HEAT TREATMENT
FORGING
Commence at 1100°C. Re-heat as necessary to avoid working below 900°C
ANNEALING
Soak thoroughly at 850/860oC. 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 800/850oC
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 550oC 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. |