ASTM A681 Help

[huskerrich]

We are a supplier of tool steel to manufacturers in the US.
I have a customer who placed an order for flat ground A-2 +/- .002 on thickness and width , then later asked for 3 specifics...
*Tensil of 110 max

*.050 squareness tol.

*.223 burnel max hardness

I know this material will be shipped annealed and the squarness tol. should be met but the burnell question has me scratching my head.
I've been selling Tool Steels for about 25 years and this is the first I've been asked for this.
Any help?

 

[Ron]

It sounds like you have a Brinell hardness requirement to meet. That might be an issue with annealing. If they are going to forge or otherwise fabricate, they will likely do some post fabrication treatment that would change the hardness anyway.

 

[TVP]

As Ron already pointed out, the purchaser is trying to specify that the annealed material have a maximum hardness of 223 HB, which is Brinell hardness. This is equivalent to 235 HV (Vickers) or ~ 97 HRB. One producer of A2, Latrobe Specialty Steel, shows a maximum hardness of 235 HBW (Brinell hardness with a tungsten carbide ball) in the annealed condition, which is ~ 245 HV or 99 HRB:

http://www.latrobesteel.com/assets/documents/datasheets/LSS_A2.pdf