Heat Treating and Tempering information

Pops ProCut

Forging and Thermal Cycling

These steps are recommended for those forging ProCut. Thermal cycling is not required for stock removal makers.
Forging Temperature: 2200°F (1200°C). As with other steels, overheating or forging too cold can lead to cracking.
Normalizing: 1650°F (900°C) 10-15 minutes, air cool.
Annealing: 1350°F (730°C) 30 minutes, cool at 100°F/hr to 1100°F (50°C/hr to 595°C). Alternatively, heat to nonmagnetic and slowly cool, such as in vermiculite.

Furnace Heat Treatment

Austenitizing: 1500°F (815°C) for high wear resistance, 1650°F (900°C) for high toughness. Soak for 10-15 minutes prior to quenching. More carbide is retained at the lower temperature for edge retention.
Quenching: Most oils can be used with ProCut due to its high hardenability.
Cryo and Cold Treatments: Dry ice or liquid nitrogen is optional and will add 0.5-2 Rc.
Tempering: 300-400°F (150-200°C) for high hardness and edge retention, 450°F (230°C) for high toughness. Temper twice for 1 hour each time, cooling to room temperature between each tempering.

Forge Heat Treatment

The vanadium and tungsten carbides in ProCut “pin” the grain boundaries, which means grain growth is avoided even at relatively high temperatures. The controlled carbon content also means that overheating does not lead to a drop in toughness at those temperatures.
Austenitizing: Heat to “one shade brighter” than non-magnetic. Steel that is normalized and annealed first can be quenched from temperatures as low as non-magnetic.
Quenching, Cryo, and Tempering: See the furnace heat treatment section.

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CPM CRU-Wear

Hardening

Preheat: Heat to 1550-1600°F (840-870°C), Equalize.

Austenitize: 1850-2050°F (1010-1120°C), Hold time at temperature 20-45 minutes.

Quench: Air or positive pressure quench (2 bars minimum) to below 125°F (50°C). Salt bath treatment, if practical will ensure the maximum attainable toughness for a given hardening treatment.

Temper: 900-1050°F (480-565°C). Double tempering is mandatory, and triple tempering is recommended. Cool to room temperature in between tempers. Temper 2 hours minimum each time or at least 1 hour per inch (25mm) of thickness for sections over 2” (50mm) thick.

Size Change: Approx. +0.15%

Recommended Heat Treatment: For the best combination of toughness and wear resistance, austenitize at 1950°F (1065°C). Temper 3 times at 400°F (540°C).

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Pops Super Blue - Wolfram Carbon Steel

Hardening

Normalize at 1526F-1562F(830-850C) for 5 mins and air cool to room temperature

Heat to 1500F(815C) and hold for 5 minutes-10 minutes (66HRc as quenched) Oil

Quench (Suggested Oil is AAA)

Tempering

Temper twice for two hours at 392F(200C) for 64HRc _________________________________________________________________

BÖHLER M390 MICROCLEAN

Hardening

Pre-Heat/Equalizing - 1,400°F / 760°C (hold 10 minutes)
Austenizing temperature - 2100°F / 1149°C Soak 30 minutes

Air Quench

Cryo is recommended if austenitizing temperatures are 2,100°F and above.

Tempering

Temper for 2hrs immediately after cryo or quench if cryo is not performed.

300°F / 149°C - 61-62
400°F / 204°C - 59 - 60
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Hardening

Austenizing temperature - 1,450 to 1,480°F / 801°C
Hold/Soak Time - 5-15 minutes
Expected Rc (as quenched) - 64-65

Oil Quench

Tempering

Temper twice for 2hrs.

400°F / 204°C - 60-61
450°F / 232°C - 57-58
500°F / 260°C - 55-56

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80CRV2

Hardening

Austenizing temperature - 1,465 to 1480°F / 801°C
Hold/Soak Time - 5-15 minutes
Expected Rc (as quenched) - 64-65

Oil Quench

Tempering

Temper twice for 2hrs.

350°F / 177°C - 63-64
400°F / 204°C - 60-61
450°F / 232°C - 57-58
500°F / 260°C - 55-56

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440C

Hardening

Pre-Heat/Equalizing - 1,425°F / 760°C (hold 15 minutes)
Austenizing temperature - 1,875°F / 1038°C Soak 30 minutes
Expected Rc (as quenched prior to cryo) - 59Rc (61 after Cryo)

Air Quench

Tempering

Temper twice for 2hrs.

300°F / 149°C - 60
400°F / 204°C - 59
500°F / 260°C - 57
600°F / 316°C - 56

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CPM 3V

Hardening

Pre-Heat/Equalizing - 1,550°F / 845°C (hold 10-15 minutes)
Austenizing temperature - 1950°F / 1065°C Soak 30 minutes
Expected Rc (as quenched prior to cryo) - 60Rc (62 after Cryo)

Air Quench

Tempering

Temper three times for 2hrs.

975°F / 523°C - 61
1000°F / 537°C - 60-59

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5160

Hardening

Austenizing temperature - 1,465 to 1480°F / 801°C
Hold/Soak Time - 5-15 minutes
Expected Rc (as quenched) - 63-62

Oil Quench

Tempering

Temper twice for 2hrs.

350°F / 177°C - 62-61
400°F / 204°C - 60-59
450°F / 232°C - 57-58
500°F / 260°C - 55-56

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52100

Hardening

Austenizing temperature - 1,465 to 1480°F / 801°C
Hold/Soak Time - 5-15 minutes
Expected Rc (as quenched) - 64-65

Oil Quench

Tempering

Temper twice for 2hrs.

350°F / 177°C - 63-64
400°F / 204°C - 60-61
450°F / 232°C - 57-58
500°F / 260°C - 55-56

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A2

Hardening

Pre-Heat/Equalizing - 1,450°F / 787°C (hold 15 minutes)
Austenizing temperature - 1,750°F / 954°C Soak 30 minutes
Expected Rc (as quenched prior to cryo) - 63Rc (64 after Cryo)

Air or Oil Quench

Tempering

Temper twice for 2hrs.

300°F / 149°C - 64
350°F / 177°C - 63
400°F / 204°C - 62
450°F / 232°C - 61
500°F / 260°C - 60
600°F / 316°C - 58

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CPM 154 & 154CM

Hardening

Pre-Heat/Equalizing - 1,400°F / 760°C (hold 15 minutes)
Austenizing temperature - 1,950°F / 1065°C Soak 30 minutes
Expected Rc (as quenched prior to cryo) - 61Rc (63 after Cryo)

Air Quench

Tempering

Temper twice for 2hrs.

300°F / 149°C - 63
400°F / 204°C - 62
600°F / 316°C - 60

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AEB-L

Hardening

Pre-Heat/Equalizing - 1,500°F / 815°C (hold 15 minutes)
Austenizing temperature - 1,950°F / 1065°C Soak 15 minutes
Expected Rc (as quenched prior to cryo) - 61Rc (63 after Cryo)

Air Quench

Tempering

Temper twice for 2hrs.

300°F / 149°C - 63-62
350°F / 177°C - 62-61
400°F / 204°C - 61-60

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Nitro-V

Hardening

Pre-Heat/Equalizing - 1,500°F / 815°C (hold 15 minutes)
Austenizing temperature - 1,900°F / 1037°C Soak 5-10 minutes
Expected Rc (as quenched prior to cryo) - 63Rc (64 after Cryo)

Air Quench

Tempering

Temper twice for 2hrs.

300°F / 149°C - 64
350°F / 177°C - 63
400°F / 204°C - 62
450°F / 232°C - 61
500°F / 260°C - 60

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O-1

Hardening

Austenizing temperature - 1,465 to 1480°F / 801°C
Hold/Soak Time - 20-30 minutes
Expected Rc (as quenched) - 64-65

Oil Quench

Tempering

Temper twice for 2hrs.

350°F / 177°C - 63-64
400°F / 204°C - 60-61
450°F / 232°C - 57-58
500°F / 260°C - 55-56

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W-2

Hardening

Austenizing temperature - 1,450 to 1,475°F / 801°C
Hold/Soak Time - 5-15 minutes
Expected Rc (as quenched) - 64-65

Oil Quench - Parks 50

Tempering

Temper twice for 2hrs.

350°F / 177°C - 63-64
400°F / 204°C - 60-61
450°F / 232°C - 57-58
500°F / 260°C - 55-56

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1084 / 1080 / 1075

Hardening

Austenizing temperature - 1,450 to 1,480°F / 801°C
Hold/Soak Time - 5-15 minutes
Expected Rc (as quenched) - 64-65

Oil Quench - Parks 50

Tempering

Temper twice for 2hrs.

350°F / 177°C - 63-64
400°F / 204°C - 60-61
450°F / 232°C - 57-58
500°F / 260°C - 55-56

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CPM MagnaCut

Forging: 2100°F (1150°C) Do not forge below 1750°F (950°C). Annealing: Heat to 1650°F (900°C), hold 2 hours, slow cool no faster than 25°F (15°C) per hour to 1100°F (595°C), then furnace cool or cool in still air to room temperature. Annealed Hardness: About BHN 235

Stress Relieving

Annealed Parts: Heat to 1100-1300°F (595-705°C), hold 2 hours, then furnace cool or cool in still air.
Hardened Parts: Heat to 25-50°F (15-30°C) below original tempering temperature, hold 2 hours, then furnace cool or cool in still air.
Straightening: Best done warm 400-800°F (200-425°C)

Hardening

Preheat: Heat to 1550-1600°F (845-870°C) Equalize.
Austenitize: 1950-2200°F (1065-1205°C), hold time at temperature as shown in chart. Thick cross-sections and larger pieces may need longer austenitizing time.
Quench: Plate quench, air or positive pressure quench (2 bar minimum) to below 125°F (50°C), or salt or interrupted oil quench to about 1000°F (540°C), then air cool to below 125°F (50°C).
Cold Treatment: A cold treatment may be used after the quench to decrease retained austenite and increase hardness. Tempering before the cold treatment decreases the effectiveness of the cold treatment but also decreases the chance of warping or cracking. A freezer treatment at -10°F (-23°C) has no effect unless performed directly after the quench with no delay.
Temper: Double temper at 300-450°F (150-230°C). Hold for 2 hours minimum each time.
NOTE: Tempering above 750°F (400°C) results in a decrease in corrosion resistance.
Size Change: +0.05 to +0.10% when fully martensitic. The presence of retained austenite may reduce the net growth. When tempering at 300-750°F (150-400°C), freezing treatments may be necessary to minimize retained austenite.

Recommended Heat Treatment: Austenitize 2050°F (1120°C). Quench to below 125°F (50°C). Double temper at 350°F (175°C) 2 hrs. minimum each temper. Cool to hand warm between tempers. A freeze treatment may be added after the quench. Aim hardness: 60-63 HRC.

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