Tool Steel Supplier

Tempering is key in developing the final properties of the steel and, in the sequence of the heat treat cycle, is extremely important to perform immediately after quenching. Tempering is reheating hardened steel to convert untempered martensite produced by the proper quenching cycle, to tempered martensite & also reduce the volume of the tooling (a much tighter microstructure) which increases the mechanical properties of the material (increases toughness & enhances wear). Tool steels should never be used in an as quenched (untempered) condition. All grades of tool steels have many tempering temperatures to achieve the best operational hardness that will optimize the performance of the tooling or part. Note: always use the highest tempering temperature to achieve the rockwell hardness you want. Note: 2-3 tempers are highly recommended in all tooling steels as this will assure you of total transformation to tempered martensite & a very homogeneous (tight) micros...

The quenching operation is extremely important in setting up the proper microstructure of the steel.  There are many mediums that can be used to quench steel such as oil, air, salt and steam to name a few. The purpose of quenching is to transform austenite to martensite, or in simpler words, create a martensitic structure (larger volume) and stop the cooking process.  The goal of an optimal quench cycle is to achieve as much transformation as possible to martensite with no or very little austenite (retained austenite) left in the steel. Note: if the material is still non-magnetic after quenching, the cooling rate was too slow (no transformation has taken place) and your datums have probably shrunk. The material should be transferred to tempering immediately after tempering and while the steel is between 90f and 120f.  Allowing it to fully cool to room temperature could result in the build-up of an excessive amount of quench stresses, which could cause cracking. ...

The hardening process and what transformation the steel goes through during the hardening process. Hardening (A specific heating and cooling process based on the chemistry of the material) is performed on all ferrous steels to develop the proper microstructure and optimal properties of the material. The 1st stage of hardening is the preheat cycle.  Preheating the steel helps to prevent thermal shock & helps the material adjust to the higher hardening temperatures. During the heat treating cycle, the material goes through many transformation stages, usually 10-12 stages.  During this process the material will shrink & grow.  It will form austenite (material will shrink and become non-magnetic), then martensite (Growth larger than its starting size at room temperature), then tempered martensite (returns to dimensions very close to starting datums at the start point). Note: Proper hardening processes will produce as close to a homogeneous (tight) microstru...

ANNEALING ANNEALING IS AN ASPECT OF HEAT TREATMENT USED TO SOFTEN STEELS AND TO IMPROVE MACHINABILITY, MATERIAL STABILITY & MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY BRINGING THE STEEL TO A SPECIFIED TEMPERATURE ABOVE THE UPPER CRITICAL TEMPERATURE AND HOLDING AT THAT TEMPERATURE FOR A SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF TIME ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THAT GRADE. ALL TOOL STEELS ARE SPHEROIDIZED ANNEALED (SPHEROIDAL OR GLOBULAR MICROSTRUCTURE) WHICH PRODUCES A FINE GRAIN STRUCTURE. THE FINE GRAIN STRUCTURE ACHIEVED THROUGH THIS ANNEALING PROCESS ALLOWS TOOL STEELS TO EXPERIENCE FORECASTED GROWTH DURING HEAT TREAT. THIS EXPECTED GROWTH IS CRITICAL TO TOOL MAKERS PRODUCING TOOLS AND PARTS OUT OF TOOL STEEL. TOOL STEELS ARE ANNEALED AT THE MILL DURING INITIAL PRODUCTION TO DIFFERENT BRINELL HARDNESS RANGES (BHN) DEPENDING ON THE SPECIFIC GRADE OF TOOL STEEL; FOR INSTANCE, AN O1 TOOL STEEL WILL BE NEAR 201 BHN IN THE AS-SHIPPED CONDITION, A SUPER HIGH SPEED GRADE SUCH...

What is heat treating?  Simply defined, it is the controlled heating and cooling of steel in order to enhance certain mechanical and physical properties.  We could go into a deep metallurgical explanation, but you would probably fall asleep, or get easily distracted by all the extra research you would do on tempered martensite or retained austenite.   Heat treating is a commonly misunderstood topic, we hope to guide you in understanding some of the basic processes that will hopefully lead you to ask the right questions about the materials you select and the processes you specify in order to build the best tool you can build. The following is a list of some basic processes that should be considered with any tool steel heat treatment: Stress relief… Why? It reduces dimensional distortion Preheating… Why? Minimizes thermal shock Hardening temperatures and times… Why? Proper temperature and times are critical in producing the desired properties. Quench m...