One Minute Mentor: Tempering F Tool Steels
December 11, 2015
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Because of their tungsten content, F-steels form hard tungsten carbides. In combination with the usual heat treatment procedures, they exhibit the highest hardness of all low-alloy cold-work tool steels, both in the as-quenched condition and at low tempering temperatures.
Because tools made of the F-steels (cold drawing dies, for example) are used mainly for applications requiring wear resistance, they are usually placed in service at or near their maximum hardness. Therefore, tempering temperatures higher than 400°F are seldom used. The effects of tempering temperature on hardness for the F1, F2, and F3 steels are shown in the graph, which shows tempering characteristics of carbon-tungsten special-purpose tool steels tempered for two hours after being brine quenched.
Volume 4D, Heat Treating of Irons and Steels -> Tool Steels -> Heat Treating of Cold-Work Tool Steels—Low- and Un-Alloyed Water and Oil Hardening Steels -> Carbon-Tungsten Special-Purpose Tool Steel
Because of their tungsten content, F-steels form hard tungsten carbides.
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Ipsen delivers vertical Titan vacuum furnace to South Korea
July 20, 2015
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Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., recently installed a Titan V6 thermal processing vacuum system at a company's facility in South Korea, where it will be used to process production tools for the petrochemical industry. Easily fitting into a single 40-foot shipping container, this standard vacuum furnace was able to traverse the globe with ease, thus helping maintain cost-effective delivery.
This vertical, bottom-loading furnace utilizes two-bar gas quenching and features a 60 x 60-in. graphite hot zone with a 3000-pound load capacity. It is also equipped with a 35-in. diffusion pump and Ipsen's VacuProf control system. The company took a proactive approach to maintenance, ordering one of Ipsen's many spare parts kits, which consist of consumable and preventive maintenance items to help ensure equipment uptime and keep the furnace running smoothly.
www.IpsenUSA.com/TITAN
Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., recently installed a Titan V6 thermal processing vacuum system at a company’s facility in South Korea, where it will be used to process production tools for the petrochemical industry.
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Seco-Warwick gas-quench furnace equipped with PreNit to heat treat dies and tool steels
August 25, 2014
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Seco-Warwick Corp., Meadville, Pa., announces that a commercial heat treater in the United States has purchased a 15-bar high-pressure gas quench furnace for its facility in the southeast. The unit will be used for through hardening of molds, dies, and various tool steels. The furnace is to be equipped with PreNit LPC (low-pressure carburizing), pre-nitriding, and LPC vacuum carburizing capability.
PreNit is a patented pre-nitriding option for low pressure vacuum carburizing. PreNitLPC broadens the applications for LPC Vacuum Carburizing by utilizing higher carburizing temperatures. It is a modern, fast, and economical addition to our standard low pressure carburizing system that enhances the process by significantly reducing cycle times.
Through dosing of the nitrogen carrier during controlled heat-up ramp, the furnace can run at higher temperatures (1000°C/1800°F and above), while maintaining a fine grain structure within the case. The strength properties are similar to parts that have been conventionally carburized at lower temperatures.
This technology saves process costs by reducing the carburizing cycle time and reducing the consumption of process gases (C2H2, C2H4, H2, NH3) as measured in liters and not, as in the case of conventional technologies, in cubic meters per hour.
www.secowarwick.com
Seco-Warwick Corp., Meadville, Pa., announces that a commercial heat treater in the United States has purchased a 15-bar high-pressure gas quench furnace for its facility in the southeast.
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