AISI A6 Tool Steel

What is A6 tool steel?

A6 tool steel is a medium-alloy, air-hardening tool steel that is characterized by its ability to be through hardened while using the low austenitizing temperatures which are typically associated with oil-hardening tool steels. It exhibits good toughness and excellent dimensional stability in heat treatment. A6 is intermediate in wear resistance between o1 oil-hardening tool steel and d2 high-carbon, high-chromium tool steel.

Where can A6 tool steel used?

blanking and forming dies, trim dies, bending and forming tools, mandrels, chuck jaws, tooling for plastic injection molding, dowel pins, shear knives, and gauges

A6 Tool Steel Chemical Composition(%)

A6 Tool Steel Mechanical Properties

A6 Tool Steel Forging

Heating for forging must be done slowly and uniformly. Soak through at 1900°-2000°F and reheat as often as necessary, stopping work when the temperature drops below 1600°F. After forging, cool slowly in lime, mica, dry ashes or furnace. A6 should always be annealed after forging.

A6 Tool Steel Annealing

Heat slowly to 1350°-1375°F, hold until entire mass is heated through, and cool slowly in the furnace (20F per hour) to about 1000°F, after which cooling rate may be increased. Suitable precautions must be taken to prevent excessive carburization or decarburization.

A6 Tool Steel Stress Relieving

When desirable to relieve the strains of machining, heat slowly to 1050°-1250°F, allow to equalize, and then cool in still air (Strain Relieving).

A6 Tool Steel Hardening

Parts at room temperature or as pre-heated should be placed in a hardening furnace operating at 1525°-1600°F. After parts have reached the furnace temperature, hold 20 minutes for small parts and up to 45 minutes for large parts

A6 Tool Steel Quenching

A6 is a deep hardening tool steel and will reach full hardness by cooling in freely circulating air.

A6 Tool Steel Tempering

A single temper (one hour at temperature for small pieces; proportionately longer time for larger sizes) is usually all that is required with tempering carried out in the range of 300°-1000°F. For most applications, the best combination of hardness and toughness is accomplished at 350°-400°F. Specimens 1 inch square by 3 inches long were air hardened from 1550°F and tempered at various temperatures for two hours.