A2 steel properties
A2 is an air hardening, cold work, tool steel. A 5% Chromium steel which provides high hardness after heat treatment with good dimensional stability. It is heat treatable and will offer a hardness in the range 57-62 HRC.
A2 delivers good toughness with medium wear resistance and is relatively easy to machine. Used in many applications which require good wear resistance as well as good toughness.
Typical Applications for A2 Steel:
- blanking tools
- punch dies
- trim dies
- forming dies
- gauges
- shear blades
- stamping dies
AISI A2 equivalent grades: BS4659 - BA2, AISI - A2, DIN - 1.2363 - X100CrMoV5
Forging:
Heat slowly to 700°C then more rapidly to 1050-1100°C. Avoid working below 900°C. Reheat as often as necessary to maintain proper forging temperature. After forging cool very slowly.
Annealing:
Soak thoroughly at 840-850°C, then slow furnace cool at a rate of not more than 20°C per hour. After annealing A2 a maximum hardness of 215 Brinell may be achieved
Hardening:
Pre heat slowly to 600-700°C and soak. Continue heating to the final hardening temperature of 950/980°C and allow the component to equalise. Quench in oil or cool in air.
Tempering:
Heat uniformly and thoroughly to the desired temperature and hold for 25 minutes per cm of thickness. A2 can be double tempering, after intermediate cooling to room temperature. Temper at 200°C for a balance of hardness and strength or 350°C where strength is more important than hardness.
Tempering A2 Steel |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tempering °C |
150 |
200 |
250 |
300 |
350 |
400 |
HRC |
62/61 |
61/60 |
60/59 |
59/58 |
58/57 |
58/57 |
Disclaimer:
The information presented here are typical or average values and are not a guarantee of maximum or minimum values. Uses described are made only for the purpose of illustration to enable the reader to make their own evaluation and are not intended as warranties, either express or implied, of fitness for these or other purposes.