per inch of ruling section). Raise heat to 800/850^°C and maintain at this temperature for at least 1 hour per inch of ruling section. Raise heat as rapidly as possible to 1000/1020^°C and soak for 10/30 minutes according to section. N.B. Soaking at hardening temperature improves the Red Hardness characteristic.

QUENCHING
(1) Quench in Salt Bath at 540/560^°C. Allow to equalise and cool in still air - ALTERNATIVELY
(2) Cool in still air.
Note: In order to obtain a slightly higher hardness figure large sections may be blown, providing this can be done uniformly with dry air. Tools should be tempered immediately whilst still hand warm.

TEMPERING
Heat to 550^oC and soak at this temperature for 1 hour per inch of ruling section or 2 hours whichever is longer. Allow to cool to room temperature. A second temper should then be given according to the tempering graph, soaking at temperature for 1 hour per inch of ruling section. A third temper is beneficial and should always be carried out where high-duty applications are involved. This steel should respond to hardening by the Vacuum furnace, gas quench process.