ASTM A686-92(2010)
(Specification)Standard Specification for Tool Steel, Carbon
Standard Specification for Tool Steel, Carbon
ABSTRACT
This specification covers chemical, mechanical, and physical requirements for available wrought carbon tool steel products. These products, which include hot- or cold-finished bar, plate, sheet, 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. An analysis of each heat of steel shall be made by the manufacturer to determine the percentage of the elements specified and these values shall conform to the chemical composition specified by the reference material. The hardness of the specimen after the specified heat treatment shall meet the minimum hardness value for the particular type of steel prescribed by the reference material. Rockwell C tests should be used where possible but light load tests may be necessary on thin specimens. The macrostructure of a specimen representing the entire cross-sectional area in the annealed condition shall be prepared in accordance with the reference material. It shall exhibit a structure free of excessive porosity, segregation, slag, dirt or other nonmetallic inclusions, pipes, checks, cracks, and other injurious defects.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers the chemical, mechanical, and physical requirements for available wrought carbon tool steel products.
1.2 These products, which include hot- or cold-finished bar, plate, sheet, 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 the standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for information only.
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Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:A686 −92(Reapproved 2010)
Standard Specification for
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Tool Steel, Carbon
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A686; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber 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 2.2 Military Standard:
MIL-STD-163 Steel Mill Products, Preparation for Ship-
1.1 This specification covers the chemical, mechanical, and
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ment and Storage
physical requirements for available wrought carbon tool steel
2.3 Federal Standards:
products.
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Fed. Std. No. 123Marking for Shipment (Civil Agencies)
1.2 These products, which include hot- or cold-finished bar,
Fed.Std.No.183ContinuousIdentificationMarkingofIron
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plate,sheet,rod,wire,orforgings,arenormallyfabricatedinto
and Steel Products
tools, dies, or fixtures. The selection of a material for a
particular application will depend upon design, service 3. Classification
conditions, and desired properties.
3.1 Material in accordance with this specification is classi-
fied by chemical composition. Types correspond to respective
1.3 Thevaluesstatedininch-poundunitsaretoberegarded
AISI designations.
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are provided
3.1.1 Carbon Tool Steels, Identification W—TypesW1,W2,
for information only.
and W5 are often referred to as water hardening tool steels
since they require rapid quenching rates to attain the necessary
2. Referenced Documents
hardness. Except in very small sizes they will harden with a
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2.1 ASTM Standards:
hard case and a soft core.
A370Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing
3.1.1.1 Type W1 is an unalloyed carbon steel available in
of Steel Products
several carbon ranges.
A388/A388MPractice for Ultrasonic Examination of Steel
3.1.1.2 Type W2 is characterized by a nominal vanadium
Forgings
content of 0.25% and is also available in several carbon
A561Practice for Macroetch Testing of Tool Steel Bars
ranges.
A700Guide for Packaging, Marking, and Loading Methods
3.1.1.3 Type W5 is characterized by a nominal chromium
for Steel Products for Shipment
content of 0.50%.
E3Guide for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
3.1.1.4 A suffix following the type designation is added to
E30TestMethodsforChemicalAnalysisofSteel,CastIron,
denote the minimum carbon content of the carbon range to be
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Open-Hearth Iron, and Wrought Iron (Withdrawn 1995)
specified.
E45Test Methods for Determining the Inclusion Content of
3.1.2 Types W1 and W2 are further classified by quality
Steel
levels, namely, Grade A and Grade C.
E59Practice for Sampling Steel and Iron for Determination
3.1.2.1 GradeAissometimesreferredtoas Extraor Special.
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of Chemical Composition (Withdrawn 1996)
It is controlled for hardenability; the chemical composition is
held to closest limits; and it is subject to rigid tests to ensure
uniformity. Grade A is available with three degrees of
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This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee A01 on Steel, hardenability, namely, shallow hardening, regular hardening,
Stainless Steel and RelatedAlloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
and deep hardening.
A01.29 on Tool Steels.
3.1.2.2 Grade C is sometimes referred to as Regular or
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2010. Published December 2010. Originally
Standard. It is intended for applications that do not require
approved in 1973. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as A686–92 (2004).
DOI: 10.1520/A0686-92R10.
controlledhardenabilityandwheresomelatitudeinuniformity
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For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
is permissible.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
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The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on AvailablefromStandardizationDocumentsOrderDesk,Bldg.4SectionD,700
www.astm.org. Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, Attn: NPODS.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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A686−92 (2010)
4. Ordering Information midway between the center and surface in accordance with the
latest issue of Practice E59. The chemical analysis of the
4.1 Ordersformaterialunderthisspecificationshallinclude
drilling chips shall be made in accordance with the latest issue
the following information, as required to describe adequately
of Test Methods E30. The chemical composition thus deter-
the desired material:
mined shall not vary from
...
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