CRUCIBLE CSM®6 (AISI A6)

CSM 6 is an air hardening tool steel offering moderate wear resistance and toughness. It may be hardened from a low hardening temperature for easy heat treatment.

Typical Chemistry Carbon 0.70% Manganese 2.00% Silicon 0.30% Chromium 1.00% Molybdenum 1.35%

Typical Applications Compression Molds Lens Molds Injection Molds Transfer Molds Punches, Dies

Hardening Preheat: 1200/1300F, equalize. High Heat: 1550/1625F, hold 30/45 at temperature Quench: Air, positive pressure vacuum. Cool to 150F. Temper: 300/1000F, hold one hour/inch of thickness (two hours minimum), air cool to room temperature. Two tempers are recommended.

Size Change During Hardening Hardening Temp. Tempering Temp. HRC Longitudinal Size Change % °F °C °F °C 1550 845 300 150 60 +.05 1550 845 500 260 56 +.11 1550 845 700 370 54 +.05

Typical Properties Tempering Temp. Hardness HRC Charpy C-notch Toughness, ft-lbs °F °C 200 102 61 – 300 150 60 27 400 205 58 44 500 260 56 60 600 315 55 67 700 379 54 – 800 425 52 – 900 480 50 – 1000 540 48 –

Surface Treatments Because of the low tempering temperatures normally used, CSM 6 is not normally suitable for nitriding or other similar surface treatments. Annealing Heat to 1425F, hold two hours, cool slowly (20F/hour maximum) to 1100F, air cool to room temperature. Typical annealed hardness: 217/248 BHN. Stress Relieving Annealed Material: Heat to 1200/1250F, hold two hours, cool in still air. Heat Treated Material: Heat 25/50F below tempering temperature, hold two hours, cool in still air. Welding For Annealed Material: Preheat 400 to 600F and maintain heat throughout welding process. Use air hardening tool steel filler metal like A8. Re-anneal at 1200F for 6 hours after welding. For Hardened Material: Care must be taken with dies of complex design. Pre-heat to 400F minimum or 50F below original tempering temperature if higher than 400F. Use small diameter weld rod and after welding let cool to 200F. Then immediately re-temper at last tempering temperature for one hour per inch of thickness. Physical Properties Modulus of Elasticity ...................................................................30 psi x 106 Density .............................................................................................0.283 lb/in3 Thermal Conductivity .........................................Approx. 18/19 BTU/hr./ft./F Thermal Expansion Temperature Range Coeff. of Thermal Expansion °F °C in/in/°Fx10-6 mm/mm/°Cx10-6 68-200 – 6.6 – 68-400 – 6.9 – 68-600 20-315 7.2 11.5 68-800 20-425 7.5 13.5 68-1000 20-540 7.7 13.9

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