Material · Carbon, Alloy & Tool Steels
Tool Steel A2
The balanced tool steel: between O1 toughness and D2 wear, with air-quench stability.
Price index: $$$
Material properties
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile strength | — (specified by hardness) |
| Yield strength | — (specified by hardness) |
| Hardness | 57–62 HRC (hardened) |
| Density | 7.86 g/cm³ |
Choose it when
The sensible middle of the cold-work family: noticeably tougher than D2, more wear-resistant than O1, and air hardening keeps distortion low on intricate die details.
Look elsewhere when
For maximum abrasion life in long production runs, D2 outlasts it; for one-off gauges and hand-finished tooling, O1 is cheaper and simpler to heat treat in-house.
Compatible finishes
As-Machined
The baseline finish: straight off the machine, fastest and cheapest.
Black Oxide
Black with zero dimensional change: the gauge-and-tool finish for precision steel.
Electroless Nickel Plating (ENP)
Plating without electricity: dead-uniform thickness everywhere, bores and threads included.
PTFE Coating (Teflon)
The slippery armor: fluoropolymer for low friction, non-stick release and chemical inertness.
Laser Marking
Permanent identification with zero dimensional change: serials, logos and codes burned in, not stuck on.
Typical applications
- General-purpose punches and dies
- Press-brake and bending tooling
- Gauges and fixture wear details
Compared with similar grades
| Property | Tool Steel A2 | Low-Carbon Steel 1018 | Carbon Steel 1045 | Structural Steel A36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | — (specified by hardness) | 440 MPa (cold drawn) | 625 MPa (cold drawn) | 400–550 MPa |
| Yield strength | — (specified by hardness) | 370 MPa (cold drawn) | 530 MPa (cold drawn) | 250 MPa (min) |
| Hardness | 57–62 HRC (hardened) | 126 HB | 179–229 HB | ~120 HB |
| Density | 7.86 g/cm³ | 7.87 g/cm³ | 7.85 g/cm³ | 7.85 g/cm³ |
| Price index | $$$ | $ | $$ | $ |
| Machinability | 2/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 |
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