ExELL™ A-2
Download ExELL™ A-2 Spec sheetExELL™ A-2 – Cold Work Tool Steel
ExELL™ A-2 is an air hardening chromium-molybdenum-vanadium alloy die steel. This grade offers intermediate abrasion resistance generally between AISI O-1 and AISI D-2.
ExELL™ A-2 is characterized by:
- Good wear resistance
- Good machinability
- High compressive strength
- Very good non-deforming properties
- Deep hardening
- High dimensional stability after hardening and tempering
TYPICAL ANALYSIS
| C | 1.00 | Cr | 5.25 |
| Mn | 0.60 | Mo | 1.10 |
| Si | 0.25 | V | 0.25 |
APPLICATIONS
USES
- Blanking dies
- Forming dies
- Trim tools
- Knives
- Bending tools
- Shear blades
- Forming rolls
- Punches
- Inserts for molding
CHARACTERISTICS
Physical Properties:
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion, in/in/F
400 F __________ 0.0000064
Thermal Conductivity, BTU in/ft2 hr F
70 F ___________ 180
400 F __________ 190
Density, lbs/cu.in.
70 F ___________ 0.283
Modulus of Elasticity, psi
70 F ___________ 27,000,000
400 F __________ 27,000,000
Specific heat, Btu/lb F
70 F ___________ 0.11
HEAT TREATMENT (General Recommendations)
ANNEALING
With a protective atmosphere or vacuum furnace, heat slowly to 1530F. Equalize and hold one hour per inch of thickness. Furnace cool 20F/hr to 1000F and equalize. Air cool to room temperature. Hardness – 217 HB max.
STRESS RELIEVING
To minimize movement during heat treatment, a stress relieve can be used between the rough and finish machine operations of tool making before heat treatment.
After rough machining, heat the part(s) to 1200F, equalize and hold 1–2 hours. Furnace cool to 900F and then air cool.
HARDENING AND QUENCHING
Preheating: Heat to 1200 – 1250F and equalize. Continue heating to hardening temperature.
Hardening: Protect against oxidation and decarburization. Austenitizing (hardening) temperature range is 1700–1720F but hardening is usually at 1740F.
Typical response is:
| Hardening Temperature | Hold Time* | As-Quenched Hardness |
| 1700F | 40 min | 62 HRC |
| 1740F | 30 min | 63 HRC |
| 1775F | 20 min | 63 HRC |
*Hold time = time at temperature after tool is fully heated through.
TEMPERING
Temper immediately after quenching to about 150F. Temper at least two times with a minimum 2 hour time for each temper. Select the tempering temperature based on required hardness. Typical tempering temperature responses are:
| Tempering Temp. Hardness HRC | (Austenitized 1740°F) |
| 500F | 58 |
| 975F | 55 |
| 1000F | 53 |
| 1025F | 52 |
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
Typical RT Tensile Strength:
| Hardness | Tensile Strength, psi | Yield Strength, psi |
| Annealed | 105,000 | 52,000 |
| 53 HRC | 255,000 | 200,000 |
| 50 HRC | 250,000 | 195,000 |
Typical RT Compressive Strength:
| Hardness | Compressive Strength, psi | Compressive Yield Str., psi |
| 60 HRC | 415,000 | 310,000 |
| 55 HRC | 340,000 | 290,000 |
| 50 HRC | 290,000 | 240,000 |
CAPABILITIES
Our steel making expertise and capability is further enhanced from a long forging history with optimum forging and heat treating practices to develop very special material characteristics of product uniformity, cleanliness, machinability polishability, strength, toughness, hardenability and other steel properties. All this from production facilities certified to ISO 9002.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
Ellwood Specialty Steel is committed to providing products and services which will consistently meet or exceed all quality and performance expectations. We will provide customer and technical service that will ensure complete satisfaction.
Being a very flexible integrated producer, Ellwood Specialty Steel will establish product programs to fully support industry or customer requirements. Our extensive stock programs are supported by very short mill lead times of custom forged products. Customized stock programs are and can be available for specific customer needs.
This information is intended to provide general data on our products and their uses and is based on our knowledge at the time of publication. No information should be construed as a guarantee of specific properties of the products described or suitability for a particular application. Ellwood Specialty Steel reserves the right to make changes in practices which may render some information outdated or obsolete. Ellwood Specialty Steel should be consulted for current information and/or capabilities.
