Contents
A11 Tool Steel | A11 PM Tool Steel: Characteristics, Properties, and Applications
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What is A11 Steel?
AISI A11 is a high carbon, high vanadium cold work tool steel designed for wear applications. It has excellent wear resistance, compressive strength and high thermal stability and is primarily used in cold forming tool and die applications.
Whether you’re working under heavy loads or high temperatures, SteelPro’s A11 steel ensures your tools maintain a sharp edge and consistent performance for the long term.
What is A11 PM Tool Steel?
A11 PM (Powder Metallurgy) tool steel is a version of A11 produced using the powder metallurgy process. This process results in a finer microstructure and a more uniform distribution of alloying elements, providing A11 PM with enhanced wear resistance, toughness, and dimensional stability compared to regular A11. A11 PM is often used in high-performance tooling applications where extended tool life and higher precision are required.
By optimizing the process, we have enhanced the A11 PM’s ability to withstand shock loads and harsh working conditions. This means you get more reliable performance and reduced maintenance costs.
A11 Tool Steel vs A11 PM Tool Steel: Characteristics
Features of A11 tool steel
- High hardness: SteelPro’s A11 tool steel is heat treated to HRC 62-65, providing excellent wear resistance under heavy cutting forces.
- Good wear resistance: Carbides enhance wear resistance and maintain sharp cutting edges.
- Excellent red hardness: Maintains high hardness at high temperatures, suitable for high-speed cutting.
- Good hardenability: SteelPro’s A11 achieves uniform hardening, extending tool life and improving consistency across various tool sizes.
- Machinability: Despite its high hardness, SteelPro’s A11 is still easy to machine through grinding, offering flexibility for different tooling processes.
Features of A11 PM tool steel
- High hardness: It can reach HRC64~67, suitable for cutting materials with higher hardness.
- Good wear resistance: Hard carbides provide high wear resistance and reduce replacement costs.
- Excellent red hardness: Maintains high hardness at 500~600°C, suitable for high-speed cutting.
- Good hardenability: Alloy elements ensure uniform hardening, suitable for tools of various sizes.
- Good toughness: It has good toughness and can withstand impact loads without breaking easily.
A11 Tool Steel Material Properties vs A11 PM Material Properties
Chemical Composition
A11 and A11 PM have similar chemical compositions, but the powder metallurgy process in A11 PM ensures a finer and more uniform distribution of these elements.
| Element | A11 Tool Steel | A11 PM Tool Steel |
| Carbon (C) | 2.4% – 2.5% | 2.45% |
| Chromium (Cr) | 4.75% – 5.75% | 5.25% |
| Vanadium (V) | 9.25% – 10.25% | 9.75% |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 1.1% – 1.5% | 1.30% |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.35% – 0.6% | 0.50% |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.75% – 1.1% | 0.90% |
| Sulfur (S) | 0.050% – 0.090% | 0.07% |
| Iron (Fe) | 78.21% – 81.35% | 78% – 81.4% |
| Phosphorus (P) | ≤0.030% | ≤0.030% |
| Tungsten (W) | ≤0.50% | ≤0.50% |
Mechanical Properties
| Property | A11 Tool Steel | A11 PM Tool Steel |
| Tensile Strength | 5205 MPa (754900 psi) | 5205 MPa (754900 psi) |
| Yield Strength | Not Specified | Improved due to PM processing |
| Hardness (Rockwell C) | 59 HRC | 61 HRC (after heat treatment) |
| Hardness (Brinell) | 248 – 269 (Annealed/Hardened) | 255 – 277 (Annealed) |
| Modulus of Elasticity | 200 GPa (29000 ksi) | 221 GPa (32100 ksi) |
| Izod Impact (Unnotched) | 39.3 J (29 ft.lb) | 39.3 J (29 ft.lb) |
| Abrasion | 12 (wear resistance) | 12 (wear resistance) |
| Compression Strength | High | Higher due to finer microstructure |
Physical Properties
SteelPro’s A11 PM tool steel is designed with high-performance machining in mind and offers distinct advantages over conventional A11 PM in critical applications.
| Property | A11 Tool Steel | A11 PM Tool Steel |
| Density | 7.39 g/cm³ (0.267 lb/in³) | 7.42 g/cm³ (0.2681 lb/in³) |
| Melting Point | 1450°C – 1510°C (2642°F – 2750°F) | 1450°C – 1510°C (2642°F – 2750°F) |
| Thermal Conductivity | 20.39 W/m·K @ 20°C (68°F) | 26 W/m·K @ 20°C (68°F) |
| Specific Heat Capacity | 0.460 J/g·°C (0.110 BTU/lb·°F) | 0.460 J/g·°C (0.110 BTU/lb·°F) |
| Thermal Expansion | 10.72 µm/m·°C (@ 20 – 93°C) | 10.7 µm/m·°C (@ 20 – 93°C) |
| 11.1 µm/m·°C (@ 20 – 260°C) | 11.1 µm/m·°C (@ 20 – 260°C) | |
| 11.8 µm/m·°C (@ 20 – 427°C) | 11.8 µm/m·°C (@ 20 – 427°C) | |
| 12.3 µm/m·°C (@ 20 – 593°C) | 12.3 µm/m·°C (@ 20 – 593°C) |
Machining A11 Tool Steel & A11 PM Tool Steel
A11 Tool Steel Heat Treatment
Our A11 Tool Steel is renowned for its excellent wear resistance and toughness, but machining it can be a bit challenging due to its hardness after heat treatment. Here’s how we handle the process:
- Preheat: Heat to 1500°F (820°C), followed by 1800°F – 1850°F (980°C – 1010°C) to ensure uniform heating and reduce thermal stress.
- Austenitize: Heat to 1850°F – 2150°F (1010°C – 1175°C) for 30-45 minutes to transform the microstructure to austenite.
- Quench: Quench in salt, oil, or atmosphere to 1000°F – 1100°F (540°C – 595°C) and air-cool to below 125°F (50°C).
- Tempering: Temper at 1000°F – 1100°F (540°C – 593°C) for 2 hours, minimum 2 cycles.
- Stress Relieving: Heat to 621°F – 677°F (1150°C – 1250°C) and cool slowly to relieve machining stresses.A11 tool steel has a machinability rating of 35-40% in its annealed condition. Due to its hardness after heat treatment, machining can be challenging and may require carbide tools or other high-performance tooling materials.
Other Machining
- Welding: While welding A11 isn’t ideal due to its fine grain structure, it can be done with proper preparation. We preheat to 1000°F – 1100°F (540°C – 595°C), use air-hardening filler, and post-weld temper at 1550°F (845°C).
- Surface Treatment: For enhanced performance, we use nitriding (for hardness), TiN coating (to reduce friction), and steam tempering (to relieve stress).
Considerations: For best results, we recommend slower machining speeds and higher feed rates to manage wear and maintain tool life.
A11 PM Tool Steel Heat Treatment
A11 PM, thanks to its powder metallurgy process, offers superior properties for high-performance tooling. Here’s how we optimize its machining:
- Preheat: First preheat to 1500°F – 1550°F (820°C – 845°C), then to 1800°F – 1850°F (1010°C – 1040°C).
- Austenitize: Heat to 1850°F – 2150°F (1010°C – 1175°C) for 30-45 minutes, optimal at 2050°F (1120°C) for RC 60-62.
- Quench: Quench in salt, oil, or atmosphere to 1000°F – 1100°F (540°C – 595°C), then air-cool or hand-warm.
- Tempering: Temper at 1000°F (540°C) for 2 hours, minimum 2 cycles, triple tempering if austenitizing at 2000°F (1095°C).
- Stress Relieving: Annealed material: heat to 1100°F – 1300°F (595°C – 740°C), Hardened material: heat to 25°F below original tempering temperature.
- Cryogenic Treatment: Apply after tempering to improve dimensional stability by converting retained austenite to martensite.
Other Machining
- Welding: Welding A11 PM is also challenging but feasible with preheating to 1000°F (540°C), using air-hardening filler, and post-weld heat treatment at 1550°F (845°C).
- Surface Treatment: For A11 PM, we recommend nitriding for a uniform hard layer, TiN coating for reduced friction, and cryogenic treatment to increase wear resistance.
Considerations: A11 PM can be machined at higher speeds compared to A11, with less tool wear, making it a more efficient choice for high-performance tooling applications.
A11 Tool Steel and A11 PM Tool Steel Applications
A11 Tool Steel Applications
SteelPro Group’s A11 tool steel delivers superior results across industries that demand longevity and reliability. Common uses include:
- Cold Work Tooling: SteelPro’s A11 excels in blanking, forming, and piercing dies, offering high stress resistance and long-lasting performance, reducing downtime.
- Plastic Injection Molds: A11 is ideal for high-volume injection molds, withstanding continuous molding cycles and minimizing tool wear.
- Cold Extrusion Dies: A trusted material for high-strength, wear-resistant cold extrusion dies in automotive and aerospace industries.
- Trim Dies and Shear Blades: A11 delivers precise cutting and shaping in trim dies and shear blades, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
- Powder Compaction Tooling: A11 is perfect for powder compaction tooling, offering hardness and stability under high pressure.
- Wear Inserts: A11’s excellent wear resistance makes it the go-to choice for wear inserts, reducing tool changes and downtime.
A11 PM Tool Steel Applications
At SteelPro Group, we utilize A11 PM tool steel to meet the needs of industries that require extreme durability and precision. Common applications include:
- Cutting Tools: A11 PM’s excellent toughness and wear resistance extend tool life and improve cutting efficiency, especially for machining hard materials like stainless steel and tool steels.
- High-Performance Molds: A11 PM is ideal for high-precision applications such as plastic injection and die-casting molds, enhancing dimensional stability and accuracy.
- High-Speed Machining: Tools made from A11 PM are designed for high-speed cutting, providing strength and stability for heavy-duty tasks, while reducing maintenance and replacement costs.
- Cold Work Tools: With superior wear resistance and toughness, A11 PM excels in extreme cold work applications like cold forming and extrusion dies, handling high pressure and wear.
- Extrusion and Stamping Tools: A11 PM delivers exceptional durability and precision in extrusion and stamping, ensuring long tool life and minimal downtime in demanding production environments.
- Heavy-Duty Cutting Blades: A11 PM is the go-to choice for cutting blades used in high-load, high-wear conditions, such as in steel mills and automotive manufacturing.
A2 vs A11 Tool Steel
Both are cold work tool steels, but there are notable differences:
A2 Tool Steel: Known for its good wear resistance, A2 steel is often used in tools that are subject to moderate wear. It is air-hardened but lacks the high vanadium content of A11, which limits its toughness.
A11 Tool Steel: A11 has superior wear resistance and toughness due to its high vanadium content, making it ideal for more demanding applications, especially in cold forming and tooling applications.
A11 Tool Steel Supplier & Manufacturer
Whether you’re in need of reliable, high-performance tool steel for demanding applications or seeking enhanced materials for longer tool life and better precision, A11 Tool Steel and A11 PM Tool Steel are your solutions. Choose SteelPro Group for your tooling needs, and experience the difference of working with a trusted leader in the industry.
We’re here to help you achieve the best results — every time.
