ASTM A686-92(2004)
(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.
General Information
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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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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 2004)
Standard Specification for
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 Department of Defense.
1. Scope MIL-STD-163 Steel Mill Products, Preparation for Ship-
ment and Storage
1.1 This specification covers the chemical, mechanical, and
2.3 Federal Standards:
physical requirements for available wrought carbon tool steel
Fed. Std. No. 123 Marking for Shipment (Civil Agencies)
products.
Fed. Std. No. 183 Continuous Identification Marking of
1.2 These products, which include hot- or cold-finished bar,
Iron and Steel Products
plate,sheet,rod,wire,orforgings,arenormallyfabricatedinto
tools, dies, or fixtures. The selection of a material for a
3. Classification
particular application will depend upon design, service condi-
3.1 Material in accordance with this specification is classi-
tions, and desired properties.
fied by chemical composition. Types correspond to respective
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
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
2. Referenced Documents since they require rapid quenching rates to attain the necessary
hardness. Except in very small sizes they will harden with a
2.1 ASTM Standards:
hard case and a soft core.
A370 Test 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/A388M Practice 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
A561 Practice for Macroetch Testing of Tool Steel Bars
ranges.
A700 PracticesforPackaging,Marking,andLoadingMeth-
3.1.1.3 Type W5 is characterized by a nominal chromium
ods for Steel Products for Shipment
content of 0.50%.
E3 Guide for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
3.1.1.4 A suffix following the type designation is added to
E30 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Steel, Cast
denote the minimum carbon content of the carbon range to be
Iron, Open-Hearth Iron, and Wrought Iron
specified.
E45 TestMethodsforDeterminingtheInclusionContentof
3.1.2 Types W1 and W2 are further classified by quality
Steel
levels, namely, Grade A and Grade C.
E59 Practice for Sampling Steel and Iron for Determination
3.1.2.1 GradeAissometimesreferredtoas Extraor Special.
of Chemical Composition
It is controlled for hardenability; the chemical composition is
2.2 Military Standard:
held to closest limits; and it is subject to rigid tests to ensure
uniformity. GradeAis available with three degrees of harden-
ability,namely,shallowhardening,regularhardening,anddeep
hardening.
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM CommitteeA01 on Steel,
3.1.2.2 Grade C is sometimes referred to as Regular or
Stainless Steel and RelatedAlloys, and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
A01.29 on Tool Steels.
Standard. It is intended for applications that do not require
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2004. Published January 2005. Originally
controlled hardenability and where some latitude in uniformity
approved in 1973. Last previous edition approved in 1999 as A686–92 (1999).
is permissible.
DOI: 10.1520/A0686-92R04.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
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 AvailablefromStandardizationDocumentsOrderDesk,Bldg.4SectionD,700
the ASTM website. Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, Attn: NPODS.
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A686 – 92 (2004)
4. Ordering Information midway between the center and surface in accordance with the
latest issue of Method 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 Methods E30. The chemical composition thus determined
the desired material:
shall not vary from the limits specified in Table 1.
4.1.1 Class of material (carbon tool steel),
4.1.2 Type (W1, W2, W5),
7. Hardness Properties
4.1.3 Suffix denoting carbon range (where applicable, such
as W1–9, W2–10, etc.), 7.1 Annealed hardness values shall be obtained in accor-
4.1.4 Grade and hardenability (where applicable, for ex- dance with the latest issue of Test Methods and Definitions
ample, Grade A deep hardening, and so forth), A370, and shall not exceed the Brinell hardness values (or
4.1.5 Shape (sheet, plate, flat bar, round bar, square bar, equivalent Rockwell hardness values) specified in Table 2.
hexagon bar, octagon, special shapes), 7.2 Specimens for determination of minimum response to
4.1.6 Dimensions (thickness, width, diameter, length), hardening shall be ¼-in. (6.4-mm) thick disks cut so as to
4.1.7 Finish (hot rolled, forged, blasted or pickled, cold represent either the full cross-sectional area or that midway
drawn, machined, ground, precision ground and polished), between the center and outer surface of the material. If the
4.1.8 Condition (annealed, unannealed, hardened and tem-
material form or size does not lend itself to accurate hardness
pered, and so forth), determination on ¼-in. (6.4-mm) thick cross-sectional disks,
4.1.9 ASTM specification number and date of issue, and
then longitudinal specimens may be used for hardness testing.
4.1.10 Special requirements. Examplesareroundbarslessthan ⁄2in.(12.7mm)indiameter
orsheet.Inthiscase,thespecimenshallbeaminimumof3in.
5. Materials and Manufacture
(76.2 mm) in length and parallel flats shall be ground on the
5.1 Unless otherwise specified, material covered by this original mill surfaces. The specimens shall be heat treated as
specification shall be made by an electric melting process. It prescribed in Table 3.
shall be made from ingots that have been reduced in cross 7.2.1 The hardness of the specimen after the specified heat
section in such a manner and to such a degree as to ensure treatment shall meet the minimum hardness value for the
proper refinement of the ingot structure. particular type of steel shown in Table 3. Rockwell C tests
should be used where possible but light load tests may be
6. Chemical Composition
necessaryonthinspecimens.Thesetestsshouldbespecifiedby
6.1 An analysis of each heat of steel shall be made by the agreement between seller and purchaser. The hardness value
manufacturer to determine the percentage of the elements shall be obtained in accordance with the latest issue of Test
specified and these values shall conform to the chemical Methods and Definitions A370, and shall be the average of at
composition specified in Table 1. If requested or required, the least five readings taken in an area midway between the center
chemical composition shall be reported to the purchaser or his and surface of the largest dimension of the cross-sectional
representative. specimen or along the parallel surfaces of the longitudinal
6.2 Analysis may be made by the purchaser from finished specimen. The surface to be tested shall be ground sufficiently
bars and forgings by machining off the entire cross section and to remove any surface condition, scale, carburization, or
drilling parallel to the axis of the bar or forging at any point decarburization which might affect readings.
A
TABLE 1 Chemical Composition, %
UNS Type Grade Carbon Man- Silicon Phos- Sulfur, Chromium Vanadium Tung- Molyb- Copper, Nickel,
Desig- ganese phorus, max sten, denum, max max
nation max max max
min max min max min max min max min max
BB
T72301 W1 A 0.10 0.40 0.10 0.40 0.030 0.030 . . . 0.15 . . . 0.10 0.15 0.10 0.20 0.20
BB
T72301 W1 C 0.10 0.40 0.10 0.40 0.030 0.030 . . . 0.30 . . . 0.10 0.15 0.10 0.20 0.20
CC
T72302 W2 A 0.10 0.40 0.10 0.40 0.030 0.030 . . . 0.15 0.15 0.35 0.15 0.10 0.20 0.20
CC
T72302 W2 C 0.10 0.40 0.10 0.40 0.030 0.030 . . . 0.30 0.15 0.35 0.15 0.10 0.20 0.20
T72305 W5 . 1.05 1.15 0.10 0.40 0.10 0.40 0.030 0.030 0.40 0.60 . . . 0.10 0.15 0.10 0.20 0.20
A
Chemistry limits include product analysis tolerances.
B
The carbon ranges for W1 and their respective suffix identification, sometimes referred to as tempers, are as follows:
Suffix Carbon Range, % Suffix Carbon Range, %
8 0.80–0.90 10 1.00–1.10
8½ 0.85–0.95 10½ 1.05–1.15
9 0.90–1.00 11 1.10–1.20
9½ 0.95–1.05 11½ 1.15–1.25
C
The carbon ranges for W2 and their respective suffix identification are as follows:
Suffix Carbon Range, %
8½ 0.85–0.95
9 0.90–1.00
9½ 0.95–1.10
13 1.30–1.50
A686 – 92 (2004)
TABLE 2 Maximum Brinell Hardness in Annealed or Cold Drawn
material. Lower limits of decarburization may be specified by
Condition
agreement between the seller and purchaser.
Type Annealed BHN Cold Drawn BHN
9.2 Material ordered as ground and polished or ground
W1 202 241
finished or machine finished shall be free of scale and
W2 202 241
decarburization.
W5 202 241
Drill Rod (W1, W2, or W5)
Ordered Diameter, in. (mm) Brinell Rockwell
10. Permissible Variations for Dimensions
To ⁄8 (3.2) HB 341 HRC 37
10.1 Permissible variations for dimensions shall not exceed
1 1
Over ⁄8 to ⁄4 (3.2 to 6.4), incl HB 275 HRC 28
the applicable limits stated in Table 6, and Tables 10-22 and
1 1
Over ⁄4 to ⁄2 (6.4 to 12.7), incl HB 241 HRC 23
Over ⁄2 (12.7) HB 207 HRB 96
Note 1.
NOTE 1—Unmachined tool steel forgings are furnished to size and
surface allowances for machining and tolerances over allowances. Expe-
7.2.2 HardnesspenetrationandfracturegrainsizeforGrade
rienceindicatesthattheallowancesandtolerancesinthetabulationbelow
A shall be determined on test pieces of ⁄4 in. (19.1 mm) are satisfactory for many applications. When width and thickness differ,
each dimension carries its individual allowance and tolerance in accor-
diameter and 3 in. (76.2 mm) length. Two pieces for each test
dance with the tabulation: also, the ID and OD take their respective
shall be given a preliminary treatment by heating uniformly to
allowances and tolerances. When forgings are ordered, the purchaser
1600 6 10°F (871 6 5°C) and holding at temperature for 40
should state whether the sizes are the forged or the finished sizes. The
min,thenquenchinginoil.Onepieceshallbereheatedto1450
minimum sizes ordered for forgings should be the finished sizes plus
6 10°F (788 6 5°C) and the other to 15506 10°F (843 6
allowances for machining; and the ordered forged sizes are subject to
5°C). Each piece shall be held in the furnace at the respective
applicable tolerances
temperature for 30 min and then quenched in brine (5 to 10%
10.2 Out-of-round tolerances for round bars shall be one
sodium chloride solution). The pieces shall be nicked with an
half the permissible dimensional variations stated in Table 6,
abrasive wheel in the center of the length and fractured. The
Table 10, Table 12, Table 14, Table 15, and Table 17.
fracture face of one portion of each broken test piece shall be
ground smooth and etched in1+1 muriatic acid at 165°F
11. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance
(74°C) for measurement of the depth of penetration to be
11.1 Allcarbontoolsteelsshallbefreeofheavyscale,deep
expressed in 64ths of an inch. The fracture grain size shall be
pitting, laps, porosity, injurious segregations, excessive non-
determined on the remaining portion of each broken test piece
metallicinclusions,seams,cracks,checks,slivers,scalemarks,
bycomparisonofthefracturesurfaceofthehardenedcasewith
4 dents, soft and hard spots, pipes, or any defects that would
the Shepherd Fracture Grain Size Standards. These standards
detrimentallyaffectthesuitabilityofthematerialafterremoval
consist of ten pieces of steel with fracture faces representing
of the recommended stock allowance.
graduated grain sizes from the coarsest (No. 1) to the finest
(No. 10). The fracture grain size is estimated to the nearest
12. Sampling
quarter number. The hardness penetration and fracture grain
sizeforGradeAshallmeettherequirementsshowninTable3. 12.1 Each particular shipment of a heat of steel by type,
size, and shape shall be considered a lot and must conform to
8. Macrostructure
the provisions of this specification.
8.1 The macrostructure of a specimen representing the
entire cross-sectional area in the annealed condition shall be 13. Inspection
prepared in accordance with the latest issue of Practice A561.
13.1 When specified in the purchase order, the inspector
It shall exhibit a structure free of excessive porosity, segrega-
representing the purchaser shall have access to the material
tion, slag, dirt or other nonmetallic inclusions, pipes, checks,
subjecttoinspectionforthepurposeofwitnessingtheselection
cracks, and other injurious defects.
of samples, preparation of test pieces, and performance of the
8.2 Macroetch severity levels for center porosity and ingot
tests. For such tests, the inspector shall have the right to
pattern, illustrated photographically in PracticeA561, shall not
indicate the pieces from which samples will be selected.
exceed the ratings specification in Table 4 for the appropriate
Otherwise, the seller shall report to the purchaser, or his
materialsizeandcomposition.Morestringentrequirementsare
representative, the results of the chemical analysis and the
available by agreement between seller and purchaser.
physical and mechanical property tests made in accordance
with this specification.
9. Decarburization
9.1 Decarburization shall be determined on a specimen
14. Rejection and Rehearing
representing a cross section of the material and prepared in
14.1 Unless otherwise specified, any rejections based on
accordance with the latest issue of Methods E3. When exam-
tests made in accordance with this specification shall be
ined at 203 or greater magnification it shall not exceed the
reportedtothesellerwithin30daysfromthedateofreceiptof
valuesgiveninTables5-9fortheappropriatesizeandshapeof
the material.
14.2 Material that shows injurious defects subsequent to its
acceptance by the purchaser shall be rejected and the seller
The Shepherd Fracture Grain Size Standards may be purchased from Metal-
lurgical Services, Inc., Box 1075, 925 Main
...
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