HEAT TREATMENT
FORGING
Commence at 1150°C. Re-heat as necessary to avoid working below 850oC
ANNEALING
Soak for at least 2 hours per inch of thickness at 650°C. Cool in still air
STRESS RELIEVING
Heat uniformly to 600/630°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 830/850°C and
maintain for 20 minutes at temperature, or 10 minutes per inch of ruling section,
whichever is the 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 uniformly to 830/850°C and maintain at this
temperature for sufficient time to allow the tools to equalise. Soak for a few minutes
only when this point has been reached.
QUENCHING
(1) Quench in oil - ALTERNATIVELY
(2) For Martempering, quench in Salt Bath at 180/220°C. 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.
Cool in still air after tempering. This steel should respond to hardening
by the Vacuum furnace, gas quench process. |
