Available Shapes
1.2344 Tool Steel
1.2344 Tool Steel is a versatile chromium-molybdenum hot work steel that is widely used in hot work and cold work tooling applications. The hot hardness (hot strength) of 1.2344 resists thermal fatigue cracking which occurs as a result of cyclic heating and cooling cycles in hot work tooling applications. Because of its excellent combination of high toughness and resistance to thermal fatigue cracking 1.2344 is used for more hot work tooling applications than any other tool steel.
Because of its high toughness and very good stability in heat treatment, 1.2344 is also used in a variety of cold work tooling applications. In these applications, 1.2344 provides better hardenability (through hardening in large section thicknesses) and better wear resistance than common alloy steels such as 4140.
Applications
Analysis
Forging
Annealing
Stress Relieving
Hardening
Tampering
Applications
Inserts, cores, and cavities for die casting dies, die casting shot sleeves, hot forging dies, extrusion dies, and plastic mold cavities and components that require high toughness and excellent polishability.
Analysis
| Carbon | 0.35-0.42% | Chromium | 4.80-5.50% |
| Manganese | 0.25-0.50% | Molybdenum | 1.20-1.50% |
| Sulphur | 0.02% max | Silicon | 0.80-1.20% |
| Phosphorous | 0.03% max | Vanadium | 0.85-1.15% |
Forging
Forge at 900° C to 1100° C. Cool slowly and anneal immediately.
Annealing
Heat at a rate not exceeding 400°F per hour (222°C per hour) to 1575-1625°F (857-885°C), and hold at temperature for 1 hour per inch of maximum thickness; 2 hours minimum. Then cool slowly with the furnace at a rate not exceeding 50°F per hour (28°C per hour) to 1000°F (538°C). Continue cooling to ambient temperature in the furnace or in air. The resultant hardness should be a maximum of235 HBS.
Stress Relieving
Stress relieve at 600° C to 650° C and also cool in air.
Hardening
Preheat at 650 ° C- 850 ° C and raise to 1020 ° C.-1050 ° C.Cool in air, oil or salt bath held at 500 ° C-550 ° C and then cool in air.
Tampering
Temper immediately after quenching. The typical tempering range is 1000-1150°F (538-621°C). Hold at the tempering temperature for 1 hour per inch (25.4mm) of thickness, but for 2 hours minimum, then air cool to ambient temperature. Double tempering is required. To maximize toughness and tool performance, a third temper is often used as a stress relief after all finish machining, grinding, and EDM work are completed on the tool.
| Temperature [°C] | 400 | 500 | 550 | 600 | 650 |
| Hardness [HRc] | 54 | 56 | 54 | 49 | 47 |
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