Oil-Hardening Cold Work Tool Steels
(0 Series)
Introduction
The standard oil-hardening cold work tool steels for which data are
given in this section are identified by the symbol "0", followed by the
numbers 1,2,6, or 7. As a group, their hardenability is much higher than
that of the water-hardening tool steels (W series), and they can, therefore,
be hardened by quenching in oil. Type 01 is by far the most widely used,
and is produced by virtually all of the tool steel mills. Some minor vari-
ations exist in the chemical composition of 01 steel; however, these
variations do not affect heat treating procedures significantly. Some of the
carbon in 06 steel is in graphite form, which is sometimes a factor in the
fabrication of intricate dies. The graphite particles in its microstructure also
serve as a built-in lubricant that reportedly gives better die life in deep
drawing operations. Type 07 sometimes is used in dies that require the
retention of sharp cutting edges-a property enhanced by a tungsten addi-
tion and higher carbon content.
The 0 series steels generally are normalized to produce a more uni-
formly refined grain structure, especially after forging or previous heating
to temperatures much higher than the recommended austenitizing tempera-
ture. When finished or semifinished tools are annealed, they should be
01
Chemical Composition. AISI: Nominal. 0.90 C, 1.00 Mn. 0.50 Cr,
0.50 W. AISI/UNS (T31501): 0.85 to 1.00 C, 1.00 to 1.40 Mn, 0.50 Si max,
0.30 Ni max, 0.40 to 0.60 Cr, 0.30 V max, 0.40 to 0.60 W
Similar Steels (U.S. and/or Foreign). ASTM A681 (0-1); FED
QQ-T-570 (0-1); SAE J437 (01), J438 (01); (Ger.) DIN 1.2510; (Fr.)
AFNOR A35-590 2212 90 MWCV 5; (Jap.) JIS G4404 SKS 21, G4404
SKS 3, G4404 SKS 94, G4404 SKS 95; (Swed.) SS 2140; (U.K.) B.S. 4659
B01
Characteristics. High dimensional stability during heat treating. Rela-
tively shallow hardening. High resistance to decarburization. Very high
safety in hardening
Forging. Start forging at 980 to 1065 °C (1795 to 1950 "F), Do not forge
below 845°C (1555 OF)
Recommended Heat Treating Practice
Normalizing. Heat to 870 °C (1600 "F). After uniform through heating,
holding time varies from approximately 15 min for small sections to
approximately 1 h for large sections. Work is cooled from temperature in
still air
Annealing. Heat to 760 to 790°C (1400 to 1455 OF). Use lower tem-
perature for small sections and upper temperature for large sections. Hold-
ing time is approximately 1 to 4 h. Use shorter time for light sections and
small furnace charges, and longer time for heavy sections and large charges.
For pack annealing, hold for 1 h per inch of cross section. Cool to 540°C
protected from decarburization or carburization during annealing. Type 01
steel can be cycle annealed. In most instances, stress relieving of tools prior
to final hardening does not lessen distortion noticeably during hardening;
however, preheating of the 0 steels will minimize distortion during sub-
sequent hardening.
The optimum temperature range for quenching baths consisting of
conventional oils is 50 to 70°C (120 to 160 "F), Agitation is recommended.
Although usually quenched in oil, type 07 steel sometimes is quenched in
water or brine when maximum hardness is required and heavy sections are
involved.
If control of distortion is particularly important, martempering some-
times is advantageous. A bath, oil, or molten salt, that is usually held
approximately -14 to 28°C (25 to 50 "F) above the M, temperature is
employed. The 0 steels should be tempered immediately after quenching,
that is, before they reach room temperature. The most commonly used
tempering range is 175 to 205°C (345 to 400 OF). Time at temperature
varies with section size.
(1000 "F) at a rate not to exceed 22°C (40 "F) per h, after which controlled
cooling is not necessary. Typical annealed hardness, 183 to 212 HB
Cycle Annealing. Heat to 730°C (1350 OF), hold for 4 h. Heat to 780
°C (1435 OF), hold for 2 h. Cool to 690°C (1275 OF), hold for 6 h. Air cool
Stress Relieving. Optional. Heat to 650 to 675°C (1200 to 1245 oF)
and hold for 1 h per inch of cross section (minimum of 1 h). Cool in air
Harden ing. Heat slow I y. Preheat at 650°C (1200 OF). Austenitize at 790
to 815°C (1455 to 1500 OF) for 10 to 30 min, then quench in oil. Quenched
hardness, 63 to 65 HRC
Stabilizing. Optional. For intricate shapes, stress relieve temper at 150 to
160°C (300 to 320 oF) for 20 to 30 min. Refrigerate at-IOO to-195°C (-150
to -320 "F), Temper immediately after part reaches room temperature
Tempering. Temper at 175 to 260°C (345 to 500 OF) for a correspond-
ing approximate tempered hardness of 62 to 57 HRC
Recommended Processing Sequence
• Normalize
• Rough machine
• Stress relieve (optional)
• Finish machine
• Preheat
• Austenitize
• Quench
• Temper
• Final grind to size
534/ Heat Treaters Guide

1400

1200 , .- .-- ~
~
- - ~ACI
/
- 700
01: Isothermal Transformation Diagram. Compo-
sition: 0.85 C, 1.18 Mn, 0.26 Si, 0.50 Cr, 0.44 W. Criti-
cal temperature (Ac,): 745°C (1370 OF). Prior condi-
tion: annealed

1000
f- V
110 HAC
600
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1\ ~4HA!
u,
500
° I-

600
I- -, .........
r-- r-,
/
(44 HAC

I'-.. 49 HAC
<,
400

300
f-
66 HAC
M,
\. "\'6b HAC 200
400
1--40%-
~- 80%-
--- --- -
1--
~--
1--
1---1-- -- -- ~
.........61 Hr

100
200 ~ 95%
99% d6 HAC
5 10 20 60 5 10 20 60 5 10 20 60
sec min hr

01: Isothermal Transformation Diagram. Swedish grade 01: Dimensional Changes and Hardness vs Tempering Tem-
showing percent pearlite and bainite as a function of time and perature. Solid lines show approximate upper and lower limits of
transformation temperature. Source: Uddeholm Steels hardness after tempering. Broken line, dimensional change.
Shaded area, optimum temperature range. Source: Uddeholm
1600
Steels
III
1200
~
I%P
lllt f-
800

100 300
Temoerature.Yc
500
LIVE GRAPH
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(~
LL 600
° o 900 .------TT------,.,-----,-----,-.--------, + 0.20
° ;j1
'"
:; 800 t----...t:......,.;:::---+---+---+-------j +0.15 ~
400 ~
~iffi.- .......... c.
i 700 t---'---__,.....,,----"'........~-_+_--+__-____l +0.10 "5iij

400 M, 445 of (230°C)

99% B
200
E
~ ~
~
600 +0.05 g
.~

I I 1" I " I I ~ 500

E
~
A~pr~~i:,:at~IV19~~IM?I?~~ i1?0 ~C/ 400 t------+---t---_+_------'''k''_ ____l - 0.05 o
2 468 2 468 2 468 2 468 2 468 300 '--_--'-_ _......L._ _--.l-_ _--l.------=.-----.I -0.10
10 102 103 10 4 105 As 250 500 750 1000 1250
quenched Temperature, of
Time, sec
LIVE GRAPH
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01: Hardness vs Tempering Temperature. Austenitized at 790 01: Hardness vs Tempering Temperature. Austenitized at 800
to 815°C (1455 to 1500 OF). Band approximately 2 HRC points °C (1475 OF). Source: Universal-Cyclops
wide Tempering temperature, °c
100 200 300 400
Tempering temperature. °c 66
100 200 300 -.... I I I I

i'......~
70 r---.-----,---r..------,--r-,----.---,---,

62
<, Oil quenched from

o 65
a:
_:it:C=~,t-_t---l r-, 1475 of (800°C);
as-quenched

r-.
:I: ,hardness, 65.5 HAC
~ 6 0 1 - - - - + - - - + - - - + - - - - P........
"0
:- 54

r-.
:I:

55 t-----+---t---_+_--+---+----I

50
200 300 400 500 600 700 800
50 l..-_----'_ _---L._ _- - ' -_ _--l.-_ _- ' - - _ - - - '
Tempering temperature, of
o 100 200 300 400 500 600
Tempering temperature. of

LIVE GRAPH
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 Tool Steels I 535

Tempering temperature, °c 01: Length Changes vs Tempering Temperature

100 300 500
LIVE GRAPH
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N 0.003 t------,H----"...-----+---+-+--+---+-------jf------l
.s
'"
s:
o
c:
'i; 0.002 t------.I-+---t--'''.--tt---+--ln.Lt---f------j
:ii
s:
o
s:
g. 0.001 h / - - - k
.3
0.000 "-_ _-'----_ _...L...._ _ _"'_"-_--'-_-==-_ _-----''--_---'
Annealed As 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
quenched
Temperingtemperature, of

01: Dimensional Changes vs Tempering Temperature. Source: Latrobe Steel Co., Uddeholm Steels, Allegheny LudlumIndustries
Tempering temperature. °c
100 200 300 400 500
0.0030
LIVE GRAPH
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0.0025

c:
'::; 0.0020
.s
c'
0
'in
c
E0.0015
ii
.~

'"
'" 0.0010
:ii
s:
0

0.0005

0.0000
As 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
quenched Tempering temperature, of

.------Hardening----,
Temperature Dimension
Curve 0 F -o-c Medium Specimen size measured
1 1500 815 Oil 1 by 2 by·a in. Averageof three
principaldimensions
2 1470 800 Oil 2 Idiam) by 2 in. Length
3 1470 800 Oil 3/8 (diam) by 2 in. Length
4 1450 785 Oil 1 (diarn) by 5 in. Length
536/ Heat Treaters Guide

01: Microstructures. (a) 3% nital, 1000x. As received (mill annealed). Dispersion of spheroidal particles of carbide in a matrix of ferrite.
Characteristic of the fully annealed condition. (b) Nital, 1000x. Normalized by austenitizing at 900°C (1650 OF) for 1 h and air cooling. Un-
tempered martensite, some bainite, and retained austenite (white), from overheating. (c) 3% nital, 1OOOx. Austenitized at 815°C (1500 OF),
oil quenched (not tempered). Hardness, 66 HRC. Spheroidal carbide particles in a matrix of untempered martensite. (d) 3% nital, 1000x.
Austenitized at 775°C (1425 OF), oil quenched. Untempered martensite, undissolved carbide particles, in a ferrite matrix, from underheat-
ing. (e) Nital, 1OOOx. Austenitized 30 min at 800°C (1475 OF), oil quenched briefly, then (before completely cool) tempered 2 h at 205°C (400
OF). Carbide particles in tempered martensite. (f) Austenitized at 800°C (1475 OF) for 30 min, quenched briefly in oil, tempered at 205 °C
(400 OF), for 2 h. Tempering was done too soon. Carbide particles in tempered martensite. (g) 3% nital, 1OOOx. Austenitized at 815°C (1500
OF), oil quenched, tempered at 220 °C (425 OF). Hardness, 58.5 HRC. Spheroidal carbide particles in a matrix of tempered martensite. (h)
3% nital, 1OOOx. Austenitized at 815°C (1500 OF), oil quenched, tempered at 425 °C (795 OF). Spheroidal particles of carbide (white dots) in
a matrix of tempered martensite. U) 3% nital, 1OOOx. Austenitized at 980°C (1795 OF), oil quenched, tempered at 220 °C (425 OF). Coarse
martensite (dark) and retained austenite (white), both resulting from overheating
 Tool Steels / 537

.0020 01: SizeChange in Hardening. Specimens were 25 mm (1 in.)

round by 100 mm (4 in.) long; austenitized 20 min at 800°C
s:. .0018 (1475 OF), oil quenched, then tempered 1 h at indicated tem-
()
.E .4~ peratures. Source: Carpenter Technology Corporation
....0016
CD
a.
r\ I \ LIVE GRAPH

'l1\,
~ .0014 Click here to view
c
III r\ ~'I
<1 .0012
s:.
Cle ,0010
r\f
C
III
...I .0008

.0006
200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 100011001200 of
As I I I I I I
Quenched 100 200 300 400 500 600 °C
Tempering Temperature

68 01: Jominy Hardenability. Parts were austenitized at 800°C

(1475 OF). Source: Carpenter Technology Corporation

60 LIVE GRAPH
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0
Gi 52
~u
0
a:: 44
I
Ul
Ul
III
C
'E 36
III
J:

28

20
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 26
Distance from Quenched End-2 mm (1/16") increments

02
Chemical Composition. AISI: Nomina!. 0.90 C, 1.60 Mn.
AISljUNS (T31502): 0.85 to 0.95 C, lAO to 1.80 Mn. 0.50 Si max. 0.30
Ni max. 0.50 Cr max. 0.30 V max, 0.30 Mo max
Similar Steels (U.S. and/or Foreign). ASTM A681 (0-2); FED
QQ-T-570 (0-2); SAE J437 (02), J438 (02); (Ger.) DIN 1.2842; (Fr.)
AFNOR 90 MV 8, A35-590 2211 90 MV 8; (UK) B.S. 4659 (USA 02),
4659 B02; (Ita!.) UNI 88 MnV 8 KU
Characteristics. Very good nondefonning properties. Medium depth
of hardening. Very high safety in hardening. High resistance to decarburi-
zation
Forging. Start forging at 980 to 1050 °C (1795 to 1920 "F), Do not forge
below 845°C (1555 OF)
Recommended Heat Treating Practice
Normalizing. Heat to 845 °C (1555 "F), Afterunifonn through heating,
holding time varies from approximately 15 min for small sections to
approximately 1 h for large sections. Work is cooled from temperature in
still air
Annealing. Heat to 745 to 775°C (1370 to 1425 OF). Use lower tem-
perature for small sections and upper temperature for large sections. Hold-
ing time is approximately 1 to 4 h. Use shorter time for light sections and
small furnace charges, and longer time for heavy sections and large charges.
For pack annealing, hold for 1 h per inch of cross section. Cool to 540°C
(1000 "F) at a rate not to exceed 22°C (40 "F) per h. after which controlled
cooling is not necessary. Typical annealed hardness, 183 to 217 HB
 Next Page

538/ Heat Treaters Guide

Stress Relieving. Optional. Heat to 650 to 675°C (1200 to 1245 OF) Recommended Processing Sequence
and hold for 1 h per inch of cross section (minimum of 1 h). Cool in air • Normalize
• Rough machine
Hardening. Heat slowly. Preheat at 650°C (1200 oF). Austenitize at 760 • Stress relieve (optional)
to 800°C (1400 to 1475 OF) for 5 to 20 min, then quench in oil. Quenched • Finish machine
hardness, 63 to 65 HRC • Preheat
• Austenitize
Stabilizing. Optional. For intricate shapes, stress relieve temper at 150 to
• Quench
160°C (300 to 320 "F) for 20 to 30 min. Refrigerate at-100 to -195°C (-150
• Temper
to -320 "F), Temper immediately after part reaches room temperature
• Final grind to size
Tempering. Temper at 175 to 260°C (345 to 500 oF) for a corresponding
approximate tempered hardness of 62 to 57 HRC
LIVE GRAPH LIVE GRAPH
Click here to view Click here to view

02: Isothermal Transformation Diagram. Composition: 0.87 C, 02: Jominy Hardenability. Source: Carpenter Technology Cor-
1.78 Mn, 0.027 P,0.Q1 0 S, 0.29 Si, 0.15 Ni, 0.20 Cr, 0.03 Mo. Nose poration
of curve is at 6 sec for chemical composition. Source: Carpenter
Steel 70 I I I I I I
- -
~
-
1400

AL1z1 .........
...... l -I-- -- 700 60 ""-
~-

"
_I"""
temperature
1200 f--
1450 of ,/ V -
0

!( 600
~
1000
1790
IC <, 0 50
<,
\ ~ r--.. -
Qi r-
r-,...... 500
.:o!
==
lL
° . 800
r-, ;.> U
0 40
e '\ ~. IX:

~ I'-.r-.... V 400 ::>

~a.
I
Ul
I- -
~ 600
....... I'. E
Ul
Ql
~ <, 300 ~ c: 30
r-, r-.... .......
..... ...
't:l
«I -
J: f-
400 200
M, 20

100 I- -
200 e:
e: e:
'E 'E 'E
.c 1: ~
'"
~ 0M
0 "0 10
o III ,,,I ~,
:" II~I f- -
5 2 5 2 5

10 ""
102
Time, sec
103
o
I
4
I
8
I

12
I
16
I
20
I
24
Distance from Quenched End-1/16" (1.5f! mm)

+.0012 02: Size Change in Hardening. Bar 25 mm (1 in.) in

diam was oil quenched from 800°C (1475 OF) and tem-
'fi + .0010 pered 1 h at indicated temperatures. Source: Carpenter
c:
:2
g + .0008 ~ Technology Corporation

LIVE GRAPH
T
~ + .0006
\ J ........... ~ Click here to view
c:
«I
..c:: 1\ /
........
-,
..
o + .0004
..c::
g'
Ql
...I
+ 0002

.0000
200 300 400 500 600 700
'"' '"<, ~

800 900 1000 1100 1200 0 F

As
Quenched 100 200 300 400 500 600
Tempering Temperature