AISI SAE A-2 Tool Steel

1.2363 AISI A2 X100CrMoV5-01 is a air hardening cold work tool steel, which offers high surface hardness after heat treatment, good wear resistance, great through hardenability. 1.2363 X100CrMoV5-01 tool steel is also characterised by its high dimensional stability after heat treatment, high compression resistance and good resistance to tempering.

Forging: Heat slowly and uniformly to 700°C. Forge within a range of 1050/1100°C, reheating if necessary. Cool very slowly (preferably in a furnace) to avoid setting up stresses.

Annealing: Heat uniformly to 850°C, equalise, then furnace cool. (Hardness about 215 Brinell). Fully machined 1.2363 components should be packed during annealing. Stress Relieving: If machining operations have been heavy or if the 1.2363 component has an unbalanced section, remove stresses before hardening by heating up to 675°C, equalise, then cool in furnace to 500°C before slowly cooling in air.

Hardening: Pre heat to 600/700°C and thoroughly soak. Continue heating to the final hardening temperature of 950/980°C. Allow sufficient time for the 1.2363 tool to be heated through. Quenching in oil or cool in air.

Martempering: Martempering is an alternative hardening procedure which may be used when suitable salt bath equipment is available.

Tempering: Heat uniformly and thoroughly at the selected tempering temperature and hold for at least one hour per inch of total thickness.

Hard Chromium Plating: After hard chromium plating tempering of 1.2363 tool steel is recommended at 180°C for 4 hours to avoid hydrogen embrittlement. Tempering is to be performed immediately after chromium plating.

Welding: Due to the high risk of crack formation welding of 1.2363 tool steel should be avoided, if possible. When, howe ver welding is essential, the following serves as a guide:

A. Welding of soft annealed 1.2363 tool steel
·       Preheat to 300 - 500°C.
·       Weld at  300-500°C.
·       Immediately stress relieve.
Electrode: Cr-Mo alloy electrode for welding structural steel.

B.  Welding in connection with hardening of soft annealed 1.2363 tool steel.
·       Heat to austenitizing temperature.
·       Cool to approx. 500°C.
·       Weld at approx. 500°C.
·       Cool to approx. 100°C in the same way as at normal hardening, then temper to desired hardness.
Electrode: Hard facing electrode.

C.  Repair welding of 1.2363 tool steel in hardened and tempered condition.
·       Preheat to the tempering temperature (min. 200°C) previously used.
·       Weld at tempering temperature.
·       Heat immediately to tempering temperature, but max. 300°C. Soaking time 3 hours.
·       Cool in air to approx. 80°C.
·       Heat to tempering temperature. Soaking time 2 hours.
Electrode: Hard facing electrode.