HEAT TREATMENT
FORGING
Commence at 1050°C. Re-heat as necessary to avoid working below 850oC.
ANNEALING
Heat slowly and uniformly to 780°C. Cool in still air.
STRESS RELIEVING
Heat uniformly to 650°C max. Allow to equalise and remove from furnace. Cool in still
air.
HARDENING & TEMPERING
Thoroughly warm Tools or Components before charging
HEATING & SOAKING
Heat slowly and uniformly to 1020°C. Allow to equalise and soak for a few minutes.
QUENCHING
Quench in salt at 520°C. Where a slightly lower hardness is acceptable, this steel may be
air-cooled. An oil quench will provide a higher hardness but should be used only as a last
resort and never where there are sudden changes in section which could lead to cracking.
TEMPERING
A first temper at 180°C should be given soaking at temperature for 1 hour per inch of
ruling section or 2 hours whichever is longer followed by cooling to room temperature. A
second temper should be given according to the tempering graph. Tempering above 400°C
should be avoided as some reduction of toughness and corrosion resistance may result.
This steel should respond to hardening by the Vacuum furnace, gas quench
process. |