Toolman Special Steels is proud to produce and offer A2(1.2363) - This alloy is one of the cold work, medium air hardening type tool steels. It contains chromium and molybdenum with a relatively high (1 %) carbon content and is capable of deep hardening from air quench so as to minimise distortion. It can be hardened through air cooling. A2’s wear resistance lies between that of O1 and that of D2 tool steel so that it is suitable for common materials in many applications
Steel Properties
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Proper combination of toughness and wear resistance
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High softening resistance
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Low deformation and high safety during heat treatment
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High harden-ability
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High dimensional stability during heat treatment
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High wear resistance and toughness.
Chemical Composition
| Element | Min (%) | Max (%) |
|---|---|---|
| C | 0.95 | 1.05 |
| Si | 0.10 | 0.50 |
| Mn | 0.40 | 1.00 |
| P | - | 0.030 |
| S | - | 0.030 |
| Cr | 4.75 | 5.5 |
| Mo | 0.90 | 1.40 |
| V | 0.15 | 0.50 |
Mechanical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Annealing Hardness (HBW) | 231 max |
| Quenching and Tempering Hardness (HRC) | 60 min |
Physical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density (g/cm³) | 7.7 |
Modulus of Elasticity
| Temperature (°C) | GPa |
|---|---|
| 20 | 190 |
Thermal Properties
| Temperature (℃) | Thermal Expansion Coefficient (10^-6/℃) |
|---|---|
| 400 | 11.6 |
| 500 | 11.7 |
Thermal Conductivity
| Temperature (℃) | Thermal Conductivity (W/m•K) |
|---|---|
| 20 | 26 |
HEAT TREATMENT AND PROCESSES
Heat treatment
| Soft annealing °C | Cooling | Hardness HB |
|---|---|---|
| 800 - 840 | Furnace | Max 231 |
| Stress-relief annealing °C | Cooling |
|---|---|
| approx. 650 | approx. 650 |
| Hardening °C | Quenching | Hardness after quenching HRC |
|---|---|---|
| 930 – 970 | Air, oil saltbath 500 – 550 °C | 60 min |
| Tempering °C | HRC |
|---|---|
| 100 | 63 |
| 200 | 62 |
| 300 | 59 |
| 400 | 57 |
| 500 | 59 |
| 600 | 52 |
Applications
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Cutting tools
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Rolls
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Shear blades
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Cold pilger mandrels
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Cold stamping tools
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Moulds for plastics processing
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Used of die shapes, slitters, cutting, stamping, injection tools and similar applications where wear resistance is important
Quality Assurance
Our A2 1.2363 steel undergoes rigorous testing and quality control to meet international standards, ensuring consistent performance and reliability. Certificates and test reports are available upon request. Feel free to reach out to us for more information on our A2 1.2363 steel products or to discuss your specific requirements. We're dedicated to providing top-quality steel solutions that meet your needs and exceed your expectations.
Manufacturing Range
| Products | Diameter (mm) |
|---|---|
| Hot Rolled bar | 8 - 65 |
| Forged and Turned bars | 65.2 - 500 |
| Forged Square Bars | 50 - 500 |
Flats
| THICKNESS | WIDTH |
|---|---|
| 6.00 mm - 410.00 mm | 20.00 mm - 700.00 mm |
Frequently Asked Questions
We manufacture A2 / DIN 1.2363 / AISI A2 as a medium air-hardening cold work tool steel containing chromium and molybdenum. Its deep-hardening response and air-quenching capability help minimise distortion during heat treatment.
Our A2 steel offers:
- A balanced combination of toughness and wear resistance
- High resistance to softening
- Low deformation during heat treatment
- High hardenability
- Good dimensional stability
- High wear resistance
Its wear resistance lies between O1 and D2, making it suitable for many general cold work applications.
We supply A2 for:
- Cutting tools
- Rolls
- Shear blades
- Cold pilger mandrels
- Cold stamping tools
- Plastic-processing moulds
- Die shapes
- Slitters
- Cutting and stamping tools
- Injection tools
Our A2 steel has:
- Maximum annealed hardness: 231 HBW
- Minimum quenching and tempering hardness: 60 HRC
Our tempering data shows approximately 63 HRC at 100°C, 59 HRC at 500°C and 52 HRC at 600°C.
Our published process includes:
- Soft annealing: 800–840°C
- Stress-relief annealing: approximately 650°C
- Hardening: 930–970°C
- Quenching: air, oil or salt bath at 500–550°C
The minimum hardness after quenching is 60 HRC.
Our A2 composition includes:
- Carbon: 0.95–1.05%
- Chromium: 4.75–5.50%
- Molybdenum: 0.90–1.40%
- Vanadium: 0.15–0.50%
- Manganese: 0.40–1.00%
- Silicon: 0.10–0.50%
Phosphorus and sulphur are limited to 0.030% each.
We manufacture:
- Hot-rolled bars: 8–65 mm
- Forged and turned bars: 65.2–500 mm
- Forged square bars: 50–500 mm
- Flats: 6–410 mm thickness
- Flat widths: 20–700 mm
Certificates and test reports are available on request.
