Annealing Part 2 - Temper Annealing, Cycling, and Final Properties

[Larrin]

The second and hopefully final article on annealing where I discussed two more major types of annealing, how annealing affects final properties, a few studies we performed comparing different annealing types, and recommendations on annealing for different steel types. https://knifesteelnerds.com/2019/06/17/annealing-part-2/

 

[Willie71]

I have been so busy the past few days, I haven’t had a chance to read this one yet. We are back to having two vehicles again, so I will have a bit more time in the next few days.

 

[Willie71]

I’m going to have to read this one again. There is a lot to unpack here. Not a simple article, but a lot of information to really dial in your pre HT structures,

 

[Justin Schmidt]

Ok so to make sure I understand this right Larrin
For something like w2 I would : (I have a forge controlled by PID)
Normalize at 1650 hold for 10 min, cool to black
Preform DET anneal by heating to 1400 or 1460 (not sure) furnace cool
Heat to 1475 hold 10 minutes quench in p50

For 52100
1650 normalize cool to black
DET anneal 1460, furnace cool
Heat to 1525 hold 15 minutes quench in p50?

 

[Larrin]

Ok so to make sure I understand this right Larrin
For something like w2 I would : (I have a forge controlled by PID)
Normalize at 1650 hold for 10 min, cool to black
Preform DET anneal by heating to 1400 or 1460 (not sure) furnace cool
Heat to 1475 hold 10 minutes quench in p50

For 52100
1650 normalize cool to black
DET anneal 1460, furnace cool
Heat to 1525 hold 15 minutes quench in p50?

It looks like I recommended 1385°F for "simple carbon steels" which W2 would qualify despite the small vanadium addition.

The "furnace cool" is specified as 670°F/h, though other cooling rates likely work.

Specific 52100 heat treatments are recommended in the article on that steel: https://knifesteelnerds.com/2019/05/13/how-to-heat-treat-52100/

 

[Willie71]

Ok so to make sure I understand this right Larrin
For something like w2 I would : (I have a forge controlled by PID)
Normalize at 1650 hold for 10 min, cool to black
Preform DET anneal by heating to 1400 or 1460 (not sure) furnace cool
Heat to 1475 hold 10 minutes quench in p50

For 52100
1650 normalize cool to black
DET anneal 1460, furnace cool
Heat to 1525 hold 15 minutes quench in p50?

For W2, which has a very narrow window to optimize, i’d Do a series of coupons from about 1440f to 1480f, in 10f increments. The one that gets the highest hardness is the one i’d use. For the old stock, optimum was 1460f in my shop.

 

[Justin Schmidt]

Ok so I wasnt that far off lol
Thanks for the help!

 

[Justin Schmidt]

For W2, which has a very narrow window to optimize, i’d Do a series of coupons from about 1440f to 1480f, in 10f increments. The one that gets the highest hardness is the one i’d use. For the old stock, optimum was 1460f in my shop.

Unfortunately I don't have a RC tester

 

[Willie71]

Unfortunately I don't have a RC tester

You will lose 2 or more Rc points if you are out by more than 20f, optimum is +/-10f. It’s a small window. Is there anyone near who has a tester?

 

[Larrin]

Without doing a range of coupons and at least having them checked for hardness you're really in the dark about what you are actually getting.

 

[Willie71]

Without doing a range of coupons and at least having them checked for hardness you're really in the dark about what you are actually getting.

He could use my old protocol, but people were reporting needing 1475-1480 for the second last batch, but the newest one is back to 1460? I’m not sure what to suggest without coupons,

 

[Justin Schmidt]

Guess I'll hold off on the w2 until I can get a hardness tester