ASTM A681-08(2022)

Standard Specification for Tool Steels Alloy

ABSTRACT
This specification covers the chemical, mechanical, and physical requirements for available wrought alloy tool steel products. The material shall be made by an electric melting process. It shall be made from ingots that have been reduced in cross section in such a manner and to such a degree as to ensure proper refinement of the ingot structure. Chemical composition, hardness, macrostructure and decarburization of the material shall conform to the requirements in accordance to the referenced ASTM documents itemized herein.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers the chemical, mechanical, and physical requirements for available wrought alloy tool steel products.  
1.2 These products, which include hot or cold finished bar, plate, sheet, strip, rod, wire, or forgings, are normally fabricated into tools, dies, or fixtures. The selection of a material for a particular application will depend upon design, service conditions, and desired properties.  
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Aug-2022
• ICS: 77.140.10 - Heat-treatable steels
• Technical Committee: A01 - Steel, Stainless Steel and Related Alloys
• Drafting Committee: A01.29 - Tool Steels

Relations

• Refers: ASTM A561-08(2020) - Standard Practice for Macroetch Testing of Tool Steel Bars
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2020

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation:A681 −08 (Reapproved 2022)
Standard Specification for
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Tool Steels Alloy
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A681; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope E30 Test Methods for ChemicalAnalysis of Steel, Cast Iron,
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Open-Hearth Iron, and Wrought Iron (Withdrawn 1995)
1.1 This specification covers the chemical, mechanical, and
E45 Test Methods for Determining the Inclusion Content of
physical requirements for available wrought alloy tool steel
Steel
products.
E59 Practice for Sampling Steel and Iron for Determination
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of Chemical Composition (Withdrawn 1996)
1.2 These products, which include hot or cold finished bar,
E527 Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys in the
plate, sheet, strip, rod, wire, or forgings, are normally fabri-
Unified Numbering System (UNS)
cated into tools, dies, or fixtures.The selection of a material for
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2.2 Military Standard:
a particular application will depend upon design, service
MIL-STD-163 Steel Mill Products, Preparation for Ship-
conditions, and desired properties.
ment and Storage
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1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded 2.3 Federal Standards:
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical Fed. Std. No. 123 Marking and Shipment (Civil Agencies)
Fed. Std. No. 183 Continuous Identification Marking of Iron
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
and are not considered standard. and Steel Products
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2.4 Other Standard:
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
SAE J1086 Recommended Practice for Numbering Metals
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
and Alloys (UNS)
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- 3. Classification
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.1 Material in accordance with this specification is classi-
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
fied by chemical composition. Types correspond to respective
AISI designations.
2. Referenced Documents
3.1.1 Hot Work Tool Steels, Identification H:
2 3.1.1.1 Types H10 to H19 are characterized by a controlled
2.1 ASTM Standards:
chromium content along with other alloying elements.The first
A370 Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing
four, containing molybdenum, offer excellent toughness and
of Steel Products
high hardenability and are frequently used in cold work
A561 Practice for Macroetch Testing of Tool Steel Bars
applications requiring toughness at relatively high hardness
A600 Specification for Tool Steel High Speed
levels.
A700 Guide for Packaging, Marking, and Loading Methods
3.1.1.2 Types H21 to H26 are characterized by a controlled
for Steel Products for Shipment
tungsten content along with other alloying elements. These
E3 Guide for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
steels offer greater resistance to the softening effect of elevated
service temperatures but exhibit a lower degree of toughness.
3.1.1.3 Types H41 to H43 are low-carbon modifications of
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This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel, molybdenum high speed tool steels (Note 1) and have charac-
Stainless Steel and Related Alloysand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
teristics similar to the tungsten types.
A01.29 on Tool Steels.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2022. Published September 2022. Originally
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approved in 1973. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as A681 – 08 (2015). The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
DOI: 10.1520/A0681-08R22. www.astm.org.
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For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Available from DLA Document Services, Building 4/D, 700 Robbins Ave.,
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, http://quicksearch.dla.mil.
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Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from SAE International (SAE), 400 Commonwealth Dr.,Warrendale,
the ASTM website. PA 15096, http://www.sae.org.
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A681−08 (2022)
NOTE 1—High-speed tool steels are covered in Specification A600.
6. Chemica
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