1.2493 Steel Overview:
1.2493 is a high-carbon, high-chromium cold work tool steel recognized for its unparalleled wear resistance, remarkable toughness, and superior hardness retention even at elevated temperatures. This steel belongs to the illustrious group of high-alloyed chromium-molybdenum-vanadium steels, making it a cornerstone in the manufacturing industry for crafting cutting tools, forming dies, and various other cold work applications demanding peak performance.
Chemical Composition:
Properties:
1. High Wear Resistance: 1.2493 steel stands out with its exceptional wear resistance, courtesy of its high chromium content. This makes it an ideal choice for applications subjected to abrasive conditions and heavy loads.
2. Good Toughness: Despite its impressive hardness, 1.2493 steel maintains excellent toughness, significantly reducing the risk of fractures or failures during rigorous use.
3. High Hardness Retention: The unique alloy composition of 1.2493 steel ensures it retains high hardness levels even under elevated temperatures, providing stable cutting performance and consistent dimensional stability.
4. Excellent Edge Retention: With meticulous heat treatment, 1.2493 steel maintains a razor-sharp cutting edge, enhancing productivity and extending the lifespan of tools.
Applications:
1. Cutting Tools: 1.2493 steel is extensively used for making cutting tools like knives, blades, and shear blades. These tools are employed in cutting and shaping a variety of materials, including metals, plastics, and rubber.
2. Forming Dies: Renowned for its robustness, 1.2493 steel is utilized in creating forming dies for cold forming and shaping operations such as bending, drawing, and extrusion.
3. Cold Work Applications: Thanks to its high hardness, wear resistance, and toughness, 1.2493 steel is employed in numerous cold work applications that require precision machining and exceptional dimensional accuracy.
4. Punching Tools: 1.2493 steel is also used in manufacturing punching tools designed for perforating or stamping various materials, including sheet metal and plastics.
Heat Treatment:
Annealing: Heat uniformly at 800-850°C (1472-1562°F), maintain for a sufficient duration, then allow to cool slowly in the furnace to below 600°C (1112°F) for complete annealing.
Quenching: Preheat slowly to the austenitizing temperature range of 980-1020°C (1796-1868°F), then rapidly quench in oil or air to obtain full hardness.
Tempering: Immediately after quenching, temper at 180-220°C (356-428°F) for 2 hours, followed by air cooling to achieve the perfect balance of hardness and toughness.
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