With its high wear resistance and strength, Tool Steel A8 is a type of tool steel that is perfect for a variety of applications. We'll talk about the usage, heat resistance, corrosion resistance, heat treatment, and machining of A8 Tool Steel in this blog post.
A8 Tool Steel Uses
Die-making equipment and manufacturing-related tools most frequently utilise tool steel A8. It can be utilised for stamping and forming operations, such as the production of intricately shaped parts or automobile components. Due to its excellent thermal characteristics, this tool steel is a great choice for hot work applications including forging dies and hot extrusion dies.
Corrosion Resistance
Due to its high chromium content, Tool Steel A8 has outstanding corrosion resistance as well. This qualifies it for usage in settings where moisture or other corrosive substances may be present. When utilised in challenging working environments, its resistance to exposure to these elements makes it extremely adaptable and resilient.
Heat Resistance
Because of its high carbon content, tool steel A8 has a very high heat resistance. This makes it a fantastic option for applications that need to operate for extended periods of time at high temperatures without losing strength or shape. Due to its structural stability, the material can withstand shock loading during use as well as heat cycling.
Heat Treatment
Tool Steel A8 can be heated-treated by tempering at 400–600 °F (204–316 °C) and hardening at 44–50 HRC. The material will become tougher while keeping its hardness and wear resistance when tempered at these temperatures. Following tempering, the steel needs to cool down gradually to reduce the risk of warping or splitting during the cooling process.
Machining
Due to its greater carbon content, Tool Steel A8 has a lower than average machinability compared to other tool steels; nevertheless, some lubricants can aid enhance machining performance if necessary. To get the best results, the steel should be machined using heavy feeds and low speeds. For operations using this material type, cutting tools should also be kept sharp to lower cutting forces and lengthen tool life.