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H26

Download H26 Spec sheet

WM H26 is a medium carbon, 18% tungsten hot work tool steel. It has the highest resistance to softening at elevated temperatures and highest abrasion resistance of any hot work tool steel.

WM H-26 retains good working hardness in the 1200/1300°F range along with sufficient toughness to give outstanding performance. For maximum service life, tools should be preheated before starting hot operation and air cooled when necessary during operation. Do not water cool at any time.

WM H-26 is recommended when long tool and die life at elevated temperature is required.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

Carbon 0.57
Tungsten 18.00
Chromium 4.00
Vanadium 1.00

During forging and annealing, the standard precautions applicable to all high speed steels should be followed. WM H-26, like all 8 to 9% molybdenum high speed steels, is subject to considerable decarburization during any heating cycle.

Salt baths or controlled atmosphere furnaces are preferable for hardening WM H-26. Danger of decarburization or carburization is eliminated in properly operated salt baths, while in controlled atmosphere furnaces any partial decarburization or carburization which may result is usually so slight as to be of no consequences on tools which are to be ground after hardening.

Like other high speed steels, WM H-26 should not be held at the quenching temperature but should be removed form the furnace as soon as uniformly heated Quenching in oil is preferred, although WM H-26 will attain maximum hardness when cooled in air or in a hot bath at about 100°F.

For hot work applications with the .60% carbon grade, a wider hardening range is permissible depending upon the application. Normally, a temperature of 2100-2150°F will be employed. For higher hot hardness and wear resistance, the temperature should be raised, and for higher toughness it should be lowered. The lower carbon WM H-26 can be quenched, in air, oil or hot salt bath. Usually oil quenching is recommended.

The effect of hardening temperature on .60% carbon- WM H-26 is shown below:

Hardening Temp °F
Oil Quenched Hardness (Rockwell C)
Double Tempered (2 1/8 – 2 1/2 hrs) at 1050°F
Intercept Grain Size
1650
33
35
1750
42
43
1850
47
48
1950
52
52
2000
55
54
2050
57
55
17
2100
59
57
14
2150
62
58
11
2200
63
60
9
2250
62
61
6

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